Exchanged Read online

  “They work against each other?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Why?”

  “More reasons than I can describe.” Callannon shook his head. “It’s not uncommon for fey to make enemies of those who could easily have been friends, especially those in the court. They constantly slander, opportunistically raising their status and importance.”

  The image of Elston throwing a punch at her face came to Aubriel’s mind. “Untrustworthiness isn’t exclusive to fey courts.”

  “I expect it is a common feature of courts in all realms, but I believe the fey courts to outshine the rest. Duplicity and deception are the norm, and nobles often take great risks to improve their standing.” He grimaced. “Someone once made a courtier fall in love with a pixie as a means of distraction.”

  Bree laughed in disbelief. That such a thing could happen seemed impossible, and yet Callannon seemed as genuine as he ever did. She would not believe him if not for the magic bond and all she had witnessed since meeting him.

  “It was easily undone,” he said. “It’s difficult to stay out of it all, but King Oberon and I do our best to stand apart from the rest of the court.”

  Easily undone. Her thoughts turned back to Elston. She couldn’t think of something more difficult to undo than what had transpired over Callannon’s necklace. “Hunger for power isn’t only limited to courtiers either. Those you think are different from the rest are really just more terrible.”

  Callannon leaned forward and tried to catch her gaze. “Are you referring to the man who was with you?”

  Aubriel looked into his silver eyes. What had he done to Elston?

  “You must have traveled for some time to reach my hideaway,” Callannon said gently. “When I arrived, you were hurt. His attire told me he represented something genuine and good, but seeing what he did to you told me the exact opposite. Had he been treating you poorly for some time?”

  Bree started to shake her head, but then she thought of the time spent with him. Elston had criticized her methods and questioned her actions. He threatened her and put her down, but she had been too blinded by his title to see it. Too blinded by her ridiculous infatuation. “He wasn’t genuine or good. I did everything I could for him, and it still wasn’t enough. Everything I did was wrong in his eyes, but I still forgave him. He was the worldly, good paladin, and I was just the simple village hunter. And that’s just how he treated me—like I was simple. The worst part is, I let him. When I finally did stand up to him, he attacked me.”

  Callannon’s eyes were soft and sympathetic. “You cared for him.”

  It wasn’t a question. Her grip tightened on the table. She looked at Callannon and opened her mouth to lie, but she couldn’t. She broke her gaze and closed her eyes. “I always wanted to be with him. Ever since I was young. It seemed...it seemed like I was finally there. Like I finally had my chance.”

  “I’m sorry.” Bree felt a warmth on her hand. She opened her eyes to see Callannon’s hand covering hers. “Betrayals from those we thought trustworthy are the ones hardest to bear. You don’t need to worry about him. Not anymore.”

  Callannon held her hand a moment longer before letting go. Nervousness crept into her, and she wondered what fate Elston had been sentenced to. “What did you do to him? I only remember a flash of light, and then he was gone.”

  “I sent him halfway across your world,” Callannon said with a smirk. “He’s alive but far away from anyone he might harm. You don’t need to worry about him returning to your village and bothering you again, but if he does somehow return some day, you can always tell him I’ll not hesitate in teleporting him again.”

  Aubriel was relieved Elston was still alive and had plenty of time to think about what he had done. Not that he deserved a second chance from her. She wouldn’t hesitate to have Callannon teleport that corrupt paladin again. It was strange that the fey lord could perform such magic so effortlessly. She knew that skilled wizards could teleport themselves wherever they wanted, but she was unfamiliar with magic and its possibilities. That the magic was possible didn’t really concern her. She was simply glad she wouldn’t have to see Elston’s lying, thieving face anytime soon, or better yet, ever again.

  Of course, whether Elston managed to return to Viget eventually or not didn’t matter. The village would never accept her without him. She would be blamed for his disappearance. They would shame her and look down on her, maybe even think she had gotten him killed while guiding him. Even if they didn’t blame her, losing Elston would be devastating to Viget, and she couldn’t live with that hanging over her head every day. Then again, with how long she’d been gone, especially with the river swelling, people might think they both perished during their journey anyway.

  Bree wrung her hands in her skirts and tentatively met Callannon’s gaze. “I wonder if I might ask you a favor.”

  “If it is in my power to help you, I shall.”

  “I was hoping to send a message to my village, letting everyone know that I’m unharmed so they don’t worry or assume I’m hurt.”

  Callannon waved his hand, producing a roll of parchment and a pen from nowhere and positioning his hand to write. “Please say what you would like, and I shall transcribe.”

  Aubriel nearly objected. She was perfectly literate and could read and write in three languages! But if the village received a message in Callannon’s unfamiliar hand, they wouldn’t be able to deny that she wasn’t alone and might worry for her less. The last thing she wanted was her hunting friends trying to track where she was. She opened her mouth again, but this time delivered a message to home, telling them that she was safe and not to worry.

  “Would you care to sign it?” Callannon said, handing her the parchment.

  She took it and perused the letter. It was the same general message she had spoken but written more eloquently in both script and vocabulary. She signed and gave it back to Callannon, who rolled it up. He pulled out a signet ring and pressed it to the parchment, sealing it. With a whispered word she didn’t understand, the letter was gone.

  “It’s been sent,” he said, moving to put the ring away.

  “May I see it?”

  Callannon paused, but Aubriel held his gaze. She should have asked to see the seal before he sent the letter, but everything happened so quickly, and she hadn’t been expecting him to use magic, though she should have. If Viget was going to receive her letter with this seal, she wanted to know what it looked like.

  He gave her a curious look, but handed it to her. “It’s my coat of arms.”

  His fingers brushed her palm as he gave her the ring. Bree couldn’t tell if his touch stoked the bond in her, but a pleasant tingle lingered where their skin met. Pushing the feeling away, she examined the ring closely. It was so intricately detailed that it must have been crafted by magic. It seemed impossible that a craftsman could make the woven locks so thin or complex. The signet displayed a woman holding a bundle of wheat.

  “It’s beautiful.” She handed it back to him, careful to avoid touching him and invoking the magic beneath her skin.

  Callannon’s eyes became sad. “Thank you. It was modelled after my family’s home.”

  “Does your family grow wheat?” Aubriel had never been to a noble’s estate before, but traveling merchants often gossiped and complained about them enough that she felt she had a general idea of what they were like.

  He shook his head. “Not anymore. It was peaceful and quiet, and I was happy there with my family when I was young. My home and the people with it have been gone for some time.”

  “I—I’m so sorry.”

  “You didn’t know, and it helps to air my grievances, especially to someone without an agenda, without influence from the court.”

  Aubriel blinked in surprise. Callannon appreciated her. It was a strange thought, and she wanted to move the attention from herself quickly. “I’m grateful that you were able to send my message. There must be something you require in return.”
/>   The sadness left his face. “You need not worry about payment for anything. I give to you because it brings me joy to see you happy. I take great pleasure in lifting others’ spirits.”

  “Is that why you’re advisor to the king? Because you can make people happy?”

  He looked off to the side and stopped smiling. That was the first time Bree had seen him without a smile since meeting in the gardens. She was dismayed. She hadn’t meant to bring up all of these painful questions. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize...”

  “You have no need to be sorry.” He straightened, once again comforting her for her misstep. “Being advisor to the king, I do not make many people happy, but King Oberon and I feel that I am the one best suited for the job.”

  Her beautiful skirts were likely twisted in knots from how much she was wringing them. Each word that left her mouth only made things more uncomfortable for the both of them. She had to do something to make up for it.

  “I do what’s best for the kingdom and those in it,” he continued. “Whether or not they appreciate it is a different matter.” He shook his head and stood to hold out his hand to her.

  Was he angry with her? Maybe he was going to send her away or undo the bond—the thoughts tore into her. But no, his soft face promised nothing ill. The magic sparked in her chest as she took his hand, allowing him to help her stand. He didn’t let go of her.

  “I believe I promised to teach you of my fey magic.” He was standing so close she could smell his woodsy scent.

  “Yes.” The sparks in her chest and hand grew warmer the longer he held onto her. “I...I know a bit from childhood stories, but I have no magic of my own, obviously. That’s why I hunt.”

  “Oh?” He arched a silver eyebrow. “Why don’t you show me?”

  His hands moved to lightly rest on her bare shoulders. He turned her to face the table, or rather, the wood post where the table had been the previous moment. It was a good thing she faced away from him, or he would have seen the blush spreading up her neck and face. Bree took a deep breath to calm herself. “I need a bow and arrow.”

  They were already in her hands.

  Callannon chuckled, the sound drifting over the backs of her ears. Lifting the bow and arrow into position forced him to step back and remove his hands from her. His fingers slid over her bare shoulders, leaving a burning trail. She released the arrow and watched as it sunk into the center of the post with a dull thunk.

  Aubriel turned to face him, noticing for the first time that her head barely reached the top of his chest. “Are you satisfied?”

  Callannon laughed and took her hands in his. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

  With a lurch, they were suddenly on the far side of the garden near the shrubs. He squeezed her hands and they lurched again, landing back where they had started. Bree caught her breath. “Did we just...?”

  “Blink,” he said, running his thumbs over her knuckles. “A teleportation spell that only works in short distances and is less taxing than more potent spells.”

  Aubriel kept her head down to hide her face. She was supposed to remain wary of him, cautious around him, but when he was close like this, she wanted to disregard it all. His fingers were long and soft against her rough ones, and as she thought of them, a warmth grew between her legs. The scent of him made her want to lean forward and discover what it felt like to be wrapped in his arms.

  “Unfortunately, I must make my departure.”

  Her head shot up. “Already?”

  He smiled down at her softly. “There are things that require my attention, though I would much rather spend my time here.”

  Before she could collect herself enough to reply, she was once again staring at the canvas of her tent. Birds chirped, and the sun was bright. She could still feel the warmth of Callannon’s hands on hers, but it slipped away quickly. If only she could stay here all day, remembering his touch and nearness, but her meals weren’t going to hunt themselves. She forced herself up and slipped out of the tent, pressing a hand over the oddly pleasant feeling in her chest.

  There was a dash of ruddy color against the green plants. Bree started as a little fox leapt into the campsite. It approached cautiously, pausing just a few paces from her. She’s oddly forward.

  Bree carefully retreated to gather scraps from the previous night’s dinner of hare and held them out to the fox. The furry creature sniffed the air and trotted closer, looking to be little more than skin and bone. Aubriel held still as the fox happily scarfed down the meat. It paused to meet her gaze, more emotion and intelligence behind the fox’s dark eyes than there should have been. She reached her hand out, and it nuzzled against her palm.

  This was Callannon’s doing. She knew it. She couldn’t explain how, but she could feel he played some part in bringing the fox to her. He knew she was living alone, which was why he readily agreed to send the letter to Viget. That had been a gift on its own, but now he’d given her the opportunity to make a new friend.

  The carefully constructed barrier shielding her from Lord Callannon Thray quietly shattered as the fox curled up next to her. When she thought of him, she didn’t see a corrupt traitor, she saw his generous kindness through the thoughtfulness of his gifts and actions. Pathetically, she couldn’t stop thinking about the touch of his hands on her, and she berated herself for wanting those hands to move over the rest of her body. It might be her undoing, but she couldn’t ignore that the deepening warmth in her chest had nothing to do with magic.

  Aubriel sighed in defeat and put a hand on the fox. “I think I’ll call you Acorn.”

  ~*~

  “This is the one,” Aubriel said.

  She sat with her back against a tree, carving at some wood. It was almost done. Acorn was curled comfortably at her side, looking up at her as if everything Bree said made sense, though the fox never replied. Two weeks had passed since Acorn first came to join her, and they had both appeared in the dreamscape to meet Callannon each time since.

  The sharp edge of her hunting blade sliced against the wood with relative ease. It had been some time since Aubriel carved on a regular basis, which was why her gift had taken so long to make. A small pile of rejected attempts lay ignored next to the fire. It was small and meager, but she was determined to show Callannon her appreciation for all he had done. He may not require anything in return, but she still felt indebted to him.

  Life alone in the forest had become easier thanks to yet another gift Callannon had given her. She awoke one morning after visiting him in the dreamscape to find Acorn dragging a quiver into camp. It was soft and intricately detailed in what she was recognizing to be the fey style of vines and leaves. She hunted with it later that day only to find that the arrows within it never became fewer, no matter how many she used.

  It was then that Aubriel knew she wanted to make something for Callannon, but it would have to be something she could wear and bring into the dreamscape. That led to her carving the amulet. Her most recent attempt was circular in shape with the tree she had seen him standing before the first time she went to his garden. She had some spare leather in her pack from which she made a thong to slip through a loop in the amulet. The end product would be primitive when worn with his luxurious clothing, but it was the best she could do.

  “Alright, I admit it,” Bree said. “This gift may be more than to show my appreciation.”

  Acorn tilted her head.

  “I’m being careful, and Callannon has been so kind and respectful. He listens to me, always meets my eyes, and truly seems happy to see me. Elston never did those things, and he was no lord or fey.” Acorn let out a yip at the mention of Elston. “I don’t like him either, but Callannon doesn’t have to use stories to try and convince me of how good he is. He simply shows me.”

  She could feel it too. Nervous excitement swirled in her heart as she completed the amulet with a satisfied nod. Callannon usually visited her every night, or every other night, so she wouldn’t have to wait long to give hi
m the small trinket. She hoped he liked it.

  ~*~

  A day went by, and then another. Soon, a week had passed with no sign or word from Callannon. Aubriel worried and doubted. Had he decided she was no longer worth his time?

  She sat on her bedroll, holding the amulet in her hands. From the moment she left herself open to him, she knew the repercussions could be great. He was fey and noble, and she was a village elf—except she wasn’t even that anymore. There was nothing of substantial value she could offer him, and he had no use for any skill she possessed.

  When she was in the dreamscape, it was easy to forget that she was someone who lived a hard life. It was easy to think that she was the only one Callannon would smile for. She sighed deeply. Meeting with him and letting him get so close really was just a dream. He had used her for company, as someone to share his worries with. Didn't he always mention the untrustworthiness of fey? Maybe he found someone else he could trust, someone who understood his realm and its customs. Someone fey.

  Aubriel ran her thumbs over the amulet. Would this truly repay even a portion of his generosity? Elston had needed her to lead him, but there was nothing Callannon needed her for. There was no reason for him to return to her. Even as she accepted that her brief indulgence in Callannon’s dream world was over, she hoped that she would be able to see him one more time. He would likely reject her gift, or laugh at it, but at least then she would know his true feelings. She slipped the amulet over her head and went to sleep.

  ~*~

  Bree found herself in the dreamscape garden with Acorn curled comfortably nearby. The beautiful, imaginary dress graced her body, as lovely as always. The carved amulet still hung around her neck. This was it. She would give him the amulet, watch him laugh in her face, and listen to him tell her how he didn't need her. It would hurt, just as badly as Elston’s betrayal, but it would be done.