Daring Hearts: Fearless Fourteen Boxed Set

by Box Set

I fill my spoon with more sauce. “Just because you play for the ‘good’ team doesn’t mean you have to be a nice person.”

  “Okay, so we know what we can’t talk about,” Ryn says. “What can we talk about?”

  The remainder of lunch is spent discussing ‘safe’ topics. I have to admit I’m only half listening, though, because a lot of my attention is focused on how I’m going to find the secret place where my mother hid her belongings. And on how close Ryn’s leg is to mine. Very close. Close enough for me to reach out and rest my hand on it.

  Violet, you are being ridiculous. You have got to stop thinking things like that.

  I stand abruptly, pile the dirty dishes on top of one another, and send them zooming through the air in front of me as I head to the kitchen. “I’ll clean up,” I say over my shoulder.

  “I’ll help you,” Ryn says.

  I close my eyes while my stomach does a few backflips. Okay, just be normal. Be totally, completely normal.

  “Hey, V, are you feeling okay?”

  I direct the dishes to the sink and get the cleaning spell going before turning around to look at Ryn. He’s leaning against the doorframe, hands pushed into his pockets. A simple T-shirt never looked so sexy on anyone.

  Not a helpful thought, Violet.

  I clear my throat and twist a piece of hair around my finger. “Yeah, I’m fine, why?”

  He watches me closely. “It’s just …”

  My heart thumps in sudden terror. I am so not ready for Ryn to figure out how I feel about him. In fact, I’ll never be ready. I’d rather be friends forever than have him laugh in my face—or worse, tell me he feels the same way only to wind up breaking my heart one day. “Just what, Ryn?”

  He shakes his head. “Nothing.”

  I turn back to the sink to make sure my magic’s working.

  “Oh, hey, I got you something,” he says. I swivel around to see him pulling something from his pocket. “New amber. You mentioned you lost your old one in the fight yesterday. I figured it was in need of replacing anyway; it probably had spells from the Stone Age on it.”

  I place my hands on my hips, relaxing now that we’re back in familiar territory. “There’s nothing wrong with Stone Age spells. They work.”

  “Oh, Violet.” He sighs and shakes his head. “You have no idea the awesome things this amber can do.”

  “I don’t need a fancy new amber, Ryn. I just want something simple I can send messages on.”

  “You can send messages on here.” He grins as he waves the rectangular piece of amber at me. “And so much more.”

  “Fine.” I’m beginning to realize that when he smiles at me like that I’ll do pretty much anything for him. “What do I owe you for it?”

  “Nothing. It’s a gift.” He places the amber on the kitchen table.

  I raise my eyebrow. “Another ‘early birthday present’?”

  “Sure, we can call it that.” He pulls a chair out and sits down. “Want me to show you how to use it?”

  My traitorous heart leaps at the chance to sit close to him again. “Yeah, why not.”

  Nineteen

  Later that night, Ryn and I meet at Councilor Starkweather’s office along with the four guards who will accompany us to the Seelie Court—to show us the way and to make sure we don’t get up to any mischief on the journey. Councilor Starkweather inspects the guards’ black and gold Guild uniforms while giving Ryn and me a few parting instructions. Then she opens a wide doorway to the faerie paths on the wall. She steps aside while the six of us link arms—two guards in front, two behind, and Ryn and me in the middle.

  “Can’t you just tell us which part of the world we’re going to?” Ryn says to the guards once we’re walking through the darkness of the faerie paths. “You don’t have to give us directions or anything.”

  His question is met by silence.

  “You didn’t honestly think you’d get an answer, did you?” I say to Ryn. “It’s one of the best secrets in the fae realm. They’re not about to tell you.”

  I feel Ryn shrugging. “Worth a try.”

  We exit the paths to find ourselves amongst trees beside a wide river. Perfectly clear water flows slowly over sand that’s whiter than any I’ve seen before. The trees are slimmer and less gnarled and somehow more … elegant than the trees in Creepy Hollow. Everything here seems to be lit from within, bringing the quiet forest to brilliant, luminous life. Green moss, purple flowers, blue leaves. Even the white sand at the bottom of the river seems to be glowing.

  “The faerie paths can take us no further,” says one of the guards. “We’ll use the river from here, and then the sky.” He gestures to the water. A white boat with a seahorse’s head rising from the bow glides toward us. Magic must be directing it because there’s no one inside. The boat reaches the bank and sways with the gentle waves.

  The guard climbs into the boat and holds his hand out. “Miss Fairdale,” he says. Although I’m pretty sure I could get in without help, I take his hand and step into the boat. The interior is simple, with four parallel bench seats covered in cushions. I climb over them and take the seat closest to the stern.

  Ryn and the other guards climb in. Without a command from anyone, the boat begins to move. No oars, nothing. It slips silently, peacefully, through the water. I lie back with my shoulders against the edge of the boat and stare at the sky through the overhanging branches. The moon is larger than I’ve ever seen it, and the stars seem closer than normal.

  “Look here, V,” Ryn says. I sit up. He’s leaning over the side of the boat and pointing at something. I grasp the edge of the boat and peer into the water. A woman with long green hair and a fish-like tail with pearly, iridescent scales weaves artfully between the rocks at the bottom of the river.

  “Wow,” I whisper. “I’ve never seen a mermaid in real life.”

  “They don’t like Creepy Hollow,” says the guard sitting next to Ryn. “They prefer to keep close to the Seelie Court.”

  I spend the remainder of the boat journey watching mermaids, mermen, and other water creatures gliding through the river. I think of how calm everything must be beneath the lapping surface. Nothing to fill their ears but a peaceful quiet, and everything moving in graceful slow motion.

  “Time to get out,” a guard says, interrupting my thoughts. The boat bumps gently against the bank. The river disappears around a corner, and a quiet rushing sound signals a waterfall somewhere in the distance. “We’ll travel the rest of the way by air.”

  We climb out, walk a little way through the trees, and stop in front of a closed carriage pulled by four white pegasi.

  “Yes!” Ryn exclaims. “I haven’t ridden a pegasus in years.”

  “Mr. Larkenwood, you are aware that you’ll be riding in the carriage, not on a pegasus?”

  With a sigh, Ryn says, “Fine. If I have to.”

  It’s a bit of a tight fit with six of us inside the carriage, and I’m not too pleased to find myself squished between Ryn and a guard. Well, part of me is ridiculously ecstatic to have my right arm and leg pressed against Ryn, but I’m definitely not pleased about having the left side of my personal space invaded.

  “We’ll be traveling through the night,” says personal-space-invader guard, “so you might want to get some sleep.”

  Oh, great. We have to sit like this for the whole night? I try to forget about personal-space-invader guard and focus instead on Ryn’s left hand, which is resting on his leg—right, right next to mine. So close that if I spread out my fingers I’d be touching his. It’s ridiculous how badly I want to reach over and take his hand. I never thought I’d crave anyone’s touch so much, but I do. Just thinking about his hands on my skin makes me feel warm all over.

  With a jerk, the carriage moves forward, then quickly speeds up. Moments later the rumbling beneath the wheels disappears as the carriage tilts back slightly.

  We’re in the air.

  The thrill of flying is enough to make me momentarily forget my desire for
Ryn. I look past him and out of the carriage window. It’s concealed partially by a curtain, but I can see the tree tops disappearing below us as we shoot across the sky toward the stars. It makes my head spin.

  I return my gaze to the interior of the carriage and realize Ryn is watching me. I meet his eyes for a split second before looking away. And there it is again. Desire. Like a shot of adrenaline, it rushes through my body and sets my heart pounding.

  I tilt my head back and close my eyes. I should be trying to remember everything my father ever told me about my mother’s visit to the Seelie Court, and instead I’m obsessing over Ryn. I clasp my hands together in my lap so my fingers won’t accidentally entwine with Ryn’s. I will remember whatever clues my father gave me about my mother’s secret hiding place.

  * * *

  My neck is stiff. I peel my eyelids apart and blink several times against the morning light before remembering where I am—a carriage—and what I’m sleeping on—Ryn.

  OH HOLY EMBARRASSMENT OF ALL EMBARRASSMENTS. How long have I been sleeping on Ryn’s shoulder? Did I talk in my sleep? Did I snuggle up to him? Did I drool on him?

  That last thought causes me to sit up hurriedly and slap a hand over my mouth.

  Okay. No drool.

  Ryn rubs a hand over his eyes and then through his hair. Hopefully he was asleep too. Hopefully he has no idea I just used him as a pillow.

  He looks down at me with confusion in his eyes. “What?” I ask, with a little more defense in my voice than necessary. “Is something wrong?”

  “No.” He frowns. “Something wrong with you?”

  “No.”

  He catches my arm to stop me sliding off the seat as the carriage slows suddenly. Our ride ends with a bump as the carriage wheels hit the ground. Ryn lets go of my arm and turns away from me to look out the window. My skin feels oddly cold in the absence of his touch.

  “We’ve arrived,” says personal-space-invader guard, reaching to touch a lever beside his seat. The top of the carriage vanishes. Fresh air and the delicate scent of flowers drift over me. The carriage glides forward as we travel along a wide driveway lined on either side by trees laden with pink and orange blossoms. Branches reach over the driveway to meet each other, shading us from the morning sun. Blossoms float to the ground like confetti.

  “So … can anyone just wander through here?” Ryn asks. “I didn’t see a gate.”

  “There’s no need for a gate,” says the guard opposite Ryn. “This place is protected by strong enchantments and watched over by hundreds of hidden guards.”

  After examining the trees and having no luck finding any guards, I point my eyes forward once more. I don’t want to miss a single detail of the palace we’re about to enter. At the end of the driveway is a white archway with a sheet of water running down across the opening, preventing us from seeing through. As we pass beneath the archway, the water parts like a curtain. We enter a courtyard filled with the same pink- and orange-blossomed trees. The pegasi come to a stop. Through the trees, I catch glimpses of white walls and pillars, but before I can look too closely, a new pair of guards—with the Seelie Queen’s insignia on their uniforms—comes forward to meet us. They bow, wait for Ryn and me to get down from the carriage, and lead the way forward with quick, controlled strides.

  We pass beneath another archway and enter a second courtyard. Although we’ve left the forest outside, it’s difficult to see where nature ends and the palace begins. Perhaps there is no beginning and end. Perhaps a forest of white trees was coaxed into growing and melding a structure of rooms, towers, pillars, and spiraling stairways, and this palace is just as alive as the forest that surrounds it.

  I see people here and there, some leaning out of balconies and others walking along open corridors. I take in their richly detailed outfits and feel vastly underdressed in my everyday black attire. Tora assured me I didn’t need to bring any fancy clothes, so I’m hoping there’s no need to panic about being inappropriately dressed.

  Ryn and I follow the guards through a vast open room with a water fountain in its center. I pause for a moment to look at the three stone mermaids reaching for the sky as water spurts from their hands. We continue up a winding stairway, along a corridor, and finally arrive at our bedrooms. I don’t know what Ryn’s looks like, but mine is far fancier than anything I’ve ever dreamt of sleeping in: four-poster canopied bed, chaise longue, ornate floor-length mirror, balcony. A serving woman stands to the side of the expansive room with a scroll in her hand.

  With my mind somewhat boggled, I half listen as the woman reads our schedule from the scroll. She tells me when we’ll be shown around the grounds, who we’ll be eating lunch with, what time we’ll be dining with the Queen, and when we’ll be observing the Royal Guard training.

  The Royal Guard. Right. That’s the real reason we’re given this ‘prize’ of visiting the Seelie Court—so the Queen can check out the latest graduates and see if she wants to poach any to work here as her personal guardians.

  “Tonight and tomorrow night someone will come to your room before dinner to dress you,” the serving woman adds. “Two days from now, in the morning, your guards from the Guild will be here to accompany you home. Do you have any questions, Miss Fairdale?”

  “Um, no.”

  She curtsies and leaves the room. I’m left wondering what it is I’m supposed to be doing now. I try to remember the beginning of her speech but can only think of her telling me that my bag was delivered to the room before I got here.

  May as well relax, then. I walk over to the bed that’s probably covered in sheets of a bazillion thread count, flop onto it, and try not to think about Ryn sleeping just a wall away from me tonight.

  Twenty

  It’s weird being dressed by someone I don’t know. It’s also weird being made to wear something I’d never choose for myself. The dress, which is apparently the color of champagne and is far too glittery for my taste, hugs my figure all the way down to about my knees, where it flares out just enough for me to move my legs. It comes to an end on the floor a few feet behind me. The sleeves are also ridiculously long, like bell shapes hanging past my fingertips. I’m certain they’re going to find their way into my soup or dessert.

  The clothes caster flits about me, making minor adjustments to the dress. “Okay, I think we’re done here.” She steps back to examine me, eyes the gold key around my neck, and opens her mouth.

  “I’m not taking it off,” I say before she can tell me it clashes with my dress or something.

  “Fine. Well, if you have no further need of me, I have other girls to dress.”

  “Great, I think I can handle it from here.” I don’t need her changing my hastily pinned-up locks into some whacked out hairdo.

  “Do you remember where the throne room is?”

  “Yes.” We were told exactly where to assemble before dinner while having our tour around the palace earlier. We were even given a quick lesson in the dining room on which cutlery to use for which course.

  The clothes caster nods and leaves to find the other guardian graduates who need help dressing. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before we got here, but obviously all the Guilds that have graduation at the same time as us would send their top trainees here now. It makes sense for the Seelie Court to receive us all at the same time.

  I head to the door, curling my toes in the thick carpet. The only thing I like about this outfit is the absence of shoes. Despite the finery of the clothing, it seems the trend around here is to go barefoot.

  I open the door to find Ryn waiting there. I expected him to be wearing a suit, but it looks like someone was sent to dress him too. His pants are white, as is the long tunic-type top that reaches to his thighs. The top is covered in embroidery and tiny beads, and there’s a glittery scarf thing hanging around his neck that reaches down to his knees on either side.

  “Wow,” he says when he sees me. “You look really … sparkly.”

  “I know. You could probabl
y spot me from the moon.” I close the door behind me. “But you can’t exactly talk since you aren’t far behind in the sparkles department.”

  Ryn adjusts his scarf. “Yeah, I’m not a fan of traditional fae formal wear. I think the royals need to move into the modern age.”

  “You could suggest that to the Queen this evening. I’m sure it would make for scintillating dinner conversation.”

  “Right after she chops my head off.” He holds his arm out to me, and I feel a thrill as I take it.

  A thrill? Ugh, what has become of me? I used to get my thrills from fighting dangerous creatures; now I get them from touching Ryn’s arm. I take a deep breath and try my best to remember what it feels like to be just friends with Ryn.

  “So, is your visit to the Seelie Court living up to your expectations?” he asks as we descend the stairs.

  “Not just yet. The tea party in the garden this afternoon kind of interfered with my exploration plans.”

  “Ah, yes. Drinking tea with the Queen’s daughter and twenty-something other graduates. I can see how that wouldn’t really be your, uh, cup of tea.”

  I roll my eyes. “Ha-freaking-ha.”

  “Come on, you laughed inside,” he says as he nudges me.

  We follow the directions we were given earlier and find our way to a wide hallway outside the throne room. Several other graduates are already dressed and waiting there. A tall girl with hair and eyes as black as obsidian looks Ryn up and down before giving him a dazzling smile. When he nods in her direction, jealousy burns hot and sudden in the pit of my stomach. Apparently she takes his nod as an invitation because she walks over and begins chatting to him about where she’s from. He pulls his arm away from mine and leans against the wall, exuding confidence as he tells her about the Creepy Hollow Guild.

  I suppose I could try and join the conversation instead of standing here awkwardly, but what would be the point? They’re clearly only interested in talking to each other. Jealousy still pokes spitefully at me, and I hate that it hurts to watch Ryn flirting with someone else. This is exactly why I shouldn’t have not-just-friends feelings for him. I know I’ll only end up getting hurt because there will always be another girl out there more exciting and exotic than I am.