“I don’t know what you mean.” Her words shake me. I don’t want to think about what I’ve been seeing. How could she possibly know?
“There is much I need to tell you, child. I do not know how you saw, but I can sense it. I saw it. The Wild Hunt comes for us all.”
“But the Wild Hunt is nothing more than a scary story we tell children at night; it isn’t real.”
“The Wild Hunt has been dormant for centuries, locked away by our ancestors when we drew an alliance with the humans, but it is real enough. I don’t know how they unleashed it, or even if they have succeeded yet, but the darkness is coming.”
“The Hunters have gone into hiding, and despite all of our trackers, magical and otherwise we cannot find them. They have masked themselves. The Wild Hunt isn’t real, Lanora. Why don’t we sit you down, and calm down with a cup of tea?”
“Do not mock me, child. I know what I have seen. There is so much you do not know, and I shouldn’t be the one to tell you. You and I are more alike than you know, and I sympathize with all you’ve been through, but we need you now, more than we’ve ever needed you. I need you to remember.” She paces in the room, staring at the ceiling as she continues to mumble.
“Remember what, Lanora? What on earth are you on about?” I try to encourage her to sit again, but she pushes me away and screams.
“You will be the end of us all! You must remember. The darkness is coming. The darkness is coming!” she screams in my face, her eyes turning white before falling to the ground, lifeless.
“Lanora!” I dive towards her as her door crashes open, and the medical team swarm in. Cade, Rowan, and Lex follow quickly behind, and Cade grabs me out of the way.
“I’m so sorry Cade. I just tried to talk to her like we said. About the wedding, and she started talking about a Hunt and the darkness. Then her eyes, I don’t even know, it was all so fast.”
“It’s okay, Emilia. We heard the screams and feared the worst. I’m glad you’re okay, but I need to check on my mother. Lex, would you mind escorting Emilia back to my library, and just stay with her till I’m done. I just want her safe.”
“Of course, Cade.” Lex nods and motions for me to the door.
“This isn’t necessary,” I tell Cade, who frowns at me.
“Please, Emilia. I don’t want to worry about you too.”
“Fine,” I cave, I won’t argue because of his mother, but I don’t have to be happy about it.
I leave the room with Lex on my heels, but he quickly matches my pace stride for stride, and so I slow. There’s no point trying to outrun him. Cade wasn’t lying when he called him bearish; he’s more the size of a bear than human. I’ve not really paid much attention to him before now, but his arms are painted in tattoos, but one catches my eye. An eye inside a dreamcatcher. It’s so irregular, but I feel like I’ve seen it before. I trip over my own feet because I focus on it so closely, and Lex catches me.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
“Maybe you should pay attention to what’s in front of you.”
“What is that?” I point to the dark ink on his arm.
“It is something from the old world, a family thing,” he tells me, brushing me off and opening the door to the library. “I’ll be just out here if you need anything.”
“This really isn’t necessary, you know.”
“Isn’t it?” He shuts the door and leaves me in dull light from the fireplace. This room holds so much history, things I don’t know, things I probably don’t care to know, but I wonder if there’s anything in these books that can help us now. Tell us how to move past all of this destruction and pain. How to help Lanora. How to stop what is inevitably going to be another war, after we just stopped the last one.
“This fucking sucks.” Rowan storms into the room and throws himself into one of the chairs like a petulant teenager.
“You got banished too?” I take a seat opposite him, enjoying the heat from the fire.
“Like a bloody child. She’s my mother too, and it’s not like I’m not a grown-ass man, but to defy the king is to defy the kingdom.” He rolls his eyes and sinks further into the chair.
“Maybe he just wanted to spare you the pain of seeing your mother like that?”
“Maybe, or maybe he’s just on a power trip. He’s going to be king now, and it’s gone to his head.”
“Oh, come on, Rowan.” I scoot forward and really pay attention to him. “You don’t really believe that, and we both know it. What else is going on with you?” I carefully watch as he shifts in his chair, I notice his tired eyes, the lines on his face, and the hollowness of his cheeks. Something is eating at him, and I’ve been so wrapped up in myself, I haven’t noticed.
“Nothing really, just making sure everything is sorted here, and in the cities. I’ve just been spreading myself thin, I guess.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been a bad friend recently, I’ve been so wrapped up in myself and everything going on, I’ve not checked in with you.”
“Don’t sweat it, Em. You’ve had shit going on, plus Erion is here. You’ve been busy, I don’t hold it against you.”
“That’s no excuse though, you were the only person on my side when I came here. You stood up for me, you made sure I was safe, and I basically abandoned you. So, I’m sorry. After all this madness at the weekend, we should have a day, just us, what do you say?”
“I’d really like that.” He smiles a tired smile but takes my hand and squeezes. “I kind of missed you, I guess. It’s been lonely around here with everything happening.”
The door opens, and Cade and Lex enter solemnly. “What happened?”
“She wasn’t breathing. Whatever is plaguing her is killing her slowly. We brought her back, but the healers put her in a deep sleep while they try to work out what is wrong with her.” Cade stands behind me, and kisses the top of my head, before leaning on the back of the chair while Lex stands stoically by the door as if guarding the room. “They think she’s been poisoned.”
“What?!” Rowan shouts and starts pacing the room. “How is that even possible?”
“I have no idea.” Cade drags his hand down his face before taking Rowan’s seat. “That’s just one of their theories. It means she’s not going to be up and about this weekend though, so we might need to postpone everything.”
I nod and curl up in the chair. What a mess.
“She wouldn’t want that,” Rowan pipes up. “If she was herself, she’d hate that you postponed what is for the good of the court, for her and you know it.”
“It’s bad enough that Father is gone, but doing it without Mother too just feels wrong.” Cade sighs.
“You and Emilia are the most important people this weekend. Both courts are a buzz about it, just the thought of a celebration has lifted the people, across the entire kingdom. You can’t take that away from them, not after everything,” Rowan stresses.
“I think he might be right,” I tell Cade. “Lanora would want what is best for the kingdom. She also hates being seen as weak, so she’d hate you thinking like this. She will pull through, and who knows, maybe she’ll be okay for the day.”
“You’re right. You’re both right.” Cade sighs in resignation. I watch as Lex stays silent by the door, but watches the brothers closely like he’s trying to figure something out. “The show must go on.”
Chapter Sixteen
Given the recent awful events, everyone has thrown themselves into this, giving them something to celebrate. The Isle sees this as a sign of good fortune and happiness. I try not to let my grief overwhelm me and keeping busy is the best way I’ve found to keep it buried, this is my duty as a princess, and is what my people need. In the past two days I’ve seen more food and cake than I possibly ever wanted to see, tried on more dresses than I care to recollect, been through color schemes, napkin materials, picked out the right china, flowers, suit options. So right now, I’ve shut the doors of my closet, and I’m hiding in here, just for ten minutes to escape the madnes
s. I’ve not had a minute of peace, to think, or get hung up on the fact that I’m going to be celebrating my wedding in the room where my husband to be killed my twin brother.
I gulp in air and try to calm the panic rising inside of me. To top it all off, all of the royal families from the Summer Court confirmed their attendance, which means not only the parents of the girls who died here when the Hunters attacked, but it means my parents.
“Emilia?” I scoot backwards into the shadows as Erion opens the doors to the closet with a small smile, shaking his head as he walks in and closes the door, joining me on the floor in the darkness.
“How did you know I’d be in here?” I ask him quietly as he pulls me under his arm and hugs me tightly.
“I’m your big brother. I remember when things got too overwhelming when you were little, you’d hide in your closet, and when too many people clued in on that, you hid in mine.”
“There’s just so much, and everyone wants an answer yesterday. Do you have any idea how much food and cake I’ve tasted, how many dresses I’ve tried on . . .? So many people! People who a few years ago would’ve either spat at my feet or just ignored me completely.”
“Well, you don’t have to do it all alone, ya know, kiddo. I’m here now; I can help.”
“But I don’t want to intrude, Erion. You’ve got enough on with little Erion, who I’m just going to call E or Junior soon because calling him little Erion for the rest of existence is going to get tedious.”
“You, Emilia, are my little sister, and I’d do anything for you. I missed a lot with you too while I was away, and I’m sorry for not being there for you, or being here for you to lean on, but I’m here now.”
“I love you, Erion. I missed you so much.” I wrap my arms around him in the small space.
“I love you too, Em. I missed you too.”
“I have something to ask you . . .” I pull back and face him. “I know you’ve not been here, but you’re probably still the person I trust the most with almost everything. We’ve missed a lot up until now, but I want you with me in the rest of my important memories. So, I wondered, I mean, you don’t have to, but I’d love it if you’d walk me down the aisle on Saturday.”
“Oh, Emilia, I’d be honored.” His voice cracks as he hugs me again.
“Thank you.” I squeeze him harder again and swallow the lump in my throat. I haven’t really had much chance to focus on the fact that he’s back because life has been crazy, but the joy in this moment floors me.
“Now, let’s get you back out there to face down the crazies and get this show on the road. We only have two days to get this thing done flawlessly.”
“No offence or anything, Erion, but what use is a solider at planning a wedding?”
“Oh, you have no idea!”
***
I look at my reflection in the mirror, and I don’t really recognize the girl in the mirror. She looks worldly, confident, regal. Like she’s got her shit together.
“This is the one,” Erion announces from the side of the room.
“You think so?” I whisper, trying not to think about how much Lily would have loved all of this. She’d have handled all of this wedding, coronation stuff a thousand times better than I have, and she wouldn’t have looked flustered once. She’d have cried with me over finding the right dress and calmed me down when the panic overtook me. I wipe away the tear that escapes and tip my head back to stop the others.
“Are you okay, Em?” Erion steps forwards and takes my elbow, guiding me off of the raised platform back to the floor. We cleared out my old bedroom and have used it as headquarters for all things wedding related. The wedding is tomorrow, and surprisingly, Erion has been a huge help.
“I’m fine, I’m just thinking about all of the people who should’ve been here but aren’t. You would’ve loved Lily; she was the perfect ying to my yang. My complete opposite, but my best friend who loved me unconditionally. She was fierce but sweet, and I miss her so goddamn much.”
“I’m so sorry, Emilia. But she’s never really gone, you know that deep down. When we die, we go back to the earth, so the flowers the bloom in spring, the butterflies that flit around, she’s here in all of that. She lives on in your memories.”
“I know, it’s just unfair. God, I sound like such a brat.” I wipe the tears from my eyes. “I have so much, and so much more than others, but here I am crying when I’m about to marry the man I love.”
“You’re allowed to mourn, and even to be selfish Emilia. It’s not the worst traits of our kind. Plus, look at how far our courts have come in such a short space of time since it was announced that you and Cade were going to be married. People have been helping out others with rebuilding homes, pooling resources, and coming together to rebuild our communities. Plus, you’ve singlehandedly planned this wedding and coronation while Cade has been spending time with his mother and making sure that the world keeps turning. It’s a lot.”
“Thank you for being here, Erion.”
“Anything for you, baby sister. Now, seriously, this is the dress, and then we only have one thing left to do.”
I can’t help but laugh at his enthusiasm to be done searching for the right dress. I climb back up on the podium and take in the white and gold silk and lace dress. It’s so very simple and hugs all of my curves before flaring at the knee. Simple white silk topped with a beautiful gold lace that shimmers in the light.
“I think you might be right.” I nod to the dressmaker in the corner who rushes to my side, pulling and pushing at the material, placing pins throughout it before telling me I can take it off. Erion leaves us at that point and waits outside while I dress.
I undress and hurry to throw on the gown I had on before, apparently, queens to be don’t get to wear jeans, stupid rule if you ask me, but I now have people telling me what to wear and when to wear it, how to wear my hair, makeup, people who will do it each day. It’s exhausting, there’s so much that comes with being the face of a Court, so much more than I ever expected. I hurry and open the door and find Erion facing off with Lex.
“Erm, what exactly is going on here?”
“Nothing.” Lex turns and stalks away from Erion, who I can feel the heat coming off.
“Hey”—I touch his arm—“calm down big brother. What just happened?”
“I don’t trust that guy. Something isn’t right about him.”
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me, after he and I had a little run-in.” I involuntarily touch my neck. “I can’t stand the guy, but Cade trusts him, and that’s enough for me for now. He usually keeps his distance though; I’ve not seen him in this wing of the palace before.”
“He was scoping out exits, counting steps. I recognized the movements from sieges I’ve done. Is he military?”
“I honestly have no idea; I try my best to avoid him. Now what was that last thing we needed to do?”
“Well, I’m not sure you need me for this last one, all of the wedding stuff is done, and you don’t seem so stressed now, but last up, is your crown fitting.” His eyes sparkle with amusement.
“You are not leaving me alone with that creep! He is so handsy!” I exclaim. The royal jeweler, Antonio, saw us yesterday for the ring fitting, and for some jewels to be encrusted in my shoes, and he just gave me the heebie-jeebies.
“Come on then, let’s get this done, and then we have dinner with our new family before you’re whisked away from your husband to be until the wedding.”
He gives me his elbow, and I link my arm with his as he escorts me back to the sparkliest room I’ve ever been in. The vault holds all of the jewels that belong to the Winter Court, and holy crap are there a lot of them! We enter the vault again, and Antonio is waiting for us, a table laid with black velvet holding six, very beautiful, very different tiaras and crowns.
“Oh, these are just exquisite!” I exclaim, drawn to the gold leaf tiara with red jewels.
“Thank you, princess.” Antonio blushes as he hurries to lift the ti
ara I’m staring at, while Erion hangs back, trying not to laugh.
“The three tiaras are your choices for the wedding, and the three crowns are what you’ll exchange the tiara for during the coronation. I wanted you to have plenty of choices, but I didn’t have as much time as I would’ve liked to make them.”
“These are all made by hand?” I ask, wonder replacing the creeper feeling from yesterday.
“Yes, ma’am. Each one usually takes several weeks, but I just haven’t slept for a few days, and I managed to get them finished.”
“They’re beautiful, Antonio. You should be proud.”
“Thank you, princess. Would you like to try each of them on?” I look over the others, and I see one with gold vines, frosted with white stones, and I know that it’s the one.
“Just that one.” I point to it, and he passes it to me, and I place it on my head, pulling through some curled strands to hold it in place before moving to the mirror.
“It’s stunning.” I see Rowan behind me in the mirror at his words.
“It truly is,” I agree, staring at it in the mirror, before Erion catches my eye and motions he’ll be back, and I nod to let him know I’m okay.
“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” he asks, stepping back and examines the crowns laid out for me.
“I’m excited; it’s not something I ever saw for myself. At least not in recent years, and now it’s here, and it’s all so soon, but even with all of the devastation that happened to get us here, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“You know, this time tomorrow, you’ll be my sister, and I couldn’t be happier for you and Cade. You deserve each other. I remember when you came back from the human realm as a child, and as soon as Cade saw you, he claimed you. He didn’t have to say anything, but you could see it in the way he looked at you, the way he looked out for you. He still looks at you like that. God knows he gave me a shiner or too for looking at you too long. It’s nice to see it all finally come full circle.”
Summer Princess (Dark Fae Book 1) Page 16