The Wayward Fae

Realizations

Mya, Jane, Sam, and Amber sat around a huge table, filled with all kinds of fruits and food. They'd followed Riana and her people inside, and Sam could feel her wolf pushing her to run, to get out. But she couldn't, there was no way she was leaving Amber in this place. Creatures she'd only ever dreamed of were everywhere, it was like Riana had taken all the myths and legends and hidden them here, behind her shield. She had to grudgingly admit that she was in awe of the Queen. To rule all these different types of creatures must take a huge amount of grit, courage, and skill. 

She eyed a pixie, flying around the chicken platter, and kept her eye on it, until it left the room. A woman, who looked a lot like the man that guarded the bridge, walked in, she held a bottle and filled all their glasses, with what smelled like the richest wine she'd ever sniffed. Her nose wrinkled, and she placed a hand on Amber's thigh, stopping her from taking a sip. Mya took a tentative sip, Jane watching her carefully, when she closed her eyes and moaned, Sam relaxed and lifted her own glass. 

"I would not poison you, Alpha," Riana said quietly. She reached for her own glass and took a deep sip. "I invited you here, or I invited Amber. I knew you would accompany her, but you two, I did not expect."

"You should have, Jane is Sam's protection, Mya is mine," Amber said. "Why are we here, Riana?"

"My daughter has run away." She looked toward William, her head guard and sometimes lover. "I sent William here, to find her. He tracked her to the lake that is situated in Silver Moon, then nothing. She either crossed the lake, and covered her tracks, or she went through Silver Moon. I hoped that you may have some news on her."

"Why do you think that she went through there?" Amber asked. "She could have just pretended to go through there."

"I don't, but I have to follow that lead, we sent the pirate prince in the other direction, it gives us some time to bring her home ourselves." Riana looked to Marissa. "I don't want him dragging her back here in shackles. I need a chance to negotiate her release from the promise of their nuptials."

"You promised your daughter to someone?" Sam growled. "Without her knowledge?"

"It was a long time ago, long before she was even born, it was made to join two fae kingdoms, at the time I needed his support, but in time my own kingdom grew and I didn't need it anymore, but the promise still stood. And my daughter seemed agreeable to the idea, so we left it as is. But then just over two months ago, she ran, with a friend, at least, to keep her safe. I've had search parties out to find her, but William came the closest." She looked at him. "He followed her to Silver Moon, but nothing more, no more leads. She vanished."

"Why are we here?" Mya spoke up for the first time, she ignored the glare Blue shot at her. "Why ask Amber and Sam to come all the way here, when you could have just sent a letter, or phoned, or come to us?"

"I couldn't risk it, if someone else finds out that she's missing, they could track her and use her against me, I would give up anything for her, even our location." She gestured around with her hand. "All these creatures, they depend on my protection, on the fact that this location is secret. If someone takes her and forces me to tell them, to get her back, I will do it in a heartbeat."

"I see." Mya put more chicken into her plate, Jane slapped her thigh, and Mya shrugged with a grin. "What?"

"Nothing." She said and shook her head. Jane held her hand over her glass when the woman with the pointy ears came by again, Sam did the same, only Mya and Amber allowed her to fill their glasses. 

"Riana, you said she went missing, ran, just over two months ago," Amber said. "What does she look like?" She looked at Sam, who nodded. She'd already told Sam what she feared. Their telepathy was strong. Even in Termonn. 

"Marissa," Riana said, and Marissa handed Amber a photo. There was no reaction from Amber as she stared at the picture, and she handed it to Sam. Sam growled softly as she handed it to Jane and Mya. Silence stretched as they took in the photograph. 

"Is she safe? That's all that I need to know?" Riana asked. Sam and Amber may have had perfect poker faces, but Jane and Mya did not. And her pixie flying around their heads, flickered as they looked at the picture, picking up on their increased heart rates. 

"She's safe," Amber admitted. "We don't wish to be in the middle." Amber held Sam down with a strong hand on her thigh. "But, if you want her back here, then I will send her back, with guards, of course."

"You'd do that?" Riana asked. 

"We have an understanding, Riana, you were there when we needed you most, a favor we had no right to ask, but you came anyway. So yes, we would send her back here, but I would have to have a promise from you."

"What would that be?" 

"That she be given the choice, again, whether she wants to marry this fae pirate prince, or not."

"I realized that I'd made a mistake. My daughter had run, instead of talking to me, so yes, she would get the choice. That is why I don't want you to force her to come back. Take Trixie, she will be our communication, and she can make sure Riley gets the message, that when she is ready to come back, it will be her choice and with the option to not marry the prince."

"I am not taking these, things, to my pack." Sam pointed at the pixie that flew around the table. She quickly pulled her finger back when Trixie made a beeline for her finger. "They are dangerous." 

"She won't electrocute any of you, you have my word," Riana said. "Trixie?" Riana said, and Trixie stuck out her tongue at Sam but flew to Riana. "Play nice, only to protect yourself are you to use your electrocution."

"What about this prince?" Mya asked. "Will he not be pissed off about this decision?"

"He's searching for a treasure, he's too distracted to find her." Riana dismissed the idea. 

"He's searching for his treasure," Jane said. "And let's be honest, a pirate always finds his treasure."

Jane scowled at Jane and then at Trixie. "Let's just go home." Sam stood, and Amber followed with Jane and Mya. "First vampires, then witches and shamen, now pixies and fae. I should change my town's motto to all f*****g welcome." Amber chuckled and followed Sam out. Trixie perched on her shoulder.