Exchanged Page 21

  “I can do this,” Aubriel had whispered to him when they quit Oberon and Titania’s rooms to take up their search.

  “I know you can,” Callannon said. “That doesn’t excuse Titania from throwing you at Jekob like she would a mouse to a cat. You’re strong and brave, but even if we somehow get through this, Titania will only try to use you again.”

  “She won’t.” There was no weakness in her voice. “I did nothing when Elston struck me down, and I’ve done little to show the fey that mortals are not to be disgusted, feared, or trampled. This is my chance to do what I should have been doing all along.”

  Aubriel wasn’t the only one who could have acted differently. There was just as much opportunity for Callannon to right his own wrongs as there was for her to right hers. He hoped they weren’t too late.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Jekob said dismissively. “She lied to us—she and Lord Thray both—and so they’ve lost my trust.”

  “They lied so that we would not turn away from them immediately as we would have had we known of Miss Aubriel’s mortality from the start,” Ginette reasoned.

  Jekob didn’t respond.

  “You have more reason to trust Miss Aubriel than you know. I was going to wait to tell you this, but your stubbornness is ridiculous. I’m with child, and it’s Aubriel the mortal whose knowledge helped us conceive.”

  ~*~

  Oberon and Titania looked at each other with eyebrows raised before turning their gazes on Aubriel. Surprise that she had aided the Deepwood royals in conceiving was clear on their faces. Aubriel looked back to the open doorway. Ginette hadn’t wanted anyone else to know for fear of her unborn child’s safety. That safety might already be compromised.

  “You are with child?” Jekob gasped.

  “Yes, and it’s thanks to the help of Miss Aubriel,” Ginette said softly. “Are you still so disgusted, to know that your child was given root in me by her aid?”

  Moments went by, and Bree wondered if Jekob struggled with the idea that his own flesh and blood might be somehow lesser due to her influence. Finally, he sighed. “I’m not disgusted. If what you say is true, then I’m more full of joy than I thought possible.”

  “Of course it is true! After decades of trying, do you think I would torment you with such a jest? The spark of life is new, but my magic tells me it’s there, and I can already feel the effects it has on me. Jekob, we’ll finally have our child.”

  The sound of footsteps and the rustle of clothing told Aubriel that one of them must have moved, and she imagined them hugging each other. She glanced up at Callannon and gave a small smile. There was nothing greater that Ginette could have said to help, and Aubriel was happy the potion worked. Her smile faltered at the sound of urgent rustling and low sounds coming from the meeting room. Callannon’s cheeks darkened with her own, but they made no move to leave.

  After intentionally invading Ginette and Jekob’s privacy by listening to their private conversation, further unintentional invasion occurred as the sounds of their love-making drifted into the hall. Many long minutes passed before it sounded like the pair came to a conclusion, and after a modest amount of time, Callannon knocked on the doorframe.

  “One moment,” Ginette called. More rustling followed. “You may enter.”

  The Deepwood queen and king looked rumpled but satisfied in front of a table with parchment scattered wildly across the top. Callannon gave a small bow as if nothing were unusual about the entire situation. “We’ve come to discuss the state of the treaty as well as my and Aubriel’s earlier admission.”

  Ginette took Jekob’s hand in her own and looked up at him. “You know my feelings. I wish for the treaty to be signed as it is, but you must agree to it as well.”

  Jekob considered his wife and then Aubriel. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he at least seemed to be contemplating rather than flat out refusing to consider. “I think I would like to speak to Miss Aubriel alone.”

  Callannon’s hand went around her waist.

  Jekob held up a hand. “You need not go far, but I wish to speak and be spoken to without influence from anyone else.”

  There seemed to be no other option if she wished for the treaty to have a chance. “I agree to this, but I would like to know everyone else waits just outside the door.”

  “Of course,” he inclined his head.

  “Are you certain?” Callannon whispered. “If you’re uncomfortable, I don’t have to go. You’ve already been through enough this day.”

  Aubriel squeezed his hands. This wasn’t just about standing up for mortals, but also about standing up for herself. Her failure to stop Elston still plagued her. If she could succeed with Jekob, maybe she could finally put those memories to rest. “I need to do this. It doesn’t make much sense, not even to me, but I have to do what I couldn’t with Elston. I’ve stood up to Jekob, but now I have to make things better. Sending him to the other side of this world won’t improve things, so that’s not an option this time.”

  Callannon gave a small smile at that, but squeezed her hands hard. “I’ll only be outside the door. If he does anything you don’t like, just call.”

  With one last brush of the flower in her hair, he pulled away and left the room with Ginette, Oberon, and Titania.

  The peaceful lulling of waves was easily heard through the silence of the room. Aubriel clasped her hands before her in what she hoped was a diplomatic fashion and was thankful that Callannon's healing magics had removed the injuries she'd received during her flight from Salda, letting her focus fully on her current trial.

  “Miss Aubriel,” Jekob said, looking her over carefully, seemingly as uncertain of her as she was of him. “Everyone wishes me to sign the treaty and end the enslavement of mortals in our land. Tell me, why do you think I should agree to this?”

  That hadn’t been what she was expecting. Bree thought carefully about what to say. She would only get one chance to convince him and had to make it count. Jekob obviously didn’t care about mortals being complex people with feelings, otherwise he wouldn’t have pushed to keep slavery in his land. Appealing to his more practical side might work. What could mortals do for the fey that the powerful fey couldn’t do for themselves? “It would benefit you more to work with mortals than to keep them as slaves. We have access to information and resources that you don’t, as I proved by helping your wife conceive. You cut yourself off from access to this knowledge by treating mortals the way you do.”

  Jekob nodded thoughtfully. “True enough. You managed to succeed where Ginette and I failed.” His gaze became skeptical. “Even if mortals may have knowledge and resources of interest to me, there is no trust between us. The slaves will have no interest in sharing their secrets with me or the queen.”

  “I suppose you’ll need to forge alliances the old-fashioned way.” Aubriel lifted her chin boldly. “As with any meaningful relationship, work and effort will need to be put forward before you are able to reap the benefits.”

  “Spoken like a true advisor,” Jekob conceded. “But if I am to forge new alliances, I will need someone to negotiate on behalf of the Deepwood, someone who not only understands mortals but can aid me in forging such alliances. Someone like you, Miss Aubriel.”

  Dear Rabek, me? “I—I’m not sure I understand.”

  “Once we’ve established a number of mortal alliances, Queen Ginette and I will no longer require your assistance, but we will need it as we begin if we are to end mortal enslavement.”

  She pondered the thought for a moment. “If I agree to give my assistance to you, you will sign the treaty and agree to stop using mortals as slaves.” It wasn’t a question. Either he agreed or he didn’t. She wouldn’t once again go through the trouble of providing aid just to receive whatever Jekob’s version of a gauntlet to her head was.

  “Agreed,” Jekob said, taking up a pen and putting it to the treaty. “I will require a set number of contacts be established. If you can broker trade agreements with fifty mort
al traders, that should be enough.”

  “Fifty? That’s ridiculous.” She hadn’t meant to add the last part, but it tumbled out on its own. “Twenty is a much more reasonable number. The Deepwood will need to learn to communicate with mortals on its own well before fifty contracts.”

  “Forty.”

  “Twenty-five, and I won’t agree to anything higher.”

  “Thirty, then.” He began jotting down the number before she could spit out a counter. “But know that nothing will change until you fulfill our agreement. If you can.” He held her gaze fully and extended the pen. “You need to sign here.”

  Aubriel waved away the pen. “After you, King Jekob. I may trust your wife, but I’m still not certain I trust you.”

  He smiled at that, his white teeth gleaming in the glowing light. “Now you’re thinking like a true advisor. Perhaps I can see in you what my wife does.”

  There was still a lingering wariness in Jekob’s gaze, but Aubriel was just as wary of him. The newfound joy of fatherhood might still be warm within him, but would he still feel the same about her when his feelings settled? It didn’t seem as if she had done anything truly special, for she would have helped any woman better her chances at fertility, but Jekob didn’t need to know that.

  King Jekob signed the treaty and handed Aubriel the pen for her to do the same. Trading contracts with thirty mortals. The only way to accomplish such a feat would be to return to her own realm, something she no longer wished to do. She already said her goodbyes to everyone there—in her own way—and it finally felt like the sting of Elston’s betrayal and misuse of her was fading. Why had Rabek led her to the Summer Kingdom at all, just to lead her back?

  She already knew the answer to that question. Callannon needed to maintain his position and his place with his adopted family. Mortals like Ginette’s herald needed her to sign so they could resume their lives. Mortals yet to enter the fey realms needed to find themselves free when they entered. She wouldn’t be so selfish as to sacrifice all of that so she and Callannon could remain together physically. Aubriel signed.

  “I’m glad we’re in agreement, Miss Aubriel.” Jekob studied the signed treaty for a moment before moving to open the door. “We’ve come to an arrangement. Please come in.”

  “You did?” Oberon asked as he and the others entered.

  “Yes,” Jekob responded. “Miss Aubriel will go to the mortal realm and secure trade agreements with mortals for the Deepwood to begin a new alliance between our realms.”

  Callannon moved to Aubriel’s side and met her gaze. “And you agreed to this willingly?”

  Without magical influence? she could almost hear him think. “Yes,” Aubriel said, resting an arm on Callannon’s.

  Jekob chuckled. “It looks like you’ll be in our employ after all, Miss Aubriel.”

  She gripped Callannon tightly. “No, King Jekob, I am not in your employ. I am acting as an envoy to mortals and as your partner in this. I am doing this for myself, for the treaty, and for the mortals you’ve subjugated, not for you.”

  Oberon and Titania exchanged quiet looks. Jekob was about to retort when Ginette cut him off. “Agreed and well put, Miss Aubriel. We look forward to the opportunities our partnership will bring about.” With that, she leaned down and added her signature to the treaty. Jekob remained quiet.

  The others signed one by one, Callannon looking much darker than he might have considering what they’d accomplished. Aubriel was happy that the treaty was formally agreed upon, but a pit formed in her stomach. She knew what the signatures on the paper meant for her and Callannon. Time was no longer their friend.

  Chapter 14

  Dusk fell quickly on the lake, reflecting its bright orange and pink hues in the surface of the water. Callannon hadn’t left Aubriel’s side since he signed the treaty, and while he’d been unusually quiet, she wasn’t surprised. She was much the same.

  They exited their carriage in front of Sagma House and waited for the royals to do the same so they could say their goodbyes. The moment was bittersweet, tinged from both the ache that Aubriel might be gone from the Summer Kingdom for some time and the weariness of having been treated as lesser. She instead focused on Callannon’s warmth, watching in curious astonishment as Oberon and Titania approached and bowed.

  When she realized what was happening, she put her hands up, flustered. “Your highnesses!”

  Oberon straightened first and took her hand in his. “Aubriel, if it weren’t for you, who knows if we would’ve managed to convince King Jekob to give up enslavement of mortals.” His smile turned into a smirk. “If it weren’t for you, I’m not sure Lord Thray ever would have exchanged again. Keep him happy.”

  Aubriel nodded dumbly as Oberon pulled away. Titania straightened and gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Well done, Miss Aubriel of the mortal realm. Well done.”

  The queen even kept her tone neutral, as if she really meant what she said. In her own way, it was probably meant as a true compliment.

  “Are you off?” Callannon asked. His voice sounded heavier, and the tone made the pit in Aubriel’s stomach deepen.

  Oberon nodded. “Yes, we’ve ignored the court enough. As it is, I expect there to be multiple plots and arguments I need to unravel. Besides, they’ll surely like to hear the news.”

  “All of it,” Salda muttered from behind Titania.

  Titania gave a courtly curtsy. “Goodbye, Miss Aubriel. I have no doubt I’ll be seeing you again. Lord Thray, I’ll see you at court.”

  Oberon gave a small wink as he grasped his amulet, and the king and queen vanished in a flash of light.

  The Deepwood royalty approached. Jekob stood back a pace as Ginette threw her arms around Aubriel and hugged her closely. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “I’ve always seen you as a friend,” Aubriel whispered back. “Don’t thank me. Just make sure your baby has a happy and healthy childhood.”

  “I promise.” Ginette pulled back and stood by Jekob. He gave a curt nod, controlling his features and appearance more than when they’d spoken alone. “Miss Aubriel, I look forward to where our unlikely alliance might lead.”

  “I know exactly where it shall go.” She held his gaze evenly. “I’m only curious about how we’ll get there.”

  “You don’t lack determination,” Jekob said with a shake of his head. “Queen Ginette has informed me that you will be receiving a formal invitation to meet the new prince or princess once they’re born.”

  With an arm looped through her husband’s, Ginette looked pleased, as if she hadn’t given Jekob a choice on whether to deliver the invitation but had simply watched to see how he would say it. “Shall we, my love?”

  “Yes. I look forward to seeing what you send our way, Miss Aubriel. I’ll have contact instructions delivered in the morning. It was a pleasure, Lord Thray.” Without further hesitation, they left for the guest house, and Aubriel heard Jekob giving the staff orders to gather their things.

  As the servants followed the Deepwood royalty, the herald slowly and nervously walked up to Aubriel and Callannon, not stopping under the weight of Callannon’s silent gaze. “I’m sorry, Miss Aubriel. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble. I thought—”

  “I understand,” she interrupted. “Though the situation could’ve been handled better, it ended up leading to an agreement on the treaty, so I thank you for that.”

  Callannon glowered. “But don’t forget that the agreement came with a cost. You’ll be free soon. What will you do with yourself once you are?”

  “I’m not sure, Lord.”

  “Think on it. And tell others in your situation to do the same.”

  Captain Salda turned to look their direction. “You! Herald! They’re waiting!”

  The human, flustered, nodded to Salda then bowed to Aubriel and Callannon deeply. “I won’t forget this. Neither will anyone in the Deepwood. I can assure you of that. Thank you.” He turned and set off to the guest house as well.

  Once all the
guests had gone, Callannon led Aubriel to the front steps. Captain Salda, standing nearby, gave a curt nod. “Lord Thray, Miss Aubriel, I take my leave. I’m not needed here.” She looked between the pair and settled her narrow gaze on Callannon. “I’ll be checking with the Sorcerers’ Enclave in the morning, Thray.”

  “Until court, Fiona,” Callannon replied.

  With a sneer and a few quick symbols drawn in the air, the Captain of the King’s Guard vanished from sight.

  Mrs. Delia opened the door for them but was silent, and the servants were quiet as they passed, hiding in doorways and trying to remain unseen. News had traveled quickly from the lake house staff. Callannon ignored them all, ignored the fact that it was nearly time for dinner, ignored all the other things that might draw his attention, and led Aubriel to their room.

  The door snicked shut behind them, and he grasped her tightly to him, finally letting his dismay show. “Aubriel, I can’t let you go. You only just came to me.”

  He hugged her so hard it was difficult to draw breath, but she returned the hug just as fiercely. “And I can’t let you lose your home and family when I have the power to do otherwise. Besides, not only will I be able to help all the mortals in the Deepwood, but you have a chance at keeping your position.” She buried her face in his tunic and was greeted with his pleasant scent. I want to remember this.

  “Jekob can find someone else to secure traders in the mortal realm.” He ran his hands over her body, caressing every curve and dip he could reach. “Eder is a skilled merchant. I’m sure he would be more than capable and willing to undertake the task.”

  “I’ve already signed. Besides, I’ll only need to leave until I can complete my part in the treaty. Maybe it will be better for me to disappear for a time and let the fey get used to the idea of me as a mortal while I’m far from their reach.”

  “I don’t wish to be parted from you.”

  “Nor I from you.”

  They held each other tightly, desperately. What else was there to say? Inevitably she would have to leave the beautiful, magical fey world of soft, golden light and return to the harsh reality of her home. Aubriel swallowed to ease her dry throat. “How will I return? Through the maze?”