by K. M. Shea
King Solis sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, I suppose.”
Rigel had gone back to the night mares, and returned with a bundle of black. When he gestured for me to come closer, I curiously wandered up to him.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“No. Just a precaution.” Rigel tugged the black cloth over my head.
It was actually a leather doublet with quilted padding. Fancy silver buckles connected the back and front half, and made it easy for Rigel to fit the long, vest-like clothing item to my body.
“Do you think I need to worry about getting shot at—or another attack?” I asked him in a lowered voice.
Rigel adjusted the buckles, cinching the doublet tight. “We are with the other monarchs—who are dangerous,” he said. “But I’ll be with you.”
And with that one sentence, my rapidly spiking anxiety dropped.
“How does it fit?” he asked.
I moved my shoulders and tried twisting at the waist. “It feels great.”
“It has several protection spells on it, but it would be best not to test them,” Rigel said.
“That’s fine. It looks like everyone has either a bow or a crossbow.” I glanced back at the other monarchs, who were still clustered together. “Obviously they didn’t hear about the time I nearly shot Lady Chrysanthe.”
“You brought your pistol?” Rigel asked.
“Yep! Skye helped me find a way to hide it in the fancy tack of my saddle.”
Skye slightly bowed her head when Rigel glanced at her. “Chase helped,” she said. “He was highly motivated to have Queen Leila properly armed.”
“Good,” Rigel said. A breeze brushed his silvery hair. “Just don’t shoot Fell because he irritates you.”
“That’s a really difficult promise, but I’ll try.”
I happened to glance over at the monarchs and had to do a double take when I noticed Spring was approaching them.
Barely recognizable with a dull brown tunic that would let her blend in with the forest, and her beautiful blond hair tied back in a no-nonsense knot tied low on her neck, Queen Verdant strode toward the other monarchs.
Like me, she held a black helmet, and she wore knee-high black riding boots.
“Whoa,” I whistled. “Someone is serious about winning this hunt.”
Skye’s forehead wrinkled. “Yes. She is well motivated.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Queen Verdant, I am so very happy to see you have finally arrived,” King Fell said. “You certainly took your time.”
Queen Verdant slowly tipped her head to the Autumn King. “King Fell,” she said, her voice husky and rough.
I glanced at Skye, who nodded encouragingly at me, then meandered up to the other monarchs. “Do we get started now?” I asked.
“Not hardly,” King Birch sniffed. “The prey must be brought here.”
Birch and Fell had done an extra good job of annoying me today, so it wasn’t too much of a stretch to force a bright expression for what I had planned next. “We have some time, then? Excellent! Oh Rigel!” I called in a sing song voice.
“If you start to praise his abs or the width of his shoulders or rattle on about artists and portraits being unable to properly capture his glory, I will retch on you,” King Fell grumbled.
“Fret not, King Fell.” I rubbed my hands together as I eagerly started rolling out the bait.
This is going to make him squeal.
“I’ve turned over a new leaf,” I said.
“Have you?” King Birch said with disinterest.
“Yes.” I planted a hand over my heart. “I realized that by focusing on his admirable—yes, even beautiful—physical traits, I was doing a disservice to Rigel. One might have thought the only thing I valued about him was his physical appearance.”
I waited until I saw King Fell relax slightly, then I struck. “Because I love him for so much more than that! The nobility of his temperament, the loyalty of his personality—and he is dead charming. That doesn’t even touch how skilled he is at fighting and magic—and so knowledgeable, too!”
King Solis stared at me as if I was a creature he’d never seen before, but I thought I saw Consort Flora’s lips briefly twitch—in a smile or a frown I wasn’t sure.
“And he is very thoughtful,” I continued, glancing at Fell out of the corner of my eye to see if I’d flummoxed him yet. “And attentive—he is truly a dream husband. I can’t even say I’m sorry that I’m bragging, because I’m not! No one will ever be able to silence me because of my great, overwhelming love for him—which I just can’t help!” I gave the dreamiest sigh I could muster—which I’d actually been practicing in my bathroom for the past two weeks.
I snuck a peek at Fell and Birch again.
Bingo—their brains are broken.
I tried not to smirk as the two gaped at me, their faces warring between horror and disbelief, which put a crack in their otherwise stunning looks.
Past them, Queen Rime merely rolled her eyes as she took a porcelain teacup from a servant.
“Yes, I am a lovesick fool for Rigel.” I smiled up at Rigel. “Isn’t that right, bae?”
Rigel stared down at me for a moment, and then proceeded to make my heart explode.
He wrapped one arm around my waist, then gently kissed me on the temple.
King Fell made a choking noise. King Birch did, too, but I barely heard them over the thundering of my heart.
Why? Why? Why? Why?
The thought zoomed through my brain in an endless loop.
What was that?!
I was so startled my smile had thankfully remain etched on my lips. I leaned into him—I wasn’t sure if it was because of shock or…shock—and rested my hand on his chest.
Of course his heartbeat was normal. Hah!
It’s fine. Totally fine. I mean, I guess a gesture of affection makes sense? It’s not like he can lie with me. He probably thought this was the best thing he could do to help me to keep up my lovebirds joke.
I still couldn’t look up at him—I risked blushing like a Christmas light.
I’ll ask him about it. Later. A lot later—once I can ask without my insides cramping up like I’m in high school.
I glanced at the other monarchs.
Verdant’s face was stretched in a grimace like a mask from Halloween. King Birch appeared to have died standing upright. Consort Flora’s face was a blank mask, although she glanced at her husband when a wheezing noise escaped his throat.
King Fell’s forehead was wrinkled, and his eyebrows were raised halfway up to his hairline. His eyes traveled ceaselessly from Rigel’s face to mine, and he absently shook his head, rejecting our act.
I cleared my throat. “Yes. Thank you, darling. I love you, too.”
I was trying to figure out how I could extract myself from this sticky situation, when a long note was blown on a single horn.
The horn bearer kept blowing—it looked like his instrument was made from the ringed horn of an animal. The noise it produced felt ancient and magical, and it made my bones shift in my body.
A servant—someone from the Spring Court based on the flowers woven through her hair—led a massive white stag through the meadow.
It was easily the size of a horse, though it more resembled a reindeer. Its antlers were enormous and beautiful, and its coat looked as fine as silk.
“Ahh, the prey has arrived.” King Fell shook off his disbelief and put a smirk on.
I stepped out of Rigel’s arm and let my hands slide off his chest. “That’s the prey?”
“Yes,” King Birch said.
Every alarm bell I had was going off inside me.
The white stag was too big and beautiful to be a normal creature, it had to be of fae origins. There was no way the brightness of its eyes was an accident, either—it was smart. Like my shades and glooms.
“No. No way. Nope. I’m out,” I said.
King Fell raised an eyebrow at me
. “You’re afraid?”
I pointed at the stag as it was led into the forest—like a lamb to the slaughter. “That creature is intelligent. It’s not just—no! You can’t kill something like that!”
King Birch shrugged. “It’s tradition.”
“I don’t care if the skies opened up and the last elf ever seen descended from the clouds to give their blessing on the hunt—I’m not doing this!”
“You don’t have a choice,” King Fell said.
“What, you think you can make me?” I scoffed.
“I can, actually,” King Fell said. “You are the weakest Court—and monarch—here. Do you think you’re the only one that’s reluctant to join? Your counterpart is nearly as much of a do-good-er as you.” He curled his lips back in a sneer as he glanced at King Solis.
“You’re not going to risk a fight over a hunt,” I said.
“You overestimate my good will, Queen Leila,” King Fell said. “I’d do exactly that. Autumn is my time—my reign. I’ll do whatever I please, and make you go along with me.”
I felt Skye’s worried eyes on me, and Indigo slightly shook her head, terror flashing in her eyes.
It seems Fell really is that ego-centric that he’d bring ruin just because I refuse to play his little games.
I glanced up at Rigel.
My consort leaned forward and murmured, “While Birch and Fell usually opt to kill the stag, Verdant and Solis release it.”
He was giving me an out—a reason to participate in an event I already despised.
I wanted to scream. I hate that the fae are like this. I hate that they have this never quenched desire for power that makes them do despicable things.
“Fine.” I gritted my teeth. “Then I’ll just catch the stag myself and let him go.”
“Don’t be stupid, Queen Leila,” King Birch said. “Hunting a stag is a once a year opportunity. If you bag him yourself, the magic of ending its life will grant you a wish.”
The magic of—do they even hear themselves talk?
“I’d never want a wish born of spilled blood,” I snapped.
King Fell darkly laughed. “It won’t matter. Do you really think you could release the stag when you’re hunting with your hideous, bloodthirsty animals? Not a chance! They have a killing instinct even our hounds don’t have.”
“I don’t even care what you think of me and my actions, King Fell. Get that through your pretty head.” I turned around and stalked off to the edge of the meadow where four of my night mares were nibbling on grass.
I tucked two fingers in my mouth and whistled, getting their attention and calling the shades to my side. “Listen up, my lovelies,” I said. “We’ve got a change in plans. And, Eclipse, can you head back to the mansion? I left a few things behind that I’m going to need…”
The hounds bayed as we raced after the stag.
The servant had released it ahead of us, and it had managed to keep its lead, so we’d only seen a glimmer of silver through the trees or at the far end of the open fields we rode across.
Comet snorted, the muscles of her neck bulging, making her pale yellow dapples stand out on her coal dark coat. “Just hold it for a little while longer,” I coaxed as we cantered along.
King Birch—riding just a tiny bit ahead of me—peered over his shoulder at me.
I ignored him, my eyes fixed on the dirt trail we galloped down.
He, Verdant, and Fell all rode sun stallions. The horses flickered like flames as they streaked along the trail.
We had to go with stretches of trotting and cantering or we’d outpace the hounds. That gave me plenty of time to glare at the back of King Fell’s head. He led us, with Verdant right behind him.
The hounds surged around us, barking like crazy. My seven shades were strategically placed among them, occasionally howling—which always made the other dogs whimper and whine.
Solis was behind me, and Rigel brought up the rear on Twilight.
Since the gelding had let Lord Linus of all people ride him, I thought he’d be willing to carry my consort. He didn’t seem upset by it, even if Rigel was a little tall for him, as he easily kept pace and gave me his high-pitched nicker whenever he noticed I was looking back at him.
Queen Rime wasn’t with us. She wasn’t even mounted when we left.
I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. No one had ever said if she enjoyed killing the stag like Birch and Fell obviously did.
Once we had our next trot break—this one in a forest that closed in claustrophobically on the trail—I hung back to ask Solis.
“Queen Rime didn’t ride with us,” I said. “Will she catch up? Or does she lay traps or something?”
Solis shook his head. “Queen Rime doesn’t outright refuse to participate. Instead she rides at her leisure. Since she became the top Court in our region, I’ve never seen her actively ride in a hunt.”
Well, at least that’s something.
“I see it!” Birch said excitedly.
Dang it!
I heeled Comet, who shot forward. We streaked in front of Birch just before the woods opened up into another field, blocking his way.
The hounds—my shades included—kept running, but Birch had to stop his horse to keep from colliding with me.
“Watch it!” he shouted.
Up ahead of us, Verdant urged her horse into a canter. Unfortunately, Fell was the better rider of the two. He urged his horse faster, and even jumped a fallen tree trunk with expert ease as he pulled out in front of her, blocking her.
At a muffled command his horse briefly slowed. He nocked an arrow in his bow and shot it at the stag, which had just reached the tree line on the other side.
The stag dodged it, and it dug into a tree instead. But I could see the stag’s nostrils were flared, and the whites of its eyes showed in its fright.
This isn’t going to work. I made Fell too angry when I argued with him. He’s not going to let Verdant get through.
“Move it!” Birch snarled.
“So sorry—I’m just such a clumsy rider.” I attempted to sound as apologetic as possible. If he figured out I was doing this on purpose it was going to be harder to pull off—but I didn’t think I could keep it going much longer anyway.
They’re catching up to the stag. I thought Verdant would be more competitive, but it looks like Fell is just overwhelming her. I’m going to have to act.
The anger that had been boiling in my stomach flared.
I was still enraged by this needlessly cruel act. But if I succeeded at this, it was going to be incredibly satisfying.
“That was a rather poor shot, King Fell.” Birch pointedly reined his sun stallion past me as he hurried to catch up with the other two monarchs. “Can’t you do any better?”
“Patience. The key to a good hunt is all in the thrill of the chase,” Fell boasted. “Wouldn’t you say so, Verdant?”
“Not particularly,” Verdant said.
“Ahh Verdant—you are always such a drip on these thrilling adventures.” Fell rolled his eyes, then nudged his sun stallion into a trot, taking the lead again before Birch could catch up.
“Come on, Verdant. Can’t you smile even once? It’s one of the only tolerable things about you,” Birch sneered.
I frowned. Why are they picking on Verdant? I know they said she normally releases the stag if she catches it, but doesn’t Solis, too? They haven’t said a mean word to him.
It was also interesting that, even though Solis was in the middle of the pack in terms of power, all the other monarchs took great care to gently handle their horses in front of him.
Verdant ignored the Summer King and cantered after Fell.
I trotted after them. “Steve,” I called. “Now, please.” I nudged Comet into a canter as my shade—who had been bounding behind me—let out an eerie, soulful howl that made the sun stallions scream and briefly upset the hounds.
We raced across the far side of the field, easily catching up with the other monar
chs.
As much as Fell liked to mock my poor night mares for their skinny appearance, the fact was they could easily outpace the sun stallions—something I intended to use to my advantage shortly.
This forest wasn’t quite as tightly planted as the other, and there were a few trails that wound through it.
I strained my ears to listen over the baying dogs and the pounding hooves as the other monarchs slowed to a trot—with Verdant and Fell jostling for the lead position.
And then I heard it—a noise that sounded like an angry goblin drowning in a swimming pool.
Chapter Sixteen
Leila
I pressed my leg into Comet’s side, and she burst sideways, taking the dirt path that split off from the main one the others were on.
“The hunt is this way, Queen Leila,” Fell called after me.
I ignored him and whistled for my shades, who split off from the pack and joined me.
Only Rigel thundered after the other monarchs, as he had agreed to when I first came up with this plan.
With no one around us to box us in, Comet zoomed down the dirt path, sending clods of turf flying as the shades loped behind us.
Kevin howled again.
Comet casually cantered for a few strides, and then the angry goblin cry came again—this time from slightly east of the original cry, but still farther north.
My heart pounded in my throat, and my palms were sweaty in my gloves.
I hope they understood everything I wanted. Is this even possible? It means they have to communicate. I know they’re smart, and with my magic that should only be amplified. But is my magic strong enough?
Something deep inside of me—the thing that had been gnawing at my insides ever since I’d failed to hold the barrier—washed over me.
I can’t do this—I can’t even save my people. I’m going to fail.
“No,” I said out loud. “No! I don’t care what I can and can’t do—I’m not going to let that stag be killed because Fell has the personality of a farting gorilla!”
Comet snorted, and I hunkered down over her neck as I listened.
A shade howled, and I pulled Comet to a stop just where our path split with another.