I choose my words carefully. Prince and a lie detector to boot. If I can collar this dude, I can do anything! Itll be like dancing on a minefield. Im fascinated by the prospect. What a way to test myself. Thanks for understanding, Christian, I say.
No problem. Well, it is. But Ill deal with it. For now.
The other Unseelie princes scare me.
They should. Theyre walking nightmares! You wouldnt believe some of the sick shit they do.
The irony thats lost on him isnt on me. One second hes aware of himself as Unseelie prince, the next he acts like hes the furthest thing from it. I dont say Yes I would because, dude, you do sick stuff, too. Casting aspersions wont win me any points. I feel so unsafe without my sword. I squint up toward the ceiling. The Bartlett Building used to be an old warehouse before it was converted. They left the steel beams and girders exposed when they moved in. I dont see him up there anywhere.
Then hes in front of me, sweeping low in a formal bow.
Your sword, my lady. I would have razed heaven and earth to get it back for you. Hes holding it across both hands, presenting it to me. He looks at me and I look straight back, measuring the madness in his eyes. I feel moisture pressing at the corners of mine, like theyre going to start bleeding. I pinch the bridge of my nose, hard. I cant stop staring at him. Its like his eyes are made of liquid silver on top of rainbows, like the kaleidoscopic tattoos beneath his skin run like a river at the bottom of them, like I could tumble in and dive down deep. I feel woozy.
Dont look me straight in the eyes, lass. Stop it! He chucks me under the chin, jarring me into breaking eye contact. He trails his fingers across my cheek and when his hand comes away bloody, he licks it. Never look in my eyes too long. It hurts people. Then he smiles. Youll notice I can touch the hallow. I worried I wouldnt be able to.
I look down at the Seelie hallow across his hands, one of four Fae talismans that only humans and those of the Light Court can touch. I could take it, drive the blade through his heart and be free of him forever.
I reach for my sword.
He pulls it back. A little thanks might be nice.
Christian, youre the Shit, I say. First, you saved my life and now youre giving me back my sword when nobody else would even help me.
Dickhead sure didnt.
He sure didnt, I agree and reach for my sword again. Nobody cares about me like you do.
Och, lass, youve no bloody idea, he says in a near-whisper. I see you from the inside.
Can I have it now? I want it so bad mypalms itch.
He cocks his head and looks at me then swivels his head just like an Unseelie prince, like his head and neck arent put together quite right. It gives me chills. You wouldnt be thinking of killing me with it, now would you, lass?
Of course I would. But Im not going to. Not right now, anyway.
His smile is blinding. Good, because I have another gift for you tonight. I know you like to save humans, so Im going to help you. You may consider it one of many early wedding gifts.
I blink. Huh? Either I manage to mask my astonishment or he doesnt even notice the look on my face, because he just keeps talking.
The Unseelie princes know the thing that came through the slit at the warehouse. They called it Ghluk-ra dJhai.
What the heck does that mean? Also, wedding gifts? Has he completely lost his marbles?
Its hard to translate. Unseelie have forty-nine words for ice, and theres a nuance to dJhai Im not sure I understand. Loosely, Id call it the Hoar Frost King.
The Hoar Frost King, I echo. What is it? How do you kill it? Will the sword work? Assuming anyone could even get close enough without freezing to death.
I dont know. But I know a place where we might find out. If there are answers anywhere, theyll be there. Take the sword, lass. I dont like you being unprotected. And I know you dont want me hanging around all the time. Not that I blame you with the monster Im becoming.
I reach for it with both hands. I almost cant contain myself. Im trembling with excitement.
He leans in and lays the sword across my palms.
I close my eyes and sigh with ecstasy. The heft of cool steel in my hands is well, better than I think sex must be! Its like having both arms amputated and thinking youll have to learn to live without them, then getting them put back on completely fine again. I love my sword. Im invincible with it. I dont know one fecking ounce of fear with this thing in my hands. Deep inside where my blood runs a little stranger than other folks, gears shift and slide back into perfect alignment. I am one with my blade. Im complete.
Och, and theres the woman youll be one day, Christian murmurs. Passion enough to rule an army. Not that I have one. Yet.
I might want an Unseelie prince on a leash but we need to get one thing straight. I aint ever getting married.
Who said anything about getting married?
Dude, early wedding gifts.
He looks at me like Im nuts. Who said anything about wedding gifts?
No problem. Well, it is. But Ill deal with it. For now.
The other Unseelie princes scare me.
They should. Theyre walking nightmares! You wouldnt believe some of the sick shit they do.
The irony thats lost on him isnt on me. One second hes aware of himself as Unseelie prince, the next he acts like hes the furthest thing from it. I dont say Yes I would because, dude, you do sick stuff, too. Casting aspersions wont win me any points. I feel so unsafe without my sword. I squint up toward the ceiling. The Bartlett Building used to be an old warehouse before it was converted. They left the steel beams and girders exposed when they moved in. I dont see him up there anywhere.
Then hes in front of me, sweeping low in a formal bow.
Your sword, my lady. I would have razed heaven and earth to get it back for you. Hes holding it across both hands, presenting it to me. He looks at me and I look straight back, measuring the madness in his eyes. I feel moisture pressing at the corners of mine, like theyre going to start bleeding. I pinch the bridge of my nose, hard. I cant stop staring at him. Its like his eyes are made of liquid silver on top of rainbows, like the kaleidoscopic tattoos beneath his skin run like a river at the bottom of them, like I could tumble in and dive down deep. I feel woozy.
Dont look me straight in the eyes, lass. Stop it! He chucks me under the chin, jarring me into breaking eye contact. He trails his fingers across my cheek and when his hand comes away bloody, he licks it. Never look in my eyes too long. It hurts people. Then he smiles. Youll notice I can touch the hallow. I worried I wouldnt be able to.
I look down at the Seelie hallow across his hands, one of four Fae talismans that only humans and those of the Light Court can touch. I could take it, drive the blade through his heart and be free of him forever.
I reach for my sword.
He pulls it back. A little thanks might be nice.
Christian, youre the Shit, I say. First, you saved my life and now youre giving me back my sword when nobody else would even help me.
Dickhead sure didnt.
He sure didnt, I agree and reach for my sword again. Nobody cares about me like you do.
Och, lass, youve no bloody idea, he says in a near-whisper. I see you from the inside.
Can I have it now? I want it so bad mypalms itch.
He cocks his head and looks at me then swivels his head just like an Unseelie prince, like his head and neck arent put together quite right. It gives me chills. You wouldnt be thinking of killing me with it, now would you, lass?
Of course I would. But Im not going to. Not right now, anyway.
His smile is blinding. Good, because I have another gift for you tonight. I know you like to save humans, so Im going to help you. You may consider it one of many early wedding gifts.
I blink. Huh? Either I manage to mask my astonishment or he doesnt even notice the look on my face, because he just keeps talking.
The Unseelie princes know the thing that came through the slit at the warehouse. They called it Ghluk-ra dJhai.
What the heck does that mean? Also, wedding gifts? Has he completely lost his marbles?
Its hard to translate. Unseelie have forty-nine words for ice, and theres a nuance to dJhai Im not sure I understand. Loosely, Id call it the Hoar Frost King.
The Hoar Frost King, I echo. What is it? How do you kill it? Will the sword work? Assuming anyone could even get close enough without freezing to death.
I dont know. But I know a place where we might find out. If there are answers anywhere, theyll be there. Take the sword, lass. I dont like you being unprotected. And I know you dont want me hanging around all the time. Not that I blame you with the monster Im becoming.
I reach for it with both hands. I almost cant contain myself. Im trembling with excitement.
He leans in and lays the sword across my palms.
I close my eyes and sigh with ecstasy. The heft of cool steel in my hands is well, better than I think sex must be! Its like having both arms amputated and thinking youll have to learn to live without them, then getting them put back on completely fine again. I love my sword. Im invincible with it. I dont know one fecking ounce of fear with this thing in my hands. Deep inside where my blood runs a little stranger than other folks, gears shift and slide back into perfect alignment. I am one with my blade. Im complete.
Och, and theres the woman youll be one day, Christian murmurs. Passion enough to rule an army. Not that I have one. Yet.
I might want an Unseelie prince on a leash but we need to get one thing straight. I aint ever getting married.
Who said anything about getting married?
Dude, early wedding gifts.
He looks at me like Im nuts. Who said anything about wedding gifts?
