I turned my head her way but didn’t dare look too closely. Her breasts strained against the flimsy gauze of her gown, showcasing every soft curve of her body. I’d felt the stiff peaks of her unbound nipples pushing through her dress like pussy willows budding in early spring. My fingertips prickled with the urge to stroke them again.
“I will return,” I announced in a formal voice, not meeting her eyes.
I hoped Fraya didn’t join us in the water. If I had to see her in her soaked slip, it would be an extremely uncomfortable walk back to Amberhill.
Luckily, Fraya stayed on the blanket the rest of the afternoon. I tried not to think about her as I competed in the Wet Tunic Relay on a team with Reyna and Blythe. But while my body was in the lake, my mind was with her.
Always with her.
Most of the lake party had taken part in the afternoon games. A lot of those elves carried their clothes, letting the sun dry their undergarments on the walk back to the manor. Reyna and I had taken time to dry off before the return trip. Fraya had even stood up and suggested we use the blanket. I’d given it to Reyna first.
As we approached Amberhill, the hunting party strode over from the stable, making loud whooping noises. Behind them, servants carried limp foxes by their tails. I gritted my teeth. Poor creatures.
Chest puffed out, Helio strutted straight up to Fraya, who had been walking several paces ahead of my sister and me. “Miss me, my bride-to-be?” Helio snatched Fraya by her hips and yanked her against him.
She pushed him away as though he was diseased. “Careful. You’re covered in blood.”
I didn’t see a speck of red on the asshole’s tailored riding suit.
The satisfaction that rose inside of me was unstoppable. It gave me far too much pleasure watching Fraya shove her fiancé off after pressing her body into my hands beside the lake.
Helio narrowed his eyes. There was something sinister in his expression. It called up every protective bone in my body, making me want to deck him in the face, then steal Fraya away someplace safe.
Foolish notion.
There was nowhere safe for me. I was the last male who could ever protect Fraya.
A vein bulged in Helio’s throat. His friends watched him. Helio laughed without humor. “Then allow me to make myself more presentable at tonight’s ball. You have no reason to be coy with me, my golden arrow. You already won your grand prize.” Helio stretched his arm in the direction of Amberhill. Then, in a total douchebag move, he waved his hand inward, indicating himself. His friends chuckled alongside him.
The thought of this prick claiming Fraya made me want to open a portal to Swampia beneath his feet. Now that would be a useful trick.
“Lucky me,” Fraya muttered before taking off toward the stone steps of the manor.
Helio’s eyes narrowed on her retreating form. The way he watched her—like he was still out hunting—raised my hackles. I didn’t realize I’d formed two fists until Reyna squeezed my shoulder in warning. I relaxed my fingers as Helio turned to me.
“I hope my fiancée wasn’t too much trouble this afternoon. She’s very . . . spirited.” He winked and flashed me a weaselly grin.
“No trouble,” I said curtly. I was too disgusted to play around with this fool any longer.
As soon as Helio and his cronies left, Blythe scoffed. “I don’t think they even like each other.”
“Then why are they together?” I demanded.
Blythe blinked several times before shrugging. “Helio likes winners, and he enjoys the chase. He pursued Fraya Keasandoral relentlessly all throughout her archery tournaments. But everyone knew her heart belonged to Conall Dorren. He was the best archer, after her.” Blythe sighed dreamily. “They were the sweetest couple. Such a tragedy that he died—young and in love. I get teary-eyed every time I think about it.” Blythe shook her head. “Fraya quit archery immediately after Conall’s death. Who can blame her? I heard she hasn’t picked up a bow or arrow since. Helio Moongold has a hunter’s instinct, all right. He swooped in when she was most vulnerable.” More like a ruthless stalker taking down wounded prey. Leaning in, Blythe looked from side to side before lowering her voice. “I wouldn’t put it past him to track her down like one of those poor foxes if she ever tries to leave him.”
My blood turned so cold that, for a moment, I feared I’d accidently stumbled upon an access point and portaled myself back to Frostweather.
Reyna chewed on her bottom lip. “Surely it’s not that bad. I mean, she must want to stay with him, or she’d ask her parents for help.”
“Her parents are in the mortal realm,” I reminded her.
Blythe’s eyes widened. “What are they doing there?”
“They’re on holiday. Excuse me.” I left my sister with her friend. Blythe seemed nice enough, but Reyna and I made it a rule not to speak too much about our extended family. There was always the fear that someone would connect our name to Melarue, Ryo, and Lyklor, and word would reach them in Pinemist that we were using the elven realm as our sanctuary.
We’d been lucky so far. Whenever I’d heard mention of the archery champion Fraya Keasandoral, few knew her parents’ names, and no one had ever mentioned her aunt and Fae uncles. In this realm, Melarue, Ryo, and Lyklor weren’t rulers. When we were teenagers, Fraya had said her Elmray family’s social circle didn’t extend very far beyond her parents and a couple close friends. The family was constantly traveling and extremely close-knit, living in their own happy bubble. What must that be like?
A pit formed in my stomach. Ryo had always been nice to me whenever he was at Dahlquist. And he’d always had a kind word for my adoptive mother.
“What a fine young man you have there, Lulu,” he’d say as he ruffled my hair with a chuckle.
“He is the song in my heart,” Lulu would answer in a proud, cheerful voice.
My throat tightened.
What would have happened if I’d told them the truth about my birth mother’s scheme? About who I was? Would Lulu have protected me? Would Ryo have opened his arms to his only nephew?
After threatening his children and briefly stealing his crown, I could forget about any kind of happy family reunion. Everyone talked about Liri being the scary one, but I had no trouble imagining Ryo taking up a sword to end me if all three kings ever got to me at the same time.
I’d risked everything for the sake of pride and my mother’s revenge. I’d lost it all. At least, I thought I had.
What would happen if I got back together with Fraya? What if I told her she had a way out of her engagement to Helio? She could portal back to Frostweather with me and Reyna at the end of the week. It wasn’t the grand life Amberhill had to offer, but I would treat her with the respect and love she deserved. Life at Hailshadow Manor wouldn’t be as bleak with Fraya’s company to brighten my days and warm my bed during the long, dark nights.
If her family wanted to see her again, they would first have to accept us as forever mates, because that’s what we’d become. I’d vowed to make her mine one day. Could it really come to pass?
The thrill of it buzzed through me before fizzling out until not a spark remained.
I could never trap Fraya that way. I cared about her too much to offer such a bleak future. If she was desperate enough, she might jump at the chance of escape. But how long before she came to resent me for snatching her away from her home to join me in exile at Hailshadow?
I wasn’t Helio Moongold. I would not pounce while she was vulnerable. Nor was I my father. I’d heard about his sorry attempts to wed first Aerith, then Melarue. If Ryo hadn’t stepped in, my father would have forced Melarue to marry him.
I’d royally screwed up at Dahlquist. I wouldn’t mess things up a second time.
I would do the honorable thing.
Even if it ripped apart my soul.
Abruptly, I turned before reaching the doors of Amberhill. Reyna rushed up to me as I flew down the stone stairs.
“Alok, what is it?” she asked, biting
her bottom lip.
“There’s something I need to do. I’ll be back soon.”
“Alok,” she called after me.
“I’ll return in time for tonight’s ball,” I promised, not breaking my stride toward the stable.
Borrowing a horse was easy. The hired help didn’t even blink when I asked. If there were any portal access points at Amberhill, I wasn’t aware of them, and I wasn’t about to ask Helio. Reyna and I had come in through a chamber at Sunmellow Inn. It was always interesting to find out where access points existed between realms. This particular inn served an exceptional local ale simply called Golden Ale. Fitting for the region, it tasted smooth and rich and felt like sparkling sunshine going down the throat. Not that Reyna and I had coins to spare on the drink. We’d shared a tankard the night we portaled in, trading off taking slow, savoring sips.
I galloped the whole way to the inn. It was a smooth journey, thanks to the excellent upkeep of the Goldendale roads. I’d never seen a place so pristine and well-kept. If elves had royalty, this would be the place for a kingdom and a castle. I was glad they didn’t, not that snobbery ceased to exist without royalty. High elves acted every bit as privileged as nobles back home.
Upon reaching the inn, I jumped down and led my horse to the water trough, leaving him to drink up before the return ride.
The innkeeper, Luke, was chatting with patrons when I walked in. Luke was a tanned thirty-something elf with chestnut hair that fell in thick waves to his shoulders. From what Reyna and I had observed, he got along with everyone who walked into his establishment.
He jutted his chin and smiled when he saw me. Giving a guest a pat on the shoulder, he took swift steps my way. “Sir Elmray. I wasn’t expecting you back until the end of the week.”
That was another quirk of Luke’s, calling every guest “sir” or “lady” no matter what their station.
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I forgot something back home. Do you mind if I use room five? I’ll be quick.”
Luke smirked. He had thick lips that looked like they did a lot of laughing. “I should hope so. I’ve rented it out for the night, but you’re in luck. The occupants are touring the sunflower fields. They’ll be heading back for supper soon, mind you.”
“Understood,” I said. “Also, do you have parchment, quill, and ink I could use?”
Luke nodded. “Talk to Carnelia.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Remember that when you tip your servers at the end of the week.” Luke slapped my back and laughed as he walked away.
Ah, yes. Elven establishments respected currency over everything else. A cobbler with coin was every bit as esteemed as a high elf or royal faerie.
I sat on a stool at the bar, where Carnelia was handing out tankards of ale. After she fetched me what I needed, I set one of my last remaining coins on the counter in thanks.
As much as it pained me to do so, I scribbled out a quick note to Lark. The golden prince would love swooping in to save the day. He lived for that shit. Gritting my teeth with each stroke of the quill, I had to remind myself that taking credit for rescuing Fraya wasn’t important. Only one thing mattered—getting her away from that tan-and-copper creep. With that in mind, I dipped the quill into the inkpot.
Lark,
Fraya is in trouble. Her fiancé is keeping her captive at Amberhill Manor in Goldendale. (Elven realm.)
Just in case it wasn’t obvious enough. I didn’t want to take any chances.
Pausing for several seconds, I re-dipped the tip of the quill and signed the bottom of the letter: A friend of Fraya’s.
I folded the paper in three and scrawled Prince Lark Elmray, Dahlquist Castle across the front.
With a shaky hand, I took up a second piece of parchment.
My dearest mother,
I know this apology comes too late. Not a day has passed since leaving Dahlquist that I have stopped missing you. You loved and cared for me when no one else would. You were the best mom I could have ever wished for. My greatest regret is leaving without saying goodbye. For leaving at all. For everything I did to lose your love and trust.
I do not ask for forgiveness, which I do not deserve. I only write to tell you I am sorry and that I will always love you, Mother.
- Alok
Knots formed in my throat as I folded the second letter, then wrote Lulu, Dahlquist Castle on the front.
Clasping the letters in hand, I grabbed the skeleton key Carnelia slid my way and went to room five. Once inside, I wasted no time portaling out. I emerged just outside an outpost situated halfway between Dahlquist and Ravensburg. As a boy, I’d accompanied Lulu’s friend Heath on rides from the castle to the outpost to gather and deliver correspondence to the royal family. First it went through King Liri’s appointed secretary. Not everything was deemed worthy of the king’s attention. King Lyklor, on the other hand, liked to read through all the letters whenever he was in residence. It was ironic that the citizens didn’t trust Lyklor because of his pierced tongue, when he was the Elmray who paid the most attention to their squabbles and concerns. Such were the Fae.
From behind a copse of trees, I noted the archer in the watchtower and the swords on the hips of four guards stationed beside an open wood structure with a thatched roof. Two of the guards wore the royal green-and-gold tunics of Dahlquist; the other two wore the maroon-and-black tunics of Ravensburg.
I swept my hair over my cheeks, took a deep breath, and strolled onto the dirt road. I’d never let my hair grow out at Dahlquist, and I was much older than the teenage male depicted on the WANTED fliers. Oreal had gotten her hands on one and held it in front of a gathering of friends in the parlor at Hailshadow.
“My son, everyone. A fugitive of the crown,” she’d crowed.
Lady Yasmine had hooted and clapped. “You must be so proud, my dear sister-in-law.”
“They have even given him a title: The Dark Pretender,” Oreal had jeered. “How my son honors me.”
Her prickly friends had tsked and shaken their heads.
As my stomach roiled, I tried not to think too much about those harpies I’d be returning home to soon. At least I could comfort myself with the memory of that poster and the image of a younger male with short hair and blue highlights.
I kept my eyes forward as I passed the guards and walked beneath an awning up to a stout male wearing a brown robe. He sat behind a long wooden table with leather satchels stacked on either side with an empty mug set on a saucer as though preparing for a tea party. Just behind him, off to the side, a small fire flamed beneath a kettle.
“Dahlquist or Ravensburg?” he asked, sounding bored. He barely glanced at me. All the better.
“Dahlquist,” I answered.
He held out his hand. I set the letters in his palm and watched him place them in a satchel to his right. “Next pickup is two days hence.”
With King Liri in residence, I wondered how long it would take to reach Lark after being delivered to Dahlquist.
“There is an urgent letter in there for Prince Lark,” I said, hoping the clerk would pass that information along to the rider who picked up the satchel in two days.
The male lifted his head and studied my face. His eyebrows drew together.
Bloody hell, I should have kept my mouth shut.
“If it’s so urgent, why don’t you deliver it to the palace gates?” he asked.
Thinking quickly, I said, “I have no horse.”
“How did you get here?” The clerk looked behind me.
“I walked.”
“You walked?” He pursed his lips.
It was then that I recalled there were no villages near the outpost. It had been chosen for its midway location between kingdoms—not for its inhospitable landscape near a bog surrounded by dense forest. Not many citizens put their complaints into written words. Anyone who felt compelled to do so had to wait to pass it on to a rider traveling between kingdoms delivering supplies or news.
The clerk stood. M
y spine stiffened. He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at the guards behind me.
“What is your name?” the clerk demanded.
Ah, shit. Someone needed to invent a powder that made it possible to lie for a day, or even an hour. There were plenty of occasions where I’d snort that kind of thing up in an instant.
“Why is that any of your concern?” I asked in irritation. At least my voice betrayed nothing of my panic.
The clerk huffed. “No matter. I can find out for myself.” He reached into the satchel and pulled out the letter addressed to Lark. His smug smile faded as he read the note.
“A friend of Fraya’s” wasn’t much help. I might have chuckled if he hadn’t pulled my mother’s letter out next. I snatched it from his hands before he finished unfolding the parchment.
“That’s private correspondence,” I snarled.
The guards on the ground drew nearer. I could practically feel their breath on my neck.
“Is there a problem here?” one of them asked.
“Did you see this male walk in?” the clerk asked, nodding at me.
A guard in maroon and black stepped closer. “Where did you come from?”
Crap! I couldn’t very well tell them I’d portaled in. Only royals, nobles, and their chosen guards had the ability to open gateways. My physical changes wouldn’t keep me safe for long. I was still the right age and gender with black hair. If they found out I could portal, I might as well announce myself as Alok Elmray. Exiled prince, son of the dead king of Ravensburg, at your service.
Stuffing Lulu’s letter into my pocket, I turned and faced the four guards, finding their fingers brushing the handles of their swords.
The Dark Pretender Page 5