Lina: Twisted Fairy Tales Book Two

29: Everything Has A Price

After checking to see what else the family of siblings needed that I could sneakily get to them, I moved on to the rest of my ‘official’ list, but my mind stayed with the small family. So much so that I didn’t realize my last stop was the Healer’s to check in on the Centaur population and to see if there was anything his efforts needed within the community, until I was already on my way there. When I managed to pull my head out of the clouds enough to notice where I was, the Fae King was walking right beside me. I jumped.

“Gods damn it all!” I shouted and he grinned widely at me.

“Be careful what you wish for, you never know what may happen, with your heritage.” He winked. “It took you some time to realize I was here.” I had a hand on my chest, breathing hard.

“I was thinking! Why were you sneaking around?!” I demanded. He shrugged, wincing as his wings flicked slightly and his bound arm was pulled upward with the gesture.

“You just looked so deep in thought, I didn’t want to disturb you.” He teased. I noticed he was wearing a tunic today, his arm immobilized over the top of it. His breeches were laced rather clumsily, but what can you expect with only one hand?

“You must be doing better. You’re dressed.” I nearly taunted him about his laces, but held my tongue. However, he caught me eyeing them and his expression became rueful.

“Yes, but these blasted things. I don’t normally have such trouble, but I usually have-” He broke off abruptly.

“The use of both arms?” I prompted, and he blinked at me as if he had planned to say something else, but then smiled.

“Yes.” He gave a half-hearted shrug, and then winced again as it aggravated his wounds. I continued walking and he followed. “Soo.. did you come to visit with me then? Your King in shining armor?” I froze to turn to look at him incredulously.

“Hardly.” I snorted. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain flit across his face. I turned my back to him. “I’m here to see the Healer about the budget.” I informed him haughtily. Surely I hadn’t actually hurt his feelings. After everything he’d done, he couldn’t expect..

“Oh. Are there financial problems in your Kingdom?” The Fae King’s voice had gotten soft. I glanced at him to see he’d caught up with me, his brow was furrowed and he radiated concern, no longer any trace of the teasing left on his face. I sighed.

“Aren’t Kingdoms always experiencing some sort of financial problem?” I replied. The Fae King frowned harder, and his hand lifted towards his ear, touching one of the piercings briefly.

“Is there anything I can do?” He murmured, and I stopped again. He couldn’t seriously be offering..

“At what cost?” I asked sharply, and he gave me a feral smile.

“Hmm..” He tapped his chin and stepped backwards a few steps before suddenly seeming to have an idea. “Ah, I know!” He bowed to me grandly, one arm sweeping wide, wings swept down and out like a cape. “How about.. A kiss?” He raised his head to look at me with a smirk and I shook my head.

“Everything has a price with you, doesn’t it?” I muttered. Again, that brief look flitted across his face that I could almost mistake for pain. I rubbed my forehead.. “Look, there’s really nothing you can do unless you can find homes for orphans and help displaced people who’ve had their lives and families ripped apart by war.” The Fae King straightened slowly. Something sparked in his eyes, but was gone too quickly for me to catch fully. “And if you manage to do that, well you’ll just about have earned a kiss.” I finished distractedly. He moved so swiftly, I wondered if he had regained use of his wings. He took my hand, bringing it to his lips.

“It’s a Bargain.” He rumbled. I was shocked for several long seconds.

“Wait, I didn’t mean.. Are you seriously going to try just for a kiss?” I stammered. The Fae King closed his eyes and shivered slightly as if me voicing the words somehow affected him.

“Yess.” He hissed.

“So if I agree that I will give you a kiss in exchange for you finding homes for orphans in our orphanage or for helping displaced people who’ve suffered losses due to the war.. You will volunteer your time and effort to try to do those things?” I clarified. The Fae King shuddered again, his head tipping back minutely and a groan escaping from deep in his throat.

“Yessss.” He repeated, dragging the word out. Although, it was more moan than word this time.

“Does this.. idea.. please you?” I asked bluntly. His eyes snapped to mine.

“Bargains are power. A Bargain with you? It is like you’ve handed me the world’s rarest jewel, the best fruit, the finest cloth..” He began to advance on me, circling me until he could whisper in my ear “The sweetest climax.” His voice was husky and raw and I stumbled away from him. I could not lie to myself and say I was unaffected, but I put on a stern face.

“Thank you for the advice. I shall be sure to apply it wisely, and avoid all Bargains with you from henceforth.” I spoke. The Fae King recoiled slightly, and part of me, the part that was very much loyal to the Fae King for some silly reason, wanted to recant what I had said, just to hear that moan again. Is that what he would sound like during coitus? Would he make that sweet face of pure bliss?

I shook the thoughts from my head and scurried away, hurrying towards the Healer’s hut. Trying to leave my problems and irrationalities behind. Where they belonged. With the Fae King.