Cernunnos’ eyes glowed with ancient magic, the irises swirling with silver and golden sparks, unfathomable power simmering in their depths. Deep wisdom rested in his gaze, making my breath catch when his eyes rested on me.
His antlers were akin to a crown, marking his position as king of his land, ruler of the forest, and all its flora and fauna. Cernunnos’ hair cascaded past his shoulders and swayed in a gentle fae wind, the strands the color of doe skin and twisted with moss and mushrooms, twigs, and stones. His nose was straight and proud, his cheekbones sharp, and his lips full.
He stood before me bare-chested and leanly muscled, his skin the color and texture of bark. He wore leather breeches crusted with moss and vines, tangling in intricate patterns around his powerful thighs.
I swallowed hard, my dry throat clicking. “I’m not sure what the fae king would need to warn me about.”
His clothing melted as I watched, changing into a pair of joggers and a white t-shirt.
I blinked in surprise at the switch, almost laughing as he strode toward me. The new clothing made him look like a personal trainer at a 24-hour gym. His face lost that inhuman edge, but anyone would know Cernunnos wasn’t quite human if they saw him. His eyes shone like burnished silver—dimmed but still unearthly.
“Your blood smells different.”
It wasn’t a question but a loaded observation.
My mouth fell open. When had Cernunnos ever smelled my blood? “I’m sorry?”
He waved a hand. A large stone with a flat top rumbled up from the ground. Cernunnos held his hand out to me. “Sit with me for a while.”
This night had taken a decidedly weird turn, but I obliged, and Cernunnos, king of the fae, technically my king, hopped onto the rock next to me in one lithe move.
As we sat there like teenagers who snuck out of their house for an illicit meetup, Cernunnos sighed.
“What happened to you?”
I shrugged. Many things. Everything. One terrible thing. “Long story.”
“I have time.”
For a while, neither of us spoke.
“You have a long time before the Hunt comes. Why are you here?” The world was seven months away from the Winter Solstice, the time when Cernunnos rode through the world. For twelve days, Cernunnos brought the souls of the dead together before the wheel of the year turned once more.
His smile made the edges of his eyes crinkle. Cernunnos was beautiful, but I didn’t feel any attraction toward him. I felt curiosity more than anything. Imagine all the things he’d seen or done, all the years he’d walked the worlds.
“You’re right,” he acknowledged. “I rarely return to this world, but I felt it necessary to visit. However, I’m not technically here on Earth right now. I’m only in your psyche.”
“That isn’t as comforting as you think it is.”
His laugh warmed me from the inside. “Tell me, Evangeline. What happened?”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I don’t like talking about it.”
“Have you ever talked about it?”
I shot him a look. Cernunnos’ expression was mild and non-judgmental.
“No,” I said mulishly.
“Then how do you know you won’t feel better when you unburden yourself?”
“The great Cernunnos acting as a therapist?” I grumbled. “I thought I’d never see the day.”
“I’m not here to be your therapist. The balance of your blood is vastly different, Evangeline. You have not accepted those changes. Until you do, you will be…” His voice trailed off until he stretched his hands apart. “Split. Two pieces of one whole.”
Cernunnos shook his head sadly. “You will not be complete until you come to terms with what happened to you and learn to embrace your new power as it emerges.”
