Fragile Eternity
Page 57

Or real.
As he concentrated on the ocean, he could taste the briny air. Years ago, hed lived by the sea.Linda loved that. His father wasnt much for the water, but Seth and his mother had relished it. Shed found motherhood much easier when she felt freer. The sea breeze made her feel that way. Seth could taste it in the air, that familiar salty tang. It seemed too real to be an illusion.
The entire universe is at Sorchas hands.
Seth could see why she didnt come live inside the main part of Huntsdale or any other city when she had utopia hidden in this space. Donia had the small corner of Winter year-round; Keenan and Aislinn had their park; but Sorcha seemed to have an entire world behind her barrier. Seth couldnt quite see why anyone would leave here willingly. It was perfect.
He stopped himself. He had to stay focused so that when she allowed him to speak, he could try to convince her that he belonged in the world of faeries. Donia had listened when he spoke; shed given him the Sight. Niall listened when he spoke; hed offered brotherhood. Faeries seemed to respond favorably to sincerity and courage. Blind adoration, on the other hand, wasnt persuasivenot that he had anything logical to offer as a point of debate. He didnt want to be a finite mortal in a world of eternal faeries. He hoped shed be sympathetic when she finally chose to listen to his requestand that shed let him speak to her soon. He wasnt sure how long he would be asked to wait or if he could leave if he was tired of waiting.
Am I a prisoner?
He had no answers, nor anyone to ask. Sorchas court wasnt like the Summer Court with its constant chatter and laughter. It wascalm, and not very embracing.
The exception to that was a faery whose body seemed to be cut of the night sky. Each day shed paused to offer to share her studio supplies if he ran out.
You could come to my studio. You could create, she said.
Thats kind, or I appreciate it, he would say, carefully avoiding any form of thank you each time. Hed learned enough of their rules to know to avoid empty words.
No speaking past the threshold, she repeated each day. And then shed left without pause. Knowing she was an artist made her seem almost comforting, almost familiarbut for the flickers of distant starlight radiating out as she moved. She cast white shadows on the walls. It made no sense, not logically, but Seth had given up on expecting faeries to adhere to the rules of mortal logic or physics.
Today, when they exchanged their daily comments again, he decided to follow her, but hed only gone a few paces when he ran into Devlin. The emotionless faery hadnt been around since the night hed choked Seth. Now he stood like a physical barrier in the hall. Olivia walks where you cannot.
Seth watched the starlit faery round a corner and vanish from sight. You going to strangle me again?
Devlin didnt smile. His posture and movements bespoke strict military training, steel-straight spine and every muscle ready. If my queen requires it, or if its in my courts best interests, or
Following Olivia on that list?
If you follow Olivia into the sky, youll freeze to death or suffocate. It would be unpleasant either way. Devlin maintained his military-straight posture. Mortals arent designed for sky walking.
Sky walking? Suffocate? Freeze?
Seth stared down the hall where Olivia had long since disappeared. Into the sky literally?
She works with a different medium than you do. Its a rarity born of her mixed heritage. Devlin relaxed briefly; his expression was one of awe. She weaves starlight. Tapestries of filaments so transient they melt each day. The sky isnt a place for fragile mortals. Your body requires breath and warmth. Neither is possible there.
Oh.
She wouldve woven a portrait of you, but the consequence would not be one most mortals like.
It would kill me, Seth confirmed.
Yes, her portraits are sometimes anchored longer with mortal breath. Breath for art. Balance. Devlins voice had a fervor Seth recognized: it was madness perhaps, but it was madness over Art.
Somehow that revelatory moment of passion made Seth feel more at peace.
Sorcha requests you attend her, Devlin said.
Seth quirked a brow. Attend her?
The taciturn faery paused. He stared at where Olivia had vanished several moments past. You might be better off following Olivia. My queen islike your queen and like Niallrequired to consider the well-being of her court first. You are an aberration and thus in a rather untenable situation.
Seth glanced at Boomer in his immense terrarium, assuring again that the boa was contained, and then closed the door to his room. Ive been in an untenable situation for months. This is about fixing that.
Bartering with faeries is not a wise plan, Devlin said.
Art isnt the only thing worth being consumed for.
So Ive heard. Devlin paused and gave Seth a look of blatant assessment. Niall cares for you, so I will hope youre as clever as you think you are, Seth Morgan. My sisters are neither kind nor gentle.
I have no desire to fight them.
I didnt mean in a fight. Their taking notice of a mortal has rarely been a good thing for the mortal, and you are very much drawing their attention. Devlin spoke the words in an extremely low voice. Come.
The weight of the faeries gazes felt different as Seth followed Devlin through the hallways. It was unsettling to see them stop mid-sentence, mid-step, mid-breath as Seth passed. Like walking with Bananach, following Devlin involved a series of twists and turns through the building. They went up and down stairwells, in and out of rooms that appeared to be the same ones. Finally Devlin paused in the middle of a nondescript room that Seth was sure theyd just left.It has a strange doorway. Seth looked behind him for the door, and the room was suddenly filled beyond capacity with faeries.