“Áillidh.” Leilah surveyed me with her hands on her hips. “Beautiful. McKale will surely be thanking his lucky stars he gets to bind with ye twice!”
“I love it,” I told them. “Thank you. And thank you for last night, Leilah.”
She shrugged it off and waved a hand, smiling. “Not at all, love. It’s me who should be thanking you fer bringin’ a bit o’ romance and hope back into the village.”
Rachelle covered her mouth and giggled.
Cassidy crouched in front of me and pinched my cheekbones to get a natural blush going. “Now all you need’s a little make-up and you’ll be set,” she said.
Before she could stand again I grabbed her wrist and looked in her eyes. “I was wrong about Rock,” I whispered. “He does care.” Her eyes watered and she nodded. The two of them were quite a pair. A mess, for sure, but his willingness to sacrifice himself went a long way toward scratching out those bygone mistakes in my eyes.
I reached for my make-up bag and got started, making quick work of it while Cassidy changed into a summer dress.
“It’s time,” Mom said when I finished. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” I stood up. “I’m ready.”
“Yeah, let’s get this bee-otch!” my sister exclaimed. Mom glared at her. “Sorry,” Cass muttered.
I wished I could share Cassidy’s confident zeal for what was to come.
Our timing was impeccable because at that moment a draft of powerful magic shook the room. I rubbed the bare skin of my arms. All eyes went round, and Rachelle covered her mouth with a tremor.
“The Summer King,” Leilah whispered, a look of terror on her face.
Cassidy grabbed my hand and I grabbed Mom’s with my other one. We couldn’t avoid this forever. Time to go. We all nodded at one another, and then filed out into the warm, overcast afternoon.
As we entered the clearing a wave of heat like sunshine warmed my skin, though the sun hid behind clouds. The Leprechauns were all gathered, standing in silence and watching as a procession of Faeries glided up from the field. There were at least ten of them, forming a semicircle around a taller male who seemed to shine. The heat, I realized, was emanating off him. His hair was golden platinum, like his daughter’s, but unlike the other men he did not wear it down. His was pulled back at the nape of his neck and tied with twine, which accentuated his metallic crown, interwoven with vines and leaves. He was draped in a silky robe the color of a blue summer sky.
I was glad I hadn’t eaten anything that day because my body felt like a wreck on the inside. I fought to appear well and not ill.
We stopped at the edge of the clearing and watched as the Fae halted in front of Brogan, Dad, and McKale. I couldn’t stop staring at the Summer King. He held the same mesmerizing quality as Khalistah, only stronger. This was a being who could manipulate nature with a wave of his fingers. His power hummed through the air. The King’s freaky eyes did not stay one color. Even from a distance I could see how they changed like a kaleidoscope, blending from fresh green grass, to bluebird feathers, to lavender lily petals.
With great effort I moved my eyes away from him to scan the other Faerie faces. Six male, four female; however, no tiny, angelic face with platinum hair was present. I stared in the direction of the portal, but it was closed, invisible. Nobody else was coming out.
Heart. Pounding. Oh. Crap.
Where the frick was FFG?
McKale craned his neck until he found me. His confusion and worry morphed into admiration as his eyes swept up and down the gown, but when he met my eyes his trepidation returned. Khalistah had not come. Our entire plan was ruined.
Brogan bowed low with a swoop of his forearm across his waist. The other male Leprechauns also bowed, and the women curtsied. Cassidy, Mom, and I dipped curtsies to the guests as well, and then looked at one another, covert questions in our eyes. What will we do if she doesn’t show?
“Shoe Master and King of the Summer, we are humbled and honored by yer presence here today for our meek celebration,” Brogan said.
“Indeed, it has been too long since last I visited the cobbling folk.” The Summer King’s voice rang over us like a bursting rainbow. Songbirds from neighboring fields and woods fluttered skyward, drawn to the outskirts of our gathering, a cacophony of chirping. The King laughed gaily at the sight and sounds of them. The light rumble of his voice gave me a heady sensation, as if surrounding trees were photosynthesizing overtime, sending a rush of pure oxygen into the air.
Brogan cleared his throat, looking uneasy. “And will the lovely Shoe Mistress be joining us today, as well?”
“Ah.” The Summer King linked his fingers together behind his back. “The previous day has brought change, as is necessary from time to time. The princess has requested a new venture and I have allowed it.” At an outburst of whispers, the King continued. “But do not worry. A new Shoe Mistress will be presented and I trust you will find her agreeable.”
Brogan looked shaken. “Of course, King of the Summer, but we’ve not offended the former Shoe Mistress in any way, have we?”
The Summer King laughed again, sending the birds around us into a frenzy of flight before they settled.
“Not in the least, master Brogan. You know the whims of youth. How easily they tire. Roles must change in Faerie, just as the seasons on earth.”
Brogan nodded, his eyes heavy. “Indeed.”
A Faerie woman approached and stood next to the King. Her hair was as long as Khalistah’s, but wavy and dark like glittering spices. Mom stiffened next to me and it felt like she might squeeze the blood from my hand. The Fae woman peered around at us with eerie eyes like the yellow of dandelions.