I looked back toward the Fae, who had reached the edge of the field now, and my abdomen tightened. Each of the four men had long, shimmering hair of metallic colors that fell to their shoulders: silver, gold, bronze, and copper. Their skin gave off eerie, iridescent glows. Their bodies and faces were symmetrical to the point of being unnatural. Too sharp. Too perfect. Like life-sized animated dolls.
It was the petite Fae girl at their side who stole my attention. Her tiny oval face was made of delicate features that would break any girl’s heart with envy. I was mesmerized by her big, almond shaped eyes of icy blue and her round, innocent flower of a mouth. Her hair was amazing: long, past her hips, straight and thick without a single hair out of place. The color was like white gold: the ultimate platinum blonde. I was utterly humbled by her beauty. All of the Chaun were on their feet now.
Brogan stepped forward through the crowd and bowed at the waist.
“Good evening, sires and miss. We welcome ye. To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“This is to be a special summer for the Leprechauns.” It was the bronze-haired male who spoke. His voice reverberated with power. “Has the betrothed of your son arrived as sanctioned by Lady Martineth?”
My stomach plummeted and for a split second I contemplated diving under the table. I hadn’t expected the Fae to show. I did not want their attention, and I suddenly yearned for my parents’ presence. The entire field was stiff. Music had stopped and everyone peered around, large-eyed, unmoving, eyes stopping on me. I looked at McKale, who stood tall. His eyes flashed to me for one seemingly paranoid second, then turned back toward the Fae, rapt. I peered toward the trees and found the faces of Cass and Rock peeking out from the shadows, watching.
“Why, y-yes, she has arrived,” Brogan confirmed. “’Tis a special time, indeed. We hope the binding will commence soon.”
“Very well. We bring goodwill from our realm, Brogan of the Leprechaun.”
“Oh, thank ye.” Brogan bowed again. “We are very much obliged.”
“Should there not be music and dancing on this momentous occasion? Please, commence the festivities.”
The bronze-haired man snapped his fingers and the pixies flew to him. He looked toward the Faerie girl, as if seeking her approval, but her freaky eyes were busy scanning the Chaun people. Brogan signaled the musicians who exchanged glances before raising their instruments. All except McKale, who had moved further into the clearing away from the musicians, appearing dumbfounded and dazzled. He’d left his fiddle next to the stump. The other musicians began a song.
Watching McKale, a knot slowly formed in my stomach. I followed his stare to the Faerie girl who was intently watching him in return. The knot grew larger and curled inside of me.
The four Fae men dispersed as the music began and the girl drifted seamlessly through the clearing, straight toward my betrothed. I watched, frozen, as she approached and stopped in front of him, not ten feet away from me.
“It has been too long, McKale of the Chaun.” Her voice was a soft caress.
He bowed his head and said, “Indeed, Khalistah.”
She held out a dainty hand and McKale hesitated. When he took her fingers in his palm, he shuddered and closed his eyes, but it wasn’t pain he was experiencing. His expression was euphoric. The knot in my stomach exploded like hot lightening. Warning sirens blared in my head. Every cell in my body desperately wanted to get him away from her. She gave the smallest smile of satisfaction before releasing his hand.
The Fae girl, Khalistah, looked past him to where I stood. Her lips tightened as her eyes took in every detail, from my flip-flops to the top of my head, which surely had stray hairs and frizz.
“This is her?”
McKale, who didn’t seem to want to take his entranced attention from the Fae girl, turned enough to verify that I stood there, and confirmed who I was with a nod.
“Wait,” he said, blinking when she stepped around him and moved closer to me. A small crowd formed, their faces worried.
Khalistah’s eyes reached the top of my tall frame.
“I didn’t realize human women could grow so large.” There were a few gasps from the crowd as Khalistah laid down the ultimate insult by Leprechaun standards. I already felt like a gigantic oaf here, so the smack-talk was unnecessary. She continued to speak to McKale about me, right to my face.
“You will bind with her?” she asked in a distasteful way.
I looked to McKale, imploring, but he appeared dazed. He blinked again and swallowed hard.
“I will do my duty for the clan,” he said quietly. Bile rose in my throat.
“Hmph,” Khalistah breathed.
Yeah. I didn’t like her. And I wasn’t his biggest fan right now either.
I clamped my teeth down hard. As visions of violence danced in my head, I had to remind myself that this Fae witch had the power to curse my family and me.
I didn’t feel so good.