Of Werewolves and Curses by Emma Hamm
Chapter 20
Freya teleported to her room in the Summer Palace and landed on her back hard with the Summer Lord at her side. She wore a dazed expression that she wasn’t proud of. But what was a girl supposed to do?
Her father was not only well and alive, he was talking to her like a normal father would. He had laughed with her, joked, and listened to her stories. Freya was elated that he was back to himself. Except now there was a whole new host of issues that she had to overcome. What would her mother think when she saw her father again? Would Esther even remember him?
Why wasn’t she angry at her father the same way she had been angry at her mother?
Huffing out a breath, she looked over at Leo to see how he was handling things. Considering his face was ashen and his brows furrowed, he appeared to be handling his own situation even worse. Good, at least he was in the same place she was in mentally.
Freya reached out and patted his shoulder. “How are you holding up?"
“Not well.”
“That tree really gave it to you, huh?”
She waited for the words to sink in before tilting her head back and laughing. They both chuckled through the pain until they settled back onto the floor in twin heaps.
“Yes,” Leo replied. “The tree really gave it to me. I haven’t been scolded like that since I was a child, and the last person to do it was...”
At his hesitation, Freya filled in the blank for him. “The tree?”
“The tree. I suppose there’s only been one person daring enough to scold me like I was a petulant child.” He touched a hand to his chest, right over his heart. “I suppose I still am that angry little boy who wanted to yell at his parents for not giving him all the things he wanted. That’s rather frustrating, you know.”
“No personal growth is simple.” She pillowed her head on her arm, rolling so she could stare at him. “I know it’s not easy, but change isn’t something to fear. You could be someone great. Someone better.”
“What if I don’t like that new version of myself?” His troubled expression deepened. “What if that person is someone I don’t recognize?”
“I think if you met yourself when you were a child, you’d be annoyed to see that you were a very different person then as well. We all change and grow. That’s how life works.” Even she had changed, drastically.
Sometimes it still startled Freya to think about how much she had changed. But then again, that was the same situation Leo was having. He didn’t want to believe he wasn’t the same person he used to be.
He hummed deep in this throat before nodding. “It’s something I’ll consider, mortal. Thank you.”
Well, she hadn’t expected his thanks. But she’d take it.
Freya pushed up onto her hands and knees. “That’s that, then. I suppose we have to find something else to do to bide our time. I’m ready to have Eldridge back, and I’m sure you’re dreading the stories from the isle.”
“The tree wanted me to tell you something, too.” Leo put his hand on her arm, forcing her to stop and look at him. “There is a method of finding out the secrets of others. It’s... Well the fae don’t use it. It’s backfired one too many times for us. But the tree said you might need it.”
“Excuse me?” She didn’t want to admit that made her frightened. All the blood drained from her face and she felt light headed.
Why did the tree think she needed to reveal someone’s secrets? Why would it even want her to have that ability?
“Water in the Summer Court holds an immense amount of power. And since your father was a changeling here, and absorbed some of that magic to pass down to you, there is a chance you could use the pools to see what you want.” Leo released her, and his expression said he was uncomfortable even telling her this. “It said you have already seen how some might use their magic in the pools to communicate, or perhaps see the future. But the tide pools can also be used to spy.”
The temptation was so great it made her fingers curl into her palms. No, she wouldn’t entertain this thought at all. Eldridge wasn’t doing anything that he shouldn’t and even assuming he might be was the greatest betrayal of their relationship thus far.
She clenched her jaw so hard it made her teeth hurt. “I don’t foresee myself needing to use that.”
“Regardless, if you wanted to spy, all you would have to do is find a glassy surface of water and ask to see what you wanted to see.” He rolled onto his feet and then held out his hand for her to take. “Come on. Considering the warning, I thought you might like to go to the isle now.”
“I don’t want to go across those waters alone.” She took his hand and let him drag her to her feet. “I will wait for Eldridge to come back.”
“Then don’t.” He sheepishly ran a hand over his head before gesturing for her to follow him. “I should have told you a long time ago, but there’s another way to get to the isles. It’s just... not well known. I’m the only one who’s supposed to use it.”
Curiosity would always be her downfall. Freya followed him all the way through the halls, touching her fingers to the glowing plants that lit up the hallways. They reached for her now with friendly whispers, unlike the first time she’d been here when she was certain the plants would kill her if she touched them.
They were kinder. Softer. More likely to give her a little room to breathe if she needed it. Although, she hated to think that was all changing simply because she’d created a tentative friendship with the Summer Lord. She still planned on making him marry Cora. For the good of the court.
Leo stopped in front of a door hidden in the wall. Ivy covered it so thickly that she would have walked past it if she hadn’t been told it was there. He reached into his pocket and drew out a small skeleton key. “This will only open the door once every five days.”
Surprising. If this room held a portal, then why wouldn’t it open as many times as he wanted?
Freya stayed quiet as he swung the door open and revealed a hidden pool of water. Light glowed from deep underneath the still surface, spilling out over the mossy floor and up into the tendrils of ivy hanging from the ceiling.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“A portal room.” Leo tucked his hands behind his back and strode toward the water with a slight saunter to his step. “I’m certain you’ve never seen such a thing before, and that’s unsurprising. After all, the Summer Court is so much more beautiful than the other courts. We know what it means to have some sense of aesthetic.”
She didn’t agree with him, but she couldn’t argue over the beauty of this place. All the other portals she had seen were built out of wind and magic. But this one? This was the very ocean waiting to be used at the whim of the Lord.
She stepped close to the edge and peered into the water. “Where does it go?”
“There’s another one on the isle, within the cliff side village that I’m sure you visited.” He joined her hesitantly, almost like he was afraid of what he would see staring back at him. “All you have to do is step into the water and then you’ll be there. It’s that easy.”
Sure. Easy to him. But Freya feared what would happen if she walked into the water and the magic realized that she wasn’t the Summer Lord, or even fae.
Gulping, she stepped onto the edge and held out her arms for balance. “It’s not going to spit me back out because I’m not you, right?”
“There’s only one way to find out. Oh, and tell Cora I’m coming to visit her soon. It’s long pastime we met again.” Leo’s wicked grin only served to make her even more nervous. He stepped up to her side, planted his hand on her back, and shoved.
Freya fell into the water with a horrible belly flop that stung her skin even through the thin skirts she wore. The water rushed up her nose and pressed into her lungs. She floundered for a second underneath the water, not knowing which way was up. Blinking through the saltwater, she searched for the light of the portal room.
Her gut said this was no portal. Leo had played a grand jest, but she didn’t want to drown before she made it to the isles. Swimming to the surface, she spluttered as cool air blasted her face.
“Damn it, Leo!” she snarled, blinking through the painful drops of saltwater. “I didn’t want to get wet!”
But Leo never responded.
Freya swam to the edge of the pool and hauled herself onto the lip. Sitting, she scrubbed her eyes to clear her vision and was shocked to see white-washed walls and sunlight glittered through the tiny chips of seashells embedded in the stone.
She was on the island. And without having to go past those terrifying crabs and sharks again.
This would have been so much easier to get to their destination the first time. Poor Arrow. There was no need for him to be as sick as he had gotten, and the days of complaining she’d endured afterward.
Freya swung her legs over onto the floor at the same time the doors slammed open and Cora came rushing in. Half her hair was braided, the other side a plume of dark curls that coiled around her skull. “Leo? Leo, is it really you?”
The other woman’s expression fell when she caught sight of Freya.
“Sorry to disappoint.” Freya lifted a wet arm and waved. “He sent me.”
Cora sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why am I not surprised? Of course he sent you. He’ll do anything to avoid seeing me again, won’t he?”
Freya stood and wrung the water out of her skirts. She’d need something else to wear, and fast. Her teeth chattered already. “He said to let you know that he is coming soon. He wants to see you, Cora. He’s just scared.”
“Of what?” Cora threw her arms into the air. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. So much has happened since you were here last, and I think you should see it all. Your Goblin King is a resourceful man, and the handmaidens are hard workers. We’re all ready to welcome the Summer Lord should he ever decide he wants to see me. Or even step up to the throne the trees gifted him.”
Apparently Cora had been talking with Eldridge too much. The sting of her words would be heartbreaking if Leo heard them. The poor man needed someone who would see him and forgive all the actions he’d taken. Or at least set them aside until he grew more confident. His misguided choices were the very reason he had avoided seeing her for such a long time.
“He’s trying his best, Cora. You need to be gentle with him when he does come to see you.” She padded over to the elf, wet footsteps slapping the stone. “The last thing he needs is to think his wife is a harpy.”
“A harpy? No, of course not.” Cora sniffed and ran a hand over the side of her head that was braided. “He’ll be married to an Elven princess, and he better remember that.”
Oh no. She had been talking to Eldridge far too much. Freya trailed after the elf, who had suddenly found her aggressive side and wondered how she was going to fix this.
Yes, it was very important that Cora be confident and able to call Leo out when he was doing something that she didn’t like. She absolutely should, as well. A partnership was just as much about helping the other person become a better version of themselves as it was supporting each other. However. There was a correct way to do that, with gentleness and understanding. It seemed like Eldridge had convinced Cora to beat Leo over the head with a stick until the Summer Lord broke under the weight of her disappointment.
And that simply wouldn’t do.
“Cora,” Freya called out. “I think we should talk about Leo before he gets here. There are some things you should know, and understand...”
“I think I understand him perfectly after talking with Eldridge.”
Freya muttered under her breath, “You don’t. I’m trying to help you, woman.”
But of course, she couldn’t say that too loud. Not when Cora was clearly happy with this new, confident version of herself. Softening this woman would take time and energy that Freya didn’t have right now.
All she wanted was to see Eldridge. That was it.
“Cora, where is Eldridge?” she called out.
The faint discomfort she’d felt when the trees told her to scry came back. What if Cora acted strangely? What if...
The elf flippantly waved over her shoulder. “Oh, he’s around here somewhere. Probably with the handmaidens knowing him. He hasn’t left their side since they got here. Everything has been about preparations and I have no idea what he’s been planning. The man has been running around here like he’s decided to quit being the Goblin King and change his profession to head of household.”
That... Didn’t sound like Eldridge at all.
Frowning, Freya glanced down one of the village hallways and cleared her throat. “Do you need me now, or might I find the Goblin King?”
“Well, you are here for me, aren’t you?” Cora looked over her shoulder and must have seen Freya’s expression. The odd, new personality fell from her shoulders. Cora’s face softened, and she smiled. “Oh, right. Of course you’d want to see him. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Time passes differently for me, and I forget that. Please, Freya. Go steal him away from the handmaidens for a little while. Walk the beach and reconnect.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, then ran through the nearest home to find her Goblin King.
