The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(8)

Micala watched him for some time, then finally took a ragged breath. “My lord, shouldn’t you have told Queen Irenis why you wanted to see the human girl further?”

“She would have taken perverse pleasure in having someone else discover the girl’s identity and why she can see us like she can.”

Micala ran his hands over his satin tunic. “I did some research in our ancient archives before we came here and found some interesting material I’d never known before.”

“Oh?”

“Over a thousand years ago, a fae mated with a human woman. Their offspring had similar abilities to this girl.”

Deveron stared at him, then sat down hard on a wooden bench. “And?”

“The fae was forced to give up the human and the reigning queen ordered the offspring destroyed.”

“What if they weren’t all killed? What if Alicia is the descendent of one of these?” Deveron rubbed his chin. “Or what if other fae have fathered these...these half-immortals?”

“It’s possible. I believe the recorded case had six children. Anyway, I couldn’t find anything more in the archives. Of, course this is mainly about our own fae. There might be some from the other realms who have done the same thing. Though it is forbidden for any fae to attach themselves to a human.”

Deveron’s eyes widened, the thought totally disconcerting. “She could be from another fae house?”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

Deveron stood, then began to pace. “Another royal house.”

“Not a royal house, exactly, but what about another fae kingdom, my lord?”

“Yes, yes.” Deveron motioned Micala to be quiet. “That’s what I meant. We have to return at once. I must know who her parents were.”

“But if neither are fae—”

“We must find out her lineage. We must!”

“What must you do?” Princess Lorelei asked, her red curls pulled tight against her head, making her thin face appear tortured, though she managed a smile. She fingered the golden medallion at her throat embossed with the gargoyle.

He forced a small smile to placate her, though he had no desire to play nursemaid to a sixteen-year-old princess who had plenty of suitors, any of whom would leap at the chance to serve in his capacity. Suddenly, he looked over at Micala. His mother hadn’t intended for Deveron to be the princess’s suitor, had she?

He groaned deep inside. Sure she would. As unreasonable as she could be. “I’m sorry, Princess Lorelei, but I’m afraid an urgent matter at Denkar has need of my immediate attention. Please forgive me. I will return as soon as possible.”

He bowed low and kissed her hand. Then he tilted his head up and looked at Micala who bowed to the princess.

Before she could utter a word, her eyes grew wide with astonishment, and he and Micala returned to the Mexican restaurant on South Padre Island, hopeful that the fae-spy would still be eating her lunch.

But when they walked into the main dining area, they found another couple sitting at the table.

Deveron cursed under his breath. “Come, we’ll return to their hotel. Perhaps they’re there.”

“What about Princess Lorelei, my lord? Surely you realize she’ll report this to her parents, and even if she doesn’t, they’ll know you’re not there to escort her anywhere. Word will get back to your mother and then—”

“Yes, well I told the princess I would return soon, and I meant it. All we have to do is find Alicia and force the truth from her.”

“The lady doesn’t seem to be the kind of girl who bows to pressure easily.”

“She will. Believe me, she will.”

“You are forbidden from using faery magic on a human, my lord.”

Deveron shook his head. “I will use whatever means necessary to find out what fae line she descends from before my mother learns of it.”

They walked into the men’s room and as there was no one there, they both vanished.

Deveron and Micala ended up at the hotel and remained invisible outside Alicia and Cassie’s hotel room door. With no one about, Deveron knocked on the door.

When there was no answer, he transferred himself inside the room. Micala followed. Neither of the girls was there.

Deveron sucked in his breath with annoyance. “Where would they have gone?”

Micala pointed at the carpeted floor. “Your sister’s been here.”

Deveron studied the almost imperceptible trail of fae dust, the signature as unique to faeries as a fingerprint was to humans.

“She must have discovered Alicia was fae-knowing.”

“Or she wished to play tricks on the girls as you had intended.”

“Where would they have gone?” Deveron asked again. His neck muscles tightened with annoyance. What was his sister up to?

“Shopping?” Micala suggested. “Human females seem to spend an inordinate amount of time shopping.”

“We don’t even know what kind of a conveyance they own.”

Voices approached the room and Deveron folded his arms, stood fast and stared at the door.

“Shouldn’t we leave?” Micala asked.

“No. I will find out who she is and—”

The lock clicked open and the door opened.

A brown-skinned maid entered the room with a fresh load of towels.