It was hard for me to imagine, Bodin's loving mother as having had a weak moment with the Fey King.

She always seemed to genuinely care for Lord Charters.

"You're shocked?" Vix asked.

"I thought she loved Bodin's father." I blinked slowly as I registered the oddness of that statement. "Of-of...Lord Charters."

"I'm sure she did, or she'd not have had the strength to keep from the banquet. But the Fey King..." Vix shook her head. "I've never known a woman that could resist him."

"I didn't find him appealing."

Though it wasn't wholly true, I had found him alluring, it hadn't seemed some magical irresistible draw that I'd have succumbed to.

"That's because he wasn't trying to seduce you." Vix giggled. "You belong to his boy. But when he wants to seduce a female."

Vix sighed. "I've seen him go to work. And they never stand a chance."

I reared back. Chewing my cheek thoughtfully.

"Don't blame her." Vix said. "She's only mortal after all. That he was able to charm her is not the astonishing part."

I waited. She was clearly pausing for the sake of impact.

"That she charmed him, is what truly matters."

"That so?" I lifted a brown brow.

"Indeed." Vix imitated circling something around her finger. "Wrapped him about, she did."

"Her love for the mortal man gave her the strength to refrain from the food. And her bold courage impressed him enough he let her leave. No one else has ever left the Fey Castle, you see?"

"But he let her?"

"Yes. She was permitted to go back to her mortal love but did so carrying the son of the Fey King."

"Bodin."

"Yes." Vix nodded serenely. "Named after his father."

"The Fey King's name is Bodin as well?"

Vix nodded. "But he was given the Charters title."

"Did Lord Charters know."

"The Queen says he did."

***

"Queen?"

"After so many years, human love may fade. And when it did...Her Fey King was waiting. Just a breath away."

I imagined what that reunion would've looked like.

"Lord Charters had seen her happiness fading over the years. How she was haunted by memories of someone long ago. And he told her to go."

"Go where?"

"To the pond where he first found her."

"Was that where they were reunited?" I found myself leaning forward. Rapt with curiosity.

"He did. The Queen doesn't know I saw it. I was hiding under the brush. I was the one charged with watching there for her. In order to summon him, if she ever returned." Vix said solemnly. As if very honored with the assignment of the task. "It was such a foggy morning that she very nearly didn't see him in the heavy mist that day. But I think she heard the weight of his hooves. He came to her as a stag, you see. By the time she recognized what she was hearing and turned, he was there. Ready to welcome her. And I left. Seeing the tears on her face."

"She loved him?"

"I think she loved them both. But Lord Charters sent her away. And the Fey King was the one she missed."

I was saddened by the tale. Imagining how Rebecca would've felt.

"I can't imagine leaving my child."

"She didn't!" Vix defended. "He knows he can send for her whenever he wishes or go there to visit her. He is always welcomed at the Fey Castle."

"What?" I asked slowly. Astonished.

I didn't know what I had thought this whole time. That I was partly delusional.

That all this would be gone, when I left Charter's House?

Something.

But the idea that the demure boy I had known was the son of a king of a different realm, seemed too far-fetched to comprehend.

And he has the ability to visit a fey castle whenever he wishes.

I suddenly wanted to go. Now.

***

I rushed to Bodin's room before I recalled him telling Ginny he was going to be gone for at least the next sevennight.

I chewed my cheek. Deflating and sitting on the edge of his bed.

From the treeline across the gardens, the Fey King watched. Ensuring Vix made it safely back to the trees.

"Did you fix what you broke?"

"I think so." She said worriedly.

He knelt and she scurried into his hand. He lifted her to his shoulder. "The Queen will be happy to see you back."

Vix giggled. "I've missed her too."

"Why does she look so mournful?"

"I think her quite confused."

"Wouldn't any mortal, finding out their lover is a creature of myth and magic?"

"I suppose so..." Vix acknowledged.

"You head back now." The Fey King suggested.

"You're not coming? You've never been gone this long. I'm sure the Queen misses you."

"She usually does." He smiled fondly. "But Rebecca would not want me leaving until I know our son is safe."

***

"Is he not?" Vix wondered aloud.

"A storm comes, My Girl."

Vix scurried to his other shoulder to look in the window.

"In the form of the new Lord Demetrius." Even as he said it, there was a flare of lightening.

Revealing a dark shadow on horseback. Tipped over and barely clinging to the animal.

Another flash of lightning and the horse took its last tired steps onto the lawn before collapsing wearily to its knees.

The sky darkened again and when it brightened the sky once more the rider was falling to the side of the animal and crawling weakly away.

Lightning flashed again and it was obvious the rider crawled to the front door of Charters House.

"The maid." Vix said with a hiss. "Why does she return?"

"She brings her Master back on her heels."

"Why does she continue to serve him? Does she not know his evil? Bodin said it is quite obvious."

"It is." The Fey King agreed. Staring forward. "But when one is broken, they are easy picking for predators."

"You say that like someone that knows."

He gave Vix's orange gaze a long study. "How do you think I built my court?"

"By spotting spirits weak willed enough to succumb to the banquet."

"Indeed." He resumed watching Belle's forlorn profile in the window.

"Go home, Vix. The real monster will be coming soon. And I will always be watching over my son. Let my Queen know her lover runs back to her arms, as soon as our boy is safe."

Vix smiled fondly. "Yes, Your Highness..."

He lowered her to the ground, and she set off in the darkness of the trees. Following the sheen of silver mist to where the glimmers of castle ramparts were visible beyond the trees.

To eyes that knew they were there.

Her orange tail vanished off into the shadows of trunks.

"I'll be back to your arms soon, My Queen."

***

Ginny weakly managed to reach the great metal knocker on the door. Swinging it until it thudded dully.

Soon candles in the foyer bloomed to life. And the butler arrived to open the door. Immediately bending to help Ginny to her feet. He yelled inside and a footman arrived to help him lift her. Packing her indoors.

The door banged closed behind them.

Lord Randall Demetrius arrived a few hours later. A lantern swinging from his spry little carriage. It pulled around back and when he knocked, the door was opened by a woman nearly too weak to stand.

"Well done, Ginny." He petted her face on the way into the kitchens.

She shut it behind him and dropped to a chair, resting her face on the table and finally succumbing to her soul deep exhaustion.

The hot tea the Housekeeper had made for her still sitting untouched.

"Huh." Lord Demetrius grunted. Lifting the mug and draining it before thunking it back down.

Making Ginny jerk in her sleep but not rouse.

On the table nearby was a dinner knife. He swept it off the table with a rasping scrape. Turning his blue eyes toward the foyer and beyond. Where he knew the stairs to be.

Where he knew Belle was.

Alone.