by Dyan Chick
"No," the General said. "But I'll ask for you."
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Knots twisted in my stomach, my palms were damp, and my heart beat thundered in my ears. We were stopped now in front of a set of large double doors that reminded me that I was about to meet the ruler of Faerie and even if she was blood, I still felt like a nobody.
I glanced down at my muddy dress and took in the dirt in my fingernails. I was sure my hair was nothing but tangles and probably full of enough twigs and leaves to make a bird’s nest. I didn't look the part of a lady, let alone Princess.
I wanted to say something to the General standing beside me but I couldn't form my thoughts into coherent speech. He gave a subtle nod to the guard stationed on either side of the doors and they were swung open to reveal a stunning throne room.
Dark polished wood floors spanned the expansive room all the way back to a raised platform on the opposite end. A single, large gold and ruby encrusted throne held a female Fae in a gold dress. Her blonde hair was arranged on top of her head in a perfect spiral of curls and twists that would have made Nani proud. A gold crown rested among her curls, glinting in the light.
I couldn't help but smile a little thinking of all the times Nani had done my hair in a similar way to this. It must've been her way of keeping a little bit of my heritage with me even though I hadn't known about it. My thoughts of my maid, my closest confidant, were bittersweet. I still missed her greatly and I wondered if I'd be able to send someone for her now that I had connections to the Queen. Even though the thought of Nani had brought a smile to my face, the stern expression on the Queen in the throne in front of me had not shifted.
I hadn't realized that I was walking, keeping pace with the General beside me, growing steadily closer to the stranger in front of me. When I was a few steps away from the throne, she stood and descended the stairs on the platform until she was on the same ground as me. She was my height, with the same blue eyes and gold hair. By appearance alone, there was little I could do to deny the strong resemblance. My human mother had resembled me, and so had my human sister. I found out it was possible my magic had worn off on them changing their appearance the longer they lived with me. This time, there was no such possibility.
The Queen seemed to study me, her eyes darting up and down as she walked around me in a slow circle. I tensed under her gaze, balling my hands into fists as discomfort wormed its way through me. I felt like I was already a disappointment. Was that why she had sent me away? I tightened my jaw and tried to remind myself of what Tiana had said. She mentioned that Queens were not allowed to have children. The fact that she had sent me away, was not because I displeased her, it was because she was preventing someone like Tiana from killing me. My chest swelled with gratitude. Despite the disapproving expression on her face, this was someone who had tried to keep me alive. I knew protocol would dictate that I let her speak first, but words tumbled out. "Is it true?"
The Queen stopped in front of me, hands clasped in front of her. She lifted her chin, giving her an even more confident stature than she had had. "I wish you would not have come."
Those were not the words I expected to hear from her. Hadn't she sent me away from my own protection? Didn't that mean she cared for me? "I don't understand."
Suddenly, her expression shifted again and she looked exhausted. "Queens are forbidden from having children. So I had to send you away or have you killed. That lousy human man who raised you was supposed to keep you hidden away in his home until you came of age."
"I heard him talking," I said. "He was about to marry me off. Told my future husband he’d make even more money if he kept me prisoner." I had thought that whoever was paying my father had only paid for the wedding. Now, I knew he'd been paid my whole life.”
"He was supposed to keep you in his home until you turned twenty, then he was free to marry you off. I knew that if you were anything like me, your magic would be triggered by stress. Even in the human realm, where it's harder for magic to show through, someone with all four Courts worth, the magic would have a hard time masking it in situations where they felt at risk. An arranged marriage probably made you quite anxious, am I right?"
I nodded.
"That man was an idiot," she said. "Forcing you into marriage jumpstarted your powers which attracted the beasts that came after you." She shook her head.
"How do you know all this?" I asked, feeling a little hurt. If she had known about the attack on my wedding day, why hadn't she intervened sooner? Why put me through everything I had been through?
"Three days ago, my old handmaid found her way back to me. So I started to search for you. Imagine my surprise when I found out you'd ended up in the Winter Court," she smirked.
My heart leaped. "Nani?"
"Yes," she said.
"She's here?" I asked.
"Yes." She put her hand out, indicating that she wanted me to wait. "Before you say anything more, you will be able to see her, but not right now. Right now, we need to discuss some things."
I nodded, thinking of all the unanswered questions floating in my mind. Though, there was one thing that stood out more than anything else, a single question burning inside me with such intensity that it was painful.
As if she could sense my thoughts, the Queen's brow furrowed. "What is it?"
"My friends," I said. "I don't know where they are."
She turned to the General.
"She was accompanied by both the Winter and Autumn Prince before she fell. They were sliding together," he said.
"And your sister," I added. "I think she's the one at fault for causing my fall. She..."
The Queen's expression darkened. "Hold that thought. We'll discuss your test in private. Not here."
I swallowed, wondering if I should have pressed on more about Tiana's attempt to kill me. Pursing my lips, I lowered my eyes, feeling defeated. I knew there were protocols in royal courts. And I knew there was danger in accusing someone high ranking of any wrong doing, even if they were guilty. I'd been raised to believe that speaking about family was a private conversation regardless of rank.
"The princes?" I asked. "I was traveling with the Spring and Summer princes as well, but they stayed behind to take care of a tear they found to the Under. I'd like to know if they're all safe."
The Queen turned from me, back to her General. "Find out whatever you can on the four princes and report back to me immediately. We'll be in my private chambers."
She turned to me. "This way."
I followed, feeling some of the tension releasing now that I knew the whereabouts of the princes was being looked into. I wanted them to be safe. I needed them to be safe. The longer I stayed apart from them, the more anxious I was feeling. Hopefully, I'd be reunited with them soon.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
We took turn after turn down long hallways. Past closed doors, sitting rooms, a music room, and what looked like a ballroom. Finally, we stopped at an unsuspecting closed door at the end of a dark hallway. It seemed like we were in a seldom used part of the castle, away from most of the activity.
"Wait here," the Queen said to the guards who had followed us. Then, she opened the door and stepped inside.
I followed her into a simple sitting room. Rough wood floors were covered in burgundy and gold rugs. Two oversized tan chairs faced a fireplace, a small table in between them.
The Queen settled into one of the chairs and gestured for me to sit in the other. I obliged, a shiver running through me as I recalled a similar meeting with Tiana.
A knock sounded on the door and the Queen and I both turned.
"Come in," she called.
A blue dressed servant stepped into the room, a tray with a teapot, cups, and a few sweets in her hands. She kept her eyes on the ground as she walked into the room. After setting the tray on the small table between us, she curtseyed. "Will that be all, Majesty?"
The Queen waved her hand dismissively. "Yes, that's all."
"
Thank you," I called after the servant.
The Queen's brow furrowed, but she didn't comment on my words. Instead, she poured two cups of tea. After adding a cube of sugar to hers, she took it in her hands and leaned back causally against the chair. "This is my private space. Nobody is allowed in here without my permission."
I took the other cup of tea and tried to find a comfortable position. "It's nice."
"If you'd believe it, this is much more similar to what I grew up with. The rest of the castle can sometimes be overwhelming." She took a sip of her tea. "I can't even imagine how you feel right now."
"Overwhelmed is a good way to describe it," I said.
"It's about to get worse," she said.
My shoulders fell. "What do you mean?"
"You already know that the Queen isn't allowed to have children," she said.
"I do. Your sister tried to kill me. Said you lied to her about killing me," I said.
She sighed and shook her head. "I should have seen that coming. I'm sorry I sent her. She will be punished. But right now, you have more concerning things to worry about."
"More concerning than someone who thinks I should be dead?" I asked.
"She won't be the only one coming for you," the Queen said.
"There were others," I admitted. "In the Winter Court. They wanted to know about Queen's Trial. They were insane."
She nodded. "And they will continue to be a threat to you."
"How do I convince them I have no interest in being Queen? I don't want that. I just want to live in peace," I said.
"They'll never let you live in peace," she said. "Not with the power in your veins. Anyone who wins Queen's Trial will put a price on your head as soon as she's in power."
"So what am I supposed to do? Spend the rest of my life running?" I asked.
"Yes, until they kill you. Or..."
"Or what?" I asked, already knowing I'd take that option. I didn't want to be running for the rest of my life, hunted by people who thought I was a threat.
"You win Queen's Trial. You win, you become Queen, you're no longer a threat."
My blood ran cold. "I don't want to be Queen."
"You don't have a choice," she said.
I squeezed the teacup in my hands, feeling the warmth seeping into my palms.
"You'll have to choose escorts to run with you." She took another sip of her tea.
"What do you mean?" I hadn't even decided if I was really able to run. I didn't even know what it entailed.
"Each Queen needs supporters; confidants. At least one male who will eventually rule by your side should you win."
Another knock sounded at the door and the Queen turned. "Enter."
I kept my eyes fixed on the empty fireplace in front of me, processing everything I'd just been told.
"Your Majesty," the General's voice carried through the room and I turned, hoping to hear word on my princes.
Standing in the entryway to the room were Ethan, Dane, Cormac, and Tristan. They were all here. They were all safe.
I dropped the teacup in my hand and was out of my chair before the cup hit the ground. Overjoyed to see them all alive, I ran to the door, my arms spread wide.
Four males crashed into me, surrounding me with warmth as their bodies pressed against mine. Someone kissed the top of my head and someone brushed the loose strands of hair from my face. I couldn't tell whose arms were whose or who was pressing into which part of me. I didn't care. I felt like I could breathe again.
After what felt like several long minutes, we broke the embrace. Cormac touched my face. "Are you safe?"
"I'm safe," I said, looking from him to all the others. "Don't do that to me again. Being away from all of you made me feel like I couldn't breathe."
"Does that mean you've chosen your escorts?" the Queen stood and walked over to where we were standing by the doorway.
All four princes, including Tristan bowed in greeting.
"Does that mean you're running, love?" Dane asked. "Joining Queen's Trial?"
"I don't think I have a choice," I said.
"I'm in if you are," he said.
"You're still under my protection, so I'll go where you need me," Cormac said.
"You know how I feel," Ethan said.
I smiled, feeling like maybe I could handle whatever it was that Queen's Trial was going to throw at me if I had them by my side.
"That's beautiful," Tristan said. "But you're all forgetting one thing."
I turned to look at the handsome Winter Prince, my brow furrowing.
"She owes me a favor, and it's time for me to collect."
Court of Lies
Forbidden Queen, Book Three
Chapter One
"Is it true, did you make a deal with a Winter Fae?" The Queen, my mother, looked at me, incredulous. She shook her head. "Those humans taught you no common sense."
The humans denied that magic existed and tried to pretend that the Fae were gone. If not for Nani, I'd know even less than I did now. Now wasn't the time to explain how the human world worked. To be honest, the Queen's lack of understanding made Tristan's favor make more sense. The Fae seemed to have just as little knowledge about humans as the humans did about them.
I glanced at Tristan, then turned away from his sly smirk, focusing back on the Queen. "I needed help, it wasn't a big favor. Tristan, I can answer any of the questions you have about humans right now." Somehow, I knew it wasn't going to be as simple as that. While I continued to go back and forth with Tristan, I had grown to trust him. Maybe I was wrong to do so.
"It's not quite that simple," Tristan said. "I have lots of questions. It could take weeks. I'll need her to stay with me for a while."
"You haven't changed, have you?" Dane said.
I looked at the other three princes, expecting them to say something to defend me. Shouldn't they ask him to back down? I could tell none of them were happy with the situation, yet none of them seemed ready to pounce.
"She made a verbal commitment to participate in Queen's Trial," Cormac said. "Surely your curiosity can be sated from here?"
Surprised that Cormac hadn't asked for the entire thing to be dropped, I looked back over at Tristan to see his reaction. He was wearing one of his trademark smirks.
"There's no reason she can't be in the Winter Court for a few weeks. I'll return her to you when we're finished and she's repaid her favor."
"Why would I go with you to the Winter Court? Someone tried to kill you and somebody captured me and interrogated me. It's not safe there."
"It wasn't safe in the House of the Moon," he corrected.
"You took her to the House of the Moon?" the Queen asked, showing the first sign of motherly concern since I'd arrived. "That isn't exactly a respectable place for a Queen's Trial candidate."
"We'll stay at my palace, you have my word. No trips to the House of the Moon," Tristan said.
"You think it'll be safe there?" I asked. "Your own nobles are moving against you. What makes you think they won't come after you there?"
"It won't be safe for you anywhere, now that you’ve made your bid for the trial official. It's not a sanctioned part of the trial, but there will be people trying to hurt you. I'm afraid being related to me is going to make things harder on you. You are going to be seen as the biggest threat, especially when they find out about the males who stepped up as your consorts," she said.
"But you said you can't help me; that being your child gives me no benefit," I said.
"That's true. I can't and won't help you. But you've got power you shouldn't have. That makes you a threat."
"Even if I'm not safe anywhere, I already agreed to compete. How can I do that from the Winter Court? It's not even part of the kingdom anymore," I said.
"You don't have to be here for the first several trials, isn't that right, Your Majesty?" Tristan asked.
She frowned, but nodded. "The first few trials are typically done from home. Then, all the girls who successfully complete
them get an invitation to the palace to compete at the next level. It looks like the Winter Court might be your home while you complete those first steps."
"You're going to let him take me? Just like that?" I looked at the princes, eyes pleading. "No objections?"
"Favors are serious business here, you have to honor your end," Ethan said, pain etched across his face. "We can't get you out of this."
My stomach twisted into knots. I could tell Ethan was fighting to hold himself back. Whatever I'd gotten into with Tristan was more serious than I imagined. But perhaps, there was a way to make it easier on me. "I'm not going without them," I said turning back to Tristan.
"I'm not having them in my palace," Tristan hesitated, "unless you feel like you can choose between them? I think we'd have room for one."
I glared at Tristan, and clenched my jaw. He knew he was asking me the impossible. I felt the mating bond with Ethan, I knew I had something special with Dane and Cormac. The idea of being apart from any of them made my chest hurt. I'd come this far with them, and I didn't want to continue on without any of them. "You know I can't choose."
"I suppose the three of you could compete to see who could join us?" Tristan suggested. "However, if any of you come, you know how that's going to look. It'll be interesting to see you convince your families that you aren't colluding with the Winter Court. Especially since you'll be returning with me after spending the last few days there."
My shoulders sank. Tristan was right and he'd put me in an impossible situation. The reputation of the Winter Court wasn't good in Faerie. If any of the princes spent an extended amount of time there it could damage their reputations. I couldn't ask that of them. It wasn't like last time. There weren't any Sodalis attacks to use as an excuse.
Plus, if I didn't have the distractions of any of the other princes, I might be able to fulfill my end of the bargain with Tristan quicker. I knew whatever game he was playing had nothing to do with learning about humans. He had something else up his sleeve, I wasn't sure what it was yet. Whatever his goal, leaving the princes out of it might be the best way to protect them.