Sapphires and Desires (The Gem Fairy Series Book 1) (13 page)

“I have someone for you to meet. Among Geoff and I’s many chats on the very long drive home to Michigan, he brought up how much you like animals. You’ve always liked them, in all your lives.” He says brightly and reaches into the trunk of the tree beside us. He pulls out a small furry ball that fits easily inside of his cupped hand. “It’s a kitten, in our language we call them Lataza.” He opens my hand and places it in it.

The little fur ball doesn’t even have its eyes open yet. It raises its head and then plunks it back down on to my palm as if it’s too heavy for it to bear.

“I found them this morning while I was checking the wards for Lenaya. There’s five.” He says excitedly as I smile.

I run my other hand over its grey fur. It’s so small and fluffy. It lets out a short cry and then snuggles into my hand. I watch as the momma cat pokes its head out from the huge tree trunk and eyes me carefully making sure that I don’t harm her baby.

“Would you like to name it?” Damon asks.

“I don’t know, what about Fluffy?” I ask him.

He smirks. “That’s a little generic don’t you think?”

“Okay, what about Charlie?” I ask him. “Wait, is it a boy or girl.”

“A boy.”

“Charlie then,” I confirm.

Damon reaches into the hole and pulls out another small kitten. “What about this one?” He asks curiously.

This one is grey and white like its mom. “You name it.” I suggest.

“Tarahze.” He says. “Fae for ‘hope’”

He grabs Charlie and places him and Tarahze back into the hole while pulling out the other three. Two of them are grey and one is black.” He hands me the black one.

“What is fae for ‘cutie’?” I ask jokingly.

“Nothing but the closest would be yuhlamas which means ‘lovely’.”

“This is Yuh-l-a-m-a-s then. Did I say that right?” I ask him.

“Yes, good job,” he praises and hands me the next one.

“Socks.” I say automatically. This kitten’s whole body is gray except for his feet which are white and look like little socks.

Damon laughs getting my humor and hands me the last one.

“Boy or girl?” I ask.

“Boy,” he answers.

“This one is named Geoff after my cousin, who is probably freaking out because I’m missing again.” I say wondering exactly how long I’ve been gone probably a whole week or something crazy already.

Damon frowns and puts two of the kittens back leaving the last one I named in my hand.

“So we have Charlie, Tar-az, Yuh-lam-as, Socks, and Geoff.” I say changing the subject and pronouncing the fae words slowly.

“You’re speaking fae already.” He smiles.

“Thank you.” I mumble while petting the fur ball in my hand.

“For?” he asks confused.

“For showing me these uh how did you say it in fae?”

“La-ta-za.” He pronounces slowly with a grin.

“It’s hard to understand what you’re saying through your accent.” I giggle. “Thank you for showing me these Lataza. I needed something to brighten my day.”

He grasps my free hand. “You’re welcome. Whatever you want.”

I hand the kitten back to him and he places it back with its family.

“What is the mother’s name?” I wonder.

Damon starts laughing.

“What?” I ask.

“Its name is Charflae.”

“What does that mean?” I question.

“It means annoyance. Annabelle loves animals and had to have a cat. Lenaya accepted her request and found this one at the market in the Diamond Court. She named it so that Annabelle wouldn’t forget how much she didn’t want a pet.” He muses, petting the momma cat’s head. It purrs, delighted. “But you’re not annoying at all are you?” He gushes to the cat.

“I have some questions.” I state blankly.

“Sure, ask me anything,” he murmurs while rubbing the cat’s tummy.

“What were my parents like?” I ask suddenly. “I don’t remember them very well.”

“Your parents were good people. You and their Kingdom always came first. The way it should be.” He agrees.

“What type of fae am I?” I continue with my line of questions.

“Good one. You are an elemental fairy. Your element is spirit. Which is likely why you reincarnate. There haven’t been many Spirit fae to exist. I know of only three. Spirit is the strongest element an elemental fae can wield. No one besides you, your parents, me, my friend from the Diamond Court David Barthelow, and Lenaya and Annabelle know this is your element although I’m sure many people speculate.”

“Okay, last one, when you say
fae years
does that mean 365 days in this world?” I ask him a little confused by the term.

“No. A fae year is only 120 days long. So during one year in Andaglon 5 years earth years pass. I know it’s confusing.”

“So when you say that you were
made
300
fae
years ago. That means you have been alive for like…98 human years in fae but 1500 human years have passed on earth?” I ask not sure about my math or my logic.

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m just a young buck.” He teases.

“Yeah…right. That’s completely insane.”

“Technically though I’ve spent many complete years on earth so I’m a lot older than 98 years old.”

I laugh even though nothing is funny and I’m just trying to make logic out of something that has no logic.

“So in Andaglon my parents have on been dead for like four and a half fae years and almost a year and a half in human years in Andaglon?”

“Yes.” He says flatly. 

“That is so confusing. So I could live for 50 years in the human world then come here and only like 10 fae years would’ve passed or just over three human years in Andaglon?” I groan.

“Yes, still right. See you get it.” He praises.

“Yeah I get it but I don’t
get
it. I don’t understand how it works.”

“Don’t think too hard about it.” He laughs and takes the kitten from my hand and placing it back with its family.

“Okay, I have one more question.” I cave thinking of another. “Why do some fae look weird and others not?” I ask not sure how to ask it without sounding rude.

“We all look
weird
.”

“I don’t look weird.” I argue.

He begins laughing. “In the human world you look human, everyone does because the entire planet is warded with a glamour that disguises the fae. It’s an illusion. You know how I said that if anyone who didn’t create the ward knows a ward is there, it shatters? This one is so strong that it doesn’t because it was created by millions of fae together to protect our presence from the humans. If you know the ward exists, then you can see through it but it doesn’t break.”

“I don’t look weird, you don’t either and we’re in Andaglon where there is no ward.” I argue again.

He sighs. “It’s because I am glamouring myself. You aren’t yet able to willingly see through glamour. I am tricking you into seeing what you see.”

I look at him harder trying to break through it. “Drop it. I can handle it.” I say demandingly.

He immediately does. I feel it fall and suddenly I’m staring at what appears to be…
a god? An angel?
His hair isn’t just blonde anymore it shines and radiates. His body isn’t just perfect it’s
perfect
. But it’s all from his essence, not his body. He doesn’t look any different than normal besides the fact that he’s even hotter, who knew that could happen? Then I see it. Just one small difference physically that would make him stand out from any human minus his explosive sex appeal, his ears, they’re
pointy.
Yes, like an elf. I’m too shocked to laugh although I’m tempted to ask him if he’s lost and needs directions to the North Pole.

“Jesus.” I mouth and he grins. Then he turns it off and he’s back to normal minus the ears.

“Why don’t you just walk around like that here? Why hide yourself?” I ask him.

“It’s clear you’re already pretty weirded out by all of this. I don’t want to push you over the edge.” He jokes. “I’m masking yours too, have been since the day I found you. Unfortunately I can’t stop masking your essence or magic or everyone will know you’re alive. One day you can see what you really look like, for now I can only show you how look physically.”

Suddenly there is a mirror in his hand and he’s handing it to me. I take it hastily and nervously look into it. I look the same, almost minus…the ears. God, I’m an elf too? I almost laugh with disgust but then remember Annabelle. I’d rather have pointy ears than be a foot tall. Maybe I didn’t get the short end of the stick after all.

“We look like elves.” I say incredulously.

He snorts with laughter. “I suppose so. We’re even short.” He jokes.

I never really realized it before but yes, we are both fairly short.

Then the old woman Lenaya comes around the corner of the house.

“I haven’t seen you smile in far too long, Damon.” She approves calling out to Damon.

“I haven’t had a reason to smile in a long time.” He replies to her.

“I know, dear. Lunch is ready, you two, when you’re ready of course. Annabelle has made us quite the meal.”

The lady turns and continues back the way she came. Damon grabs my elbow and tows me with him towards the house.

When we get into the house the smell of…well I’m not sure what fills the small area. It smells good, that much is clear, I just can’t place the scent.

“Wild Ghung and for you, princess, I got my hands on some chicken from the market this morning when I heard you was coming.” The Brownie exclaims while pointing us to the table.

“Were, Annabelle, it’s were, not was.” Lenaya scolds the brownie.

“Oops! Sorry, my English isn’t perfect. Forgive me my king and princess.” She apologizes. The whole
princess
thing is getting
so
old.

“Lenaya teaches English to fae as her job. It’s a requirement by law to be able to speak English because it is the second language of the fae and spoken quite often here. Most fae are taught as they grow up. It’s something that they learn as they grow.” Damon explains.

“But I never had the chance to learn it because my parents didn’t speak it, they always stuck to the old ways and I never had to know it because I lived in the Amber Evers where laws aren’t enforced. Until Lenaya took me in after my parents were killed and gave me a job. Then I had to learn so that I could do errands in the Kingdom for her without getting persecuted. I have trouble sometimes but I speak it a lot better than lots of fae can. So I’m sorry if I say something wrong, princess.”

“I think you speak it better than I do.” I reassure her.

“Technically I’ve been speaking it for longer than you have in your most recent life, princess.” She says.

Our conversation is interrupted as Lenaya takes her seat at the table and Annabelle jumps atop it and rushes around in circles dishing everyone up with food.

“Thank you.” I tell her. “I could’ve gotten it myself.”

“Not a problem, princess. I don’t get to stay here for free, I’m the hired help you know.” She says. Damon eyes me as she calls me princess. I’m sure he’s waiting for me to snap like I did at him when I told him that I didn’t want to be called princess.

“Call me Laytah, Annabelle, please.” I ask her sweetly.

“Oh but I must call you princess, you’re royalty dear, it would be disrespectful.” She chimes.

“Please. Lenaya calls King Damon Damon, please call me Laytah. Both of you.” I explain.

“Okay, if that is an order.” The Brownie calls out across the table to me.

“It’s not an order. Just call me whatever you want.” I decide.

“Is that an order?” Annabelle calls out again.

“Uh…never mind.” I say and end the subject.

“Okay, princess.” The brownie chimes and then disappears out of the room.

“Where’d she go?” I ask confused. Isn’t she hungry?

Lenaya shrugs. “Out to finish her chores I assume. Brownies don’t eat. Neither do fae like Damon but he still always sits down for a meal with me. Kind fellow. Don’t mind Annabelle, Brownies aren’t the smartest of the fae but they are the most loyal.”

We eat in silence for a moment and I’m surprised to discover that not only is the chicken good but whatever else that was put on my plate is as well. It looks to me as though it’s some sort of mushed berries. Just as we’re finishing our meal Damon and Lenaya may make stern eye contact and then Lenaya nods to her right. Damon nods and stands from his seat motioning for me to be quiet.

“What?” I ask as quietly as I can.

“Someone’s here. Broke right through the wards. Don’t say a word. I’ll be right back.” He whispers into my ear and then he disappears out of the room silently and I’m left staring at Lenaya who is finishing the last bite off her plate.

“Oh where is that damn Brownie?” She asks. “Annabelle! We’re finished!” She shouts and I wince. Aren’t we supposed to be quiet? Or did he just mean me?