From Anastasia (The Anastasia Series Book 3)

by Jordi Burton

  “What is this?” she asked.

  William didn’t respond. When she turned to look at him, she found that he’d gotten down on one knee. Butterflies exploded in Anastasia’s stomach. She felt like she was going to cry. He couldn’t be doing what she thought, could he? There was no way. Her hands trembled as he reached out and took them. His face was so earnest as he looked up at her.

  “Princess Anastasia Jacqueline Piliar Moneth,” he said. “Will you marry me?”

  She looked into his bright hazel eyes and knew, without a doubt, he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He’d be an incredible King, and an even better father. She wanted to be everything with him.

  A tear ran down her cheek. “Yes.”

  He leapt to his feet and grabbed her in an embrace, spinning her around. She cried and laughed, pressing her lips to his.

  When they finally broke apart, Anastasia saw her family gathered at the archway behind them.

  “What is this?”

  William grinned. “I might’ve mentioned something to your parents.”

  Hand in hand, they stepped forward. Elliot and Bale were already crying, tears running freely. Anastasia started to cry harder as she saw them, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

  When they reached her family, Anastasia saw her mother was holding a length of brightly-colored, braided cord. It was then that she understood, and her heart ached with happiness. William had gone through the trouble of putting together a traditional engagement ceremony. It was everything she’d ever wanted when she pictured her future.

  “Your hands, please,” said Anarose.

  William and Anastasia obliged, holding out their left hands. Methodically, Anarose wrapped the cord around their hands, so it made an infinity symbol. As her mother knotted the cord, William spoke.

  “I give myself to Anastasia Jacqueline Piliar Moneth for a year and a day.”

  Anastasia grinned through her tears. “I give myself to William James Dinas for a year and a day.”

  Anarose said, “It is considered that, as the hands are bound together, the couple are joined in love, trust, and mutual support.”

  “The rings?” asked Elliot.

  Surprise shot through Anastasia as she saw William pull the ring from his sister off his little finger. Turning to her, he smoothly slid it onto her finger. It was a burnished gold posy ring, carved with beautiful flowers. On the inside, “Love Eternal” was engraved in the metal.

  “Oh,” was all Anastasia managed to say.

  But then Bale stepped forward and handed Anastasia a gold fede ring, complete with two hands clasped at the front.

  “It was your grandfather’s,” Bale murmured.

  Anastasia’s eyes were so full of tears, it was difficult for her to put the ring on William’s finger. But when she did, she saw it fit like a glove. She started to cry in earnest. She couldn’t believe this was happening. It was all so beautiful.

  “For a year and a day, you are hereby betrothed,” said Anarose.

  William turned to Anastasia, wrapping his free arm around her. She leaned into him, tilting her head up to meet him as he bent to kiss her. Her family applauded.

  When they broke apart, William wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. Anastasia wasn’t sure she’d ever been so completely thrilled in her entire life. She was engaged to William. Engaged. To William. She’d never imagined it would happen, especially not after he’d been arrested. But her mother had pardoned him, and her family approved. It was so utterly perfect, she nearly started crying again.

  “This deserves a toast!” Celia cried.

  Anastasia’s family made their way back to the banquet hall in the tree, while Anastasia and William lingered under the archway.

  “This was perfect,” she whispered.

  In response, William kissed her again. She didn’t even mind that their hands would be bound for the next day. In fact, it would be fun to see what they had to do to get dressed in the morning. Which made her realize that it was all real. They would share intimacies she’d never shared with anyone before. And while the thought of doing so with Aatu had made her feel a bit queasy, the idea of doing so with William was exhilarating.

  As though he could read her thoughts, William scooped her into his arms, a hungry look in his eyes. “Shall we go, milady?”

  “Let’s!” She giggled. “Though if we don’t toast with my aunt, she’s sure to be very cross.”

  Laughing, William carried her back to the banquet hall, where they shared a toast with her family. After, they retired to their room. Which was now officially theirs, as a couple. As soon as the door was closed, however, Anastasia realized just how difficult it would be to undress with their hands bound.

  So, they took their time and helped each other. Anastasia reveled in feeling the smooth, bare skin of William’s shoulders as she helped him with his tunic. She shivered as he unlaced her gown.

  Then, they just held each other, staring into each other’s eyes until they drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  A nastasia awoke to an explosion. She jumped violently, the cord tied around her hand jerking her back towards William. Before they could move, the door swung open, revealing a breathless Lili.

  “What’s going on?” Anastasia demanded.

  “Joey,” Lili breathed. “He’s attacking the kingdom.”

  With coordinated effort, Anastasia and William got out of bed. Lili helped them dress quickly. Scooping up Aagney, she led the way from the room. Following the spiral staircase carved into the trunk of the tree, they made their way up to the library, where Anastasia’s family, Alviva, Ayvery, Vlad, and Joey waited.

  Upon seeing his son, Vlad hissed, backing away. Lili shielded Aagney, hovering near the doorway. Anastasia looked at her parents’ faces. All revelry from the night before was gone, replaced with unadulterated fear.

  Their warriors had all gone, leaving them alone amongst the fairies. Anastasia was sure Lili, Ayvery, and Alviva could hold their own in a fight, but her family couldn’t, Vlad could only fight until the sun came up, and “good” Joey was a wildcard. That left her, William, and the fairies that could fight, to fend off Joey and the Soster. Whatever the cost, they couldn’t let him have her pendant. He couldn’t get even a single power of the Ancients.

  “How does it look?” Anastasia asked.

  “They’re approaching from the west,” said Elliot. “Their numbers are impressive, but we have the full might of the fairies.”

  “I’ve already dispatched the vanguard,” Anarose intoned. “We’re holding them off while those that cannot fight are evacuated from the city.”

  “Where are they going?” asked William.

  “Farther north.”

  Anastasia nodded. With the innocents out of the way, there would be fewer unnecessary casualties. But her family remained here, instead of evacuating, which worried her. She couldn’t join the fight while she worried for their safety.

  “You need to hide yourselves here in the library,” she told them. “It’s the safest place in the city.”

  Celia narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean ‘you’? You’re coming with us.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Anastasia—”

  “You remember my tattoos better than anyone. I bore a warrior’s tattoo as well as one of royalty. This is my fight.”

  Bale sighed. “At least we know that the others are safe, seeing as Joey’s here.”

  He was right. It meant the other Ancients had a chance to find their pendants unmolested. All Anastasia needed to do was keep Joey occupied here, so they had enough time.

  “We’ll join you,” said Graham.

  Anastasia frowned. “You’re not warriors.”

  “She’s right,” said William. “We can’t risk you.”

  Anastasia met her mother’s eyes. “Please, I can’t lose you all again.”

  Anarose nodded tersely. “You’re right. We’ll take our leave. Y
ou just make sure you’re safe, Anastasia. We can’t risk you, either.”

  Wordlessly, Celia took Aagney from Lili’s arms. Thankfully, the infant hadn’t cried once since they’d taken him from his crib. Glancing at him, Anastasia turned to her mother. Blowing out a breath, she ripped her pendant from her neck and passed it to her. Anarose stared at it for a moment, before clasping it around her neck.

  With a look, Anastasia knew her mother understood. She couldn’t wear the one thing Joey wanted into battle. It was so strange, seeing the pendant on her mother. The last person who’d worn it had been her grandmother, mere moments before she died.

  Resolutely turning away, Anastasia looked at Lili. “Where’s Ostana?”

  A resounding howl answered her. Alviva and Ayvery shared a knowing look. Anastasia furrowed her brow, confused. It had sounded like a werewolf, but the werewolves couldn’t shift in the Old World.

  Running to the door, she spotted a werewolf racing through the trees. It looked like a large, tailless wolf, but the eyes were human—Ostana’s eyes. Holding her face to the full moon, she howled again. As the sound echoed, she turned and disappeared in the trees.

  “How?” asked Anastasia.

  “They shift every full moon,” explained Ayvery. “She’ll be like this until the sun rises tomorrow.”

  Alviva nodded. “She can’t remember who or what she is while she’s like this. She’ll cut down everything in her path.”

  “So just stay out of her way, and you’ll be fine.”

  Anastasia supposed a wolf that cut down everything in its path was a good weapon to have. Just as long as Ostana didn’t accidentally turn on them before the sun rose.

  Squaring her shoulders, Anastasia met William’s eyes. “Let’s suit up for battle.”

  They all hurried from the library, leaving Anastasia’s family behind. The head of the Fairy Queen’s guard met with Anastasia, giving reports on the situation. He led them down to the armory, where they grabbed extra weapons. Anastasia and William grabbed an extra dagger each, tucking them into their belts. Lili found an extra quiver of arrows, and Alviva and Ayvery found maces that suited them.

  Joining Vlad outside, they hesitated at the base of the tree. Anastasia knew there was a battle raging out there, but all she could see was the flower-covered archway where she and William had their engagement ceremony mere hours before.

  William squeezed her hand. They were still bound together, their left hands wrapped in the braided cord. Anastasia didn’t have the heart to cut it off, knowing it would mean bad luck for their future together. And they needed all the good luck they could get. Besides, she and William had fought under worse circumstances before. They would manage just fine. Squeezing his hand in return, she drew on the strength radiating from him.

  Running footsteps sounded a moment before Good Joey ran up to them. “I want to help!”

  “Can you fight?” asked Vlad.

  Joey shrugged. “I’m not quite sure.”

  “Just do what you can to distract the enemy, then,” said William. “Your face might be enough to throw them off.”

  Joey nodded. “Okay.”

  Sounds of battle reached their ears. Joey flinched. Nerves fluttered in Anastasia stomach, but she quickly squelched them. She’d been in countless battles before and had come out alive every time. This battle would be no different. She would do anything to keep Joey from retrieving either of the pendants; there was no way she’d let him get his hands on that sort of power.

  “Does it always feel like this?” Alviva questioned.

  William worked his jaw. “Usually.”

  “Just don’t vomit,” Ayvery said with a rueful grin.

  Vlad blew out a breath. “After this, I seriously need to find some new friends. I’m in desperate need of a perfectly boring life, where I grow peacefully into old age.”

  Anastasia clenched and unclenched her fists. They would wait for the battle to break into the clearing. Hopefully, the fairies would be able to hold off the Soster, and they wouldn’t need to fight at all. But then Vlad bared his teeth in a feral snarl and leaned forward.

  Narrowing his shark-like eyes, he murmured, “Blood.”

  Before they could stop him, he was off, moving so quickly his body was a mere blur. She worried for him, but figured a battle was the best place for him, giving him ample opportunities to feed.

  On the horizon, the battle raged. Though it was too far off, Anastasia imagined she could see the fairies fight, see their silvery blades flash through the air. Alviva, Lili, Joey, and Ayvery moved restlessly around her. She understood. On the one hand, they were glad to be safe behind the might of the Queen’s warriors, but on the other hand, they wanted to be out there, physically defending what was dear to them. But none of them were true warriors. It was safer to stay where they were, let the battle come to them.

  A crash behind them drew their attention. A horde of the fairy dogs raced away from the tree, barking and growling. Anastasia followed them with her eyes, realizing what it meant; Joey had sent warriors from the east, as well. Yelps and shouts reached her ears. The battle was closer than they’d thought. Wordlessly, the others fanned out around Anastasia.

  William drew his dagger. “Don’t let them break the tree line.”

  They stood, on the tips of their toes, waiting for the battle to near the clearing. Anastasia couldn’t help but think of the battle she’d been in with Deera and Calla, back at the Wishing Tree, when they’d turned all the Shadows to stone. She’d felt just the same way, twisted inside letting others fight for her. But she understood, it was the only way to keep everyone safe. She was the sole heir to the Jacquelinian throne, after all.

  Just when it felt like the anticipation was going to kill her, the first few warriors burst through the trees. Ayvery, Alviva, and Joey sprang forward. As more warriors ran through the trees, Anastasia, William, and Lili leapt into the fray.

  William and Anastasia stood back-to-back, their bound hands clasped. They mirrored each other as they ducked and lunged, flinging their daggers through the air. More of Joey’s Soster fell beneath their blades, their blood darkening the beautiful grasses beneath their feet. Anastasia and William slid through it, cutting down anyone that sprinted from the tree line.

  In the air, Lili fired arrows, picking off those that made it through their defenses. Alviva and Ayvery swung their maces like bats, felling those that neared Anastasia and William.

  Joey had picked up a spear in the armory, and he spun it wildly, stabbing warriors clean through the stomach. Intermittently, Vlad or Ostana appeared through the trees, violently tearing apart their enemies with their teeth. They moved with a deadly synchronicity that felled everyone in their path.

  Behind them, the Queen’s forces were not as successful. Though made up of strong fairies with incredible magic, the Queen’s army were not warriors. They’d never fought a day in their lives, and, as such, were savagely cut down by the Soster. In the west, Joey’s forces broke through the vanguard and approached the clearing where Anastasia and the others fought. There weren’t enough of them to battle the Soster back.

  Wrapping her free arm around William, Anastasia unfurled her wings and launched herself into the sky. From above, they could see Joey’s forces spilling into the clearing from all sides; the Soster had them surrounded. It was utter chaos, weapons and magic flying through the air on all sides. Even with Ostana—who was utterly merciless—it didn’t look good.

  Landing, Anastasia and William renewed their efforts. Together, they slid through the bloody grasses, rolling up under enemy warriors. They cut men down, slicing through their stomachs, their necks.

  Up above them, Lili fired arrows with unerring accuracy. Alviva and Avyery picked up fallen daggers and raced through the fray, slicing anyone that crossed their paths. Joey just twirled his spear like a bo staff, whacking warriors back to where Vlad waited to tear at their necks with his teeth.

  Finally, Anastasia looked around, and saw nothing but a
field of bodies. She stood with William, drenched in blood, breathing raggedly. Somehow, they’d managed to defeat Joey’s forces. But where was Joey? He wouldn’t have sent his warriors after them to retrieve the pendant without him. And yet, he wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

  Fear slammed into her, a fear that wasn’t her own. Her family. Joey had found her family! She turned to William.

  “Hold onto me!”

  He obliged, and she shot into the air. Mere seconds later, they’d arrived at the library. Anastasia flew through until she found her family, standing in a protective line in front of Anarose, while Evil Joey stalked towards them.

  “Get away from them!” Anastasia shouted.

  Joey turned to her. His eyes flicked to her bound hand; a dark grin twisted his mouth. “I suppose congratulations are in order.”

  Anastasia gripped her dagger. “Get away from my family.”

  Joey raised his hand. Black smoke encircled her mother’s neck, lifting her into the air. She struggled, choking. “I don’t really think you’re in a position to make demands, dear cousin.”

  Anastasia could see the dark smoke curl around her pendant, as though caressing it. Anastasia’s stomach twisted. He couldn’t get that power, but one wrong move and he could kill her mother. Anarose’s eyes flicked to Anastasia; she seemed to be trying to communicate something nonverbally, but Anastasia was too frightened to understand. The rest of her family huddled behind Anarose, staring at Joey.

  Calla stepped forward. “Joseph, stop.”

  Joey faltered, his grip on Anarose slipping. She fell to the ground, where Bale and Elliot helped her to her feet and hurried her down the hall. Calla slowly stepped away from Graham and Celia, her icy sorcerer’s eyes narrowed. As she neared Joey, Anastasia could see the familial similarities. It hurt her to think this was the first time Joey was seeing his mother in sixteen years.

  Stepping forward, Calla threw up her hands. Light exploded over their heads, and Anastasia saw a circle and pentagrams drawn on the ceiling. As Joey tried to move away, he found he was trapped by the circle, unable to move.