Page 70 of The Midnight King
And only then does it truly sink into my soul—that despite any dangers of Faerie or the future, I’m finally, truly safe. I’m in the arms of someone who loves me more than himself.
Sothisis love, after all. Danger and safety, freedom and trust.
Every tightly-wound nerve in my body relaxes, and every knot of tension dissolves and flows out of me as I kiss my rescuer, my best friend—the thief who stole my heart, and the king who rules it.
Read on for Bonus Chapters from Killian’s point ofview…
1
The summons reverberates through my body like a drumbeat. I haven’t been called in almost a year, but I recognize the sensation instantly. One of the charmed objects I’ve handed out in the mortal world has been activated.
Good timing, because I’m weary of this party. My cousin Torin insisted I accompany him tonight, even though I was feeling morose and useless and I would rather have stayed home. As it turned out, the gathering he had in mind was practically an orgy—not my scene, but what Torin thinks I need.
I enjoy elegant parties with fine feasts and beautiful clothes. I’m less interested in mushrooms, group sex, and heady cocktails than Torin is, so I’ve been lounging on a sofa, watching him grind with every available female—and most of the males too. Torin is more likemyfather than his… or at least he resembles my father in his younger days, when he was careless and wild. Sometimes I envy my cousin. Not a thought in his head but having fun.
For my part, I would like my life to mean something. So I rejoice inwardly when the magical summons drums through my brain and blood.
Someoneneedsme, at last.
I lunge off the couch and approach Torin, touching his shoulder. He whirls around and almost kisses me on the mouth before he realizes who I am. He laughs, wine-drunk and wicked.
“Come to join the fun at last, Killian?” He hooks an arm around my neck and pulls me into a side-hug.
“I have to go.”
“Spoilsport.”
“You’ll have plenty of sport without me.” I ruffle his black hair. Even though Torin is a head taller than me, he’s two decades younger. My mother and his are sisters, and our fathers are cousins. The circumstances of my birth were unusual, but his birth was even more dramatic, and he possesses a unique set of gifts as a result.
Since both of us have human blood and unusual talents, we’ve always been close. Sometimes I feel closer to him than to my older sister Úna.
Torin looks at me keenly, a momentary awareness cutting through his haze of mushrooms and wine. “You’ve been summoned.”
“Yes.”
“Be careful.” His vivid blue eyes pierce mine.
“Always.”
“Good, because if you die, I’ll be stranded on this island, and I’ll be forced to barter my gorgeous body for enough magic to get home.”
“I’ll be back for you tomorrow,” I promise.
“I’ll fuck an extra girl on your behalf.” He winks and turns back to his companions.
A few Faeries bid me goodbye as I make my way out of the crystal mine. Torin and I are not on the main continent of Faerie,but on one of the outlying islands. Thanks to my gift, I can travel easily from Faerie to the mortal realm, or from point to point within either realm. It’s a talent I occasionally offer to my uncle Lirannon, High King of Faerie, when he needs to travel himself or if he must send an ambassador to an outlying province. But most often I travel alone, or I bring Torin with me. Without my cousin, I’m afraid I might become rather contemplative and dull.
The crystal mines of Sybaris Island are one of my cousin’s favorite places to experience a thoroughly debauched revel. The semi-precious stones sprouting from cavern walls thrum with sensual energy, their colors growing warmer and richer as the party continues and the activities turn more lecherous. Any orgasms experienced in their vicinity are enhanced and echoed, lending a secondary thrill of pleasure to everyone within the crystals’ sphere of influence.
I leave the pink and orange glow of the mines and walk a few steps into the dark forest. The frenzied music, the laughter, and the chaos fade as I turn my attention inward and focus on the spell that’s summoning me.
Now that I’m alone in the quiet, I can feel the agony of the one who summoned me. This mortal has suffered deeply. They are teetering on the brink of ultimate despair, almost ready to give up on everything, including life itself.
They need me.
When my eyes are closed, I can see my destination in my mind, and I can decide where I want to appear. In this case, the location is a barn, and I choose a dark corner as my entry point. Then I create a portal and step through.
I emerge in a gloomy, rundown building, illuminated by a couple of lanterns. The smell of cows and goats hangs thickly in the steamy air. A young woman moves among the animals, speaking to them in the sweetest, softest tones I’ve ever heard. Her voice is like a blanket, like the warm sun in the dead of winter, like a tender flower blooming out of black ice.