Faeries are dangerous, never attract their attentions or give into their own personal pleasures.
Aislinn though as she picked up her walking pace, sensing the prickling presence of a faerie behind her.
Ever since she had turned thirteen, she could suddenly see and sense faeries all around her. Some were more taunting and twisted then others, but they all had one thing in common: they were all breath-takingly beautiful and just as dangerous.
And they all tried to take advantage of her.
Especially the male fey.
Her lovely features could easily pass as gorgeous in the mundane human world, but compared to the angular, graceful features of the fey, she seemed like nothing.
Her fine dark hair was as dark as the glossy wings of a raven, and cascaded to her waist a tumbling midnight curtain. She had elegant eyebrows that would often arch over her large, perfect set of hazel eyes, and would often purse her flawless rosebud lips when she was impatient.
Her looks drove all the human boys in her high school to the point of insanity, as well as some wicked fey.
Male fey, with their heart-stopping looks would often stalk her and tease her with their perfect looks, knowing her growing weakness to succumb to their dark pleasures. She was glad they were only the typical fey, not the ones from the Seelie and Unseelie courts. It was always trouble to mix in with those fey, which were even more dangerous than the normal fey themselves.
"Aislinn…..you know you can't run from me…"
A wash of perfumed cool breath brushed the back of her neck, causing the hair there to stand upright. She shivered and walked on, even faster.
"Now Aislinn…don't toy with me…."
Aislinn started hyperventilating, and burst into a full sprint. The sidewalk and the street were empty of people.
Definitely not good.
Chilling laughter followed her, as close to her as her shadow, something she couldn't get rid of.
"Don't you remember Aislinn? Last Tuesday night, when I saw you at that party… you ran away from me then too… but you loved the pleasure I gave you, didn't you? You screamed and moaned so loud that I was afraid that others of my kind might just find you…."
Tears streamed down Aislinn's face as a flashback rocketed through her mind. Yes, she remembered. She recalled being very scared, until the fey had pressed his lips up her neck and cornered her onto the wall. Shaking off the memory, Aislinn pressed herself to run faster, toward the woods.
Suddenly, the fey behind her grabbed her by the arm. Before she could have time to scream, the fey had covered her mouth with his gloved hand, which released a cloying perfume smell that made her mind feel groggy.
"Now…dear Aislinn….I will make you mine….forever!"
She heard his wicked laughter echoing in her mind, but now she just felt confused about where she was and where she was going. The smell made it hard for her to think…
She could feel the rush of air whipping around them, and she was suddenly being carried bridal style effortlessly by the male fey. He was moving so fast that the scenery around them was just a blur. Aislinn felt hopeless, knowing that escape was impossible now.
The captor was drop-dead handsome, like all other fey. His hair was a light bleached shade of gold, like a ray of honeyed sunbeam. He had pale skin and the familiar angular features of the fey, but his eyes glinted with malicious intent and his lips were twisted in a evil sneer.
All of the sudden, the fey stopped. At the same instant, Aislinn sensed the presence of yet another fey, but one of much stronger power.
Her heart sank. Only court fey could give off such a powerful aura. Dizzy from the running she shook her head several times, trying to see through the haze of her brain. She could only hear the male fey who was carrying her start speaking.
"Greetings Summer King…"
The fey dropped her gracelessly on the ground next to him and bowed very low, but not in a mocking way. It was almost as if he did respect this fey.
It took Aislinn a moment to realize who he had addressed to.
"Azrael…you seem much occupied nowadays…"
The voice that spoke was smoother than any velvet, and ran across the boundaries of her hearing beautifully like the rippling of the clearest water and bell. Her sight had finally cleared, and when she saw the apparent Summer King, her heart stuttered and threatened to stop.
He was, by far, the most beautiful fey Aislinn had ever seen. His hair was silky locks of the richest bronze and copper tone, with a hint of summer gold within its gleam.
They curled around his noble chin, emphasizing his perfect lips that were the hue of sultry sanguine cherries. His angular features were softer than most fey, which gave them a more hauntingly memorable look. But his eyes were what caught Aislinn's breath: the purest cerulean that burned neon royal with flecks of paler icy azure flecks that reminded her of a burning pool of fire. His darker brown eyelashes fanned over them, giving a perfect contrast.
The Summer King cocked his head, a sudden mysterious smile played on his lips.
"I can see why you want to keep this one Azrael…she is quite fair among those humans…"
The Summer King walked towards Aislinn swiftly, gliding as of the movements of a sleek river. Soon, he was right in front of Aislinn, his face less from a foot from her own. The other fey, Azrael, had backed away several feet, as if to give the King space.
Without realizing it, Aislinn leaned forward and inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of glorious summer that radiated from the King. A wafting fragrance of magnolia and lilies gathered about him, and a single slight warm breeze picked up and released the tendrils of Aislinn's hair, causing it to wave back.
Suddenly, the King put his hand on her chin and forced her to look up at him, and kneeled down in front of her, studying her face intently. Aislinn blushed at the intensity of those scorching eyes on her face, and the spot his hand was touching on her chin grew warm and tingly.
"I am Keenan…the Summer King of the Seelie Court…"
Suddenly shy, she cast her eyes downward, while blood roared in her ears and her heart started beating rapidly.
A court fey? And worst of all…a king?
Keenan had dropped his hand from her chin, but now he grasped his warm palms on her shoulders as he leaned in and breathed in the her scent. As his nose brushed Aislinn's sensitive spot on her neck, she gasped and her arms automatically went up and wound themselves around Keenan's neck.
She could feel his lips curving into a smile on her neck, and the shake of his quiet laughter. Brushing his nose down to her collarbone, he left a trail of shivering fire on Aislinn's neck. His lips touched the precise point that had caused Aislinn to gasp before, and he gently kissed it, causing her to arch her back and neck against him.
Aislinn was still gasping for air when Keenan pulled back into a sitting position a foot away from him, also breathing heavily. Then he turned back to Azrael, who stood there watching in a shocked expression.
"Thank you Azrael…for finding the future Summer Queen…you shall be awarded for what you have done. You may go…"
In a split second, Aislinn registered what was happening. But with a gust of wind, Azrael was already gone, and the only people left were Keenan and her. Azrael had taken her to a wide meadow surround by a ring of trees. The rustle of the leaves comforted her somewhat, but it still didn't chase away the panic that she felt.
"What do you mean by 'Queen' exactly?"
Aislinn asked calmly while she tried to hide the terror within her mind as she faced Keenan. His eyes were burning as they returned her gaze.
"Exactly what I said. You will be my next Summer Queen."
Aislinn had heard about the Summer King's problem. For several centuries, the Summer King had lacked a Queen to balance out the power of the Summer court, so the court had been slowly getting weaker and out of balance. Without a Queen, the Summer Court was doomed.
Keenan interrupted her brooding thoughts.
"They said that the next Summer Queen would be born mortal, but was fairer then any mortal you could lay your eyes upon. There was no thorough description, but they described her individual scent to be like floral perfume, and that it would be so intoxicating that no fey could resist it. I have never met a mortal that fits the description as perfectly as you do."
Aislinn shook her head in protest. Surely this Keenan could have any girl he wanted, with his looks. And besides, she had heard enough about how dangerous Court life was, especially where you could risk no friends, only allies.
"Become of my Queen, Aislinn, and you will experience better pleasure from me than any other fey or mortal you have ever encountered. I could lavish you with all the things you want, and you will have the power of immortality and the choice of being forever young."