AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’vehad a fascinating day in the library, making pages move with my powers. Read some stuff about the oilliphéist and the beginning of the Unseelie Court.”
There was something wrong about that statement, something she couldn’t put her finger on, but the niggling feeling of uncertainty was glossed over next to his words. “The off-east what?”
“Oilliphéist,“ Hawthorn repeated exasperatedly, with the kind of perfect diction found only among the ruling classes. “Giant sea-monster? We saw the bones of the last one at the Summer Court—”
“Oh, wasthatwhat it was called?“ Juliana said. “I wasn’t paying too much attention. My brain was still screaming ‘snake!’ at that point.”
Hawthorn chuckled.
“Why were you reading about the oilliphéist?”
“Uncertain. It was in a book about the Unseelie, though. I’d never questioned the two courts that much growing up, you know? I’d just accepted that that was the way things had always been—Seelie and Unseelie since the dawn of time.”
“It wasn’t?”
He shook his head. “There was just one court at first—the Faerie Court, ruled over by Titania and her husband Oberon. There was some faerie rebellion led by a courtier called Maeve—”
Juliana had heard parts of this, but the story was so old that even faeries had trouble deciding what precisely had happened.
“Anyway, a bunch of creatures were rounded up as having sympathised with Maeve, and they were branded ‘Unseelie’ and exiled from Acanthia. There’ve been some tentative alliances over the years, but not many, and never for long by faerie means.”
Like before Ladrien cursed you.
Before Hawthorn’s name day, the Seelie had lived in relative peace with their Unseelie brethren, though tentative and uneasy. Most would not be seen within its walls, but they were not forbidden. Some—like Owen’s wife, for example—had been embraced.
But not many.
“What else did you read about?” she asked.
“Teleportation, mainly.”
“Teleportation? Why?”
“Because, as far as I can tell, no one can justvanish.They transform, or they open a portal. Both are very tricky magic. Even my own mother struggles with it. Ladrien is, of course, supposed to be very old, but even he shouldn’t be capable of bending the laws like that.”
“Is it possible he’s stolen the magic from someone else?” Juliana knew such a thing was possible—only a few very powerful fae were capable of it, but she’d heard stories, and once even seen it. Maytree had done it to a faerie accused of treason. Juliana had only been eight, forbidden both by Iona and her father from attending the trial, but she’d snuck in through the servants’ quarters. She thought, like most magic, it would be quick, beautiful to watch.
It wasn’t either, and the faerie had screamed like Maytree was cutting her out of her skin.
Hawthorn shook his head. “No. I’ve no doubt he’s stolen magic before, but he still shouldn’t be able to do that. I can’t explain it.”
Juliana wished she had the energy to offer up an explanation or even just to think, but the words once more turned slippery on her tongue. She let out a yawn.
“Sorry,” said Hawthorn, “I know you’re tired, and I’m just here wittering on about nothing.”
Juliana pinched the back of his collar, tugging lightly, drawing him ever-so-slightly towards her. “I don’t mind,” she said. “I imagine your day has been a little boring without me to bother.”
Hawthorn leaned further against the bed. “Do I really bother you?”
“Not today,” she whispered. “Notmostdays, actually. Not really.“ She yanked back on his collar. “Don’t tell anyone!”
Hawthorn laughed. “I’m the only person that needs to know that anyway. Sleep, Juliana. I have time to bother you yet.”
But not much,she realised. Soon she’d need to resume her journey. Soon she’d be at the palace. Soon, one way or another, they would run out of time.
She fell asleep gripping the back of his shirt, as if she had the power to hold him there.
Thenextday,Julianawas released from her bed and set a few tasks to build up her strength. She had no objection to the tasks in principle—indeed, she welcomed the chance to test her mobility—but she did object to how thoroughlybadshe was at most tasks, especially laundry. She hadn’t had to do her own for three years, and it really showed.
