only to entwine with, then be replaced by, thoughts of Robin, and the conundrum that he was. The worst of it was how he made me feel. And how he behaved towards me.
He hadn’t just perceived me when others hadn’t, he’d seen me. As more than just my form, and the image I projected of myself.
The ideas that fact inspired scared me. I couldn’t entertain them, not after similar ideas with Reynard had led to my current condition. I had to steel myself against any thoughts of similarities, or impossible fancies. What Robin and I had discussed yesterday was the truth. Our feelings didn’t matter.
I just wished feelings weren’t so fickle so I could stop thinking of his face, his expressions, his smile, the gleam in his eyes…
I shook my thoughts away as we were met by an escort with curly, black hair, golden eyes, and a mid-thigh, butter-colored tunic. Curiously, like the other officials I’d seen within the palace, he wore no footwear. It at least made me feel less conscious about my own barefoot state.
“Where is Robin?” I asked the escort, who’d introduced himself as Ikaros. “Is he all right?”
Ikaros did a double-take before realizing I actually was a tad see-through. “Your friend has made a speedy recovery with our treatment, and is in the king’s throne room.”
It might not be a true breath, but I exhaled in relief, regardless. Though the healers had sealed Robin’s wounds, I’d feared the ghouls’ bites could have carried deathly diseases. I’d been terrified he might succumb to some horrific infection overnight.
Besides, it would have been something he’d ferociously resent—dying from a bite rather than a fight.
The burbling and tumbling of water accompanied our approach to the throne room. Then we were at towering, polished bronze double-doors engraved with glowing, geometric shapes that pulsed as we neared them, bordered by braided columns that seemed to be both marble and light.
The spear-bearing guards opened the doors for us, and we entered a vast hexagonal hall with a soaring glass ceiling and a veritable waterfall.
There was no indication where the water came from or went to, but it felt as if it was watching us back as we gaped at it, changing colors and velocity.
I was looking around for Robin when the waters parted like a curtain. A set of carved steps appeared, leading into a huge pool of crystalline waters that seemed lit from within. Last to appear was a platform holding two thrones.
The first seemed to be hewn from solid gold, was entwined with vines that undulated and gleamed, and blossoms that seemed to breathe, filling the air with their sweet, tangy scent. And sprawled on it, was the Summer King.
King Theseus had a glowing circlet with a white-gold sun in its center perched on abundant sun-bleached hair that undulated around his shoulders. His shimmering tunic showed an indecent amount of his deeply-tanned, polished skin, exposing his muscled arms and almost all of his chest, and stopping way above his knees. He, also, was barefoot.
Next to him, a gorgeous young fairy woman sat on the smaller, silvery flower-covered throne. She had golden skin like my mother, and earthy-red hair, with big, almond eyes the warm, orange-brown of hazelnut shells.
The possibility of her being his current queen brought the dormant feeling of my bones back with a vengeance, joints stiffening with foreboding.
Then someone emerged from the water, and I forgot all about her, and what her presence could mean to me. Robin!
He climbed up on the platform before the king, wiping water from his eyes, and wringing it from his cloak.
Running a hand through water-darkened hair, spiking it, he sighed. “Was that necessary?”
The king shrugged nonchalantly. “You may be spoken for by our mutual friend, but I need to be certain of your intentions before I discuss anything with you. These waters cleanse you of anything you may carry, and reveal anything you may hide.”
Robin huffed a mirthless laugh. “You get human troublemakers often?”
“We get our fair share of persistent pirates and reckless rogues, who think capturing one of us means we’ll give them fairy gold. Plenty of determined humans, sorcerers, giants, and halflings such as yourself break in here.” Theseus gestured to the girl on his right. “Some even try to kidnap my sister, Erytheia.”
Sister. So he truly had no queen.
It meant I had a chance!
Theseus clapped excitedly as he turned to beckon us closer. “Dip into the purifying pool, so we can start discussing our bargain.”