by Emma Harley
Elias shook his head. “No one has ever been able to control their magic at all. It shouldn't have bent to your will, that's when the curse kicks in.”
“Well I doubt it's common for a shadow walker to be born with as much magic as me, maybe no one tried it out,” she remarked. Aija stroked her chin thoughtfully.
“The curse is quite powerful, it seems unlikely that there would have been any loophole in it.”
Raina raised her palms. “I can't control anything else at all, I can summon it, but then it runs out of control. Maybe the lightning is a freak occurrence.” Raina looked up into Logan’s smiling face.
“You said magic is tied to emotions, my outbursts have been when I became overwhelmed. I was never trained to handle them. And it’s possible the only reason they appeared when I was so young is because of how strong they are. The curse may not even play a role in my lack of control when it comes to the lightning powers because it wasn't passed down from a bloodline.”
Aija’s face mirrored the prideful expression on Logan’s as Raina spoke. The queen raised a hand to her daughter’s cheek, a small tear sliding down her own.
“You’re more intelligent than I could have imagined you would be,” she gushed, stroking a thumb along Raina’s cheek.
The king turned away to give orders to the guards about his father’s imprisonment and his wife followed after him. Prince Raubyn edged closer to Raina, his steps hesitant as though her were unsure if he should speak to her. Raina stepped out of Logan’s possessive aura and extended her hand.
“I guess we got off on the wrong foot Prince,” she apologised, “sorry about the dramatic entrance.”
Raubyn shook her hand and shrugged.
“I didn’t recognise you, but I haven’t seen you since we were children though. It was very unexpected to find you erupting into our lives again.” Raina chuckled.
“Explosive entrances seem to be my style.”
∞∞∞
King Alexei was flurrying about the palace booming orders at unsuspecting servants, making an effort to contain the news of his father’s arrest as much as possible before he alerted his family. His family who, judging by the mutterings of servants milling past, would be coming to the palace that very day.
Queen Aija had directed a few spare domestics to carry the luggage into the guest wing of the palace despite the protests of Raina and her squad that they had no plans to stay. The queen merely pointed out that a large crowd was currently forming in front of the palace full of news reporters and photographers, trying to figure out who had come through the portal and released such a powerful blast of magic in the courtyard. “You’ll be ambushed and discovered before you make it past the gates,” she had said, before insisting that they at least spend the night while she informed the other royals of Raina’s return.
Raina and her team instead huddled around the dining table, cautiously eyeing the multitude of servants slipping around with armfuls of linens and baskets of various vegetables. Raina was drained. She had spent days contemplating what sort of reception they would have, but nothing could have possibly prepared her for an event like this. Nick and JJ were angrily shaking their phones and complaining about them being useless with no signal.
“How about we just pop open another portal and ask the phone company to build towers in an interdimensional planet so you can send digital hay to your cows in Farmbuilder,” Alicia snorted. JJ gave her a jab in the ribs before slipping his phone back into his pocket and leaning back in his chair.
“I was trying to see if there was any news about our deaths yet. I forgot about not having internet,” he sighed, flipping his phone around in his hands. Raina huffed a laugh.
“Even if you could somehow get internet here, we’re supposed to be dead. Dead people can’t be online.”
Elias and Kalen had dragged a reluctant Logan to reunite with old friends within the castle, despite his objections to stay close to Raina should she need their help. She had simply scowled and told Kalen to take the fussy Fae before she whacked him. Raina tipped her head back to stare at the high ceiling with her feet propped up on the edge of the dining table. Less than a day into a new life in a new world and she had already lost control of the damned powers because the king pissed her off. And that decrepit old cretin too. No doubt it would be all over their news about his treachery and how he deprived this world of their darling princess.
Raina’s chest tightened. She had every intention of finding a way to break the curse on her blood, but that was going to be significantly more difficult if the people knew who she was and decided they wanted to “help”.
They had mourned the loss of the princess, and if they suddenly discovered she was healthy and alive, their hopes would be dashed if she died to destroy a god. Not that she cared. The king and queen could easily have another heir without the cursed blood and leave her in peace if she survived the ordeal.
Raina’s attention snapped to a finely dressed guard dashing through the dining room to the queen, his face so tense she thought a smile would probably break him. The guard cast a swift glance over the team and bowed to Aija, his dark brown hair gleaming in the crystal-cast light.
“Your Majesty, there has been an incident at the border. A stray demon has almost breached the barrier. It managed to get a finger through before it was severed, but it still pushed through,” he announced stiffly, his steely silver eyes darting around the team in quick observance before landing on Raina for a split second longer. Aija fiddled with her necklace, deep in thought.
“What of the shadow walkers? Have they reported anything with the Gate?” she breathed heavily. The guard shook his head.
“Nothing at all, we alerted them immediately and ordered extra reinforcements to the guards. But the council is concerned about the strength of the barrier, it may not be long before they get more than a finger through.” Aija’s face flashed with fear before she willed herself into neutrality.
“We’ll call a summit as soon as possible. I will inform the council representative to come to the castle, and we will devise a strategy as soon as possible.”
Raina listened intently to the conversation, almost forgetting for a moment that she wasn’t back home surrounded by decorated soldiers and military leaders. Aija turned her attention to the team and guided the guard to them.
“I’m sure you’re aware that a portal opened earlier today, and Captain Calviere returned with Elias and Kalen, but they also brought some extra surprises,” she beamed, gesturing to the humans who were now standing to greet him, “I’m sure you would find them excellent company. They are an elite squad of soldiers from the human realm.”
The Fae guard raised an eyebrow but said nothing until he extended a hand to Davin.
“General Taranis of the Gael Mountains, pleased to meet you,” he nodded. Davin shook his hand stiffly.
“Davin Bolton, second in command.” The squad introduced themselves as he reached Raina.
“I assume you must be Lieutenant Coralynn Whitford of the queen’s guard,” he greeted questioningly. Raina’s scowl had her team flinching.
“No, I am General Raina Phoenix of the 82nd Battalion and the leader of this squad. Coralynn is dead, thanks to my second,” she announced, forcing a grin. He looked at her with distaste and confusion.
“Why is a Fae female leading a team in a human realm?” he demanded, folding his arms tightly across his puffed out chest. Raina smirked.
“Well it’s a long story, but I was glamoured to be a human when I was sent through a portal to the human world, then I killed Coralynn’s mate, she killed my mother and then Coralynn killed me and I turned into a Fae,” she sighed, waving it off as though she had merely described her breakfast. The general stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re from this world?” Aija stepped forward gently.
“This is my daughter, Malakhai,” she muttered softly. The general paused on the queen’s face for a moment before his eyes widened. “Princess Raina?”
Before anyone could interrupt Raina held out a hand.
“Not princess, just Raina. Or General Phoenix if you’re feeling fancy.” Malakhai looked her up and down before smirking.
“In this world, you’re either a princess or not. You may have been a human general in a human world, but in this world you have no troops.”
Raina’s eyes flashed red indignantly.
“What makes you think I need troops to take on an army?”
Her team stiffened beside each other, sneaking giddy glances between them. The general stared down at Raina with a maddeningly smug expression.
“I think you’re over estimating your team. There are six of you. And five of you are humans. You would lose, and your cockiness is why.”
Raina stepped closer and looked up at the other general, a wide grin flashing her pointed canines menacingly.
“The six of us took out an entire fleet of ships while I was still human. If we wanted, we could kill you before you even got a chance to escape this room,” Raina’s feral grin turned to a sickeningly sweet smile, “So you can keep looking down at me and eventually end up beat to a pulp like every other man to underestimate me, or you can suck it up and move on with your life.”
Raina tapped his gritted jaw as she stepped away to join her team. She turned back towards Aija.
“We can’t stay long. As I said, we’re only here to break the curse or bind my powers so I can return home. If you can organise a way for us to sneak out and a direction to go in, that would be great,” she smiled sweetly. Aija’s face flashed with pain.
“Please give me some time with you Raina,” she pleaded, “that’s all I ask of you.”
Raina’s eye caught Alicia’s. It wasn’t often that woman showed emotion, but Raina could see something in her damp emerald eyes that made her stomach drop.
“Let me think about it,” Raina mumbled over her shoulder. Aija beamed through the threatening tears.
“Why don’t I show you to the guest wing, at least then you’ll have some privacy while I speak with your fa… King Alexei.”
Raina allowed herself to be guided through vast hallways as long as streets and into a series of rooms that made the Blanchard’s manor look like a mud hut. Aija paused for a moment before turning to Raina.
“I know this is a lot for you. But if anything will show you just how much I loved and missed you, maybe this will.” Raina followed the queen to another room, every bit as regal at the rest of the palace, except it was clearly designed for a child. Stuffed animals almost the size of her lay piled in a dusty corner beside a huge bed designed like a castle, with a slide coming from a turret at one end.
Another room showed a wide variety of some sort of technology. A teenager’s bedroom, with a wardrobe bursting at the seams full of dresses and rows of sparkling tiaras and jewellery on shelves. The next room almost seemed like a queen’s quarters. More dresses, still covered with plastic, tiara’s and crowns in glass cabinets sparkling proudly. A huge bed with layers of silk and lace draped around the high posts sat undisturbed, even the books in the bookcase were coated in dust.
“Every few years, I prepared a room for your return. I was hopeful that you would come back while I still lived, and I would see you again. But I knew you were growing older, and your tastes would change,” Aija explained, running a finger down the plastic covering the dresses, “I wanted to be ready for anything, your first ball, your first dance. Maybe even your wedding or your first child. I didn’t know how much I would miss, but I wanted to ensure I didn’t miss any more.”
Raina silently paced through the room.
“Well I can’t have children, and I have no intention of marrying. That hasn’t changed since I was human. But once I break this curse, I’m sure your next child will adore what you have for them.” Aija ignored the implications and examined a tiara with diamonds bigger than a golf ball.
“There is something you should be aware of. Shortly after you were taken from us, Alexei and I separated. We blamed each other, and his father pushed him to dissolve the marriage and create another heir. He was convinced you were gone forever. So he took a mistress, something he regrets horribly, but she was merely a surrogate for another heir.”
Raina scowled. “If he has another heir why the hell was he pushing me to accept being a princess?” she spat. Aija frowned and carefully dusted the tiara she was holding.
“Regardless of stability, the child is still illegitimate. His father tried to change the law, but it would have caused chaos. The throne itself would be brought into question. After all, Alexei is the youngest child, and his siblings could have gone to war for the crown. Alexei loves your brother dearly, but he always held out hope that you would return. An oracle once predicted that his daughter would become the most revered queen in history, and when you went through the portal he thought he had destroyed all hope of that. And when he discovered that the surrogate was carrying a son, he was devastated.”
Raina sighed and poked at a golden jewellery box embedded with sapphires.
“I bet his son would make a fine king. I’ve never believed in oracles anyway.” Aija huffed a fake laugh and led her back to her team, who were still awestruck at the rooms they were in. Aija coughed lightly as they turned to her.
“I don’t mean to push, but tonight there is a feast being held. You are all welcome to attend if you wish, as my guests of honour.” Davin licked his lips and JJ murmured his approval. Raina rolled her eyes at them and nodded to the queen.
“Alright I guess we’ll be there.”
Aija beamed before clearing her throat.
“You cannot come to dinner armed and ready for battle. A number of royalty will be in attendance, and armed guests will cause unease. If you are uncomfortable with that then you are welcome not to attend, but if you still want to come, I will insist that you are all dressed appropriately,” she announced, eyeing Raina’s scowl as soon as she said no weapons were allowed.
“One gun each. Well hidden, but reachable. And I’ll still go,” she bartered, jamming her hands into her pockets. Aija sighed, but nodded in agreement. Izak raised a finger.
“What do you count as appropriate dress, your majesty?”
Chapter 11
“I’m not wearing that.”
Raina almost gagged at the pink monstrosity the maid had offered. Aija sighed.
“You have such a fickle figure Raina. There are not a lot of options left,” the queen moaned dejectedly. Alicia swirled her pastel blue gown in front of the floor-length mirror. Apparently she fitted into gowns for overweight Fae children, but that didn’t bother her. She was simply a petite human woman, except now she felt like a princess and had no qualms about prancing around the room, squealing giddily. Raina clicked her tongue.
“Just stick me into a suit or something, I don’t like wearing dresses anyway,” she mumbled. The queen looked confused.
“Why would you want to wear a suit? That would be terribly uncomfortable, you wouldn’t even be able to eat through the helmet.”
“A suit is different in our world, it’s a fancy outfit usually worn by men,” Alicia explained, not taking her eyes off the thin stream of diamonds the maid was placing around her neck. Another older maid was attempting to get her to sit still so she could fix her hair, mumbling something about acting like a damned pixie. The queen rolled her eyes.
“Even as a young child you hated dresses. You would often wear Raubyn’s clothes instead, he got so furious when you got them dirty,” Aija chuckled, muttering her thanks to a god as another bundle of dresses was brought in. While examining a sleek velvet gown, Aija breathed heavily.
“I will need to ask a large favour of you tonight Raina. I do not want you losing control tonight, but I must warn you. There will be no hiding your identity, you are almost identical to your father, and the Fae will be able to sense your power quite easily. They will question you, and often refer to you as Princess, or Your Highness. If they question your inte
ntions for the throne, marriage or anything else, please do not argue. Just tell them you haven’t thought much about it.”
Alicia’s glare made Raina roll her eyes. She just looked at the dress the queen was examining and shook her head. “Nothing velvet. I despise it. But I’ll wear the red one,” she mumbled, ignoring the queen’s expression.
“Alexei and I will both be wearing red tonight as tradition, are you sure?” she queried thoughtfully.
Raina shrugged. “Does it matter?” The maid tending to Alicia’s hair piped up.
“The colour and style of clothing worn by the hosting royalties define the tone for the event. For example, a celebratory ball would require the hosting royals to wear white, and their guests in pastels and light shades. For a feast involving military generals or visiting royals, red is commonly worn to attract the attention onto the hosts themselves,” she explained cheerily, sliding pins into Alicia’s hair. Raina just shrugged.
“I’m wearing red because I like the colour and it’s one of the few dresses that hasn’t made me gag. It’s not a political statement, I would show up in a tracksuit if I could,” she grumbled, walking behind the dressing screen as the queen asked Alicia what a tracksuit was.
Raina assumed the gasp of shock and mutters of blasphemy from the queen meant Alicia had shown her one of the pairs of worn joggers from their bags. She slipped into the gown easily, ignoring the pang of anger at herself when she caught a glimpse of her ribs and hip-bones poking out sharply. Logan was right about how much weight she had lost, it was no wonder she was having difficulty building her muscle when there was none left to build. Raina fumbled with the zip at her back but couldn’t get it up. She swore under her breath and stepped out, clutching the Bardot gown to stop it slipping down.