"Are you out of your mind?" Deirdre demanded before Cara had even made it up the trail. Her anger radiated off of her.

"I was at the market all day. I sold everything but those two eggs," she attempted to deflect.

"I'm not talking about the eggs you dropped. I'm talking about the reason you dropped them."

Cara sighed. "Really, Mother, you speak to me as if I'm a child. You told me to find a man and I did."

"A man who just walked into the forest!" Her voice lifted to a screech, causing Cara to flinch. "Find a human man, Cara, not one of them." She spat the word, complete disgust on her tone. "Is he the one you made the deal with? Because that would be extra stupid."

Cara clenched her fists, her anger rising. She stared at Deirdre, biting her tongue to keep from saying something she would later regret.

"I mean it, Cara. Stop all interactions with him this second. He'll disappear into thin air as soon as he has your baby. The Fair Folk don't stay committed to humans. We're nothing but toys to them." Deirdre's own anger was prominent in her voice, though Cara heard a tinge of sadness in it as well.

Cara's voice was soft when she answered. "You don't need to worry about me, Mother. I know what I'm doing. But maybe you're only worried because, once upon a time, you didn't know what you were getting into. Is that why you get so antsy when I ask about who my father is?"

"Don't make this about your father!" she snapped. But she knew Cara heard the defeat in her voice. Deirdre knew her daughter heard the true concern. With a deep sigh, she admitted, "I don't know how you're so inquisitive when it comes to my moods. I do worry about you, a lot. I was terrified when you told me you made a deal with the Fae. I'm still terrified to my bones."

"Mother," Cara began cautiously, "is my father one of the Fair Folk? Is that how you know so much about them?"

Deirdre laughed humorlessly. "I can't lie to you, can I? Come inside. We'll discuss it over tea." She looked to the forest before heading inside. She already had the kettle on the stove when Cara entered.

"I didn't know you drank–"

"Hush," Deirdre interrupted. She dug in the cupboard until she found leaves that looked similar to poison ivy. Opening the kettle, she dropped the leaves inside, the plant hissing when it touched the boiling water.

Cara stared at her mother quizzically, but she waited patiently for her to explain.

"This herb allows us to speak without being overheard, but it must be boiled in an enclosed area. It comes in handy when speaking about the Fae. Sometimes, it's as if your very thoughts procure them. No one outside the cottage will hear us, human or Fae."

"So my father was Fae?" Cara asked again, a thrill of excitement coursing through her. Excitement, and a twinge of fear.

"Yes, he is Fae. I believe him to still be alive. I've avoided him for many years, to keep you safe. Cara is not your real name. It is a nickname I made for you. I knew I could hide from your father, but it's impossible to stay away from all Fair Folk. There are too many."

"But why hide from my father at all?"

"Because your father is King Oberon. Queen Titania found out about his tryst with me and shunned me from the Realm of Faerie. He knew I was pregnant at the time and still he would not overrule his wife's command. He told me humans had to learn the hard way, so he promised he'd be back for the child. I've been hiding you ever since."

"Wait. So Queen Tatiana is my father's wife?" Was that why she was so interested in Kiran's bargain? Did she know Cara was Oberon's child? Was the bargain some kind of game to her?

"Tatiana? No. Titania is his wife. Tatiana broke off from Queen Mab to establish her own mini court. She is Unseelie but claims to be her own. Still, she reports to Queen Mab, who is the ultimate ruler of the dark faeries. How do you know of Tatiana?"

"She's interested in the bargain I made."

"So then is the male you bargained with Courtless?"

Cara blinked. "I have no idea."

"You need to find out, but don't make it too obvious you're prying. If he hasn't claimed Unseelie yet, you may have a chance. Maybe not at wooing him, but you might be able to barter for more time on your bargain. You have to outwit the trickster."

"Why don't I stand a chance at wooing him?" Cara demanded, mildly offended.

Deirdre leaned across the table to cup Cara's cheek in her palm. "My sweet child, it's not in your nature to flirt with darkness. You are part Fae of the Seelie Court.. If the Fae you're working on is the slightest bit Unseelie, he won't fall for your charms. If you have any."

"I have charm," she argued, her heart twisting from the slight.

"I see no proof of it." Deirdre stood, going to the window. "Where are the men who fawn over you? Why haven't you had a single suitor come to the door?"

Cara rose abruptly, her palms smacking the table as the chair skidded backward against the wooden floor. She glared at her mother. Again, she had to bite her tongue for fear of saying something she'd regret. Her mother held her gaze, unperturbed, until she broke it and stormed outside to check on the animals.

She went to Betsy first, admiring the new foal. He was strong already, standing tall, ears pricked at every new sound. His buckskin coat shimmered in the late afternoon sun, the tuft of mane on his neck standing up straight. His dark gaze met Cara's and he snorted, flicking his blonde tail before frollicking behind his mother.

Her whole life, her mother had consistently told her how plain she was. She never encouraged her to have friends, or to hang out with anyone in town, outside of being in town to attend the market. There were no men fawning over her because she wasn't beautiful, and she hasn't had a single suitor come to the door because she never had time to talk to a man when not selling eggs.

All of which, her mother knew.

Cara refilled the chicken feed after making sure Betsy still had plenty of fresh hay, determination setting her jaw. If her mother didn't think she could woo a faerie, then she'd have to prove her wrong.

***Do you think her mother is correct? Or can Cara stand a chance?***