Whims of Fate

by Nissa Leder

  Once they were inside, a familiar face greeted them. It was the man from the Seelie Court Scarlett had seen at the other events. The one who she swore she’d caught staring at her.

  Now, his wide eyes held fear. Why would he be afraid? Kaelem had a reputation, but the man had to know Kaelem wouldn’t attack them at the Seelie Court at a royal event.

  Scarlett took Kaelem’s hand. Touching each other would keep their connection stronger.

  Could he have sensed my Seelie nature when he met me before? Scarlett asked Kaelem through her mind.

  Doubtful. Only those with royal blood can sense aura.

  Scarlett had thought she’d been able to learn the difference. But her powers were so new, she wasn’t sure of anything yet.

  “Welcome,” the man said, his expression now friendly.

  “Laik.” Kaelem shook Laik’s hand. “We didn’t have the chance to catch up at the Winter Solstice. Perhaps we’ll have time during my visit.”

  “That would be an honor.” Laik nodded. “I’d heard you were busy with other affairs at the Solstice.” He glanced at Scarlett.

  “Yes, I’m afraid it wasn’t the most relaxing of events I’ve been to. But I got what I wanted, as I usually do.” Kaelem let go of Scarlett’s hand and wrapped it around her waist.

  Laik’s expression kept still. “Let me show you two to your room and we can catch up later.”

  Scarlet and Kaelem followed him up a staircase with an iron railing. After climbing three sets of stairs and walking down a long hallway, they arrived at their room.

  “Please let any of the servants know if you need anything,” Laik said before leaving.

  The first thing Scarlett noticed when they entered the room was the golden border outlining the windows. The intricate floral design reminded Scarlett of the carriage and columns, though this one was more detailed. As she scanned the room, the ceiling also drew her eye. Just like the border, it was made of squares carved with images of different flowers.

  “Exquisite, isn’t it,” Kaelem said. “The Seelie Court is nothing if not extravagant.”

  “It’s more…elegant than the Unseelie Court.”

  “Yes, my court has continued to evolve with the human world. The Seelie Queen attached herself to a different time and refuses to change.”

  A large, four-poster bed sat against the wall to the left. Its wooden posts held a swirl design that matched the fireplace mantle across the room, a fire already burning.

  “Is it just me, or did Laik seem shocked to see us?” Scarlett asked as she ran her fingers across the silk bed covering.

  You’d best talk to me through your mind with certain things. Kaelem sent the words to Scarlett’s mind. But yes, I sensed his surprise. I RSVP’d as the queen requested, so I’m not sure why he didn’t expect me.

  Kaelem flung off his shoes and fell back onto the bed.

  “Let’s relax for now. Soon, the celebration will begin,” he said aloud again.

  Scarlett slipped into bed next to Kaelem, careful to keep some distance between them.

  As she lay there, her thoughts found Laik again. Her instinct knew something was off about him. She just didn’t know what.

  Maybe it wasn’t Kaelem Laik didn’t expect. Maybe it was Scarlett.

  Chapter Eight

  Raith listened as Sage told him what she’d overheard. Her voice was a whisper and Raith could feel the fear radiating from her.

  “If they find out I know…” Sage said.

  “We can leave now,” Raith said. “If they had known you heard, well, I don’t think you’d be able to be here telling me.”

  Raith liked to think if Sage’s father had found her, he’d have trusted her. At worst, locked her up. But Raith wouldn’t fool himself. The Autumn King would have killed his daughter if he needed to. Fae rulers were known far more for their brutality than their loving natures.

  “But what about finding out more about your mother?” Sage asked.

  “It isn’t worth risking.” Raith already regretted leaving Scarlett with the Unseelie King. He should have been there for Scarlett instead of on a hunt for nothing more than information. He’d already been selfish. If something happened to Sage because of him, he’d never forgive himself.

  A knock on the door caused them both to jump.

  Sage grabbed the dagger strapped to her side.

  Raith guided her hand to put it away.

  “Come in,” Sage said.

  As the door opened, Raith was relieved to see Sage’s mother enter, regal in her dark green dress. He hadn’t noticed at first, but now, on closer inspection, the resemblance between them was uncanny. Both had long copper hair and bright green eyes, though Sage’s were a shade lighter than her mother’s.

  She shut the door behind her. “May I have a moment alone with my daughter?”

  “Raith can hear whatever it is you have to say.” Sage raised her chin.

  Raith felt the anger Sage exuded.

  “Very well.” The Autumn Queen’s eyes glanced downward. “I’ve come to apologize.”

  Sage glanced at Raith, confusion on her face.

  Her mother continued. “You are my daughter and you will always be my daughter, no matter what you do with your life or who you choose to love.” She glanced at Raith, and he knew she didn’t buy their lie. “I should have stood up to your father. We both knew you had a different vision for your life than was customary for an Autumn Princess. You wouldn’t have been happy here. I’m sorry you had to run away.”

  “I…” Sage tried to find words.

  “You had to leave like you did. Your father would have never let you go otherwise.” The Autumn Queen took Sage’s hands into hers and stared into her eyes. “I understand. I just hope you can forgive me someday.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive.” Sage smiled.

  “Your father has left for the Seelie celebration. I elected to stay behind, so I could tell you what I learned. The servant you’ve come to speak to lives outside of the Autumn Castle now. She was last known to reside in the Eastern Autumn Wood.”

  “Thank you, mother.” Sage pulled her into a hug. “I wish I could stay here and be the daughter you deserve.”

  “You are far more than I deserve. Go now, before your father returns and does whatever he can to convince you to stay.”

  The queen curtsied to Raith. “I know you aren’t together, but protect my daughter nonetheless.”

  Raith chuckled. “I’m more likely the one who needs protection, but I want nothing more than to keep Sage safe. I owe her my life.”

  After the queen was gone, Raith and Sage packed up the few things they’d brought. A servant stopped by with a sack of food for their journey.

  “Ready?” Raith asked as he swung the door open with his magic.

  Sage hovered by the bed. “I need to do one more thing. Wait here?”

  “Sure,” Raith said.

  He fell back onto the soft bed as Sage left the room.

  Sage had planned to leave as soon as they could. Her father had left for the Seelie ball, but it wasn’t unlike him to change his mind. He’d welcomed them into the castle as guests, but Sage knew her mother was to thank for the hospitality.

  If he returned feeling less gracious, Sage and Raith could find themselves in a cell in the Autumn Court prison.

  But the last time Sage had left the castle she’d been in a rush, and she didn’t know the next time she’d be back. So, now was her chance to say goodbye to her sister like she should have the first time.

  Sage hesitated in front of her Willow’s door. She hadn’t wavered when she followed Raith into the Winter Castle with absolutely no idea what she was running into. Yet, here she was, afraid to talk to her little sister.

  With a deep breath, Sage knocked.

  “Come in,” her sister said, her voice more mature than the last time Sage had heard it.

  She turned the handle and slowly stepped inside. “Hi, Willow.”

  Willow stared at her
, uncertainty filling her gaze, as she relaxed on a chaise, reading a book. Her long strawberry-blonde waves fell to the middle of her waist. A crown of lavender sat upon her head, perfectly pairing with the lilac hue of her gown.

  The trouble in her eyes vanished and she rose and ran to Sage, wrapping her in a hug. She pulled back, water pooling in her eyes. “Why?”

  Relief washed through Sage.

  “I’m so sorry.” She fought back tears. “I should have told you before I left, but I couldn’t handle the disappointment I would have seen in your eyes.” Sage cupped Willow’s face in her hands. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Willow laughed.

  Sage wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  She hadn’t realized until that moment just how much she’d missed Willow.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t go to dinner. I was so angry at you,” she said.

  “There’s nothing to apologize for.” Sage took her sister’s hands into her own. “How have you been? I can’t believe you’re almost fifteen.”

  “I’ve already picked out my dress for the ceremony, and mother says I can wear whatever jewelry set of hers I want.”

  A grin spread across Sage’s face. Willow was made to be a princess. She was beautiful and enjoyed the luxuries royal life had to offer. But she was also kind and genuine and if the Autumn Court would allow it, would have made an amazing queen some day. Instead, the crown would pass to Ajax, who would follow in their father’s authoritarian footsteps.

  “I have to go.” Sage squeezed Willow’s fingers. “But I promise I will visit sooner this time.”

  The sisters hugged again.

  As Sage returned to her old room to get Raith, three tears escaped, dripping down her cheeks. She wiped them away before entering. “Let’s go.”

  When they were outside the Autumn gates, Raith stopped. “We don’t have to do this. We can go back to the Unseelie Court until we feel it’s safe.”

  Sage slugged Raith’s arm. “Please. Don’t you dare let me be the reason you don’t get the answers you need.”

  She continued into the forest.

  Sage hurried a few steps ahead of Raith to hide the tears on her cheeks. He believed she was tough, and if he saw her tears, he might demand they abort their mission.

  She wouldn’t let that happen.

  But leaving the Autumn Court again stabbed at her chest and sent the memory of last time to her mind.

  After the tribe had found her, they’d taken Sage to their camp to meet the queen. Though they didn’t bind her hands, she knew she was a prisoner. They hadn’t asked if she wanted to come along.

  Her mother’s warning haunted her. The forest was dangerous. What did Sage think would happen if she left the safety of the Autumn gates? She had no knowledge of how to make it on her own. The luxury of her role as princess hadn’t prepared her for anything more than sipping tea and wearing dresses.

  “Follow me,” her captor demanded.

  As they stepped through an opening in the trees, a camp of tents appeared. Women, all dressed in leather tops and skirts, meandered. Two little girls ran around a tent, their long braids falling low on their backs.

  In the middle of everything, a tent larger than the rest towered. Two women stood, one on each side of its entrance, holding spears.

  “I found someone lurking,” the woman said, nodding toward Sage.

  “I wasn’t lurking,” Sage replied.

  She was met with a slap to her face.

  “I didn’t permit you to speak.”

  Sage’s cheek burned from the slap, but not as much as the rage inside her. Her better sense kept her from reacting. Barely. If they knew who she was…

  Then they might do worse. And Sage would be kidding herself if she thought her father would come to her rescue. No, she was on her own now, and it was best not to mention anything about her past.

  The guards opened the deer hide blocking the entrance.

  “Go,” the woman said.

  Sage listened.

  A woman sat on the ground, legs crossed with her hands resting in her lap. With closed eyes, she hummed.

  “My queen.” The woman who found Sage bowed.

  “Tamara.” The queen’s eyes opened. “And who is this?”

  Tamara looked at Sage, demanding an answer with her stare.

  “I’m Sage,” she said.

  Tamara slapped Sage’s cheek again. “She is a queen. You will address her as such.”

  Sage inhaled her fury. Queen? This woman was not the Autumn Court queen. The false claim brought vitriol to Sage’s tongue. She swallowed her venomous thoughts. She may have been a princess of the Autumn Court, daughter of the true Queen, but she didn’t think that mattered to whoever these women were.

  “Queen,” Sage added with a clenched jaw.

  Tamara raised her hand again.

  “Stop,” the queen said. “Leave us.”

  “Yes, my queen.” Tamara turned and immediately left.

  “Sit, please,” the queen said. “I’m Vienna. Queen of the Woodland tribe. Tamara claims to have found you lurking around our camp.”

  Sage sat across from Vienna. “I wasn’t trying to lurk. I didn’t know I was close to a camp.”

  Vienna tilted her head to the side. “You should be more careful in the forest. Stumbling unknowingly upon a camp will get you killed.”

  Was that a threat?

  “I’m sorry, queen.” Sage’s mother’s face surfaced in her mind. Who did this woman think she was, using the title?

  “You’re an Autumn Court fae, yes?”

  Sage nodded.

  “Did you get lost in the forest?”

  “I was exploring.” Sage kept her posture straight.

  “And where do you call home?”

  “Nowhere in particular.”

  “A nomad? Interesting.” Vienna closed her eyes and inhaled. “Is that by choice?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’d like to continue such a lifestyle?”

  “Maybe.”

  “You would be required to earn your keep, but I can offer you a tent in our camp should it suit your desires.”

  “To train to be a warrior?”

  Vienna opened her eyes and chuckled. “Only those who earn a spot can be a Woodland warrior.”

  Sage kept her face still as she took in the offer. This imposter was not the real queen of the Autumn Court, but Sage couldn’t deny the air of regality she wore. This place was unlike anything Sage had ever seen. Women warriors. It was everything she’d ever dreamed of.

  If Sage refused, she’d return to nights of fear and starvation. Was that the life she’d left the palace for?

  Sage would do whatever it took to be like the queen in front of her. She’d practice until she could be a warrior, too.

  Then, someday, Sage would return the slaps Tamara gave her.

  Chapter Nine

  Cade stared out the window, down the hill the castle sat on, and out over the ocean.

  Though the Seelie Court resided in the mortal realm, it held a similar elegance to the Summer Court. The room he and Poppy would share reminded him of his room at his castle.

  His castle. The fact that he was king of the Summer Court still felt odd to Cade. A small tug pulled him from his thoughts—from the bond between him and Poppy—suggesting he might not be quite as kingly as he thought he was.

  He needed to deal with Raith. But, for now, he’d focus on meeting the Seelie Queen. With war coming, allies were crucial. As was getting to know potential enemies—and potential weaknesses.

  Poppy sat on the bed, facing away from Cade toward the door. Her blonde hair reached the middle of her back. Normally, she wore it in a ponytail or braid, but today it was down.

  During the Winter Solstice, Poppy represented Cade as a member of his guard and had her own room. Now, as his date, they would share.

  It wasn’t a big deal, Cade assured himself. They were mature enough to keep things from b
eing awkward. But the bond that lingered between them kept him acutely aware of her presence.

  A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

  Poppy stood and opened the door. A fae woman dressed in all white waited there. Cade recognized her from the Winter Court.

  The woman looked at Cade. “My queen requests an audience with you.”

  This wasn’t Nevina’s court. If she wanted to speak to Cade, she could come to him. He wasn’t hers to command.

  “My king will visit her shortly,” Poppy replied.

  The woman nodded and left.

  After Poppy shut the door, she said, “We are here to make allies. If someone wants to talk to you, just go.”

  “I…” Cade started.

  “I felt your annoyance.” Poppy placed her hand on her hip. “As long as we’re bonded, you can’t lie to me.”

  Being so open to another felt so vulnerable. The only person he’d ever shared his secrets with was his brother. That was a long time ago and the secrets were those of children. Now, his emotional state was an open book for Poppy to read.

  As was hers for him.

  Cade groaned. He didn’t like being treated as another court leader’s servant. Would it really have been that difficult for her to come to his room?

  Poppy reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Seriously, calm down.”

  Cade released his annoyance with a long breath. “I might as well get the visit over with.”

  He headed to Nevina’s room. Small chandeliers hung down and lit the narrow hallway. The Winter Queen’s room was on the same floor as Cade’s, but on the opposite end. He exhaled as he knocked on the door.

  The woman who had come to his room answered. “Come in.”

  Nevina sat in a chair next to an empty fireplace, a servant on each side. As Winter Queen, a fire was the last thing she needed.

  “Leave us.” Nevina stared at the hearth.

  The three servants she’d brought all hurried out of the room.

  “You seem to have recovered,” Cade said.

  Nevina’s icy eyes glared at him. “I am the Winter Queen. Those who defy me will pay.”