by Dyan Chick
"That is unfortunate. But the important part is that you're safe now," the king said.
"Please, I can't be here. I'm participating in Queen's Trial. If you won't let me return to the Winter Palace, at least let me return to the Autumn Court." It was a desperate plea and I knew it was risky, but everything about the king made my stomach wreathe in distress. There was something about him that wasn't right even if he did come across as diplomatic and sane on the exterior. It was something that went beyond the fact that he'd had me kidnapped. Every bone in my body was screaming for me to get away from him. My instincts were on fire in protest.
"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. However, we'll be happy to let the council know you are completing your trials here." The king inclined his head in what was meant to be an act of diplomacy.
Instead, my skin crawled at the sight. There was something very wrong with the Winter King.
Chapter Seventeen
I knew it was possible I wasn't even a candidate in the trials anymore, but something told me the only reason I was alive was because the king saw me as valuable. If I was no longer in the running to become Queen, would he care about my wellbeing?
Lifting my chin, I did my best to act the part of a future Queen. "The message box that allows me to communicate with the council was left behind."
"Don't you worry about that." He snapped his fingers and the door opened again.
A thin Fae female in gold robes glided into the room. Her gait was so smooth I wondered if she was floating. Her face was narrow and delicate with a thin nose and small, pointed ears. Her hair was slivery blue and reminded me of a pond near my father's house.
The female bowed at the king. "Your highness."
"Tell my guest what you told me," he said.
The female turned to me and pursed her lips. Her eyes flicked up and down my body as if assessing me. Then, she glanced from me to the king then back again.
My breath caught as I read her body language. She was as much a guest in this place as I was.
"Lady Cassia, it's an honor to meet you." The female inclined her head. "I am priestess Jaya, one of the members of the Trial Council."
My brow furrowed and I wanted to demand what she was doing here, but I held my tongue. If my suspicions were accurate, she didn't want to be here.
"I will provide you the communications necessary for your trials while you remain as an ambassador to the Winter Court." She turned to the king. "Sire, may I have a few minutes in private to discuss her first trail?"
"She's practically family," the king said. "I'm sure she won't want to hide anything from me. Isn't that right, princess?"
I bristled at the title. When Tristan called me princess it was irritating, but playful. When his father used it I had to force myself to keep from vomiting. Forcing the grimace on my face into a smile, I nodded. "Yes, I'm sure it's fine to share here."
Jaya let out a sigh and her shoulders sank. It made me wonder what she was hoping to say to me had we been granted privacy.
"You passed your first trial," she said.
Despite the circumstances, I blew out a breath of relief. "How?"
The king raised an eyebrow and I turned away from him, focusing on Jaya.
"You were not expected to be able to complete the first task. Each candidate was given a task that required magic they could not conjure. I have to admit, it was difficult to think of something we could use for you given your unique situation."
I frowned. "So everyone knows, then."
"They do," she said.
"You wanted us to fail?" I asked. "I could have died."
"One of the candidates did die," Jaya said. "Queen's Trial is not a game."
I covered my mouth with my hand. "Someone died?"
"Yes. A good ruler must know when help is required. She must know when there is something happening that is outside her control. For the first trial, you were required to identify that and seek help from a qualified source. You succeeded."
The death of the unknown candidate hung over me like a black cloud preventing me from finding joy in the fact that I'd passed. I stood motionless in silence, staring at the ground, unsure of how to proceed.
Jaya cleared her throat.
I looked up at her.
"Your second trial will begin tomorrow. I've made the proper arrangements for it to be sent here," she said.
"I knew I chose the right council member. Not only did you make it happen, you're ordained with the power of the gods. One of the few Fae who can perform a royal marriage. Isn't she amazing?" the king asked, turning to me.
My chest tightened. I had a feeling he wasn't interested in a marriage between his son and me. The king was obsessed with procreating with Fae from other courts in an attempt to gain heirs with multiple courts worth of magic. And here I was, the offspring of a Queen, holder of all four courts as passed down from my mother. Bile rose in my throat at the thought of the king attempting any physical contact with me. I had to get out of there.
"Rest tonight, my champion," the king said. "Tomorrow you will be one step closer to claiming the crown. And if you fail, don't worry. You'll always have a place here by my side."
I swallowed the sick feeling, unwilling to open my mouth to speak for fear that I'd lose the contents of my stomach. I'd never met someone so power hungry before. Even my human father had limits based in morality. I was pretty sure he wouldn't have stolen a female from anyone.
The door opened again and my heart thundered against my ribs. I wasn't sure I could handle any more surprises today. A familiar figure walked through the door, chin held high. I let out a gasp of both relief and fear as Nani walked through the door. I ran toward her without waiting for permission.
She met me in an embrace, pulling me close until her mouth was up against my ear. "Just do what he says for now. We'll be out of here soon."
My jaw tightened at her words and I made the smallest nod I could against her before pulling away. "Are you hurt?"
She brushed the hair away from my eyes and smiled. "I'm the one who is supposed to ask you that question."
"My gift to you, princess," the king said. "I know how much she means to you so I had her brought here with you."
Teeth clenched, I did my best to not glare at him. After allowing myself a few deep breaths through my nose, I lowered my head. "Thank you, your highness."
The king laughed. "Now you're learning your place."
Heat rose to my cheeks and I squeezed my hands into fists behind my back to keep from speaking out. If not for Nani's words, I would have tried to flee. Or attack the king at the very least. My magic still felt muted, but the distance from the guard allowed me to feel the slightest inkling of it. I wondered if I'd be able to use it once we were deposited wherever they were going to place us.
"Take her to her room," the king said.
One of the guards grabbed my upper arm and I tugged it away. "I can walk myself."
The guard removed his hand and cleared his throat. "This way."
Nani took my hand in hers and we followed the Winter Guard.
The word room was used very liberally by the king. We weren't in the kind of room I was used to since arriving in Faerie. We were in a dungeon.
As soon as the guard closed the door behind us, I ran to it and tried the handle. Searing pain stung my palms and I let go of the handle, screaming.
Nani was by my side instantly, cradling my injured hand in hers. An angry red circle spread across my palm and up to the parts of my fingers that had touched the door knob.
"Iron," Nani said.
I looked up at the door. In addition to the black iron door knob, there was a small window with iron bars on the top of the door. I glanced around the rest of the room. We were walled in on all sides by gray stone. One small iron barred window was our only source of light. In one corner, a wooden bench was pushed against the wall. A folded blanket sat on one end of it. On the other side was a small table with a basin of water and a hand towel. A single chair to
ok up the corner nearest the door.
Pulling my hands away from Nani, I walked back toward the door.
"Cassia, stop!" Nani called.
I ignored her and stood on my tiptoes to peer out of the window, bracing myself against the wooden door as I looked to avoid touching the iron bars. Torchlight flickered in the dark hall. Beyond our room I saw what looked to be a hallway with at least three more doors that looked like ours.
"Hello? Anyone out there?" I called into the darkness. Turning my ear toward the window, I listened for a response. After several minutes standing frozen by the door, I realized we were either alone or nobody could hear us.
"Cassia," Nani said. "What are you doing?"
I turned back to her. "Checking to see if we're alone."
"I think we are," Nani said. "From what I heard, the king doesn't have a lot of his guards with him."
"That's good," I said. "Now, tell me everything. I mean everything. Please."
Nani sighed. "Where do you want me to start?"
"Why not start where we left off and work your way back?" I asked. "Start with how you got here."
"Alright," she said. "I was in the servants’ quarters when a large Winter Guard showed up. He told me he'd taken you and that I could either come freely or die. I came freely."
My brow furrowed. "Why didn't you fight?"
"I did what was best," she said. "There were other servants nearby. They heard everything. I knew if I left quietly, that they'd be left alone. I'm sure they went to the prince to tell him what happened the second we were gone. I haven't been there long, but I learned quickly how fiercely loyal the prince's household is to him. And the loyalty already extends to you."
I swallowed, my mouth dry. She hadn't even put up a fight in the hopes that someone would be able to get word to Tristan. Nani had cared for me since I was a child and she was still looking out for me without any thought to her own wellbeing. This wasn't the act of a monster or a creature who was evil. My father had thrown her out because he thought she'd healed me. Humans were so afraid of magic. I shook my head. "You don't have to keep sacrificing so much for me, you know."
"That's what we do for those we love, Cassia."
I stepped away from the door and wrapped my arms around her. "Thank you, Nani. For everything."
She hugged me back and kissed the top of my head. "It's been a pleasure watching you grow and I'm not about to give up on you now."
I pulled away from Nani. "So now what?"
She pressed her palm against my cheek. "You need to call to Ethan. You two have a bond. He will hear you and he will come."
I tensed at her words. "I don't want him to be in danger. I don't want any of them in danger. This isn't just about my safety, it's about Queen's Trial, and a war in the Winter Court. They can't be part of it."
"Sometimes you need help, Cassia. The king is unstable. The longer we stay here, the more at risk you are," she said.
"Isn't there another way?" I asked.
"Cassia," Nani chided.
"Nani, I know there are times I need help. But I'm not willing to put them at risk for me. They've all risked enough for me."
"What about Tristan?" she asked.
"We're not bonded," I said. "I can't connect with him."
"You can connect with your mate," she said.
"I have a mating bond with Ethan," I said.
She lifted an eyebrow. "Just Ethan?"
My stomach twisted into knots as I thought about all of the princes. I felt a connection to all of them. Even Tristan.
"There are different ways you feel the bond," she said. "I've seen the way he looks at you. I've seen the way he treats you."
"Like I'm only tolerable when I'm of use to him," I said.
"Like he's afraid you're going to leave him," she said.
"He doesn't do that. He acts as if he wants me to go. He doesn't let me get close to him. Every time I feel like we're making progress, he says something to push me away." My throat tightened as I thought about all the times we'd connected, only to have one of us hurt the other.
"It's worth a try," Nani urged. "I don't see how else we'll get out of here before the king does something permanent."
Chapter Eighteen
I paced the room, considering Nani's words. Was it possible that Tristan and I had a mating bond? I found myself drawn to him and desiring him, but I couldn't let myself act on those thoughts. I'd seen visions of the two of us together and there was a part of me that ached for them to come true. But I was risking everything with the other princes if I did anything with Tristan. I knew how much they disliked each other. Cormac especially.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed at the thought of Cormac finding out that I had romantic feelings for Tristan. What would that do to him? He had finally opened up to me and I feared it would undo everything.
Even as I worried about the others, Tristan crept into my thoughts. It was possible he was already on his way to me. The corners of my vision blurred and something tugged at my resolve. I felt as if I was trying to remember something from long ago. I stopped walking and let my mind go blank.
Images of Tristan filled my mind and instead of pushing it away, I let it come. I could see him walking through a hallway in the Winter Palace, a determined expression on his face. He was flanked by two other figures, but they were blurry and I couldn't make out their details. I wanted to call out to him, to grab his arm and pull him to me. Tristan, I called to him in my head. As much as I pushed him away and as much as I vilified him, Tristan made me feel safe. I knew Nani was right. I needed his help.
Tristan paused in the hallway and looked up as if he had heard my silent cry. I tensed as an icy chill grabbed hold of me, working its way through my veins. If we were connected, if he could hear me...What if Nani was right?
Tristan, I tried again. I need help. I'm with your father at his mountain house. Please. I don't know what to do.
I watched his temples bulge as his jaw tightened, then he started moving again and I lost him.
Feeling exhausted, I staggered to the nearest wall and slid down until I was sitting on the cold, stone floor.
"What happened?" Nani asked.
"I think I reached him," I said.
"Good." She sat down next to me and wrapped her arm around my back, easing my head onto her chest. "You should rest. We don't know how long it will take."
I wanted to argue with her. I wanted to find a way out of this on my own, but as I breathed in Nani's familiar vanilla and honey scent, I realized how tired I was. I didn't want to wait to be rescued, but maybe the first trial had taught me a lesson. There were times when you needed help.
Creak.
I opened my eyes and sat up straight, the sound of the door opening instantly waking me. My heart thundered in my chest and I pushed myself to standing. Nani rose next to me and she stepped in front of me as our visitor was revealed.
The petite Fae member of the council, Jaya, was standing in the opening. Behind her was another Winter Guard. His massive figure dwarfed the female. Her posture was hunched, her shoulders practically at her ears. Clearly, she was just as afraid to be here as I was. Probably more.
I moved away from Nani and smiled at Jaya, trying to ease some of her discomfort. "Good morning," I said. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Jaya inclined her head. "I've come to deliver your second trial."
I sucked in a breath. "So soon?"
She nodded and held out rolled yellow parchment, tied with a green ribbon.
I walked over to her and extended my hand. She passed me the roll of parchment.
"It isn't going to be easy completing my trial from a dungeon cell," I said.
"You'll manage," the Guard said from behind Jaya.
"You have everything you need to complete this trial on you," Jaya said. "I made sure of that."
"She'll return at the end of the day to see how you did," the Guard said. Then, he tugged Jaya away from the door
and slammed it shut.
I winced at the sound of the door and turned away from it, worried my expression could be read as fear toward the guard. I looked down at the paper in my hand. It was small, the size of a letter. Yet, it felt heavy in my hand. I wasn't prepared for another trial. Especially not as a captive by a stranger. How was I going to complete this? I'd hardly even passed the first trial.
With a sigh, I walked over to the bench and sat down. I looked up at Nani who had settled into the chair nearby. "What if I can't figure it out this time?"
"I'm sure you will," she said.
"What if I do?" I asked.
Silence hung between us. I could tell she knew what I was asking. There was a reason the Winter King was holding me here. We hadn't discussed it yet, but it was clear. He'd tried to take over all of Faerie once before. By capturing me, he was either attempting to get to my mother, the current Queen, or he was trying to hold on to the future Queen. Or worse, he wanted me to fail so he could attempt to get an heir off of me. None of those options boded well for me and I'd rather die than end up as a prisoner here.
"You still have the third trial and the three trials at the Autumn Palace. You can't win from here. He'll have to let you go on to the next stage if he wants you to win," she said.
"What if he's trying to get to my mother?" I asked. "Or what if he wants me to fail?"
"You can't worry about anyone else right now. Captured or not, you still have to pass the second trial or you will be out. There's a time limit and it doesn't hold for anybody."
I bit down on my cheek, forcing back all the things I wanted to say about how unfair this whole thing was. The thoughts swirling through my head were childish and unbecoming a Queen. Queens had to deal with far worse than my current situation.
Taking a deep breath, I found my resolve. I was going to solve this trial, then I would find a way out of here. Perhaps I could convince them to let me use a library or sitting room for the third trial if I was still awaiting rescue. Perhaps I could escape on my own. I frowned at the thought, knowing that Nani would be left behind. I couldn't do that to her again. I knew it wasn't like escaping the human realm. If I left her here, I'd never see her again.