Entwined With the Dark by Nicola Claire Page A

Fairies
    Nataliya came to stand beside me as Sergei went to the front door at my command. I didn't fear Aliath, like I feared Lutin. I knew he operated within the parameters of certain rules. The Dark Fey were unable to lie, they could avoid telling the truth, but they had spent too long isolated, too long apart from this and the fairy world, they had not evolved to include that skill set. They were honour bound to not lie.
    There were many Dark things a Dökkálfa fairy could do though, that made them dangerous. The Ljósálfar would just play with you, cause unimaginable mischief for their own entertainment. Steal away mœðr , lie and deceive. But the Dökkálfa would steal your happiness, your courage, your ability to love, your hope. Even though this sounds atrocious, Aliath had tried to make me believe that their feeding off human emotions was no worse than that of a vampire feeding off human blood. I had my doubts, but despite even those, I felt more akin with Aliath and his kind, than I ever did with the Ljósálfar .
    To me, the Ljósálfar had seemed false, wicked to the extreme. I never knew what to expect from one second to the next while I was in their court. Lutin had tried to claim me as his mœðr , his elska - or one true love. I had also been forced to marry him through a kvángask . They force their will, the Ljósálfar , but what you see with the Dökkálfa is what you get. I'd take the Dark Court over the Light any day.
    Surprising, but true.
    Aliath walked into Samson's lounge as though he had been there a million times before. He didn't glance around at the technology, he didn't seem reticent to touch. From the time I had last seen him, Aliath had acclimatised to our world well. His shoulder length hair was a pale white blond, not the silver he usually wore. His god-like features were toned down to such a degree, that he merely appeared mildly handsome. Some may have looked twice at those beautiful green eyes, but I was sure his glamour was enough for him to blend in without causing a stir.
    I couldn't help smiling at him, he had learnt how to blend in remarkably well. I wondered what problems his former dazzling appearance had caused. I could just imagine the riots and tabloid headings he'd had to endure. His lips quirked slightly at the edges, he wasn't sure if I was laughing at him or not. Yeah, he'd got to know me pretty well in a short amount of time too.
    "Aliath," I said, nodding my head slightly.
    "Princess," he replied, bowing low. The smile now one of full force. He was well aware of how I disliked being called Princess . The kvángask had made me a Princess of Ljósálfar - at least according to the fairies. I was having none of that.
    I pursed my lips in a thin line and waited for him to come out of his bow. He took his time, he was enjoying himself, I think.
    "What brings you here?" I asked, cutting to the chase. Direct questions, always the way to go with a member of the Dökkálfa Royal Court.
    His smile slipped and his eyes raised to meet mine. There was a wealth of unsaid words in his look. Anger. Annoyance. Embarrassment. Regret.
    "Whoa there, fairy. Best you take a seat and let us know."
    Sergei replaced Nataliya at my side, while she went in search of an additional wine glass for our guest and Aliath took the armchair opposite me, crossing his legs and looking right at home.
    He didn't speak until Nataliya returned and after filling his glass with Merlot, handed him his wine. He took a grateful sip, which was a little alarming, I had never seen the fairy eat nor drink before, he had always managed to do so without calling attention to himself. But here he was downing red wine as though it was a lifeline. Something was up with my fairy friend and I was guessing it would concern me.
    I sat fidgeting on the couch and it was only when Sergei took hold of my hand to calm me that I realised how agitated I had become. It wasn't just Aliath's unannounced appearance, it was my whole damn