“Aye, Princess. That I understand. I’ve only come to thank ye for yer time as the clan’s Shoe Mistress. Ye’ll be missed, ye will.”
“Especially by you,” cut in one of the mermaid girls.
McKale cleared his throat. “Aye. And… I’ve come to return something ye left behind when last ye visited.”
He withdrew the golden chain and talisman from his pocket and everyone looked at the Princess, aghast that she’d be so careless. She stared at it, very still, but did not reach for it. In her stance it was clear that she knew, for sure, we were up to something now. For the Leprechauns, a returned gift was like a broken promise. A break-up.
With an uncharacteristic stiff movement she stuck out her hand and took the chain. There was a stillness to her body that made the others stare, wondering what was really going on here.
“You left your heartsong trinket with a human?” one of the girls asked, aghast.
“Do not be ridiculous, Melindalah!” The FFG laughed. “I was called back into our realm and…” Her throat seemed to close up and she gave a dainty cough. “A simple misunderstanding, is all.”
She couldn’t tell a lie! It was one of the many facts we’d learned about Fae from Dad over the years.
“Well, do be careful with it from now on,” the other girl teased. “You may want to take the Prince up on his offer to bind for a time someday.”
The girls glanced toward the bronze Fae male and smiled. Our guide was a Prince? He cast a warm glance at the Princess, whose eyes stared out at the distance. For that brief second I experienced a pang of pity for her. She’d given McKale a token that was apparently supposed to be given to someone she wanted to bind with, for a time. Fae didn’t do anything “forever” except keep living. Temporary bindings were as close as they came to love and commitment. But I didn’t feel sorry for her for long.
Khalistah’s eyes suddenly widened. “Where is my Paulie?” Her head swiveled to scan the sky.
“Pardon?” McKale asked.
“Her Pixie,” one of the M-girls clarified.
McKale and I shot a glance at each other.
“He’s, erm, still in Chaun land, Princess,” McKale answered. “I’m certain he’ll return soon.”
In a dangerous whisper she asked, “What have you done to him?”
Her friends took a step away and looked at us like we were in big trouble.
“He’s not been harmed, I promise ye. He was causing no end of ruckus last night and the boys… detained him.”
Her hand flew to her chest. “Not with iron?”
McKale dropped his gaze and shoved his hands in his pockets. In a swift move the Princess glided forward and slapped him across the cheek with a startling whack. He let out a muffled sound and stared at her, stunned. My hands balled into fists at my sides and I rocked forward before reminding myself not to move. She would use any excuse right now to finish us. She stood close to McKale with her chin lifted to his face. His eyes met hers.
“Let it be known, McKale of the Leprechaun: I do not take kindly to others touching something that belongs to me. You will take me to Paulie. At once.”
This was about way more than her stupid pixie. We’d flustered her. But it was good that she wanted to return to Chaun land. Now we just needed to somehow get her to reveal her plan again.
“Will you be joining us on the return journey, Princess?” asked the bronzed Prince.
“I will.” She smoothed down the front of her dress and stood tall.
The Fae Prince held out a bent elbow to her but she ignored him, gliding past and leaving her court without a backward glance. The Prince glared after her, ego bruised, and then pointed to the steps.
“Go,” he commanded us.
We followed the FFG with the Prince close behind.
I kept my eyes down and was careful not to touch anything as we skirted the Gala festivities and made our way back to the initial tunnel. I made the mistake of looking up at the guard as we were passing through and he raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at me, silver eyes caressing my curves. My heart fluttered and I rushed to stay close to McKale. The Fae Prince was on my heels.
For a tiny being, the FFG moved fast. Even in her graceful gliding, the set of her shoulders gave the image of a female on a mission. As she moved along, buds from the tunnel’s branches and vines turned to her and opened, then closed again and returned to their positions when she’d passed.
“Princess Khalistah?” McKale called out.
She didn’t answer. My heart couldn’t race any faster as I realized McKale was going in for the kill right now.
“Princess, might I speak with ye a moment?”
Without turning her head she said, “I cannot imagine what thing of importance you think is worthy of my hearing.”
The Prince gave a snort behind me and muttered, “Your father gives the Leprechauns too much grace, Princess. He coddles them into believing they are equals.”