The Honoured Guest by Aurelia Destiny Read Free Book Online Page B

finest berries.”
    “But - I'm under-age!” she blurted out.
    Finvara’s brows drew in slightly, as if he didn't understand. An Elf flew near to his ear and whispered something and the prince laughed aloud. “I see! You need have no concern, Maiden - the rules of your Realm do not apply here. At fifteen winters you have lived long enough to have been hand-fasted and bear children.”
    Chelsea stared at him in an appalled manner. Hand-fasted? Did he mean married ? And with kids? She hesitated, but didn't want to appear naïve and offend the prince, so she quickly put the goblet to her mouth and gulped down the wine. It burned all the way down, warm as no wine should be, but it was the most delicious thing that she had ever tasted.
    The people around her laughed in amusement as she gasped and spluttered and flushed in humiliation. She began to feel a little woozy from what she assumed was the alcohol, because she'd never had any before.
    “My name,” Chelsea told him shyly, remembering Nuallán’s reaction. “Is Chelsea.”
    There was the faintest tightening about his eyes, but then Finvara nodded. “A pretty name,” he remarked. “Most fetching.”
    An ugly little creature, hunched and gnarled, approached with a platter of fruits and nuts resting on one shoulder. He placed it near her on the table, sliding it onto the wood and then withdrew without meeting her gaze. Others of the same kind brought more platters to fill the table.
    Chelsea noticed that no-one reached for the fruit, or other food, and continued speaking as if disinterested. The scent from the food made her mouth water, it was that delicious. She hesitantly picked up some grapes and ate one, moaning at the delicious taste. The grapes were the best that she'd ever had!
    She noticed that Finvara was watching her with a disconcerting stare, gaze flickering from the fruit in her hands to her mouth. “Aren't you hungry, Prince Finvara?”
    “ Famished ,” he fairly growled back hungrily, eyes on her mouth as she licked up the juices left by the grapes. When she flushed and eyed him in surprise at his tone, he looked away. “But we will all be permitted to partake later this night.”
    Chelsea was confused at his response, but she didn't say anything.
    “What are those creatures?” she whispered under her breath to Finvara, her green eyes following the hunched creature that had brought the food as he disappeared into the crowd.
    The Fae prince leaned in closer to her, his lips brushing her ear. “They are Bogles, our servants. I believe that they are referred to as Goblins in your realm.”
    “And the little Faeries flying around?”
    “Ah, they are known as Fir Darrig."
    Chelsea swallowed hard in remembered fear and looked up through the dark tree tops into the moonlit sky. “The giant isn't around I hope? He scared me.”
    “He and others of his kind are nearby, but unseen. They will not bother you.” The prince smiled at her gently. “Surely you would not deny one of our kind their celebrations on this most holy of our nights? There are many in the Unseelie court, such as the Gwragedd Annwn, Gwyllion, and Lauma.”
    “I'll never remember all these names when I get back home.” She looked into his amused golden eyes. “Will I?”
    “You will remember nothing after this night,” Prince Finvara assured her with a strange glint in his gaze.
    “You're going to take my memory.” She was dismayed as she remembered.
    They were all so beautiful and amazing and she had never had anything this exciting happen in her life. But maybe it'd be a good thing if she didn't remember. She probably wouldn't have been able to keep her mouth shut from telling her family and friends. “Not that anyone would believe me anyway.”
    “They rarely do. How fortunate for us,” The Lady on her left replied with a tinkling laugh.
    “You're a myth in our world.” Chelsea told her shyly. The Lady shrugged nonchalantly, resplendent in her yellow and white robes,