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“But…don’t fairies live forever?” I asked.
Lachlan shook his head.
“Both Seelie and Unseelie have much longer life spans than humans but they’re not immortal. And of course, they can always be killed. Although if you say that in the presence of their majesties, you will be the one minus your head pretty quickly,” he warned.
“It is considered treason to speak of the Queen or King’s demise,” Bran said in a low voice. “Which is why my father had to run for his life and my whole family went with him. Even though my father was just trying to alert the Queen to future dangers and let her know she ought to choose an heir.” He sighed. “Anyway, he said she wouldn’t hear of it. She’s convinced the Prince will come back someday and beg forgiveness and claim the throne. Until then, she and King Tyr will continue ruling, no matter how old they get.”
“Interesting.” Lachlan nodded. “I wondered why the lot of you had to go so quickly. I didn’t guess it was because your father tried speaking truth to power.”
“Unfortunately.” Bran looked unhappy. “I wonder where they’ll go?”
“Not too far away, I hope,” I said anxiously. “I still feel awful that they left without you.”
“I’m not sorry.” Bran lifted his chin. “I’m almost of age anyway. It’s time I struck out on my own.”
“You’re not leaving are you?” I exclaimed anxiously. I didn’t want Bran to go either. Somehow I felt like I needed him by my side—which was the same way I felt about Lachlan, though I had only just met him.
I knew those feelings didn’t make much sense, but I couldn’t stop the churning anxiety inside me when I thought of either one of them leaving me.
“No, of course not. I promised to stay with you, Emma, and I always keep my word,” Bran said softly.
“Maybe I ought to hang around too,” Lachlan remarked, giving me that lopsided grin of his. “I’ve heard a lot about Nocturne Academy. Do you think they’d admit a half-blood like me?”
“I don’t see why not—though you must know that all the other Fae students are pure-blooded High Sidhe,” Bran warned.
“Meaning I’ll be shunned by polite society?” Lachlan raised an eyebrow at him. “Remind me again how that’s any different from back home in the Realm?”
“You have a point,” Bran said. “At any rate, it’s a good thing there will be two of us to protect Emma. I’m not sure what the other Fae students will make of her now that her true face is revealed. She’s already had trouble with Morganna Starchild.”
“Ah, the fair Morganna,” Lachlan said dryly. “As pretty as a poppy and as poisonous as an asp.”
“That’s Morganna, all right.” Bran nodded grimly. “She already put a skink in Emma’s ear. Who knows what she’ll try next—she’s bound to be jealous now that Emma’s beauty exceeds her own.”
“She may be from the Summer Court and not the Winter one, but she’s cut from Queen Mab’s cloth all right,” Lachlan agreed. “She wants to be the fairest of them all. You’re right, Bran—I definitely need to stay and help you watch Emma’s back.”
“But I thought you said the skink would go back and get into Morganna’s ear?” I said to Bran. “Won’t that take care of her—at least for a while?”
He looked doubtful.
“That might work on a less devious female but something tells me that even a skink won’t slow Morganna down for long.” He looked at Lachlan. “I’m glad you’ll be with us. And glad that we can be friends out in the open for once.”
Lachlan nodded grudgingly.
“I’m glad as well.”
I was happy to see they were mending what was apparently a long friendship, but I still had questions.
“Hey—you know, you guys never told me about the life debt—why did you have to come when he called for you?” I asked Lachlan. I looked at Bran. “Did you save his life or something?”
Both of them looked extremely uncomfortable.
“Well…” Bran began.
But just then the buzzing sound of my cell phone distracted me. I picked it up from the floor, where it had fallen, and bit my lip when I saw the screen.
My mom had called me twelve times and left fifteen texts, all of them progressively more worried and alarmed. And no wonder—it was around three in the morning at that point and I had been due home from the diner by eleven.
She was probably worried sick.
“Oh no—look at the time!” I gasped. “Guys, I’ve got to get home! My mom is going to kill me—she might already have the whole Frostproof police force out looking for me.”
Which was only one rusty patrol car driven by Chief Carl but still…
“Call her back and let her know you’re well and with friends,” Bran told me. “Lachlan and I will walk you home.”
“Thanks.” I called my mom and reassured her, telling her I was with friends and apologizing for not seeing my phone earlier. She’s usually pretty laidback about curfew and things like that—mainly because I’ve never been the type of kid to stay out late without permission before. But this time she was really upset. She kept saying that she’d been having “a bad feeling” about me and she was worried.
