To Owe a Favor

Killian’s POV

I try to gently spread open Lillianna’s wings, but they are damp and sticky. Similar to how a five-year old’s wings would look when they first appear.

My sorrow for her damaged wings is easily uprooted by her lies about being a human.

Selivan grabs her left arm and I grab her right, and together we prop her up. Her head rolls forward and she whimpers in pain, Selivan tries to rub her forearm comfortingly, “It’ll be okay, Lillianna.”

I don’t say anything, not until we get some answers out of her.

Warrior Mace is standing off to the side and I nod to him, “Her parents live on 130 Kellington Avenue.” Mace leaves the coffee shop immediately, needing no further direction to find Lillianna’s parents and bring them to the High King.

Whatever mess Lillianna is in, her parents are surely connected.

Selivan and I exit the coffee shop and flap our wings in sync as we fly to the kingdom.

The High King is already at his throne, and Lillianna is placed on her knees a few yards away from his dais.

The High King notices her distress and stands from his throne, walking around Lillianna slowly before reaching down to gently spread open her wing.

Fae silently fly into the throne room and stand along the walls to watch the proceedings of the human turned Fae over one cup of tea.

The High King returns to his throne before turning his attention to me, “I do believe I recognize this woman. Care to explain Warrior Killian?”

I bow my head, “Yes, High King,” I say and look up to the High King, “Lillianna owed a favor to the Fae when she was believed to be human. She attended the Eastern Ball, the dinner, and has been escorted through the kingdom while completing duties.”

“At any point was she believed to be Fae, Warrior Killian?”

I shake my head, “No, High King.”

The High King points to Lillianna, who rocks side to side while on her knees, “It would appear that not even she knew. Her wings have been completely cut off from circulation after being trapped inside her all these years. I’m surprised she hasn’t suffered from severe illness.”

Selivan steps forward with a gulp, “She was. Her parents had said something that neither Warrior Killian nor I could understand. They said Fae magic would make her sick.”

I turn to Selivan, “But it never did. In fact, it made her feel better.”

Lillianna stops rocking, standing while she clasps those tatters of her shirt to her chest, “I want to see them. My parents. They can explain this.”

Her back is curved forward from the weight of her wings, and she squeezes her eyes closed when the limp appendages slip around her arms.

I step forward, talking to her as much as the High King as I rearrange her wings, “Warrior Mace will arrive shortly with your parents.”

As if on cue, Warrior Mace walks in. I recognize Lillianna’s parents from our brief encounters and watch in bewilderment as they excitedly stare at the High King.

Lillianna’s mother steps forward, “High King, it is an honor to finally meet you. Why have you called upon us-”

Lillianna’s father cuts her off with a gasp when his eyes land on his daughter staring at them. He quickly walks to Lillianna, “Honey. Is this about that silly favor?”

Lillianna starts to sob again as she slowly turns around and shows her parents her wings, “I don’t know what happened, dad, they just appeared.”

Her parents look from their daughter’s wings to the High King, and then to the numerous amount of Fae in the throne room. They look like cornered prey ready to flee. My fists clench at their nervousness.

The High King notices and waves his hand, signaling for warriors to cut off all exits before they can try anything sneaky.

The High King leans forward with his elbows on his knees, his head tilts, “How did two humans come to raise a Fae child?”

Before they can answer Lillianna shakes her head, “But I’m not Fae.” She looks to her parents, “I’m human. Right?”

Both of her parent’s drop their gaze to the floor, and Lillianna swallows harshly before asking, “Mom? Dad? Please, just give me a straight answer. How can I have wings if I’m human?”

Her mom’s face pinches, and a few tears fall down her face, “I’m so sorry, Lillianna. You helped us unlock so many gene patterns for our studies, and we always considered you our daughter.”

Lillianna steps back, and I follow her, placing her slightly behind my back as her father continues, “You are our daughter. We raised you and kept you safe.”

Lillianna snaps, “Where the hell did I come from?”

Her father shakes his head and his shoulders tense nearly up to his ears, “We took you.”

The throne room suddenly breaks out in whispers and gasps. The berating sound of Fae clapping their wings together causes the throne room to echo with a chilling buzz.

I had not heard a collective group of Fae create such a sound since my training with fellow warriors when we were pushed to our limits both physically and mentally. It is a sign of strong emotion.

I stand beside Lillianna and reach out an arm to grab her shoulder. Helping her stand up straight despite her exhaustion and showing my loyalty to her.

I had been adopted by Adrin and Lona after my parents died during combat. They left me to the safety of Adrin and Lona; lifelong friends of theirs.

I look to Lillianna and her crumpled wings and feel a pang in my chest as my heart beats faster. Adrin and Lona had given me a loving home, meanwhile Lillianna never even had the chance to grow up with Fae that understand her.

With my attention on my own parents, I had blocked out the voices of Lillianna's parents, but her mother's voice grabs my attention, "They left you on the front steps of the Kingdom. They didn't want you."

I step forward to make a retort, but the High King stands and flaps his wings once, "Enough! I have heard enough." He flies down from his dais to stand before Lillianna's parents, who stand wide-eyed and nervous, "You are banished from my Kingdom and all of the Fae commodities within our reach."

The pair look horrified at their punishment and fall down to their knees, "Please, let us stay with our daughter. We can learn, we can be better."

"Lillianna will learn from the Fae. If she wishes to visit you then it will be outside of my Kingdom," the High King declares.

My hand is still clasped to Lillianna's shoulder, and I feel her lean more weight into me. I step closer until my arm drapes around her shoulder and I can just barely make out the sound of her hiccupped cries.

I stand tall, my wings stretched out behind me protectively while Lillianna moves to press her torso against mine in a stiff hug.

I look down at her, supporting nearly all of her weight as she leans against me. I brush a piece of hair behind her ear, “I’ll protect you.”