The Summer Court Ch. 01

I hope you enjoy Lily's unfortunate predicament, because she certainly won't.

***

"There's no ketchup."

I glance at Cooper, who's looking down at his burger with a dejected expression. He pulls the bun off the top and examines it. When he catches me watching him, he fixes me with his best puppy dog eyes. He knows I can't resist those eyes.

"It's just not right," he says, "Help a man out, Lily."

I start to get up and head for the kitchen, but Emily's hand shoots out and grabs my arm. She heaves me back onto the couch with a strength that is surprising for someone so tiny.

"You're such a people pleaser, Lily," she says. "If he wants ketchup so badly, he can go get it himself."

Cooper gives her a wounded look, but Emily isn't impressed.

"Us girls have to stick together," she says in a low voice, grinning at me, "The man can feed himself."

With a shake of his head, Cooper stands, stretches, and makes for the kitchen. I hear the screen door open and the ring of voices as Jack and Eli come in from outside. The three of them fall into an easy banter.

This is the first evening in a while that we've all managed to get together. It's nice. It reminds me, sadly, that this is one of our last bonfires before the exchange program ends. In about two weeks, we'll all go back to our respective educations, and this will feel like a long-ago dream. I try to take in the moment, the warm air from open windows and murmur of voices.

"When are you and Cooper going to fuck already?" Emily asks, thoroughly ruining the moment.

I choke on the sip of beer I just took and set it down on the table before she says anything else unwarranted.

"What?" I splutter, "Emily!"

Emily is unfazed.

"Oh come on." She rolls her eyes, like it should be obvious.

"You've lost your mind," I say, laughing.

"Lily, that man wants to bang you like a screen door in a hurricane. It's kind of disgusting, the way he's panting after you."

"There's no panting happening," I say as I take the beer out of her hand, "And you've clearly had enough of this."

She laughs and leans back into the cushions. Her chestnut hair falls across the couch as she tips her head back, and I have to admit, she looks radiant. My beautiful, crazy, utterly infuriating friend. I'd never admit how much I'm going to miss her.

"I know what I'm talking about," she says, "I have the eyes of a hawk."

"More like the mind of a pervert," I say, smiling.

I stand up, but she stays seated, and I know the inquisition isn't over. I tug at her hand, trying to get her to come with me. I'd rather avoid any more talk of me and Cooper getting intimate. She finally acquiesces, joining me as we walk to the kitchen.

"Just give it time," she says, "The sexual tension is so thick between the two of you, it's like walking through a goddamn spider web every time I-"

"Enough!" I whisper-shout, "Jesus, Em."

We walk through the kitchen, out through the screen door, and step into the cool night air where everyone else is gathered.

In the yard, by the tree line, the fire blazes bright and the smell of the burning wood fills the air. Jack, who's wearing a flannel shirt unbuttoned over his white t-shirt, is standing close by the flames. Cooper is sitting on a log, talking to him, squeezing ketchup onto his paper plate.

The scene is a sharp contrast to the forest behind, dark and cool, full of the scent of pine needles and rain. We're lucky to be borrowing the cabin for the weekend from a friend of Jack's. The yard opens directly into Ballyboley forest, along the Irish Antrim coast. It's dense, wild, and wholly thrilling to be so close to nature. The others are pre-med, pre-law, pre-something, and more than happy to sit inside, but my mind feels clearer when I'm near the woods.

"Here comes trouble," Jack says when we approach, nodding at Emily. She grins, then throws herself at him. He catches her in his arms, lifting her so her face is level with his, and plants a kiss on her nose.

Cooper looks up from his log, glances at the happy couple, then at me. I can't help the warmth that spreads through me as his eyes light up, and I realize Emily's words are getting to me. I want to run my fingers through his messy, brown hair. God, maybe she's right.

A sudden pop from the fire makes all of us flinch.

My head snaps to the source of the sound. When I stare into the flames, my eyes widen. The flames move and twist, but it's not just the firelight. Something is moving. A second pop and a flash of orange light and then, the flames take shape. We all stare as what appears to be a small bird hops from the heart of the flames. Only, it's not on fire. It's made of fire.

"Holy shit," I hear Cooper mutter, "What the fuck?"

The fiery creature lands on a log beside the fire and tilts its head at us. Its beady eyes are dark and shining.

"Is it a phoenix?" Emily asks, voice hushed, "Like in Harry Potter?"

I want to say something, but I find I can't speak. All I can do is stare at the creature crawling from the flames.

In a sudden flurry of motion, the bird takes flight and bursts from the yard into the woods beyond. For a moment, I only watch. Then my legs are moving of their own accord, and I'm running into the forest.

"Lily!"

I don't know what possesses me to run madly after it. I'm compelled to follow. The firebird is far ahead, and I can only glimpse it between the trees as it flies deeper and deeper into the woods.

My heart pounds and the cold air burns my lungs as I chase it. The others are behind me, but their footsteps fade, and soon I can't hear them anymore. I should be terrified, but the only thing I feel is a fierce determination.

Finally, I break into a clearing, and stop dead in my tracks. Where there was one, now there are a dozen birds. The clearing opens out before me, illuminated by the flickering lights of firebirds dancing on air. The heat emanating from them warms the cold night air. It's a scene right out of a fairytale.

"Wow," I breathe, unable to help myself. It's so beautiful. The birds flit and fly in an elaborate dance, weaving and dipping through the air. The flames cast an orange glow across the grass.

Someone is playing music, I realize. The sounds of a harp float through the air, and the firebirds twirl and spin to the rhythm. As the music fades into my awareness, I realize what's in front of me. I'm standing at the edge of a circle, a huge clearing in the forest that's been decorated for a celebration. There are long wooden tables piled with food, and the ground is covered in rich silks.

There are banners hung within the tree canopy. The letters are beautiful, but foreign, and I can't read them.

I take a tentative step forward. There must have been something in the smoke. Something that's making me see things, because this is not normal. I am seeing things that are not real. Yet, the music is clear and bright, and the heat from above washes over me.

I start to stumble through the clearing, dazed, and suddenly I'm surrounded by people. No, not people. Creatures. Fairies.

One moment, the space was empty. Then, they're there, all around me. My gaze moves from one to another, trying to understand. They're impossibly beautiful. Men and women, their ears slightly pointed and their hair twisted into intricate braids and decorated with flowers and beads. My eyes whip from gowns like flowing rivers to starry crowns to a set of horns, embossed in fine gold thread, sprouting from a young boy's forehead. There are men with antlers and women with iridescent eyes like the inside of an abalone shell.

As I drift through the celebration, they pay no attention to me.

The air is sweet and alive with the music. My bare feet drift along soft moss. The revelers dance and twirl, their laughter ringing through the air. It's beautiful and impossible, but somehow I've been transported to another world.

I pad quietly from the center of the celebration to the edges, where I walk between the trees, my fingers trailing over their rough bark. The trees are old, their branches hang low and heavy, and their leaves are silky smooth. It's like nothing I've read about, no species I've ever encountered before.

I circle one of the trees which is nearly as large as a car, but as I round back to where I should have started, instead I find myself in a hollow.

Here, the forest grows even thicker, forming a recessed space layered in moss and pine needles. All around are floating lights like glowing embers. At the far end of the hollow, the roots of the trees have curled over and around each other, creating a natural bench which two people now occupy. They sit close, a man and a woman, their heads bent together in quiet conversation.

I take a step back, feeling like I've interrupted something I shouldn't have, but my movement catches the eye of the woman and she looks up.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, still backing away.

She smiles. "Don't be sorry," she says, her voice laden with warmth, "You're among friends. Come here."

Her voice is gentle and soothing, and I'm surprised when I feel myself relax. I approach the two fairies with only a small flutter of nerves in my stomach. My gaze shifts between them. I don't know where to look, they're both so breathtaking.

The woman stands to greet me. She's the most beautiful person I've ever seen, with flowing red hair, pale skin, and dark, soulful eyes that seemed to see into the very depths of my being. She's clothed in an emerald green dress that leaves little to the imagination, and when she moves towards me, the fabric seems to shimmer and change color. Her smile is gentle, but her eyes glitter with a wild energy.

"Beautiful," she says, softly, looking me up and down, "Tell me, what's your name?"

I blush furiously at the attention. I feel like this woman can see right through me, into me. "Lily," I tell her, "Who are you? What is this place?" I must seem like every dumb blond character in a movie, but I can't help it.

"Lily. A fitting name," she says, "I am Raya, queen consort of the summer court. This is my husband, king Thalion," she indicates to the man she had been sitting next to, "And our dear friend, Silvas."

I look where she nods and startle at the sight. A third, handsome fairy lounges at the foot of a tree in the hollow, his grin as wide as a crescent moon. He tilts his head in acknowledgement.

I don't think I can possibly turn more red, my bewilderment evident on my face. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," I stammer out. I can't decide if I should bow. "I don't mean to intrude. I just... I-" Before I can gather all of my thoughts, Raya moves close to me, her delicate fingers reaching out and releasing my hair from its bun. I stare at her mutely.

"Let's see those locks of yours," she says, her touch reassuring as she brushes my hair free, letting it cascade around my shoulders in a wave. She touches me as though we've known each other for ages. Then she assesses her handiwork, "You look lovely with your hair loose."

I feel a strange mix of flattered and uneasy, and a little bit self-conscious. "You can't mean that, but thank you."

"She can't lie to you," Silvas says, from the ground. I suppose I'd heard that in stories before - the fae couldn't lie, but that didn't mean they couldn't trick unwary mortals.

For a moment, Raya looks at Silvas like she wants to cut his tongue out, but the expression is gone so quickly that I'm sure I imagined it. She gives me a stunning smile. "How would you like to join us for a drink, darling?" she offers. She makes a grand gesture toward platters of wine, fruits, and cheeses that adorn the ground beneath the tree.

I give her a grateful smile as I step back, trying to create some distance between us so I can think clearly. It's so tempting, but something feels wrong. "I appreciate your kindness, but I think I should..." My words trail off as I search for an excuse to escape the fairy queen's relentless attention.

I take another step back from her, but before I can make my escape, Silvas has one slender foot extended and I'm tumbling over it onto the grass. The landing is soft but seems to have knocked my unfinished plans right out of my head. All I can do is look up, my cheeks already flushing with embarrassment again.

"Silvas! That was uncalled for," Raya admonishes, her tone firm but measured. "You know better than to play such tricks on our guests." She turns her attention back to me immediately, "Are you alright?" she asks.

"Yes," I reply simply, still somewhat stunned.

"Good," Raya says, her tone shifting instantly back to what it was a moment before, "Now then, shall we enjoy the rest of this fine evening together? Silvas, pour her a drink."

"Certainly, my queen," Silvas replies with the barest hint of mockery in his tone.

I watch as Silvas pours me a goblet of deep red wine and hands it over. As I take it from him, he leans in close to my ear, "Fairy wine is more potent than any mortal drink. Be careful."

"Thank you," I murmur, feeling that I can't say no. I don't even know how I got into this situation, but maybe if I stay long enough to enjoy their company, they'll let me leave without a fuss. Raya is all smiles and affection, but some part of me remains wary. I take a cautious sip of wine. It's pleasantly sweet, like dewy summer berries popping in my mouth.

"How did you come to wander in our court?" Silvas asks me, drawing my attention back. He's seated cross-legged on the grass beside me, and up close, he's even more handsome than I thought. His silver hair falls in gentle waves, pale gray eyes shining bright, and his sharp features are softened by a boyish grin.

"I was chasing a bird. It flew out of our bonfire and into the Ballyboley woods."

His eyes glint with curiosity. "Did it sing to you?"

I shake my head, a little confused.

Silvas smiles, and it seems to be a kind, genuine smile, without a hint of mockery. "Then we must have summoned it from your fire, for we called them to dance and celebrate the summer solstice."

"I didn't realize that was today."

He nods, "The longest day of the year, and one of the times that the veil between worlds is thinnest."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not uncommon for mortals such as yourself to... fall through the cracks. Lose themselves to the in-between realms," he says with a shrug, his gaze flickering to Raya and Thalion. I feel like there's something more to what he's saying, but I can't put my finger on it, and he doesn't seem like he wants to elaborate.

We lapse into silence for a moment and I pick up a plump red apple from a nearby tray, examining it this way and that. It appears much like a normal apple, only much heavier. "Is this safe to eat?" I ask Silvas, "I've heard stories about fairy food."

Silvas smiles again, wider this time. "That would depend on the story," he says.

I raise an eyebrow. The combination of the wine and Silvas' charm makes it difficult to focus on any particular train of thought. "Will this apple trap me in your realm?"

"Of course not."

"Will I find myself dancing for eternity?" I ask, letting a hint of challenge drip into my tone.

"Only if that is your wish," Silvas says.

I narrow my eyes at him, "Will I die instantly?"

"Not unless you're allergic to apples."

"What will happen if I eat it, then?" I ask, turning the fruit over in my hand. The ripe flesh is shiny, reflecting the moonlight.

"Why don't you try it and find out?"

I roll the apple across my palm and turn it over a few times.

"Of course, I could make you," Silvas says suddenly, his voice dropping low. He's staring at me with an intensity that unsettles me, even in my hazy state. These last words are quiet, and I don't know whether to believe him.

I frown at him as I take a bite. Sweetness explodes across my tongue. It's the sweetest apple I've tasted, crisp and juicy, with just the right amount of tartness. Unable to stop myself, I take another bite even as the juice runs down my chin.

Silvas watches me in rapt fascination, before reaching up to wipe it away with his thumb.

I hear Raya's soft, musical laugh. "Careful, Lily, you're going to get yourself in trouble."

Suddenly, I don't feel muddled by the wine anymore; my senses feel sharper, more attuned to the night. The sound of crickets seemed clearer, the moon's light brighter. The apple is doing something to me, I think. But I take another bite regardless.

Silvas reaches up to take the fruit from my hand. For a moment, our fingers brush, and his eyes flick down to my mouth, lingering there. Then he plucks it from my hand, "No more for now," he says.

I want to tell him that I can't be commanded, that I can do as I please, but I feel suddenly dizzy. I can't tell if it's the effect of the apple, the wine, or his proximity. I turn to Raya to ask her more about this celebration, but the words are lost before they can spill out.

Raya and Thalion are pressed close together, several feet away from me, on a patch of velvety moss that forms a broad makeshift seat for them. The king's hand rests on the curve of his queen's hip. Her dress has slipped down, revealing the soft swell of her breasts.

There's something strangely compelling about the two of them, and I can't bring myself to look away. Raya's eyes are heavy-lidded as she traces patterns along her husband's neck with a finger.

Thalion reminds me of the statues of the Greek pantheon in the art history books I used to sneak from the library. He's like the sun god Apollo, all golden hair and amber eyes. He's clothed in rich silks and ornate leather, and his crown is a circle of leaves. As I watch, he takes Raya's chin in his hand and tilts her face up. He leans forward and brushes his lips against hers. It's a sweet kiss, but something about it makes me feel flushed and hot.

I turn away, unable to hide my expression.

"You don't have to look away," Silvas says beside me.

There's something in the way he says it that makes me wonder if he knows exactly what's running through my mind. I clear my throat. "I think the wine is starting to go to my head," I mutter. It's not a lie, exactly, but it has nothing to do with the way my body is reacting.

My eyes flicker back to the king and queen. Raya's dress is slipping further and further off, her skin flushed. She hooks me with her gaze and doesn't let go.

As I watch, she reaches out with slender fingers and strokes her husband's cheek. She presses a kiss to his jaw. "Do you want her, my love?" she asks him, softly, her eyes dark and liquid in the moonlight. Thalion's gaze flickers to mine.

The king doesn't respond. Raya's lips curve into a sly smile, her voice like velvet, as she continues: "She's beautiful. She would make a pretty pet for you to play with. Look how responsive she is already." They're talking about me like I'm not here, or like I can't hear them. I've never been spoken to like this before.

Silvas is quiet beside me. Watching. I wonder what he thinks of the conversation. I wonder how many times he's done this before. It's like he said, tonight the veil is the thinnest and unwary mortals might wander where they don't belong. I'm sure I'm not the first human to come here, but maybe I'm the first one stupid enough to wander straight into the arms of the king and queen.

"It's late," I say, my voice sounding far away, "I should go back. I'm sure the others are wondering where I am."

"Let them wonder," Silvas says. He's closer now, and I'm acutely aware of his presence.

I shake my head. "Please, I should go," I say, a little louder this time, and try to stand, but the world tilts beneath my feet and Silvas catches me in his arms.

"Easy," he murmurs. He smells of summer and spice, his arm is warm and solid around my waist, but his hold is tight.

"Let go," I say, letting a sharp edge creep into my voice. It's how Emily would handle him. She's always known how to put people in their place. A quick and confident sort of self-assurance that I'll never possess. I try to channel her bravado, her brashness.