The waters

I stand next to the lake, keeping an eye out just in case. The kelpies prance around in the waters, disappearing and reappearing in a different spot.

My bracelet's chain sticks straight up, the clasp tickling my palm. I'd been on edge since Mason's arrival, and the fact that he had a truce with the Fae didn't help. So instead of cowering into fear, I'd practice summoning kelpies in any type of water, not just the lake.

I asked Quill if he'd place a huge fountain in the common area of the castle just in case. He'd agreed, noticing that I was more strained than anything.

"Do you want to go back home?" he asked, and I shook my head, sending out a message to my father to pull out all trade and businesses he had with Mason. And to send a servant out here with more of my clothes, and boots, because I was going to spend more days here.

I knew Mason feared my father more than he feared me; my father could hold his own in Ovylian, but I was determined to keep Quill and his land safe.

Lately though, I'd been questioning my revenge plan. I hadn't meant to get Quill in this much trouble. I seriously hadn't known the person Mason claimed to be; he was selfish, arrogant, and just plain destructive.

Didn't he care to tend to Isadora? I thought to myself, as I held out my left hand above the lake waters.

My kelpie appeared then, rubbing its head against my palm, and slipping back in the water. I didn't miss how its stare lingered on my bracelet, which was why I rarely used that hand to do anything with the kelpie. I knew it would try to fight back and steal its bridle back.

I was so zoned out, I didn't even hear someone sit on my left side, and then right side of me, flinching when I heard an intake of breath that wasn't mine.

Turning to both sides, I straightened up as the twins sat next to me, wearing polite expressions, I'd wondered if Quill had sent them to look after me while he tried to find allies with a neighboring country. He was closed in his office most of the days, but he always had one or two members of the pack watching over me.

I think the worse babysitter was Cersei. She stayed with a look of someone who had smelled sour grapes, not even bothering to sit next to me. I did catch her once or twice with a look of admiration at the sight of me training the kelpies.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Come to drag me back inside?" I asked teasing, holding out my left hand again to pet the kelpies.

"No, we just got through with training, and decided to keep you company." Elex said, as he moved his orange hair from his eyes. He wore a long-sleeved gray shirt that was a bit frayed at the ends, with loose black pants, his twin Eryx wearing a ripped sleeve white shirt, with loose black trousers and tape on his hands.

I was right to assume which twin was which; Elex the eldest seeming more poised, and ready to strike like a python, whilst his twin Eryx was more of a bull, ready to throw down whenever. And when I had felt comfortable enough to leave the lake, and watch them train, almost always Elex was dealing with swords, while Eryx used his fists.

I'd remember asking them why they trained so much if they were werewolves and they broke out into laughter, clapping each other on the back before answering me.

"Using our wolf all the time would be cheating." Elex answered, swinging his sword back and forth. "We like a bit of a challenge, but we also like to fight fair."

"Yeah, unlike that bastard Mason. Can't believe he had the nerve to challenge you, a human." Eryx said with disgust, as his closed fist hit the punching bag. I'd flinched, not really liking how it had made me sound that I was so delicate because I was a human.

And that's what had pushed me into getting familiar with my kelpie and seeing what it could do. I didn't just control one, but as many that could form from the body of water that it was rising from.

Plus, it kept me busy and away from the disaster of what was going on around me.

More than once, I had considered cutting off the engagement with Quill. He wouldn't have to deal with Mason, and I could deal with him alone. But every time I talked myself into doing it, I also talked myself out of doing it.

One of the main things was because it was exactly what Mason had wanted. Even if he didn't want to be with me, he most certainly didn't want me to be with his rival. The bard thought in strange ways, but that was the most I could decipher it.

The sun then began to dip back down behind the trees, and I sighed, standing up. Eryx, and Elex followed after, joking with one another, and then pulling me into the conversation.

So different and casual were they from Cersei; even Lip treated me as if I was a delicate piece of glass, whereas the twins treated me as someone they had known for a long time, and not seen for several months.

I dreaded going back to the estate though; most nights, I didn't sleep with Quill, and even Death stopped visiting me in my dreams. It was strange how accustomed I had gotten to their company. Now that I was alone, it felt awful.

Eryx shoved Elex's arm, and they began to crow at one another, wanting to stop at the training grounds to have a casual fight. I quickly agreed to join to their surprise, but only as an observer. I didn't have the training, the stamina, nor the clothing to keep up with these two, wearing a thick green gown that covered me up from my neck to my ankles, my boots just tall enough to keep it from dragging on the muddy grass.

They were both excited to show me their skills, acting like I didn't already do this every other time it was their turn to watch over me. This time, I'd wondered if they were going to use swords or boxing gloves, stepping on the training grounds floor.

The twins surprised me by using neither, going all out on each other, their movements quick and sure. Eryx's punches had more force, but Elex was fast in dodging and striking back when he could, them going back and forth until sweat covered their faces.

It always amazed me how they fought; it should strength, experience, and resilience. I don't know how long I stood there watching them, when they both stopped out of nowhere, bowing to each other, before looking over my shoulder.

I turned, and saw Quill, his tall frame blocking the exit. His eyes were on me, a soft smile on his lips, as he nodded at the twins, a clear dismissal.

They bowed again, shoving each other playfully, before disappearing to the other exit of the training grounds.

"It's rare to see you nowadays." I tell Quill, trying to make it sound like a quip, but it sounding a bit accusatory.

Quill walks to me, grabbing both of my hands in his, and kissing my knuckles one by one, my face going red.

"I've missed you as well, my love. I don't want you to think that I'm ignoring you; I've been trying to see if I could reach the King of the Unseelie courts actually since those were his subjects that came to my land. He's been dodgy though, even though I've persisted for the last 3 or 4 days."

I nodded, feeling the same dread wash over me, and the thoughts of breaking off the engagement came back full force.

"...plan out, you know?" Quill finished, watching my expression carefully.

"Sorry, love, what was that?" I asked, shaking my head to clear out the thoughts that milled about in my head.

"I was wondering if there was a chance you'd like to start planning for the wedding yet. There's no rush but even an outline of it or ideas of what you would like so we can have a rough idea of when to start it. Plus, it might help you with the situation we're in." he added, and the words were built up in my throat, as I stared into his eyes.

I didn't want to tell him; but I knew I needed to tell him.

Taking a shaky breath, I looked into his eyes, and asked him the one question that sent my heart galloping.

"Do you still want to continue the engagement, or would it be better to break it off?" I asked.

Quill's face changed, and I waited for his answer.