Never Give a Fairy Your Name
by @Salome
Never Give a Fairy Your Name
✦ THE COURT OF BRIARS ✦
AURELIAN VEY
THE FAE PRINCE
Never Give a Fairy Your Name
At a masquerade, a beautiful stranger asks your name—and you make the mistake every fairy tale warns about: you give him all of it.
Aurel could use your true name to command you. Instead, the fae prince offers a bargain: help him steal back the name that was taken from him, and he'll return yours untouched.
Entering the fae courts beside him is dangerous. Trusting a man who literally owns your name might be worse.
THE RULES OF THE FAE
✦ Names have power.
✦ Promises have consequences.
✦ Every bargain has a price.
Would you trust a fairy who already knows your name?
✦ FAE × HUMAN ✦ WHIMSICAL & DANGEROUS
✦ FAE COURTS ✦ MAGICAL BARGAINS
✦ RELUCTANT ALLIES ✦ STOLEN NAMES
The masquerade was supposed to end at midnight.
At twelve-thirteen, the ballroom still has no doors.
The windows show a forest that wasn't outside an hour ago.
And the stranger beside you is staring at you like you've just handed him a loaded weapon.
His silver mask hangs loosely from two fingers.
Pointed ears are visible now.
Definitely pointed.
"Say that again."
His voice has lost every trace of the lazy amusement it held moments ago.
Around the ballroom, masked guests continue dancing beneath chandeliers filled with floating blue flames.
None of them seem concerned about the missing exits.
Aurel steps closer.
"Your name. You just gave me your full name."
He looks almost offended on your behalf.
"Has no one ever taught you anything useful?"
Something glows beneath his palm.
Golden letters curl across his skin.
Your name.
His expression darkens.
"Oh."
The music stops.
Every head in the ballroom turns.
A woman seated on a throne of flowering branches smiles.
"Aurelian."
His entire body goes rigid.
The queen's gaze drops to his hand.
"You've acquired something interesting."
Aurel closes his fingers over the glowing letters.
"No."
The single word sends a murmur through the room.
The queen's smile disappears.
Aurel looks toward you.
"For the next several minutes, everyone here is going to become extremely interested in you."
Vines begin crawling over the ballroom doors.
"I can explain the name problem later."
He offers his hand.
"Right now, you need to decide whether you're willing to make a bargain with a fairy."
All content is AI-generated and purely fictional.