Page 4 of The Unseelie Wish

What if they had kids? What if they had family? Did she just leave six widows or widowers wondering where their fathers, sons, husbands, had gone?

She also had no clue when she had started crying.

She hadn’t known the soldiers, but she knew they didn’t deserve what she had done. She hadn’t even really been trying to hurt them. She had just panicked, and apparently instinct took over. She had just taken their music and changed their instruments. She had no idea if she could put them back—she was honestly afraid to try. What if she screwed it up? What if they came back as puddles of goop? Or all as one twisted mess of limbs?

She hated crying. It was her least favorite thing in the world next to throwing up. It was pointless, it wasted time and effort, and it was gross. But there she was, weeping, because she had killed six people.

“Oh, dear.” Someone sighed as they walked into the clearing. It was a beautiful young woman, dressed in a simple pair of dark green pants and a white blouse that was loosely tied in the front. Her hair was a fiery shade of natural red, with tight crimped curls that some folks would kill to have, and others would kill to get rid of. Her skin was tinted green at the edges, and tucked into her hair were a few scarlet flowers that almost resembled poinsettia. Her ears were pointed.

Seelie.

Alex froze, pulling her knees up to her chin. She didn’t say anything—didn’t dare.

The woman scratched her head, nudging one of the wildflowers on the ground with a bare toe. “Well, now. Isn’t that something?” The stranger looked up at her and smiled faintly. Her lips were a matching crimson to the flowers in her hair, and something told Alex it wasn’t makeup. Without another word, she walked over to Alex and sat next to her before scooching closer like they were the best of friends. “Seems like you are having a terrible day, Alex.”

She blinked. “You…you know my name?”

“And I know that is a glamor you’re wearing, yes.” The other woman looked up into the trees, her bright green eyes shining in the sunlight. “Would you like me to take it off of you?”

“Yes, please. I’m not sure if being a human here will help any, but…can’t get any worse than this.” She gestured at herself, and her pale purple-blue skin.

“Indeed.” The young woman chuckled and, reaching out, waved her hand over Alex as though she were pulling a spiderweb away from the air in front of her. Alex felt herself shift back, and looking down, her skin had returned to normal. “That’s better. In my opinion, you look much nicer this way. Though I am certain Izael disagrees.”

“He does.” She frowned. “Who are you? Are—are you going to—I’m so sorry about them, I didn’t—” She stared at the patches of greenery that had once been soldiers.

“You did not kill them. You did not even harm them, to be truthful. They are still part of the fabric of Tir n’Aill, and quite alive.” The stranger chuckled. “Even if they are changed.”

“Do you think they had families?”

“Oh, no. Soldiers of Tir n’Aill have no one to mourn them.” The young woman smiled and leaned against Alex’s shoulder as if they were old friends. “I saw to that.”

Alex felt a sinking sensation come over her. “Who are you? How do you know me?”

The woman sighed. “My husband couldn’t help but run his mouth. He’s been so terribly proud of himself about all this nonsense, even if it was the duke who has cooked it all up and he’s just riding the snake’s tail.”

That was all Alex needed to know to guess who the woman was. Putting her head in her hands, she braced for the worst. “Fuck me.”

The stranger laughed and patted her on the back. “I know. This can all be a lot to take in. Trust me, I sympathize with you more than you might realize.”

Straightening, Alex turned to the stranger. “Pardon my saying so, but…um…”

“I don’t look how you expected?” The woman chuckled. Her smile put dimples on her cheeks and accentuated her freckles. “I know. I can’t stand by all the pomp and circumstance. And this is so much more comfortable and practical.” She gestured down at her basic clothes. “But it is nice to meet you after all this excitement. You’ve started quite the ruckus, you know.”

Alex groaned and waited for the proverbial hammer to drop.

The fae woman smiled. “Hello, Alex. I am Abigail, the Seelie Queen.”

CHAPTER TWO

Alex just stared.

Abigail.

The Seelie Queen.

She waited for the fae woman to summon a knife and gut her like a fish. If Valroy the Unseelie King had run his mouth to Abigail about Alex, and Alex’s pending wish she owed to Izael, then there was no way that Abigail didn’t know what Valroy wanted Alex to do with it.

And by “wanted,” I mean he’ll torture me until he gets his way.