Song: Love is a Bitch - Two Feet

Skryen at night was downright the most beautiful place I'd ever seen.

The city wasn't too far away for a walk and eventually, I was able to see the houses I'd seen only once before. Like before, we turned a corner and the city unfurled before me.

The windows and doors of the houses were open. People spilled out onto the street from their houses and spoke animatedly to each other.

A man played saxophone in his front yard while a couple danced in the cobblestone street in front of him. All of the houses were close to each other, each with their own fenced in small yard. The houses weren't too small but tall almost three floors high each. We strode down the empty street together. Julian had his hands in his pockets while I only looked at everything around me, mesmerized. Mehnit stayed close to me no more than five paces away.

"This is just like what I imagine New Orleans is like."

I looked at Julian and found him nodding. "Yes. It's why when I went to the Human realm I knew where to find Naida back in the nineteen twenties."

In the distance, I could see the sprites dancing on the mountainside outside the city. The violets and blues faded then brightened as I watched the horizon. "This is amazing, Julian."

He nodded further down the street. "Come on, we haven't made it into the heart of the city yet."

I followed eagerly, my eyes lingering on the man playing the saxophone.

I caught up to Julian and placed a hand on his arm. "He's amazing. Is there a lot of music in Skryen?"

I watched his eyes wander to my hand which I quickly took back.

Julian nodded. "Yes. A lot of musicians move here to take apprenticeship from the masters. We can go see a live band if you like."

I found myself nodding. "Yes. All right." I settled my stride to match his as he casually strolled through the streets. It wasn't too busy and I was amazed at the small number of cars on the road. They were parked on the side of the street. They were old-fashioned and looked to be old classic models that I'd seen in movies that took place in the thirties and forties.

"Is this where you learned piano?"

Julian nodded. "Yes. When I was a boy, under Jericho's nose. Despite what my mother did, I played music for her while he was asleep to see if I could bring her out of her state."

I felt my heart constrict. I imagined Julian as a small boy at the piano with his comatose mother sitting nearby.

He shrugged. "I thought it worked for a while but it didn't."

I shook my head. "I'm so sorry, Julian."

He shrugged again. "It's in the past." His eyes brow shot up as he recognized a small entryway. "Here we are."

I looked at the nondescript building. Nothing about it particularly stood out. It was a taller building with a black closed door. It looked like an apartment door. Julian moved past me and gestured towards a black metal gate just out of view from the entrance. The gate squeaked as he opened it leading to cement stairs that led down to an alley.

He gestured to the stairs with his free hand. "After you."

Mehnit went down the stairs first and at the bottom sat down, waiting for me. Gnawing on my bottom lip, I made my way down the stairs. The gate closed quietly behind us and Julian met me at the bottom where we turned down a lit arched entryway leading to a brick wall.

I raised an eyebrow.

He laughed then knocked on the wall. One brick then the two below in quick succession.

The brick façade melted away and a dark room revealed itself. Julian gestured for me to enter first and I looked around the dimly lit room. A smooth melody played in the background, accompanied by the tinkling of piano keys. There was a long bar along one wall of the large room with a bartender standing behind it. As I walked inside, there was a small sitting room with couches and chairs where a group of men and women spoke and laugh.

Far beyond that room was a small stage. The stage held a small four man band. One was on the piano, another on saxophone, and a bassist. The last man had an instrument that I had never seen but it carried most of the melody on its strings. The woman held the wooden instrument close to her body as she played, eyes closed.

The stage had a number of chairs crowded around it and most of the patrons were talking quietly or just listening to the music.

I felt Julian's large hand on my back as he leaned forward to speak in my ear. "It's jam night. Anyone that has an instrument can come in and play." He nodded at the stage. "The man on the bass is from one of the Spring cities. The one playing piano is from Summer."

I felt his hand in mine and when I looked, he was gently pulling me forward. "Come on, I have my usual table over here."

The table was far enough away that it wasn't in the middle of the crowd. There was some privacy in the corner of the room, which I welcomed. We sat the table only big enough for two and Mehnit sat down next to me on the floor, eye vigilant. As soon as we sat, a bottle of a dark liquid and two glasses spectered on the table in front of Julian.

"Scotch?"

I scrunched up my nose and shook my head. I never liked any of those drinks. "No, thanks."

I watched the band as he poured himself a drink and no later than twenty seconds, a woman came to the table. She had a black scarf over her hairline that tied in the back. She had on a black dress and a black apron over it. Her pale face was stunning with a beautiful peak nose.

As soon as she reached us, she snatched the bottle off the table. "I knew you were here when my good scotch was gone."

Julian was lounging in his chair next to me. "It is the best."

She shook her head. "You know the rules, no high fae magic."

He placed his hands up with a laugh. "That is the only one I'll do tonight."

She looked over at me then back at him and smiled. "Julian, in all the decades you've visited, I think this is the first time you've brought someone that is not family."

I almost frowned, given the reputation I first heard of Julian's I could have sworn he had taken many women there before. The proximity of the chairs and the low lighting of the room made everything more intimate and I couldn't help the spark of jealousy that stirred within me when I imagined him sitting at the same place with someone else.

Which was ridiculous.

She extended a hand to me and I took it. "I'm Celie. I own this place."

"Nice to meet you," I smiled.

She nodded at the empty glass in front of me. "Would you like anything?"

I shrugged. "Anything you recommend?"

She nodded. "Martini? I put my own twist on it."

I nodded. "Thank you. And water? It's for -" I pointed to Mehnit.

Celie nodded then placed the bottle back in front of Julian with a thunk. "I'm charging you for the whole bottle."

He laughed as she walked away. I turned towards him. "No high fae magic?"

He nodded. "Lower faes come here. Since you're friends with the King you've been around some of the more powerful fae of our realm. Most do not have magic like we do, they can specter some objects. They may even be able to specter across short distances. They depend on higher fae to protect the realm and them." He motioned to the room. "Had we failed, they would not be here." He pointed at the stage and I watched the musicians. "They would have been off to fight a war with the other regions."

I shook my head. "How do you know that was his plan?"

He took a drink from his glass. "I've been busy. I've been visiting other lords trying to find what they know." He shrugged. "The Tour that was unexpectedly cut short was to visit as many lords as possible. It was to show off your power so they could rally behind you."

I watched him with bated breath.

"He wanted to be king of us all. Overthrow the other queens. You could do that very easily."

The idea that I could something like that scared me. I wanted to dismiss it but Julian had no reason to lie. I felt the powers they each had, I'd been in awe of it. I saw the wisdom in their eyes. I couldn't overthrow them. I suppressed a shudder. "Why didn't Rai know? She has the gift of prophecy, doesn't she?"

"The Summer Queen?" He shook his head. "She can't see everything, Emylin." I watched him smile. "On first name basis with them?"

I picked at a napkin on the table with my fingers. "Well, they're intimidating. Especially Aira. But they're kind."

He nodded. "The Valkyrie can be very intimidating."

I placed my elbow on the table and placed my chin in my palm. "So, how is it that the Winter Queen came to owe you a favor?" The first time I'd seen the Winter Queen had been at the party Robyn held. She had put up a powerful glamour so that Julian and I could talk privately without Robyn suspecting.

"Ah." He looked at the glass in his hand. "The Winter War had cost Aira her sisters. She was desperate for peace. As soon as she Ascended, I facilitated peace talks."

I found myself shaking my head at myself. Amazing. He was amazing.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," I said quickly. "I just really need that drink."

He gave a crooked smile. "I make a lot of friends when I can, Emylin. No need to be jealous." His tone was teasing but I could have sworn there was something else in that smile.

I shook my head. "Then you have very powerful friends, Lord of Skryen."

He smiled. "Indeed. It happens when you're as old as I am."

I laughed. "Yeah, sure, you're absolutely ancient." I leaned forward with my elbows on the table and dropped my voice. "So, by fae standards, are you ready for retirement, collect your pension?" I frowned. "Should you be in an old folk's home?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I think I'm insulted. I'm in the prime of my life, Emylin." He leaned closer to me, too. I could smell his cologne. "I can show you what I mean but you kept saying 'no funny stuff'."

I shook my head as we leaned back in our respective chairs. Celie appeared then with a new glass and placed it in front of me. She turned to Julian. "Are you playing tonight? There's some space after this set, if you're interested."

Julian shook his head. "Not tonight. Maybe some other time."

Celie nodded and nodded towards me. "Let me know if there's anything you'd like."

I nodded back and when I looked at Julian again, he was raising his glass. "To temporary peace?"

I smiled. "Peace at last."

We talked for most of the night but that main thing we did was listen to the music that the musicians played. Even Mehnit finally relaxed and curled up on the chair next to me after she drank a bowl of water Celie brought her.

Mehnit sat next to me, poised and ready to leave. I could see the cat's eyes beginning to drop slowly from exhaustion. It was getting late.

Despite the lateness of the hour, I didn't want to leave even when we spectered back to the estate. I couldn't pull myself away from Julian.

"Bowie," I sighed. "One of my favorites."

He laughed as he leaned against one of the walls of the hall. "When did you first hear him?"

I shrugged as I touched at one of the wilted flowers in a vase on one of the tables. "I can't remember, but who can resist the Goblin King?"

Julian laughed again and I found myself wanting to do anything to hear him laugh as wholeheartedly again. I bit my lip. Being with him felt too right. I wanted to be with him more, see him as much as I could.

"I'm sorry for not showing up earlier. Really, I am."

He nodded. "I understand, Emylin."

I cleared my throat. "I still feel like I have a lot to learn. I mean, we didn't have that much time before."

"I agree."

I cleared my throat. "I think you should train me again." Gods, what was I doing? My cheeks were aflame. "I want to make sure I can handle anything thrown my way, you know, as queen."

There was a pause but I still wouldn't look at him.

"What are you doing, Emylin?" His voice was soft but I could hear a warning in it as he spoke.

This time, I did turn.

His eyes watched me carefully. "You want to be with Damien. I've respected that."

I bit my lip. "Yes, you have-"

"Then, what are you doing?"

It was the way he said that made my heart jump. I dare let myself imagine what it meant. Had something happened between him and Vy?

I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to tell him that Damien and I weren't together anymore.

The words were about to stumble from my lips when a soft, feminine voice spoke from within the house. "Alteaza."

When we turned, I froze.

Vyssen stood at the bottom of the grand staircase. She bowed respectfully and when she straightened, I noticed she was wearing nothing but a sheer, black robe.

My heart felt as if it had broken into pieces in my chest. I felt hollow and there was no one I could blame but myself. I knew they were together. I'd seen them together. I shouldn't have been surprised at all.

I chose Damien and he chose Vy. My relationship with Damien didn't work -- that didn't mean that Julian and Vy's wouldn't either. He wasn't suddenly available because I was.

I was deluding myself. I had allowed myself to delve into a fantasy that didn't --no, wouldn't-- exist.

What was wrong with me?

I felt like a stranger again. Even as I looked at the two of them, I felt myself unwinding. They were so perfect for each other that it made me sick.

And magic bond or not, or whatever the hell it was Julian and I shared, was nothing compared to the history they shared. They had decades of love and passion together.

I lost him. And I only had myself to blame.

I steeled my core. I pushed those feelings deep down and I found myself with my new persona. The steel mask that I would have to wear in front of the Council and the lords and ladies of the Keep that didn't know me or still questioned Damien's decision.

I turned quickly back towards the doors. "I should leave. Mehnit, come."

Mehnit quickly made it to my side.

"Emylin, wait." Julian reached out to catch my arm, but Mehnit blocked him turning into a large lion in front of him. She growled in her throat making Julian step back and show his empty hands.

His eyes met mine. There was no doubting the hurt I saw there.

"Godsdamn it, Emylin," Julian said through his teeth. "Don't leave like this."

I shook my head. "I shouldn't have come. You made your life just like I made mine." I placed a hand on Mehnit before spectering back home.

I know. I'm terrible.