by Riana Lucas
With a flick of her wrist and a wave of her hand, Willow causes the ash to rise into the air as well and follow the smoke out of the throne room through the open windows. Now there is nothing left but an empty platform.
I blink my eyes a few times to pull myself out of my dazed state. The other fae within the throne room immediately begin to move about again. None of them moved a muscle while the fire was going, but now they pick up where they left off, some even moving onto the dais to begin cleaning the charred marble floor. I feel bad about making more of a mess for them to clean up, but there is too much satisfaction in having destroyed that throne to make me feel more than a small twinge of guilt.
“What now?” asks Holly, breaking the silence.
I honestly do not know, so instead of answering, I look to Gideon for direction.
He does not hesitate. “I think we have done all we can for now. The most important thing now is to get back to the Seelie castle, inform the queen of what has taken place, and speak with Rowan about the possibility of him ruling here. The sooner we can get someone in place the better. If the Unseelie are left to their own devices for too long, there’s no telling what they may do or how difficult it will become to control them.”
“Good point,” I agree. We need a ruler here right away, and Rowan is not only the best option but my only hope.
“Well, who’s going to stay here for now?” Thorne asks curiously. “I don’t really think it’s a good idea to leave the court without a temporary commander. Many of our warriors need to stay to finish cleaning up as well as maintain control over the Unseelie that have not been imprisoned. They will need someone to look to for direction as well as questions for problems that may arise.”
I let out a tired breath. “Good point as well.” I honestly do not want to leave any of my friends behind. I feel like I still need them at my side as we continue to figure out where we go from here. But there are not many I trust or who are trained well enough to do the job. I also cannot bring myself to choose one of them, knowing that none of them wish to stay behind. Asking for a volunteer is my only option. Even though I am pretty sure I already know who that will be.
“Okay. So who wants to stay behind?” My voice is anything but enthusiastic when I ask the question. Gideon, of course, does not hesitate. He takes a step forward and begins to open his mouth when he is interrupted.
“I will.”
Our heads turn as one to the answering voice from behind us. It is Skye.
“Huh?” I say dumbly. I heard him, but am caught by surprise. I had not realized he was nearby.
Apparently finding my surprise amusing, his lips tilt up at the side just slightly, but he tries to hide his smile. I hear Reed growl from beside me. I shoot him a stop it glance before turning back to Skye and his answer. “I said, I will. It would be an honor,” he repeats as he reaches our group, bowing slightly before meeting my gaze.
“Huh,” I say again, but this time not as a question. I had not considered Skye but realize now I should have. He has shown great strength, not only physically but also mentally. He is able to control his feral side and fight while doing so. He is smart, fast, and his fellow unclaimed seem to have no problem following him as a leader. I also trust him. Again, I am not sure why, but my instincts tell me that I can, without a doubt.
I look to the others as Skye waits patiently. I expect objections or concerns, mainly from Gideon or Holly, but get none. Skye has proven himself not only to me, but to them as well. I do not think he will have a problem running the Unseelie court while we are away.
“Thank you, Skye. I think that would be a perfect solution. We will travel to the Seelie court—thankfully we can just shimmer from here to there now—and return as quickly as possible. Hopefully, Rowan will be willing to step in here as the permanent ruler. If he does not…” I shake my head to stop that negative thought. One obstacle at a time. There is no sense in getting worried about something that may not even become a problem. I turn my focus back to the fae standing before me. “We will return as quickly as possible, Skye.”
“There is no need to thank me, Princess Poppy. I am honored that you are entrusting me with this responsibility. I will not let you down. By the time you return, I will have the remains of the battle erased and order restored.”
I can see in his eyes and hear in his voice the sincerity and determination he has to do just that. “Thank you.” He shakes his head, but I stop him. “Yes, there is a need to thank you. You have done so much to help us and you continue to do so. You are a good warrior and an even better fae. Once this is over, we will begin working on the cure for the feral disease so that you and the others can begin your road to recovery. It is the very least we can do after all you have done for us. You deserve some peace.” He smiles kindly at my words and gratitude shines brightly in his eyes. Not wanting to get caught up in any more emotional moments, I change the subject. “Is there anything you need before we go?”
He shakes his head as he answers. “No, Princess. I think I have all that I need here. You go and do not worry about what is happening here. I have it all under control.”
His confidence and reassurance seal the deal. “Great. I will leave the warriors here with you for protection and for help. We have what we need at the Seelie court so there is no need to take anyone away from here, where they are needed more. And since we can shimmer directly from court to court now, I do not think there is a need to have any additional protection while we travel. Gideon, Thorne, Willow, Holly, and Reed will go with me, and the rest will remain behind with you. We will return as quickly as possible, hopefully with a new king.” I can see the appreciation in his eyes when he looks at me. The fact that I trust him so deeply and with so much means more than it would to others. He does not speak, though. He simply bows his head slightly, fisting his hand over his heart before turning on his heel to exit the room.
I turn back to my friends once again, my anxiety and nervousness over approaching Rowan with my request growing with every second. “I guess we should get this over with.” I sigh heavily.
Reed chuckles at my dejected look. “Oh, come on. It won’t be that bad. We’ve faced much worse over the past few weeks. This will be a walk in the park.”
Holly snorts, causing Reed to shoot her a glare, which she snorts at once again. Thorne speaks up over their exchange. “I don’t know, Reed. Asking one of our own to take over here…” He closes his eyes as his body gives off a mock shudder. “I think this may be the worse yet.”
This time Reed turns his glare toward him. “Not helping here.” Thorne only smiles at Reed’s disapproving words. Reed ignores him as he turns back to me with an eye roll. “Don’t listen to him. Rowan, my dad...” he hesitates for just a second, listening to himself say the new words he is not used to saying, then continues reassuring me. “My dad will be honored that you asked him to take on such an important role. I’m sure of it.”
His words are nice, but I can sense his own concern over whether he is speaking the truth or not. I smile kindly at him, but speak my mind. “Thank you for trying to help, but did you forget that I can read your thoughts?” I raise a questioning eyebrow but then draw them together when I see Reed’s features tighten. Then my eyes widen in understanding at the same time I hear a soft gasp. I peek at my friends out of the corner of my eye to see each of them looking at Reed and I with wide eyes and mouths gaping open.
I cringe. “Oops,” I whisper.
Reed looks nervous but tries to hide it with a smile. We both know that we are not supposed to tell anyone about our “soul mate” connection. Although I trust each and every one of my friends with my life, we still do not know enough about our odd, yet wonderful connection to share it. Keeping it a secret from everyone seemed the best solution until we learned more. I guess I just messed that plan up.
“What did you just say?”
“What do you mean ‘read his mind’?”
“Is that why you two are always looking at each o
ther that way?”
The questions are hissed whispers coming from all directions so fast that I cannot even think of an answer, much less give one. At least their surprise and shock do not outweigh their caution. I do not know how to answer my friends, but I am okay with them knowing. However, I definitely do not want any of the other fae around us to know. They may be my warriors and a part of my court, but they are not my closest friends. I trust them in battle but not in my personal life.
Thankfully Reed takes over and calms everyone down quickly. “Okay, okay. Hold on. We’ll answer your questions, but not now.”
“But…”
Reed quickly cuts off the protest. “Not here.” He emphasises his words by glancing around at the fae still working and cleaning up around us. “When we get back to the Seelie court. Okay?”
The others nod and answer their agreement, but I can easily see that it is done with great reluctance. Now they are curious and maybe even a little concerned. I cannot blame them. They have probably never heard of such a thing either. It is a shocking thing to discover.
“I knew something crazy was up with you two,” Holly murmurs to herself as she turns without waiting for anyone else and begins to make her way out of the throne room. I glance at Reed curiously. I thought I heard a note of hurt in Holly’s voice, but it was so soft, and she turned so quickly that there was no way to verify that. Reed just shrugs his shoulders and turns to follow behind Holly. The rest of us do the same, quietly making our way toward the front of the castle.
Although we can shimmer directly from one court to the other now, we must do so from outside the castle walls. The Unseelie court, like the Seelie court, has powerful magic protecting it. It prevents anyone, even the king or queen of these courts, from being able to shimmer within the castle walls. It is a much-needed safety measure. If this were not implemented, an enemy fae could shimmer into the court. Although they would be killed quickly, they could still cause much damage depending on where they landed and who was near. Both courts are well aware of this, and this is why it is probably the only thing similar about them.
We are quiet as we make our way through the halls. There are still some of my fae, Seelie and unclaimed, milling about. There are no signs of battle around, but it still does not resemble the court I grew up in. The halls are now lit with wall sconces every few feet. The candles are bright, casting an abundance of light throughout the once dark and creepy halls. It almost looks inviting, but the walls are still cold and bare, and the artificial candlelight could never be the same as that of the sunlight. There are no windows, so the rays of the sun will never grace these halls. I continue my observations until we reach the main doors of the Unseelie castle.
They are thrown wide open, allowing the sun to shine brightly in the foyer. It is a refreshing sight. I step through the doorway and instantly take a deep breath. The air is still tinged with the menacing smell of the Unseelie, but it seems less so for the first time ever. I am sure that it is all in my head, wishful thinking, but hopefully, it will dissipate over time, eventually disappearing altogether. That will all depend on the new Unseelie king as well as the fae that choose to follow his lead.
I quickly take in the scene around me. It is much like everywhere else; Seelie and unclaimed moving about, cleaning up, and making changes. Just like inside, there are no longer any signs of battle, no more dead bodies, and no more blood. Now they are getting rid of some of the king’s terrible touches. The most important to me are the bramble bushes. There are several fae standing around them, using magic to break them down or transform them into ivy vines. It is such a small step, but the impact is major. These bushes only enhance the menacing and evil of the Unseelie castle. Without them…well, the castle does not look more inviting, but less scary. It will take a lot of time and a lot of hard work, but eventually, the Unseelie castle may actually look inviting like the Seelie castle does.
I am pulled from my hopeful thoughts by Holly’s sarcastic voice. “Can we get on with this? We still have a lot to do and I’m tired of dealing with all of it.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s go.”
Without another word I shimmer back to the Seelie court, my home.
15
As soon as my feet touch the ground in Seelie territory, a feeling of calm and relief courses through me. It is different from what I have been feeling over the death of Damien, the destruction of the king’s throne, and even the entire takeover of the Unseelie court. This is a deeper feeling of relief; as if for the first time in a really long period, I can take a deep breath and relax. No plans for a rescue or an attack need to be formulated. I do not have to grieve over the death of a family member or dear friend. I do not have to be on the lookout for the next disaster or surprise. There is no imminent danger or disaster unraveling around me. I can finally take a deep breath and appreciate being home.
I glance over at Reed, who is smiling at me. “You feel that?” I ask with a matching smile of my own.
Of course, he not only knows what I am feeling but also feels the same way. “Yep, I sure do.”
“Oh for faery’s sake!” Holly grounds out as she pushes past Reed and me. She does not look back as she stomps off into the Seelie castle. My happiness is dashed by Holly’s odd behavior. I have grown used to her sarcasm and unfriendly manners, understanding that is a part of who she is. We have not only reached an understanding and begun to trust one another, but I have felt like our friendship has really begun to grow. With that, the hostility she held toward me had gone completely away, but now it seems as if it is back.
I glance at the others in confusion, all of them looking equally baffled. I hold Thorne’s gaze for a moment, hoping he may have some sort of clue that the rest of us do not. But I only see that same confusion in his eyes. This is much more going on here than Holly just being her usual self. The feral disease immediately comes to mind and a wave of fear washes over me. Thorne must notice where my thoughts have turned because he curses under his breath before taking off after Holly.
We quickly follow behind him.
As we do so, Reed voices my suspicions. “Is she getting worse? Do you think that’s why she snapped at you like that?”
“She was just being Holly, right? I mean, she’s always been sarcastic and rude, especially to Poppy.” Willow speaks up to defend our friend, but she cannot hide the question or fear in her voice.
“I am sure you are right, Willow. Holly has always been a bit snappy with me. She is just being herself.” I offer her a reassuring smile before I finish my thoughts. Willow is my best friend and as much as I want to protect her, I will not lie to her. “We need to convince her to let Rowan help her as soon as possible though. She will not be able to hold the disease back forever. I think the sooner she starts the cure, the easier it will be for her to fight it off and hopefully prevent her from getting any worse.”
“Right.” It is the only response I get from Willow. I glance her way to see that her lips are pressed tightly together and a deep worry shows in her eyes. I offer a slight smile, hoping to reassure her, but that is all. There is no sense in wasting time talking about the what ifs and hows of the situation. Figuring out how to convince Holly to stay here at the Seelie court and allow Rowan to treat here would be a better way to spend that time.
“So, any suggestions?” I ask my friends.
“On what?” Reed asks.
“On how to convince Holly that the safest place for her is right here and that the best thing for her is to let Rowan help her.”
“I don’t know. She’s already left once. I don’t see her putting her own health and life above everyone here. It’s not going to be easy,” he answers, not helping at all.
I blow out a deep breath. “I know that already, Reed. What I want to know is how to convince her.” He raises his eyebrows at my snappy tone. “Sorry,” I quickly apologize. Things are hard enough with Holly’s attitude. Having one of my own will only make things worse.
“I say we don’t gi
ve her a choice,” Reed replies. “We can strap her down and restrain her like they had to do with Jessamine. Once she sees the treatment is working and she feels like she can trust herself again, I’m sure she will stay for further treatments.” His idea is harsh, but I can see the reasonable side of it.
I begin to nod my head in agreement, but Willow speaks up, stopping me. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. It may get her treated, but she’ll hate us after. She doesn’t like to lose control like that. On top of that, I’m afraid she may think we betrayed her. She’s not young like Jessamine. She knows what’s going on and is aware of what she is choosing. If we take that choice from her, she’ll never forgive us. We’ll lose her anyway.”
Willow is completely and totally right. What would be the point in forcing Holly to get treatment if she just left us anyway? I shake my head. Now I have two conversations that I have to have, both trying to convince two different fae to do two different things that they are sure not to want to do. Thorne may have been right when he was teasing me about this being one of the hardest things I have had to do yet. It is sure looking that way right now. I decide to pick the lesser of the two evils, as well as give Holly some time to think. I stop following behind Holly, whom I have lost sight of anyway, and change directions. Rowan at least won’t be snappy with me, I hope.
As we make our way down the hall toward the rooms that were set up to help the unclaimed, I am greeted by smiling fae. Although I have not informed anyone of our victory over the Unseelie, my presence alone is enough for them to come to the right conclusion. I am sure that half of Faery Land already knows now, with the way news spreads around here. I quicken my pace, not wanting my mother to hear any news from anyone other than myself.