In another manor, in Faerie.

“I’ve got my hands on some information that you might find intriguing ” The young woman smiled slyly.

She was a pitiful creature, really. The only reason Brand kept her around was that she was excellent at picking up the gossip in all the houses where he wasn’t welcome, and couldn't go.

“Oh?” Brand asked mildly, not really interested. It had been a while since she’d actually brought him anything interesting.

“It has to do with the king.”

“What’s my half-brother up to now?” Brand stretched languidly. It was likely just some unimportant observation she’d heard about what Fen had said to someone at some party or other. Nothing really important.

He’d probably have to cut the little brat loose soon, as it seemed she was no longer a reliable source for decent information. Dealing with the mess that would cause would be a nuisance, but it wasn't a new difficulty.

Messy, messy. At least this one didn't have any family to miss her.

“He caused a ruckus at Lady Astrid’s house today. It was kept mostly quiet, but I did hear some snippets.”

“At Astrid’s house? But they get along famously. Why’d he be causing trouble there?” Brand yawned, quickly losing interest.

“Apparently a new servant there decided to attack a guest who’d come with him.”

“That’s of no use to me.” Brand replied coolly. “If that’s all you have, then I suggest-”

“It’s not!” his informant squeaked quickly, fear flashing across her stupid features before she recovered and continued, “She was just a human, and for some reason the king has her staying at his house! And that’s not all, apparently she has some kind of magic of her own!”

Brand frowned. “Her own magic?”

“Yes!” the woman grinned, recognizing that she'd finally caught his interest.

“That doesn't happen anymore.” Brand snapped.

“But it did! I heard it from one of the members on staff there! They felt her magic before something made it disappear again!”

“Probably some kind of masking spell, if it’s true.”

“It is, sir. Want me to see what else I can find out?”

“Hmm. No, you’ve learned plenty. I’ll take it from here.”

“Oh, but it’s such fun-”

“I said I’d take it.” he cut her off, voice cold.

It was quiet for a few moments.

“You never ask to see me anymore.” she pouted, making doe-eyes at him.

Gods, another one who had ideas greater than her station.

Playing along, he said, “You know I’m busy.”

“Too busy for me? Even though I find all sorts of fun tidbits for you?” she smiled coyly.

“No rest for the wicked, you know.” Brand went near to her, reaching out and pulling her close. “I have some time now, though.”

“So do I.” another coy smile.

He reached up, putting his hands on her face, as if to kiss her, but just before their lips touched, he muttered. “Not time for you, though.”

Brand twisted his hands swiftly to the side, there was a sharp snap, and the woman went limp.

Too easy.

“Parva, come deal with this mess.” the king’s half-brother ordered.

“Yes, your grace.” Parva's voice made him jump. Though Brand had been expecting him, he hadn't heard Parva enter.

"Gods!" Brand complained, "Don't do that!"

"Sorry, your grace, it's habit." His right-hand man was dressed in his typical all-black ensemble. Given a gift for stealth and secrecy, Parva leaned into it with his clothing choices.

"It's fine." the king's half-brother pinched his nose wearily. "Get this cleaned up." he motioned at the woman's lifeless body on the floor. “I also need you to put some feelers out.”

“What will we be looking into, your grace?”

“There’s a young woman living with my brother.”

“Yes, I had heard that. A human girl.”

“Apparently she has magic of her own.”

“Indeed? That is…most unusual, your grace.” Parva seemed interested as well, but it was hard to tell due to the studied impassivity of his expression.

“If it’s true, and she can actually use magic, I want her for my harem. It would be a most fitting addition, such an odd find...and taken from my brother’s grasp would make it even better! Find out what you can, and place some watchers outside of Fen’s property. Maybe we’ll learn something that way.”

“That can be arranged, my lord. Will that be all?”

“Yes.”

“Very good, sir.”

-

Fen knocked on the door of Mercy’s sitting room. When there wasn’t an answer, he pushed in. She was likely still in bed, given her injuries from the day before. It was best for her to rest until Amilee arrived and helped her heal even more.

He crossed the sitting room, movements somewhat stiff that day because his burns were aching. That always made it a little difficult for him to move. Maybe he’d ask Amilee to help him once she was done helping Mercy.

The fey king went to the door to the bedchamber, and knocked, “Mercy?”

“Come in!” She called.

He pushed in, “How are you?”

“I’m alright. Just about to eat breakfast. Want to join me?” she motioned at a large tray of food that sat beside her on the bed.

Fen checked his watch. “I have time.” It was a big fat lie, but he wanted to spend time with her. It was no matter, he didn’t have anything so pressing that it couldn't wait for him to have breakfast with Mercy.

“Great!” she smiled, seeming eager for his company.

But she was probably a little lonely. That made him frown as he sat, and poured a cup of tea. “You must get lonely here.”

“I’ve not really had a chance to get lonely yet. I’ve really only been here a few days. I have my kitties, and Rose comes by quite often. Astrid has come by twice, once when I met her and we became friends and again when my dresses arrived. You stop by with decent frequency, and then we went to Astrid’s house yesterday. I mean, I know that was a disaster, but I definitely wasn’t lonely.”

Fen shrugged, “Point taken.”

“Besides, if I got lonely I’d have just asked to start working for you sooner rather than later.” she told him.

“Good.” he nodded.

“I guess I’d be around a lot of people then, right?”

“I’d have you on my personal staff, so you'd be on the top floor with around twenty people in total." he nodded a little.

“Your personal staff?”

“Meaning my main assistants. Like Aren. Axl is technically one as well, so he can stay close by at all times.”

“I don’t know if I’m qualified to be a main assistant.” Mercy frowned.

“We’ll make the job fit you. You can do clerical stuff?”

“Yes.”

“Data entry?”

“Yes.”

“Write letters?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll do fine. It’s not hard work.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” he smiled slightly at her. “Now stop worrying and eat.”

“Right.” She started to eat.

“Amilee will be stopping by before too long.” he told her.

“Oh good!”

“You weren’t in too much pain during the night, were you?”

“No. Rose gave me some pain meds before I went to sleep.”

“Good.” he paused, picking at his food. “I was extremely upset when I went into the hallway and saw what was happening.”

“So I gathered, although to say you were just upset might be the understatement of the century. You were angry."

“Yes, well, I’m sorry you had to see that. It wasn’t appropriate behavior, no matter how upset and angry I was.” he muttered, staring down at his plate. The sheer rage at the filth that had dared touch her had shocked him, later. He hadn’t been that angry in a very, very long time. The idea of someone hurting Mercy made his blood boil.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“You were torturing him a little, weren’t you?” she grimaced slightly.

“More than a little.” he muttered darkly.

“I, uh, don’t approve of torture, really, but I...appreciate the motive behind it.” Mercy told him.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Fen.” she reached out and patted his arm briefly.

Mercy’s gentle touch seemed to linger, and he found himself wishing she’d reach out again, even if just to pat his arm once more. This sort of crush he seemed to have on her was an entirely new experience to him. He’d thought she was pretty first. Then he’d thought she was interesting as well. Now that they were friends, she’d proved to be sweet, perhaps a little skittish and anxious, but ultimately easy-going and kind. He’d just have to see how this thing would play out.

Normally humans were remarkably short-lived, compared to the magical races, but as Mercy had magic of her own, he suspected she’d live as long as any fey person. The magic race of humans that had once existed had possessed long lives as well. So she wouldn't be a terrible match for him, as far as that was concerned. However, Mercy lacked a title, and that might cause some kind of an uproar within his Faerie, although he was finding he cared less and less what his people thought of him, especially where his love life, or lack thereof, was concerned.

But instead of openly pursuing her, as he had with the few romantic interests that had seemed like a decent match for him in the past, something held him back. There was some slight wall between them still, one that she had never lowered, despite their friendship. He couldn't say he blamed her, especially if it had to do with how poorly he’d treated her right off the bat. It very well could be that their rocky start that kept some distance between them, but it could very well be other things, and he didn’t want to risk upsetting her. If that meant he had to take things slowly, then that’s what he’d do. He’d go as slowly as she needed.

Mercy’s phone chirped. “A text?” she muttered, seeming surprised as she glanced at the screen, “No one but Michael ever really texts me."

"What, no significant other finally texting you, wondering where you've gotten to?” It was a joke, but he had realized before now that he had no clue if she had a significant other or not. He suspected she didn’t, as she hadn't talked about having one, but assuming things never got anyone anywhere. If she had a significant other, it didn't matter at all what he felt about her.

Mercy blinked, then snorted, “God no. Dating isn’t my thing, it’s too frustrating for me.”

“How so?”

“Hmm.” she frowned, “Guys don’t like me.”

“And girls?” he snorted.

“I wouldn't know about that! Maybe they would. I don’t date girls though. Not that I don’t think women aren’t wonderful. I’m just not inclined.” she shrugged, then added, somewhat wryly, “Not that I’m much inclined towards men, honestly.”

“We have all sorts here in Faerie, and none of it is odd here.” he shrugged.

“Somehow that doesn't surprise me. If my knowledge of fey from literature holds true, you all are considered pretty wild to us humans, where stuff like that is concerned.”

“That’s one aspect of our society that the stories you’ve heard are right about.” Fen told her, feeling amused.

“Well, I guess when you’re all ridiculously attractive...” she let her voice trail off, and shrugged. “Sort of makes sense.”

“I guess. It’s not my thing, but to each their own.” he told her, then idly sipped his tea.

“It wouldn't be my thing either.” Mercy said quietly, her voice suddenly melancholic.

“Something about that makes you sad.” he said, studying her thoughtfully. “Although it makes sense for humans not to necessarily be interested in crazy wild sex parties, so I’m not sure why the thought makes you sad.”

Mercy turned bright red, but burst into giggles. “Well, when you put it like that!”

He let himself smile a little, glad he’d made her laugh. “I try. What made you sad?”

“I said that guys don't really like me. It’s not entirely that. Some have thought I was cute enough, I guess.” she mumbled, scratching at the back of her head, seeming embarrassed. She was more than just ‘cute enough’, he thought she was as beautiful as the sunrise on a warm spring morning, lighting the wildflowers alight with color. But he’d keep that to himself, for now. “But I’m just not interested in the same things they are.”

“Like hobbies?” he asked, confused. If that was the case, she just had to keep looking, she’d find someone who had the same interests, but that made no sense, given the topic at hand.

“Uh.” Mercy looked down, her hands fidgeting with the blanket. “I have no interest in sex whatsoever. The idea of it disgusts me, actually.”

“Ah. I can see how you’d have trouble dating, if that’s the case.” he nodded knowingly. While he didn’t find the idea of sex disgusting, he didn’t have the same interest many of his people did in it.

“Because of it, I don’t date anymore.” his young human friend shrugged.

“I can’t say I blame you. Has it always been that way, or was it caused?” he asked carefully, not wanting to outright ask if she had trauma from an assault, or assaults.

“I just sort of slowly realized it as I got older. So I guess I’ve always just been this way. No cause that I know of.” She shook her head.

There was a slight pause.

“Have some more tea.” Fen refilled her teacup from the pot, then added her preferred amount of sugar and milk. She liked it fairly sweet, and a light, creamy brown.

“Thanks.” the young woman murmured, sipping the warm drink.

It was quiet for another few moments.

“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.” he said quietly.

“No, it’s fine.” Mercy smiled slightly, “I wanted to tell you, I think. And you’ve not called me a freak for it, so it’s all good.”

Fen blinked, “Have you been called a freak before for it?”

“More or less.” she sighed.

“I’m sorry.” he sighed, shaking his head, “Like I said, we have everything here.”

“Even people who aren’t interested in it at all?”

“I can’t say I’ve met anyone, but if some people are sex crazed, then it stands to reason that others aren’t interested in all. It doesn’t shock me, that’s all.” Fen told her, “Nor do I think it’s wrong or weird. Everyone is different. The flip-side is that I may have met someone who felt similarly, or the same, as you and didn’t know because that’s not something I go around asking anyone.”

“Fair point!” his friend laughed, paused, then asked, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“I mean, you haven’t talked about a significant other, or anything.” Their topic of her preferences in partners certainly would beg the question about him. “Although I guess it’s not really my business, don’t answer if you don’t want to.”

“Not at all, we were literally just discussing the same stuff regarding you. It’s only fair.”

“I just…it’s a touchy topic for some people, that’s all.”

“I appreciate the thought. But I don't mind. It’s not nearly as difficult or awkward a topic as it is in your world. That said, I’m straight enough, I guess." Yes, that was how he should put it. Straight enough. He continued, "I’ve had some wild times of course, when I was younger, and dated some back then, but again, not like some of my kin. It doesn't hold interest for me anymore. I was a bit more wild in my youth, but even then, not so crazy as others.” He really didn't care all that much about gender, though the few people he'd actually dated had been women, and now that he'd met Mercy, well...he didn't see himself dating or being with anyone else.

“No?”

“No.”

“That makes me feel a little better.”

“Did you think I was a philandering strumpet?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

She burst into giggles, “I wasn’t sure! I had thought as much, but what if it turned out that you had a girlfriend or boyfriend somewhere that would make explaining me living in your house a little weird? Even though we are just friends!”

“No. I don’t really date much either.” Being the king, it was difficult to do much dating, casual or otherwise.

“Why not?”

“Given my job and my duties here, I've rarely had the time to consider it.” He shrugged. That was true enough. Wanting to avoid any more questions that might lead to what kind of duties he had to perform in Faerie, which might reveal his status as the king, Fen nodded at her phone, asking, “Who was it that texted?”

“Thomas, actually. I’m not sure why.” she replied, looking at her phone again. “I guess just to check in. I told him I was fine and not to worry.”

“That’s Michael’s brother, right? The one who was there with you two that night?”

“Yes. I had a big crush on him back when I was a kid.” Mercy laughed. “Not anymore. But way back in the day. We’re friends now, as adults."

Fen felt a pang of jealousy for this person he’d met so briefly. Not only because this Thomas had held her affections, but because he’d known her for many years, and Fen hadn’t had very much time with her yet. “Did you ever date him?”

Her dark eyes blinked, surprised, then she laughed, “No, no, no! I was his little brother’s annoying friend who also had a crush on him, which made me doubly annoying! He’s five years older than us. Not that I ever like, tried to annoy him, I tried to be cool. But it’s embarrassing for a thirteen year old to have a crush on you when you’re eighteen! When I was fourteen or fifteen, I think, he came back to visit on break from school, and I was really glad to see him. But he was in a bad mood and said some awful things to me about how nobody wanted an awkward kid like me hanging around, mooning after them all the time. Which is fair, but he didn’t have to be so mean about it. I am glad he wasn’t interested in a teenager though.” she snorted, seeming amused at the memory, now. “That brought me back to reality about him, and the crush faded pretty quickly after. Now we’re just old friends.”

“I’m glad you’re able to still be friendly with him.” Fen found he was inwardly extremely angry at Thomas, for treating the younger Mercy so poorly. Even though she had maybe annoyed him with her crush, she hadn’t deserved to be treated like that. He could have let her down easily. That said, Mercy was literally hundreds of years younger than Fen, but as they were both adults, it mattered little. “Age is different for us. Not that it’s okay for children and adults to have relationships or anything like that, it’s definitely against the law here too, but once we come of age, it’s kind of free game, without much taboo. But we’re all immortally young, so it makes more sense that, once adults, age matters less to us. We all look young.”

“That makes sense.” she nodded.

“It’s our magic that makes us live so long, and stay young.” he said, “Of course because of that, you’ll live as long as any fey person.”

Mercy blinked, “What?”

Had she not considered this yet? That her magic would keep her immortally young? “The race of humans that were native to Faerie and had their own magic were like us in that aspect. It’ll be the same for you.”

“I…I didn’t…didn’t even think about something like that being a possibility.” she muttered, visibly shaken.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Fen said quickly, frowning.

“I-I’ll outlive everyone, won’t I?” Mercy’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Everyone from the human world, yes.” he said gently.

“I…” she put her teacup down, and put her head in her hands. “I-I can’t fathom that.”

Fen swore in Faerie, then reached out and gently touched her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Mercy, I didn’t realize it hadn’t occurred to you, and that it would be so upsetting when you did find out."

“T-to know that I-I’ll just stay, and they’ll all eventually wither and die.” she mumbled, then burst into tears and sobbed, “I-it’s b-beyond upsetting!”

Before he knew what he was doing, he had pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I’m sorry!” he muttered, frantic at her distress. “I…I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have assumed you’d thought about it!” That’s what he got for assuming. “How could you, though? You don’t know anything about stuff like that.” he sighed. “Which is my fault.”

Mercy sobbed into his shoulder for a while.

“For what it’s worth, Faerie will always be here. All of your friends here, we’re not going anywhere any time soon, and you’ll always be welcome here.” Fen told her. As long as he was king, she’d be welcome there. “And you may make fey friends who live their lives mostly in your world, they’ll stick around too.”

This seemed to calm her a little. “I-I hadn’t thought about that.” She sniffled, pulling away. He let his arms fall, though he desperately wanted to hold her close again.

Fen pushed a handkerchief into her hands, which she took and dabbed at her eyes as he told her, “If you ever get too sad or sick of your world, you can just come here. For short stays, long stays, or forever, if you want.”

“I-I was hoping to maybe retire someday, but does that mean I’ll have to work forever?” she grimaced.

The fey king blinked, then snorted, “No. Of course not. Eventually you’ll accumulate enough money that you can just invest it and live off of that. It just takes time. Or you can just call it quits when you want and become my permanent house guest. You won’t want for anything.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes with her fists, “You've already done far, far too much! I can’t be a mooch like that!"

“You could. I’d let you.” he shrugged.

It was quiet for a few moments.

“Would this have been the case if my magic hadn’t woken?” His small human friend asked softly.

Fen let himself reach out and brush hair back from her face. Her dark eyes looked up, surprised, but she didn’t pull way or blanch or look upset, which encouraged him a little. “I suspect your magic would have come to life eventually on its own, even without exposure to fey magic."

“I imagine that might have been more upsetting." She said softly. "At least I knew a little more about what was going on when it did happen. But if you lot and spirits had suddenly just taken interest, I’d have been even more scared than I was, I think. Or maybe I'd have just been killed. Probably eaten in my sleep by a spirit, or something.”

“I don’t want to think about that.” he muttered.

“I guess I’m just thinking that everything happens for a reason.” Mercy sighed, drying the last of her tears with his handkerchief.

“Maybe.”

“Do you think I’ll get much older?”

“No.” the fey king shook his head, “I think you’ve either stopped, or won’t ever look any older than you do at thirty. Not that you really look your age already.”

“I’ve never looked my age. But that’s not too unusual.” she shrugged.

“True.” he nodded.

A knock on the door made them jump.

Amilee’s voice said, “It’s me!”

“Oh, come in!” Mercy called.