The Emerald Staff (12 page)

Faedra rested her forehead on her knees
again. “I just want to be normal, I want my life back the way it
was. I want my dad back, and I want to go to college like a normal
person. Now I find out that I’ll never be normal because my dad
isn’t really my dad…” she turned her head to the side to look at
her Guardian, “your king is.”

She wasn’t surprised when Faen looked
nonplussed by her revelation.

“You knew, didn’t you?” she asked.

Faen nodded his awareness of the fact. “I
guessed, yes.”

“How long have you known?”

“When Vivianna called you a
samtero
kruwos
. I could see no other reason for her to be angry enough
with you to seek vengeance on the Land of Azran and The World of
Men. She is a very jealous person. Ever since her mother died she
has closely protected the attention she gets from her father. I
cannot imagine her ever allowing that attention to be shared.”

Faedra’s expression turned to one of shock,
“Enough to make millions of innocent people suffer?”

“It would seem so.” Faen’s voice was
resigned.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Faedra, you already had enough to deal with,
and it is not my place to tell you of your heritage. That
responsibility lies with your parents.”

Faedra’s voice cracked again, finding it hard
to deal with the turmoil she was feeling. Her eyes were pleading
when she looked into Faen’s.

“So…I’m half human and half fae. What does
that make me, Faen?” She sounded disgusted by her own words. “You
don’t need to answer that,” she added, not giving Faen a chance to
respond. “It makes me a freak, that’s what it makes me.”

Faen looked at her for a second and gave a
barely discernable shake of his head. Willing to take the risk of
getting shocked, he reached over and took her face in his hands,
wiping away the solitary tear rolling down her cheek with his
thumb. His eyes searched hers. A zingy feeling shot through his
fingers and up his arms but it wasn’t as painful as he’d expected
and he kept hold of her face, needing her to feel his support and
dare he admit, love, flowing through his hands.

A smile crept across his features and he
leaned in, placing a gentle kiss to Faedra’s lips, then pulled
back. Their eyes locked together and Faedra could feel her
heartbeat quicken.

She felt like they were frozen in time, but
after a few seconds Faen broke the silence.

“It makes you a princess.
That
is what
it makes you.”

Realization crept into Faedra’s consciousness
at Faen’s words. She hadn’t looked at it like that before now.
Faen’s touch was having the desired effect. She could feel herself
calming down as she leaned into his warm caress and closed her
eyes, her energy ebbing away with each heartbeat. His presence
alone made her feel safe. Faen moved closer until their thighs were
touching, and wrapped his arm around her. She leaned into him, laid
her head on his shoulder and sighed. For the first time she felt
like she was no longer alone in her mission.

“How did you know where to find me?” she
asked after a moment of silence.

“The king sent out Messengers and one found
me at my parent’s house.”

She sat up and looked at him, unable to hide
the surprise on her face. He had never mentioned his parents before
and she’d never thought to ask, but of course he probably had a mum
and dad, and a home that he’d grown up in.

“While I was watching you sleep and wracking
my brain trying to think of a way to rescue your father from
Vivianna’s clutches, I remembered some stories my father used to
tell me as a child. I went home to ask him for help,” he
explained.

“Can he help us?” Faedra asked, hope seeping
into her heart.

“I did not get to ask him before the
Messenger arrived and told me you were at the castle. My first
priority is to you, Faedra. I had to make sure you were safe.” He
brushed an errant strand of her disheveled hair out of her face and
tucked it behind her ear. “Now that I know you are, will you travel
with me to my home so we may ask my father if he knows of a way to
help us find your father?”

Faedra’s heart swelled with hope for the
first time since her dad had been kidnapped. She jumped to her feet
and looked down at Faen who was still sitting on the floor.

“I take that to be a yes.” He grinned at her
change in demeanor. The desperation had all but evaporated from her
face and was now replaced with a look of hope and
determination.

He got up from the floor in one of those
fluid motions of his and leaned over to pick up her backpack. He
held it up. “I have a feeling you may be needing this before we are
finished.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Faedra sucked in a breath as Faen’s home came
into view. She had never seen a more regal looking house. Though to
call it a house was an understatement of massive proportions.

The long sweeping driveway was lined either
side by intricately detailed topiary. She never thought it possible
to create such stunning designs in what were essentially
hedges.

The house itself was immense. It had at least
twenty windows in the front and there were a couple dozen spiraling
chimneys scattered across the roof, grouped together in sixes. A
clock tower rose above the main entrance, and the face was deep
blue with golden numerals. The house was surrounded by other
buildings. Faedra imagined them being mews and gardener’s quarters.
The perfectly manicured gardens stretched out behind the house and
she could see a lake in the distance. The lawns looked like fluffy
carpet and she yearned to walk barefoot over them and feel the cool
softness under her feet.

“You live here?” she looked up and asked Faen
as they flew closer to the house.

He shook his head. “I grew up here. I
live
with you.” He gave her one of his earth-shattering
smiles.

Faedra could feel her cheeks heat a little.
Of course, he did. He had ‘lived’ with her for twelve years. She
suddenly felt very selfish, realizing she had never really given
any thought to Faen’s life before he came to protect her. He had
been part of her life for so long she took it for granted that he
lived in the World of Men. But he wasn’t from the World of Men; he
had a home in a different realm and she wondered if he ever yearned
to go home. She had never been away from home for long and couldn’t
even imagine what it felt like to suffer from homesickness,
although, she’d heard it was gut wrenching.

Faen landed a few paces from the front
entrance to the grand house and lowered his charge to the ground.
She looked up at the façade and let her jaw drop. It was even more
impressive close up.

“Wow,” she breathed, “just how rich are your
parents?” Her eyes widened and she looked mortified by her
question. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”

Faen smiled again and scooped up her hand
before leading her to the front door.

“Come, I will show you around after I’ve
introduced you to my parents.”

He turned the big brass door knob and led her
inside to the marble entrance hall. Faedra’s eyes nearly bugged out
with the finery of the room.

“This way,” he gestured towards the kitchen,
thinking his parents would still be outside in the garden. They
turned to exit the hall.

“Faen!” Janessa called from the balcony above
them. They turned and looked up. She was holding onto the marble
railing and Faedra saw a visible change on her face as relief
washed over Faen’s mother.

“Oh, my boy, is everything alright?” Janessa
asked as she swept along the balcony and down the long marble
staircase towards them, her long skirts flowing behind her,
rustling with her movement. Her grace was not lost on Faedra who
could not tear her eyes from the beautiful woman heading in their
direction. Rowan was not far behind his wife who was moving in a
very animated fashion in front of him.

“Everything is fine, Mother,” Faen assured
her as she reached them.

Janessa’s features were soft and loving as
she cupped her son’s face in her hands for a second. Releasing him,
she turned to Faedra and smiled. Her whole face lighting up with
the warmth of it.

“You must be the Custodian.”

Faedra answered with a nod. She was a little
overwhelmed at seeing Faen’s parents for the first time and was
slightly lost for words.

Janessa noticed their entwined fingers and
gave her son a subtle but questioning look. Faedra noticed the
surreptitious glance, which made her feel uncomfortable. She
dropped her gaze to the floor and pulled her hand from her
Guardian’s, getting the sense from his parents that it was not
something he should be doing. He took her hand straight back and
gave her a reassuring smile when she looked up at him, then turned
the same smile on his mother.

When his father reached them, he, too, gave
their hands a glance. Faen noticed his father’s fleeting expression
and started the introductions to avert their attention.

“Mother, Father, this is Faedra. Faedra this
is my mother, Janessa, and my father, Rowan.”

Faedra held her free hand out in greeting.
“Pleased to meet you Mr. and Mrs. …” She waited to be told their
surnames.

“Actually, it is Lord and Lady, but please
call us Janessa and Rowan,” Rowan said with an easy smile.

Faedra tried to hide her surprise at Rowan’s
statement and kept her hand held out.

“Pleased to meet you, Janessa,” she gave a
polite handshake to Janessa, “and Rowan.” Faedra offered her hand
for him to shake. Rowan took it and brought it up to his lips.

“It is an honor to have your company in our
house,” he said.

Faedra felt her cheeks burn. She was in the
presence of a Lord and Lady and they thought it was an honor to
meet
her.

“Come up to the drawing room, my dear. You
must be weary after your journey. I will get Forbes to bring us up
some refreshments. You, poor dear, you look exhausted,” Janessa
said, gesturing for them to follow her up the stairs.

“Something sweet,” Faen requested on Faedra’s
behalf. Janessa gave her son a questioning look. “Her gift, she
manipulates energy,” he explained.

His mother gave him a knowing smile. “I will
have Forbes bring up all the sweet rolls we have.”

Faedra and Faen followed several steps behind
his parents.

“You never told me your parents were members
of the nobility,” she whispered with a hint of scolding in her
tone.

Faen shrugged his shoulders. “You never
asked.”

Faedra cringed a little. He was right, she’d
never asked, how selfish was that?

“So, what does that make you?” She kept her
voice to a whisper, hoping not to insult her hosts.

“It makes me your Guardian,” Faen replied,
avoiding the question.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
She nudged him with her elbow to which he responded with a wry
smirk.

Faedra sensed she wasn’t going to get that
out of him either. Good Lord he could be so stubborn.

They were led to the drawing room and
Faedra’s jaw dropped once more as she absorbed the finery of this
room, too. The ceiling was painted with row upon row of what looked
like Celtic knot work. A marble fireplace had been carved with a
scene full of fae and other creatures, some she recognized, and
others she didn’t. The walls were papered with muted yellows and a
huge tapestry hung at one end of the room taking up the whole wall.
The vibrant colors were breathtaking and it depicted a handsome
fairy with wings outstretched, sitting astride a rearing horse. He
had one hand on the reins and the other holding his sword, as if
ready to go into battle. She wasn’t quite sure how long she’d been
staring at the work of art until she felt a warm breath by her
ear.

“That is my father,” Faen whispered.

Faedra blew out a low whistle.

“That picture was commissioned after the
battle to capture Savu.”

Faedra tore her gaze away from the tapestry
to search Faen’s eyes.

He answered her unspoken question. “He was a
Guardian, too. He was one of the Guardians that brought Savu’s
reign of terror to an end. That is why I think he can help give us
some information about the ruby staff.”

Forbes walked in carrying a tray full of
drinks and sweet rolls and placed them on the low table between an
exquisite looking sofa and two high backed armchairs. The sweet
rolls must have been warm because the aroma of brown sugar wafted
under the young Custodian’s nose, making her mouth water with
anticipation. She hadn’t realized until now just how hungry she
was.

“Please, take a seat,” Janessa said,
gesturing for Faen and Faedra to sit on the sofa while Janessa and
Rowan each sat in a high backed chair.

“Help yourself, my dear,” Janessa told Faedra
when she saw her eyeing the rolls. Faedra didn’t need asking twice,
she grabbed a delicate china plate and placed a roll on it. She
savored the smell as she brought it closer to her lips. The first
bite was like a bolt of electricity surging through her veins. The
brown sugar hit her taste buds, the sweetness filled her mouth, and
she let out a mewl of pleasure.

She noticed the conversation had stopped and
opened her eyes that she hadn’t even realized she’d closed. Three
pairs of eyes were looking at her in amusement.

“Good?” Janessa asked, raising an
eyebrow.

Faedra’s cheeks burned and the piece of sweet
roll she was chewing nearly got stuck in her throat as she
swallowed hard.

“Yes, thank you,” she replied rather
sheepishly when she’d finished her mouthful.

Faen turned his attention back to his father.
“Father, do you know if there is any way we can track the ruby
staff and find out where Vivianna may have taken Faedra’s
father?”

Faedra stopped chewing the mouthful of food
she had, and held her breath as she watched Rowan toss the question
around in his head. He pursed his lips and let out a sigh. Faedra’s
heart sank as she recognized Rowan’s expression as not being a
hopeful one.