Penelope’s expression had taken on the big eyes of fear. She knew there was something wrong but hadn’t yet figured out what. I stopped her from exploring the necklace with her fingers as I reached out to touch it first myself. Moragana’ s magic was all over the piece. Would something be activated if Penelope’s fingers explored the necklace?
Although the Queen of the Autumn Court was known for her healing touch, she was equally as famous for her destructive enchantments, but the Pooka part of me would know if something had the potential to harm my mate, and I could tell that there was nothing actually evil in the necklace. It was full of Power, but not of the hazardous kind.
Perhaps the necklace was no more than a gift, a small bit of whimsy from a powerful Queen. But even if that were true, gifts among the Fae must always be dealt with. One of equal measure would need to be given to the Queen. To be beholden to a Fae was dangerous.
“What’s wrong, Timothy?” Penelope cried out, the pupils of her eyes now darkening with increasing fear. Her hands struggled against my hold, wanting to touch the necklace herself, wondering why I wouldn’t let her.
I brushed back Penelope’s thick hair and bent to kiss her neck. “It’s nothing bad, my love. Only that you’ve been given a gift, and since I didn’t know to expect it, the necklace startled me. Were you not aware when it was being placed around your neck?”
“No. I never felt a thing,” she said, now wiggling to be allowed up since she was still flat on her back, my body atop hers. “When did she do this? Was it the Queen who put the necklace on my neck?”
I freed my hold on Penelope’s hands, removed my body from hers, and watched as she bolted up into a sitting position. Her fingers immediately moved to touch the necklace. She fingered it a moment then tried to find the back closure.
“Can you take it off me, Timothy? I want to see it,” she entreated.
Was the necklace really only a wedding present? Had the Queen intended it as no more than a mark of her favor for my new bride?
Penelope had not yet received any instruction concerning the Fae. I’d thought I’d have ample time to teach her. But then, I’d never expected to see the Queen at my wedding. Penelope had no reason to be afraid of the Fae, yet, she was, instinctively. Her eyes showed more than uncertainty. They were displayed terror, and her body was trembling.
I didn’t want to lie to Penelope, but I knew I needed to give her some reassurance. One must be cautious among the Fae, but terror would cause more interest than indifference. It was like a red flag waved before a bull or the target in the center of a dart. Penelope would quickly attract even more problems if I didn’t very quickly soothe her worry.