See Me

Her warning was clear. We were not to humiliate her in front of her peers, or else.

“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, stu

“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 tu

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 tu

“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 ca

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.”

McKale picked up his pace to walk at Khalistah’s side, and I hung back. The Prince let out a huff of air like he couldn’t believe McKale’s tenacity.

“I wish to speak with ye about the terms ye set forth when last we met,” McKale whispered.

A loud group of Fae turned down our path and Khalistah shrieked, “Move!” Her eyes flashed with a swirl of icy white and the Fae scattered out of her way. They bowed as she passed.

“I have not the slightest clue of what you are speaking,” the FFG said to McKale once we’d left that tu

The narrow path was confining, and I wanted McKale to stop pestering the FFG for information. I knew he felt pressure to get her confession soon, but I wished he would wait until we were on Chaun land again. We weren’t safe here.

“What is that human blathering on about?” the Prince grumbled. Then he raised his voice and called out to McKale, “Leave the Princess alone.”

The FFG answered without stopping or glancing back. “He has been like this since childhood. I am accustomed to his need for attention. Do not worry yourself, kind Prince.”

The way she said “kind Prince” sounded as if she were just as a

“I thought since a few days had passed… perhaps ye’d had time to think on it and change yer mind?” When she didn’t respond he said, “Do ye still require me to come to ye after the binding—”

She halted in her tracks and the walls seemed to contract inward on us. The FFG pivoted to face McKale, eyes flashing white once again.

“You will come to me of your own free will.” Her voice was level.

“What is the meaning of this?” the Prince asked.

Without looking away from McKale, the Princess held up her pointer finger at the Fae male and said, “Silence.”

His perfect brow creased with confusion as he watched her address McKale with maddening calmness. She moved close, her chin jutting up to point those scary eyes at his face. Each word she spoke was laced with a venomous punch of enunciation. McKale looked ready, hopeful.

“Nothing changed, McKale of the Leprechaun, until you dared to enter my realm with her. You are the one who has broken our agreement. Now I am forced to break mine. I will have you. And your precious betrothed will be punished. My Fair Folk will have her sister as a Gala gift this very night!”

Air caught in my lungs and I sucked in a choking breath. McKale, however, wore an expression of relief. The FFG had revealed herself, just as we’d wanted. But what if the video equipment didn’t work? Or what if it did and the King didn’t care? I would lose both of them. I reached out to steady myself against the wall, but the thick vine under my hand was wet and it squirmed at my touch. I yanked my hand away.