Twisted Ever After

by Celeste Thrower

  Melor’s eyes darkened, and we leapt at each other, our bodies colliding in a tangle of fur and teeth. I managed to bite his ear hard, but Melor twisted away and somehow positioned himself under me. His canines grazed my underbelly, right at the tender, healing skin, and I whimpered as we fell.

  He landed above me, his teeth hovering over my neck, his breath wet against my fur. My heart stuttered, and I tried to scoot back but he didn’t let any space open up between his teeth and the tender skin of my neck. One of his massive paws pressed into my chest, pinning me in place. Changing tack, I frantically tried to access my alpha magic to make him submit.

  Melor growled in a way that sounded like a laugh. It won’t work. Not with your magic flowing through me too. Any last words?

  My teeth ground together, and I forced my racing heartbeat to slow. I wouldn’t beg. Nor would I show him my fear.

  Have it your way. His teeth pressed against my jugular, and I closed my eyes. If it had to end now, at least I’d learned the truth before dying.

  Suddenly, an explosion sounded nearby. Melor’s head jerked up instinctively.

  “Take your power back, girl!”

  The witch had created a diversion.

  And Melor, standing over me, had left his neck exposed.

  I surged upward, intent on doing exactly as the witch said, and ripped out his throat.

  I stared down at Melor’s body. The taste of his blood still filled my mouth, just as the insults he spewed until his last breath rang in my ears. Smoke, both from the fire and the witch’s potions, permeated the clearing alongside the scent of other wolves’ burnt fur.

  “I told him he didn’t have to die. That he could submit, confess to his crimes, and I’d show mercy.” A sigh escaped me. “I don’t feel bad, but I do feel conflicted, I guess. It’s a lot to take in.”

  Baba Yaga pressed her lips together, seemingly annoyed by my waffling. “There’s no need to feel conflicted. He chose his path long ago. Now it’s time that you choose yours.”

  Her words rang through me, loud and true. This witch might be the wisest woman I’ve ever known.

  “Where will you go?” I gestured to her home, still lit with flame. The chicken legs had already crumpled to the ground, dead. There would be no saving it, although she assured me the clearing was enchanted so the fire would die out before reaching the wider forest. “Do you have a friend to stay with?”

  Baba Yaga gazed upon the forest, seemingly taking in each individual tree. “I’ve been in these woods for centuries, helping the Russian people and being condemned for it. It’s time that I seek a new adventure elsewhere. Perhaps a place with palm trees.” She tilted her head. “What about you, little alpha?”

  Pride coursed through me at the name. I thought of Dima and the other wolf who had submitted to me. The house I grew up in, now empty, flashed in my mind too. I could sell it and use the money to relocate to somewhere not tainted by personal tragedy.

  “I’m moving on too. When I find the right place, I’ll start a new pack.”

  The witch nodded and her lips curled up in a smile. “An excellent idea.” She patted the side of her mortar. “There’s no time like the present. I wish you luck, Vassa. You’re one of two wolves I’ve met whom I liked.”

  I tilted my head. “Who was the other?”

  The witch grinned. “Your father.” As the words left her, Baba Yaga’s mortar surged into the sky. The witch who’d freed me and helped me discover my truth soared above the trees and disappeared from sight.

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  THE SCORNED FAIRY

  BY CARLA REIGHARD

  A DELIGHTFUL RETELLING OF THE FROG PRINCE.

  Isla

  Isla was a powerful fairy whose beauty outshone even her own kind. Though the fae folk were all blessed with ethereal looks, as well as magic, Isla seemed to exceed them all – and she knew it. The male fae tried to woo Isla into becoming their mates, but she felt she deserved more. She grew bored of her own world and wanted to go to the forbidden kingdom beyond the dark forest. None of the fairies ventured to the human realm because, even though they were immortal, there was one beast that could kill them – and it lived among the humans. In Isla’s arrogance, she thought she knew better and decided it was all nonsense. She was determined to experience a little adventure by disproving the theories about a creature that could make her mortal.

  The first human she spied was a lone man, swimming in a lake that shimmered in the sunlight. It reminded Isla of the fairy lights that glowed in the dark around her home. Something about the man caused her heart to skip a beat. He was the most beautiful specimen she had ever seen, with his broad chest, defined muscles, and raven-black hair. All the fae men had blonde hair so this human was like no one she had seen. Isla never had fallen in love or craved a relationship of any kind, but upon seeing this human, she burned with the desire to be with him. She approached him with confidence, assuming her splendor and magic could manipulate him to do whatever she wanted.

  “Greetings. I’m Isla, from the land of the fae. I command you to mate with me.”

  The man looked both amused and shocked by Isla’s presence as he said, “I’ve heard rumors of fairies living nearby, but I thought it was all folklore. What is the name of your kingdom?”

  “The Kingdom of Magic, but what does that matter? Regardless of where I’m from, I want to mate with you – uh – what’s your name?”

  “I’m Prince Mathayus, future king of Tutela, and I’m already betrothed.”

  “Betrothed? What does that mean?”

  “That means I will be marrying another woman, so I can’t mate with you.”

  “What does this word ‘marry’ mean? Where I come from, we can mate with whomever we want – we are not limited to only one. Although, until now, I have never found anyone I wanted to be with, the way I want to be with you.”

  “Do you mind turning around so I can get out of the water? We can talk more when I feel less exposed.”

  “Why? Are you hideous below your chest?”

  “No, I’m naked.” Mathayus laughed at the strange woman’s bold question.

  “What’s funny about that? I’ve seen many males naked. Where I come from, we don’t worry about such things.”

  “So you don’t wear clothes?”

  “Yes, but only for adornment, not to cover up. Besides, it will make mating easier if you aren’t clothed. I can get into the water with you, if that is your preferred way.” Isla began taking off her clothes.

  “No, wait!” Mathayus jumped out of the lake and ran behind his horse that was grazing nearby.

  “You have nothing to be ashamed of. You look exactly as perfect below as you do on top.” Isla’s stare was unflinching. “Why don’t you want to mate with me? Am I not beautiful enough for you?”

  Before Mathayus could put on his clothes, Isla had already taken off her lavender-colored gown. His face turned crimson and he looked away.

  “Please, put your dress back on, and then I can explain how we do things in Tutela. Our world has different customs than yours. It is all I’ve ever known, and I can’t change just because an attractive girl appears out of thin air.”

  “You obviously find me lovely, so that should be good enough.”

  “But in my land, we get married first, and before that, we get to know each other and fall in love.”

  Isla approached Mathayus even as he tried to get away from her. Just before he could move far enough away, she placed her hand on his shoulder – electrical energy shocked him.

  Mathayus startled, “What did you just do to me?”

  “I’m sorry. My magic must have reached out to you. I have powers that I haven’t totally learned to control. In my world, I’m still considered a fledgling. We are immortal beings that can, supposedly, only be killed by one creature. I originally came to this new land to practice using m
agic and prove that I was invincible. Once I saw you, I changed my mission. Why can’t you mate with me? You said I was beautiful. All your parts seem to be in the right place, and I want you. What more does there need to be?”

  Mathayus struggled to hide behind his horse, trying to put distance between himself and the fairy. Unfortunately, that meant his clothes were now too far for him to reach. But no matter how he tried, Isla kept getting close to him.

  “As I said before, my people get to know each other first and then fall in love. After that, we get married, and then we ‘mate’ – as you call it. I’m engaged to be married in one month to Leia, the princess of a nearby kingdom, Terradraco. I love her more than life itself. I also want to help defend her kingdom against the dragons they have been fighting for centuries. Our marriage is not only an alliance of love but of necessity. If we combine our kingdom’s armies, we hope to once and for all defeat the dragons before any more of our people are killed. Tutela hasn’t had to worry about the dragons’ invasion yet, but Leia’s kingdom, Terradraco, is always under attack.”

  “I don’t want love or any kind of alliance. I just want to mate; why can’t you just fulfill my wishes and stop being so ludicrous?”

  “Because I love Leia; I want to only mate with her – that is the way of our people.”

  Isla was getting impatient with the stubborn human. The more he resisted her, the more she wanted him. She no longer wanted a one-time tryst; she wanted him to be available for her desires whenever she called upon him.

  “Leia must be weak and worthless if she can’t defend her people without you. You would be better off with me. Come to my world and live without the danger of dragons.”

  “Someday, you’ll fall in love and meet someone who feels the same way about you as you want me to feel, but love takes time. You can’t just see someone you’re attracted to and decide you want to be with them.”

  Mathayus seemed to be accustomed to turning down young women’s advances – he was charming and kind – but Isla didn’t care how kind or sincere he was. She was used to getting what she wanted, and she wasn’t going to allow him to refuse her any longer; her ego was beginning to feel bruised.

  “You can’t refuse me. I’m more powerful than you can imagine, and I can easily force you to do whatever I want.”

  “Why would you want to? Wouldn’t it be more enjoyable if you had someone give themselves to you willingly?”

  Isla didn’t understand his refusal; anger began to boil inside her chest. A burning sensation edged from her core to her fingers, and before Isla could weigh the consequences, she blasted Mathayus with a spell.

  “How dare your refuse me! Since you’re so fond of Leia – let’s see what she thinks of you now.”

  Before her eyes, the man she lusted after was torn apart as green, shimmery scales emerged from his body. His arms and legs became wings and talons. Smooth skin turned into a rough, jagged exterior. Finally, there in place of a man, was a gigantic dragon with sharp, pointed teeth. It stared down at Isla with a shocked expression.

  The dragon then roared, “What have you done to me?”

  Isla acted calm but, secretly, she was terrified – the only beast that could supposedly kill fairies was standing right in front of her. But he was still human on the inside, and she allowed this fact to boost her confidence.

  In her haughtiest tone, Isla stated, “You can change back into a man if Leia gives you love’s true kiss. Otherwise, you’re doomed to be a dragon for the rest of your life. I can’t undo my spell once it is cast.”

  Mathayus opened his mouth, and all that came out was a flame that singed the grass; the dragon quickly stomped out the fire to extinguish it. Mathayus began to pump his wings and fly into the sky, leaving Isla to gawk up at him. Isla cowered a little, but pretended to shake off her fear as she backed away towards the dark forest where she had entered the human realm. She immediately regretted her use of magic, but it was irrevocable now. She began to worry about the warnings her mother had given her about using magic, but pondering over it now was useless, so she hastily returned to the Kingdom of Magic.

  Mathayus

  Mathayus knew he had to hide so he wouldn’t be seen by any humans. His people would kill him at first sight, and he didn’t know how much of the beast he had become would act on instinct. Were dragons wild and unable to process civil thoughts, like any other untamed animal, or were they intelligent? Currently, his human nature dominated any feral thoughts, but would the animal he had become eventually take control? The prince wasn’t going to stick around to find out.

  He flew high in the air, looking for an isolated mountain top or cave. He needed to figure out a way to tell Leia what he had become, but he knew she would never come near a dragon unless it was to kill the beast. Leia was a fierce warrior and had slayed many of the monsters in her life. Mathayus was a rather large creature compared to the normally smaller dragons that invaded the land. He hoped that meant he would survive the ordeal the fairy had put him through. He wondered if she even had a heart. The way she treated him like a toy that she could possess made him think she didn’t, but he hoped that someday she would know what it felt like to fall in love and then have it torn away – as he had just experienced. He couldn’t imagine getting Leia to kiss him in his current form, unless she knew it was him. If he could somehow let her know who he was, then maybe she could get past his scary exterior. He saw his reflection when he flew above the lake, and it was hideous. He didn’t know if it was possible to get his beloved to see anything but the horror his new appearance evoked. Some people thought dragons had beauty in an unusual reptilian way, but all Mathayus saw was a dangerous monster intent on ending human lives.

  While flying, he marveled at the perspective of the world from above. If it wasn’t so horrible for him to be a dragon, he would be thrilled at the sights he was seeing for the first time. The trees, mountains, and streams all looked like blotches of color from higher elevations. As he lowered himself nearer the scenery, they turned into miniature versions of themselves, like the models one might see in the king’s map room when he strategized for battle. It wasn’t what Mathayus imagined flying would be like.

  Eventually, Mathayus circled back to the lake and found a cave not too far from it. He knew his beloved would eventually come looking for him, and with his new keen hearing, he would be able to hear her approach. Now, all he could do was wait for Leia to arrive.

  Leia

  As Leia made preparations for her wedding day, her heart soared. Sure, she was a warrior most of the time, but the day her and Mathayus wed, she was going to be a frilly girl with the beautiful white dress and hair filled with flowers. She knew Mathayus loved her no matter what she wore. He admired her strength and viciousness on the battlefield while she wore her war leathers. He also complimented her on the peasant disguise she used to meet him during their secret rendezvous. Mathayus was a charmer, and he knew exactly what a tough-yet-feminine princess wanted to hear. He was the love of her life.

  She was putting on her everyday battle clothes when Marion, her lady-in-waiting, brought her the bad news.

  “Princess, Mathayus has been missing for three days. His father sent us the message in hopes that you had eloped, rather than what he had feared,” Marion explained.

  “What does his father fear?” Leia felt her stomach drop in dread.

  “That Mathayus got cold feet and no longer wants to marry you, or that someone has kidnapped him for ransom.”

  Tutela’s kingdom was prosperous, and if Mathayus was caught unawares, someone could use him to get rich. This thought was more palatable than him trying to escape his duty. He promised her kingdom protection from the dragons with their union. He also promised her all of his love, but even if he had somehow deceived her in that matter, he was an honorable man who wouldn’t have shirked his duty – his kingdom’s promise. She would think the best of Mathayus and assume someone had taken him as a hostage. Leia had the best tracking skills of her kin
gdom, and she wouldn’t rest until she found him and made sure whoever took him regretted the day they were born.

  “Where was Mathayus last seen?”

  “His father said that he had left the palace to visit his favorite lake and never returned.”

  She knew the place well. It was where he told her that he liked to go to contemplate, as well as cool off from the summer’s heat. They had met there on several occasions, but she had never swum with him, which was what he said he enjoyed to do whenever he could take the time. She felt her face warm as she imagined his muscular body underneath the surface of the cobalt water. After they got married, he teased that he would get her to swim with him, even if he had to throw her in, and this pleased her to imagine.

  “I’ll go there and see if there is any sign of a struggle. Maybe his kidnappers left a trail to follow.”

  Marion added, “Your father told me to have you stay put while his men searched for the prince. Upon his order, I can’t allow you to leave this room.”

  Leia wasn’t going to let anyone stop her from searching for Mathayus. She would just have to use the sleeping potion on Marion that she used any time she snuck out to see Mathayus. They were allowed to meet each other in a well-chaperoned location, but it was more fun escaping off to a secret rendezvous; besides, alone time gave Leia a chance to really get to know her future husband in ways she never could while surrounded by people of the court.

  Marion brought a pot of tea and biscuits to help her mistress relax as she waited to hear more of Mathayus. Leia distracted the girl away from the refreshments, and then discreetly dropped enough of the potion into Marion’s tea to put her to sleep for the rest of the day and all night. Marion drank her cup of the steaming liquid quickly, and soon she was being dragged onto Leia’s bed, fast asleep.

  Leia whispered, “She really isn’t the brightest girl. She falls for that trick every time.”