Castle servants bustled around the busy courtyard, none stopping to gawk or bother the king, just keeping about their business. Pigs squealed in the distance, and cart wheels creaked as they passed us filled with goods on their way in and empty on their way out.
Galather and Folas stood at attention watching every movement around us. Behind them, two liveried guards dressed in green and gold held the reins of two horses each.
Liri strode to the carriage and opened the door. “Ladies,” he coaxed with a grin.
Jastra drifted over in her usual flimsy sheer gown that showed through to a light green slip beneath. It didn’t hide much, including the dagger strapped below her hip. She took Liri’s hand and dipped her head to enter the carriage.
I stepped forward, but before I could follow Jastra inside, Liri moved in front of me and called Folas over. The blond giant handed Liri a tightly folded square of red fabric, which Liri shook out. It was a red hooded cloak that Liri helped me into. The velvet was rich, yet lightweight.
Liri held out his hand, and Folas next placed a dagger in his palm. Stepping closer, Liri slipped the dagger into one of the deep pockets of my cloak.
“Just in case,” he whispered. Before I could think better of it, I leaned forward to kiss him, but my lips only met with air as he took a step back. “Ryo and I will ride alongside the carriage with the guards.” His tone was commanding, that of a king.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I nodded and hurried into the carriage, sitting across from Jastra on the hard bench. She’d taken all of the pillows and plumped one on either side of her with two cushioning her seat. She’d also taken the seat facing forward, whereas I would be riding backward on the way to the festival.
Annoyance coursed through me. Irritation at Jastra for being such a selfish meanie, and at myself for momentarily forgetting royal etiquette—for disregarding what I’d observed of the Elmrays. They were passionate, just not in public. Never in public. As Aerith’s lady-in-waiting, I’d been all too aware that Cirrus bedded her every night, but not once had they openly embraced.
The carriage curtains were drawn, allowing me a view of the courtyard. Liri stepped into the stirrup of a snow-white horse and hoisted himself over the saddle, landing gracefully against the leather seat. I rested my chin against one fist, admiring what a grand figure Liri made on horseback.
The carriage jolted forward, rolling over the courtyard’s cobblestones. The clomp, clomp, clomp of hoofbeats followed us out to the drawbridge. The ride smoothed out briefly as we passed over the moat, before shaking over a pebbled lane. Rolling hills, the brightest green, stretched out on either side of the carriage.
Liri trotted alongside us, allowing me to admire his effortless rise and fall astride his steed.
“You really love him, don’t you?” Jastra asked.
I blinked out of my fog and faced her. “Of course I do.”
“Shame.” Jastra twirled strands of teal hair around her finger.
“Why is it a shame?”
“Because it won’t end well.” She said this without malice, simply matter of fact. “And no, that’s not a threat. You humans take everything so personally.” She lifted her legs onto her bench and stretched across the pillows. “Wake me once we arrive.” Her eyes fluttered closed.
“Yeah, sure,” I grumbled.
Who did she think I was? Her lady-in-waiting? I should leave her asleep in the carriage to miss out on the festival, but I doubted Liri would go for that. At least I didn’t have to make conversation with the teal-headed terror. If I had an ink pen, I’d be tempted to draw a moustache under her pert nose.
A giggle rose to my lips. I clapped my hand over my mouth. Jastra opened her eyes and glared at me.
“What’s so funny?”
I lowered my hand and shrugged. “Nothing. Go back to sleep.”
“I was never asleep, you imbecile, and I won’t fall asleep if you continue with your chortling.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “You should try being nicer to the person who is remaining awake while you’re unconscious.”
Jastra lifted her head and smirked. “You’d never touch a hair on my head.”
I drew the dagger from my cloak pocket and stroked the blade. “Or maybe I’d slice it all off.”
Jastra merely smiled. “All bark and no bite. Isn’t that what you say in the mortal realm? Never forget your place, Hensley.”
“My place is as queen,” I stated, sitting up tall-backed.
The smile remained plastered to Jastra’s lips. It was a bit disconcerting.
“You are no queen,” she answered. “Maybe you love my brother, but you don’t deserve him. Now keep quiet before we have a real problem. I can’t compel you, but I have other methods for silencing insignificant creatures. And, yes, that was in fact a threat.” With those infuriating words, she laid her head back onto the cushions and closed her eyes. Her breath emerged in measured inhalations and exhalations.
I glared at Jastra’s relaxed form. The dagger was still on my lap, and she didn’t even care. My fingers twitched with the urge to make good on my warning. I fisted the dagger’s handle and squeezed, but it was only to move it back into my cloak pocket.
Jastra was right about one thing, and only one. I wouldn’t dare harm her—not even her vanity by slicing off her teal locks. But I wasn’t insignificant, not like her, lazing around on cushions without any real power or even admirers. She was just a stupid Smurfette. I stuck my tongue out at her, half expecting her eyelids to reopen. They didn’t.
Once I’m queen, you better start respecting my place in this family. I glared down at her. Maybe Liri’s the one who doesn’t deserve me. No. I take that back.
My quarrel wasn’t with Liri.
I glanced out the window, facing green hills. No sign of Liri. I glanced out the opposite window, but Liri hadn’t moved sides. He must have ridden ahead of the carriage.
“Why do Fae have to be so closed off?” I muttered to myself.
“Why do humans have to be so annoying?” Jastra returned.
I startled in my seat and glanced her way, where she peered at me through heavy lids. “I thought you were sleeping.”
Jastra sat up and stretched her delicate arms all the way to the carriage’s ceiling before lowering them into her lap. “Couldn’t take any chances,” she said. “I happen to love my hair very much.”
I didn’t blame her there. She had gorgeous hair.
“Maybe one day you’ll love me,” I tossed in.
“The sad part is you think that’s within the realm of possibility.”
“I’d settle for being your favorite sister.”
She snorted derisively. “Like that would be difficult.” Jastra ran her fingers through her silken tresses. “As far as Teryani’s concerned, I might as well not exist. As Liri’s twin, you’d think she’d care about him a little more, but oh no, Teryani’s only ever cared about herself. I doubt she’ll ever marry—wouldn’t want to share the throne.”
“Like Queen Elizabeth,” I said with a nod.
Jastra squinted at me.
“A British queen in the mortal realm centuries ago. She never took a husband, though she was rumored to have many lovers.”
“I doubt Teryani has any interest in mates or lovers,” Jastra said with a flick of her wrist.
Gossiping really wasn’t my thing, but at least we were having a conversation.
“Do you have any suitors?” I asked.
Jastra’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Why would you think that’s any of your business?”
I shrugged. “It’s the kind of thing women talk about in the mortal realm.”
“Well, this isn’t the mortal realm, and it’s none of your business,” she snapped. Jastra tossed her hair over her shoulder. “As I was saying, Teryani wouldn’t care if I died. Sarfina, on the other hand, would be thrilled.”
“I’d care,” I said.
“Nice try.” Jastra huffed. “Must be wonderful having th
e ability to lie. Truth is a plague on the Fae world.”
“I do care,” I said firmly. “Liri cares, which means I care.”
Jastra’s expression softened. She looked out the window briefly and, upon seeing only hills, turned back to me. “No one in this family ever loved me like Liri. Our older brothers used to torment us—claimed it made us stronger. But we knew the real reason.” Jastra tucked her hair behind one pointed ear, her voice fading off. “They enjoyed it.”
My heart twisted inside my chest. I’d never met Liri’s older brothers, and I was glad of it. They’d done more than torment Cirrus and Liri: they’d tried to kill them and when they failed, Cirrus and Liri had returned the favor. If only Cirrus had stopped there. He’d given Liri no choice but to retaliate for his own safety. What must it be like having your own siblings out to murder you? I wanted to reach across the carriage and grasp Jastra’s hands, but I knew that wouldn’t end well. With Jastra, affection wouldn’t be acceptable in any circumstance—not even the privacy of the carriage—and I didn’t wish to push my luck when we were having our first real conversation that didn’t include insults and threats every couple of phrases.
The inside of the carriage grew quiet as we rounded a bend in the road. We caught a brief glimpse of Liri and Ryo riding ahead with Galather and Folas.
As my gaze resettled over Jastra, the craziest thought occurred to me. She’d suffered abuse growing up, too. Even here, in the magical world of Faerie. Things weren’t all sparkling wine and glittered balls. Life was just as cruel—deadlier than anything I’d had to endure in the human world. Liri and Jastra must have hardened themselves to survive. Who knows how they might have turned out if they’d been nurtured and loved as children.
I feared there was no breaking through their protective shells, but that wouldn’t stop me from trying, one small crack at a time.
The carriage darkened as we entered a forest and spindly trees crowded in, blocking the sun. A chill came over me. I pulled the red cloak around me tighter.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Jastra’s chin jerked. Her eyes found mine and narrowed. “Do not pity me, human. Cirrus told us all about how he found you drugged out, dirty in the streets. He thought it would be amusing to nurse you back to health then dress you up like a doll.”
I squared my shoulders. I didn’t care what his reasons were. He’d saved me.
“Liri would have left you there, you know,” Jastra continued cruelly. “He was utterly disgusted. He said you smelled like garbage and had needle marks up and down your arm. He said you offered him a blow job in exchange for cash or drugs.”
Hot shame burned inside my cheeks. I didn’t remember that part of my first interaction with the Elmray brothers. But there was a lot I didn’t remember about that time of my life. A lot I didn’t care to remember.
I gripped the edges of my cloak and concentrated on memories from my life in Faerie—music and balls—food and laughter. I hummed a merry tune in my head, but Jastra wasn’t finished.
“He said you weren’t fit for Faerie—not even as a servant. You’re certainly not fit to be queen. It still amazes me he’s allowed things to go this far.” Jastra flipped her hair back.
The world tilted, and the sky darkened with her cutting words. It felt as though all the trees in the forest had turned horizontal and were piercing the carriage. I felt like I was trapped inside a magician’s box, blades stabbing into every organ of my body.
Liri would have left me there to rot. It was no revelation, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Such cold, cruel words chilled me to my bones. He hadn’t thought me worthy of saving. What was wrong with me to love such a being?
Then again, at my lowest, I’d hated myself. How could I have expected anyone to feel differently? I’d merely had the luck of being in the right place at the right time. I could have been any pathetic woman Cirrus stumbled upon and whisked away to Faerie for his own amusement.
The weight of the dagger pressed from the pocket of my cloak against my thigh. A sick urge to pull it out and cut my wrist entered my head. I took a steadying breath and tried to calm my heart.
“What’s the matter, Hensley? No longer care to make conversation?” Jastra laughed.
Ignoring her, I stared out the window. She couldn’t help herself. This was how she’d survived for so long. She’d chosen cruelty as her vice.
The trees began to thin, and the sky brightened as the carriage rolled out of the forest. In the distance, tents rose like mountain peaks and a multitude of banners flapped in the breeze.
Silently, I urged the carriage to move faster and reach the festival so I could step into the fresh air and lose myself in the surroundings rather than the dark pit of my mind.
When we finally did arrive, I was out of the carriage before any of the males had a chance to dismount and open the door for me. Liri’s back was to me as he landed on the ground. Before he turned around, I pasted a smile on my lips.
“A beautiful day for a festival,” I said pleasantly, looking into the crowd gathering around costumed performers and stalls selling treasures and snacks.
The scent of roasted meat and spices mingled with spun sugar. There were small stages set up around the open field—some in use, others empty. A male faerie dressed as a jester juggled yellow and green balls beside a wide overhead banner announcing: Fable Festival.
Skinny males in brown tunics came forward to take horse reins from our group and lead the animals over to a long, nearby barn. It appeared to be the only permanent structure in the area.
Liri offered me his arm. The usual flutter had vanished from my chest when I placed my hand on him—replaced with more of a thud.
Ryo wore a big grin as our group passed under the banner into the festival grounds. If I was a stranger passing by, I would have never guessed he and Liri were brothers. Their hair alone was exact opposites, Liri with his long, sleek white mane, and Ryo with his short, messy black-as-ink shag. Liri was the picture of poise, whereas Ryo had an almost human energy about him as he bounced with obvious excitement, his head turning side to side, drinking it all in.
Multiple eyes glanced our way, but no one swarmed us. Faerie didn’t have paparazzi or cameras for that matter. Though they did have a rude tendency to gossip.
Here and there I heard loud whispers of “the new king” and “his human pet.”
“Ignore them,” Liri said, patting my hand. “You see why I prefer to choose what company I keep at the castle.”
I kept my mouth shut. Family time at the castle wasn’t much of an improvement in my opinion.
God, I missed Aerith. I wished things were different. I wished Cirrus had been a better husband and that she’d loved him. I wished Liri would have fallen for me and made me his princess, leaving Cirrus and Aerith to inherit the throne. I wished we could have all been there for each other, raising families, spending time, and standing together as a united force.
Suck it up, Hensley. You have Liri. How many more wishes do you need?
I nodded to myself. I was being greedy. Ungrateful. Cirrus had saved my life and Liri my soul. Not everyone got a second chance, and very few were lucky enough to be transported into Faerie.
Liri led our group to a tall, narrow table on which lay a gorgeous female with golden curls and a shimmery blue gown. Her eyes were closed, hands folded over her stomach.
A pot-bellied male faerie in a baggy brown cloak stepped in front of her. “Which of you fine gents, or ladies, thinks he, or she, can awaken the slumbering maid? Only two alms per kiss.” He shook a tin cup at us. Coins rattled inside.
Jastra elbowed her younger brother. “Well, Ryo. Do you think your kiss can wake the fair maiden?”
Ryo folded his arms and looked at the male collecting coins. “What do I get if I wake her?”
“The honor of having broken the evil sorceress’s curse,” the male said in his announcer’s voice, sweeping his arms wide.
“That’s it? What about all the
coins in that cup?” Ryo lifted his chin, pointing his nose at the jingling cup.
The male frowned and pressed his earnings into his chest as though Ryo meant to snatch it away. “You are not playing for money. You are playing for nobility.”
Ryo considered the faerie’s proposal for about a second before saying, “No, thanks,” and walking ahead.
Liri chuckled.
“And what of you, gallant king? Will you wake the sleeping lady with your kiss?” The male stretched the cup toward us, but Liri pressed my hand with his arm.
“Alas, there is only one fair maiden I wish to kiss.” His brows jumped as he flashed the attendant a grin before whisking me into the crowd.
Golden butterflies took flight in my chest, temporarily chasing away the slithering shadows of the past.
Liri laughed again. The sound was like music and his smile a rainbow over a blue sky. He led our group to a plump middle-aged female wearing thick skirts and a circlet of flowers and ribbons on top of her head. Beautiful floral crowns dangled from her arms, thin ribbons hanging from them past her knees.
“Good day, kind sir,” she said in a warm tone. “Flowers for the lovely ladies in your group? A pence a piece.”
Liri smiled. “Flowers would do nicely.” He nodded at Folas, who pulled out a coin purse and plucked out two coins.
The female took the money and held her arms up for Liri to choose. He leaned forward and studied the wreaths.
“Blue and green for Jastra, and blue and red for Hensley.”
The matronly female pulled several crowns from her arm to get to the colors Liri had selected. She handed them both to Liri with a benevolent grin.
Liri passed the blue-and-green circlet to Jastra before setting the blue-and-red one on my head, carefully positioning it over my brown curls. His eyes shone as he stepped back and smiled softly. “Lovely,” he said.
My heartbeat skipped a few beats before resuming its natural rhythm.
Liri offered his arm to me again. He looked over his shoulder, voice dropping. “Jastra, you are not wearing your floral crown?”
“They look ridiculous,” she answered in a haughty tone.
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