Page 26 of The Endless Dance

“There will not be another Hunt.”

My limbs flail and splash in my haste to face him again.

“Not like the last four, at least. The Wild Hunt is traditionally much different from what you know it as. For instance, many fae choose to be the hunted rather than the hunter.” He shrugs at my shock. “It is an honour to escape the creatures of the Wylden Forest unharmed.”

The cocky slant to his eyebrow tells me he was once a contestant in this older, more traditional version of the Wild Hunt. I am not surprised in the least.

“So, what changed?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

Draekoh sighs and lowers himself to the ground, dipping his feet into the pond. “Fae, while not immortal, are extremely long-lived. Babies and children are extremely rare, which was never an issue. But over the centuries, deaths began to greatly outnumber births among the fae. It was another couple of centuries before the panic set it. My father, still in his prime at this time, started forcing the females to lie with males.” His eyes flick away from mine as if ashamed. “Hundreds of males. But, as if the Creator herself was furious at the attempts, no babies came. I put a stop to the practice once I took the Court.”

“And decided if anyone were to be raped it should be humans?” I spit.

“Opening the portal to Earth was not an easy choice, but we were out of options. Besides the Hunt, the only time Light and Dark ever find truce is during The Conclave, but this merging of Courts is so rare, I don’t believe there was one for over two thousand years before we met to discuss our infertility. It was the Dark Court that suggested using humans. You are a rather supple being when it comes to breeding.

With the Wild Hunt on the horizon and our dwindling numbers, we decided we would create a new tradition—one where we did the hunting instead of the beasts within the forest. There was much argument over this. We could lose too many of the human women to the hungry creatures that dwell there. Thus, the Choosing Ceremony. But even before that, what of the women deemed infertile and sickly?”

I pale, thinking of Jabira, a resilient African woman I had met at the Hotel before crossing through the portal. I hadn’t seen an ounce of weakness in that woman, though fae with medical abilities had found something inside of her that would prevent her from becoming the perfect broodmare.

“Why were those women not sacrificed to the creatures of the forest too?” I ask, hating myself for even thinking it. I would be forever grateful that Jabira didn’t have to endure the Hunt, let alone the insatiable monsters within.

“Dark wanted them to be sacrificed too, but I intervened.”

I blink at that.

Draekoh smirks. “I am not as inhumane as you make me out to be, Little Bird. I argued that with our dwindling numbers, we needed those humans for menial tasks and duties. Cooking, cleaning, and tending to the animals. The votes went my way in this case.

“Coming to Earth took many years to plan. We attended hundreds of Conclaves in this time, each meeting proving tenser than the last, until we finally came to a common agreement. It is not often the opposing Courts agree on anything,” Draekoh grins, a single eyebrow rising in his humour.

“I don’t doubt it,” I huff. “That is far too much male ego in one place. It was about time you got yourself a High Lady to even out all that testosterone.” If only it hadn’t been my mother, I add sourly to myself.

Draekoh nods. “Indeed. I only wish Light had been the first to accept it.”

This male was so damn confusing; my moral compass was getting whiplash.

“You mentioned there wouldn’t be another Hunt?” I prod after a moment of silence.

Draekoh sighs. “There shouldn’t have been one at all this year. I have been pushing for the Conclave to gather for years. Unfortunately, each High Lord has the right to turn down and postpone Conclaves that are deemed unurgent. Most of them never even responded to my letters.”

“Bastards,” I say, shrugging when Draekoh throws me a surprised look. “Someone had to say it.”

“As soon as my summons are accepted, I will put into vote to eradicate the Wild Hunt as you know it and reinstate the traditional one.” Draekoh’s eyes light up, and he grins. “The females used to covet the males that participated.”

I roll my eyes. “I am completely unsurprised. You will have to use that line to encourage the other Lords when the time comes to vote.”

Draekoh nods, eyes going vague as his mind drifts.

A sudden wave of exhaustion takes over me, and I attempt to stifle my yawn, though, if Draekoh’s furrowed brows are anything to go by, I assume I am unsuccessful.

“You should get some rest, Little Bird,” he says coolly. “We have guests coming for lunch tomorrow.”

I fight to keep my expression neutral. Guests could only be more prickly fae bastards that I had no interest in feasting beside. But I suppose I didn’t have a choice in this. Draekoh rises from his seated position and leans casually upon a nearby tree.

Waiting.

I hesitate. What was the cocky male up to now? He must know I was completely naked beneath the water.

Our gazes meet, and he raises a challenging eyebrow. He was fucking enjoying this.