*Author note: I changed Kailan's to Kiran. I've changed it in the previous chapters as of 12/21/24*

The Fae walked ahead of her, constantly looking back with a grin on his face. She smiled at him hesitantly, holding her hands in front of her as they traipsed through the brush. He didn't strike up a conversation, nor did he give her his name. She didn't give him hers either, heeding Kiran's advice from the first night, when they made the bargain.

Cat Boy bounded over the fallen trees effortlessly, not checking if she needed any assistance. She scrambled over and through fallen trees, got snagged on thorns, and tore her skirt several times. Cat Boy continued to get farther ahead, clearly in a hurry to get to the party.

Music drifted on the breeze, a series of chords and strings played in a cheery manner. A grin broke on Cara's face, her feelings lifting immediately. The music was sweet and lulling, a welcome change after the ominous walk through darkness. Ahead, the forest seemed to light up, the ground glowing.

"Don't worry, lost human," Cat Boy purred. "You will be welcome by all. We love humans at our parties."

She smiled at him, anxiety spiking. Kiran was in there, he must be. She hoped, and feared, he was. How many other colonies of faeries were there? Did they live in colonies? How she wished her mother hadn't been so evasive on the Fae. Calling them Fair Folk and speaking of them as if they were a riddle.

Did anyone in town know about them? She wrung her hands together as she thought. If her mother had warned her outright, she might've spoken to the townsfolk more often, gathered more information. Then, she wouldn't be in the mess she was living in.

Cat Boy rested his hand against a thick tree. As she watched, a knot opened up, creating a doorway. Light pooled from inside, revealing a stairway of roots leading down into the depths of the earth. Suddenly, fear sliced down her spine and she wanted to go back home. What was she thinking, coming to a faerie party? She knew nothing about them, didn't know what to look out for as warning signs.

"Come along. It'll be great fun." He offered her his hand. "Only a moment longer."

She refused his hand, stepping through the doorway herself. Taking the wrangled stairs carefully, she heard the knot close again, the bark groaning and snapping as if shifted. The Fae followed her, his steps significantly quieter than hers. About halfway down, he pushed past her to join the fray. Already, she saw several feet below, in the room at the bottom of the stairs.

"Who have you brought with you, Gaelish?" a female voice asked.

Cat Boy looked back at Cara with a sadistic grin. "A willing pet. She was most eager to join our party."

She stepped into the grand room, the mass of creatures astounding. They ranged from horned devils to fawns, winged beings with pointed ears and small dwarf-like gnomes, no bigger than the chicks she had on the farm. Humanoid Fae were plentiful but there was always something that reminded her they weren't human. Overly large eyes, razor teeth, elongated limbs, or horns. There weren't many Fair Folk like Cat Boy, assumedly Gaelish, but there were a few catlike Fae.

The female voice that had spoken sounded vaguely familiar. Keen eyes caught Cara's gaze and an audible gasp escaped her lips. It was the faerie she had given the two dozen eggs to, to deliver a message to Kiran.

The Fae sneered. "Well, look what we have here."

Gaelish looked between the Cara and the Fae. "Ah, so you're acquainted. How fun." His tone betrayed his boredom.

"Did you enjoy the eggs?" Cara asked the female Fae.

"Why are you here? Did Kiran ignore your request?"

"She knows Kiran?" A hint of fear coated Gaelish's tone.

"She had a message for him. Sounded pitiful, like a spurned lover."

Gaelish guffawed, drawing the attention of half the room. Cara felt more than twenty pairs of eyes settle on her curiously. She wasn't Fae, but she also didn't see any other humans there. Hadn't Gaelish said humans were welcome?

"Pretty hair." A hand grabbed her hair as the voice sounded, pulling a sizable lock. "But her dress is torn. That's no way to arrive at a party."

She whirled around, the culprit looking like a child, with a cherub face, round blue eyes, and pointed ears.

"She's a clumsy thing," Gaelish noted. Turning back to Cara, he said, "You must be famished after your long walk. Go, have your fill at the table."

"I'm not hungry," she informed him cordially.

"But of course you are. Sable, show her. Her eggs were delicious, if she is the one who gave them to you."

"Am I to be errand girl for humans now?" she snarled. Her dark eyes settled on Cara, glaring coldly. "Such a lowly creature. The table of food is over there, against the south wall."

"I'll take you," the Fae who grabbed her hair offered, smiling. "And get you a more suitable dress."

"The food isn't necessary, but I appreciate your offer. As for the dress, I'll continue to wear my own." She smiled at him in return. As she did, she caught a glimpse of long silver hair and a lean back. Curled horns, similar to a ram, stuck out from the side of his head. Kiran didn't have horns when they had met before, but he must've glamoured himself to look human. Breaking away from Gaelish and Sable, she weaved through the crowd. "Kiran!"

He turned, eyes immediately finding her face. They weren't silver as when she first saw them, but a deep red, nearly scarlet. She faltered. His face was the same, she knew it was him, but his differences were startling.

He rushed to her side, putting his mouth against her ear, and urgently whispered, "You shouldn't be here. Get out of here. Now."

***Cara found Kiran! But will she succeed in her seduction?***