The Fox’s Tale

I caught up with Darcie and Ellery and she helped us both secure our masks in place. Then she squeezed both of our hands and whispered good luck, before entering the ballroom by a side door.

Trumpets sounded and someone inside cried out “We present, the Duchess of Thorns and her Other!”

The doors were thrown open and we entered to deafening levels of applause and cheering. The ballroom was packed with Fae dressed in black and silver. I looked out onto a sea of disturbing masks and grinning teeth and swallowed hard.

Esmeralda met us in the center of the ballroom. She was dressed in a black and red snakeskin dress with a train that pooled around her feet where she stood. Her mask was only a domino mask out of matching snake skin and twined into her hair were silver snakes of various sizes.

Ellery curtsied, I bowed, and then Esmeralda took our hands and joined them. She walked away as we stood there, her train moving in a way that was too close to the movement of an actual snake to make me feel comfortable.

Once she was settled in her throne she called out, “dance.”

The music began and Ellery and I went into our well rehearsed court dance. The excitement from the other guests was palpable and as we moved closer and closer to the final pose my heart began to race and I grew hard.

“Don’t forget,” I rasped into her ear, “I get to take you while you’re wearing that.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” she purred back. “I’m looking forward to it.”

After we’d finished I pulled her in for a searing kiss. Too soon for my liking we were pulled apart and forced to dance with the members of the council and their Others.

The Court Astronomer’s Other was a male, and we swayed awkwardly for a few moments, but then he put in a song request to the musicians and started disco dancing.

I burst into laughter and joined him. Alastair and Aconite both skulked from the sidelines, scowling at us. I did my best to ignore them both, and tried to keep one eye on Ellery.

Before I knew it, that dance had ended and I was shoved into the arms of a female Fae wearing only a thong, pasties and a mask of black leaves.

“Hello handsome,” she crooned.

“Hello.” The music turned soft and gentle and I noticed Ellery dancing with the Court Historian.

“Plumeria and the Duchess of Thorns make a lovely couple don’t they?” the woman in my arms asked.

“The Duchess makes everything lovely, although I’m sure your Other is beautiful as well.”

“I’d heard that foxes had silver tongues,” she replied with a laugh. “I’m glad to learn it is true.”

I managed a tight smile. “You have me at a disadvantage.”

“I like having men at a disadvantage, but in this case, I will yield. You may call me Lady Oleander.”

“My lady. Isn’t oleander poisonous?”

“Yes, but fear not Future Duke of Thorns. I am not.” The song we were dancing to ended and she twirled away into the arms of her Other.

I blinked my eyes a few times, feeling like I was seeing double, and then found myself dancing with yet another female Fae, and then another, and another, until I lost track. I saw Ellery dance by and tried to stop her so that we could rest for a moment, but was unsuccessful.

My eyes landed on Esmeralda sitting on her throne. She looked bored and I seized the opportunity to catch my breath and charm her. I approached the throne and placed on foot on the steps of the dais. I lunged into it and extended my hand towards her.

“Your majesty. May I have the next dance?”

“Should not you be dancing with Ellery?” she asked. I turned my head and saw that Ellery was dancing with Darcie.

“I think she will be safe and sound. Surely you wish to dance, my queen?”

She placed her hand in mine. “Do you think you can keep pace with me?” I tugged her from the throne and led her down the steps.

“Ellery taught me how to dance. I think I’m game to try.”

A ripple of surprise went through the crowd as Esmeralda spoke to the musicians. The murmurs of surprise turned to cheers as she proceeded to detach the train of her gown from the dress. It turned into a python and slithered away. The musicians struck up a jig and we began to dance.

“The two hours are almost up,” she hissed when I pulled her in to spin her around.

“Ah, thank you for telling me,” I replied.

“Get her out of here,” she whispered when next I pulled her close to me. “It’s not safe.”

“It’s your kingdom,” I gasped. “Can’t you do something about that?”

“I’m trying, but it isn’t a simple thing. The charm of protection I sewed into her costume will only last so long.” The music shifted into another jig and Esmeralda was taken from me into the arms of Alastair. She smiled up at him and preened.

I turned on my heel and scanned the crowd for Ellery. Flashes of red appeared everywhere I looked, but quickly turned back to the sea of black and silver that the guests were wearing.

Darcie bumped into me. “What’s wrong?”

“Where’s Ellery? We need to go. I feel sick.” Despite the fact that traditional Irish folk tunes were being played the ballroom began to feel like the worst rave ever. The light pulsed and the air felt thick.

Ellery moved into my peripheral vision. “I’m here, let’s get you outside.”

I let them take me out into the courtyard, where I tore off my mask and gulped for air as I sank to the ground.

“Darcie, please fetch Xander some water.” I looked up at her as Darcie scurried away. She gazed back down at me. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“No reason.” I stood up and backed her against the wall of the palace. I inhaled and then grabbed her by the throat pinning her in place. “Mind telling me who the fuck you are?”