Stolen Princess

by Nikki Jefford

  Centered at the end of the grand room were three stairs leading up to a platform on which the great wooden throne was placed. Leaves were carved into the wood. They curled around the legs of the chair as though trying to consume the chair. The thick red cushion had been removed, leaving behind a heavy polished wood seat.

  Liri stood on the dais in front of the chair, as though to sit would mean strangulation by carved wooden vines. His sisters stood below him, keeping at least three feet apart from one another. I headed toward them, my heart still lodged in my throat. Galather did not follow me.

  As I neared, the thick golden crown on Liri’s head of white hair gleamed. He wore a midnight blue suit that matched the color of my dress.

  When the three terrors turned their heads to look at me, I noticed the way they appraised my attire. Jastra and Sarfina scowled. Teryani smirked.

  It wasn’t like I’d coordinated with Liri that morning. I’d randomly grabbed this gown. Or had I?

  I squinted at Liri’s suit, trying to remember what had made me decide on the midnight blue gown. It had been the first one I’d seen when I opened my armoire. I wouldn’t put it past Liri to have done more than rearrange my campaigne board. As soon as I returned to my room, I was mixing the gowns all around. He’d promised not to enter my chamber without permission, so hopefully we wouldn’t end up matching like bookends again.

  “Good, we’re all here.” Liri’s voice filled the room as I stopped at the dais, doing like my sisters-in-law and keeping my distance. “I’ve called you all here to discuss the fate of our brother.”

  “And what do you mean by that?” Sarfina demanded, fists jamming into her hips. She wore another transparent white gown, this one over a tight baby blue slip. Her blonde-and-gold hair had been pulled into a high ponytail and tied with a light blue ribbon that matched her slip.

  Teryani placed a delicate hand over her mouth and yawned, her lids briefly closing.

  “Can he be trusted to live, or should I dispose of him now?” Liri asked stiffly.

  My heart eased out of my throat, and I felt as though I’d lost fifteen pounds. My fate had yet to be sealed. This meeting wasn’t about me; it was about Ryo. Perhaps I should have felt more horrified at what Liri proposed, but Faerie had a way of making such nefarious matters seem almost normal.

  “You wicked brute!” Sarfina cried. “What did Ryo ever do to you? How can you even consider such a thing?”

  Liri pursed his lips before calmly replying, “You are allowed your opinion and vote, Sarfina. From now on, I wish to consult with you, my closest family, on decisions regarding the realm, including its safety. Can Ryo be trusted not to attempt overthrowing me?”

  “Too risky,” Jastra said, flipping her teal hair from her shoulder to her back. Today she wore a sky blue gown with light green sequins. “Wiser to take care of him now before he gets a chance to make an attempt on your life.”

  Sarfina whirled on Jastra. “You’d forsake your own brother?”

  Jastra straightened and narrowed her eyes at Sarfina. “I aim to serve my brother, the king. His safety and the stability of the realm matter above all else.”

  “You conniving bitch!” Sarfina started toward Jastra, her fingers curled like claws.

  “Hold it right there,” Liri commanded. “We haven’t heard from Teryani yet.”

  Ah, yes, the twin terror. Dressed all in white, Teryani looked much as she had the night before with the same misleading angelic air. She never raised her voice, put her hands on her hips, or tossed her hair back like a filly whipping her tail. Her lips pressed together in a smile as tight as a pale pink rosebud before it blossomed.

  “With Ryo out of the running, that might tempt our cousins to go after the crown,” she said.

  Liri scowled heavily.

  “It is for you to decide, Brother,” she added with calm ease.

  He raised his brows—a silent command.

  Teryani blinked once. “If I were in your position, I would either imprison him or marry him off to someone loyal to you.” Teryani smiled serenely at the end of her proposal.

  “And you, sweet Aerith, what would you have me do?” Liri asked, smiling for the first time.

  His sisters all turned. I kept my eyes on Liri rather than meet their glares. I had my answer ready.

  “This is no matter for me to speak on,” I said.

  “Of course it is,” Liri insisted. “Tell me; should I allow Ryo to live?”

  I’d never been close to my raven-haired brother-in-law, but that didn’t mean I wanted him dead. I didn’t want anyone dead, with the exception of the three sisters present. Could we vote on their disposal instead? What if I could pick only one? That would be the hardest choice of all.

  I shook the fantasy away and answered, “Yes. You should allow Ryo to live. He’s your younger brother.”

  Jastra snorted rudely. “That’s the whole problem,” she said as though I was daft.

  I glared at her. “Ryo is Liri’s responsibility to protect. Don’t you think there’s been enough death already?” I hissed.

  Liri clasped his hands behind his back and paced the dais, no longer looking at any of us.

  “I can think of one more I’d like to see,” she returned, eyeing me pointedly.

  Sarfina’s pupils darted back and forth, following her brother’s movements. “Liri, if you condemn Ryo, I will never forgive you.”

  Liri stopped pacing, looked down at Sarfina, and laughed. “You’ll never forgive me for Cirrus. What’s one more unforgivable act?”

  Sarfina scowled and folded her arms beneath her breasts.

  “Two of you advise me to show Ryo mercy,” Liri drew his words out carefully. “And two of you advise that I take precaution and dispose of the poor bugger.”

  Teryani hadn’t cast a solid stone at Ryo, but she didn’t correct her brother either. She merely waited with the same angelic indifference that was her trademark.

  Liri looked over our heads and nodded at his guard in back. “Folas, send in my brother.”

  Whoops, I’d guessed wrong on the twins.

  We all turned and watched as Folas opened one of the arched doors. Ryo strutted through the door, head of thick, black hair held high as though he’d been summoned for knighthood. Folas’s twin, Galather, walked in behind him—a tall moving wall that Ryo would smack into if he tried to flee. But Ryo moved swiftly toward the dais. He’d dressed in a midnight blue tunic and simple yet elegant cotton trousers. I didn’t know how he’d guessed what color Liri would be wearing. Copying his brother was either extremely smart or dangerously foolish. Liri could see it as a show of solidarity or one of challenge.

  Galather stopped beside his brother and the two twins remained, keeping their distance from the family gathering.

  “Bro!” Ryo called out, adding a swagger to his step as he got closer. “And lovely sisters.” He flashed a grin at the three females. “And Aerith. I heard you’d returned. Couldn’t stay away from Faerie? Or maybe faeries couldn’t stay away from you?” He winked.

  Rather than snap at him, a fond smile played at the corner of Liri’s lips. With graceful ease, he sat on his throne and homed in on his younger brother. “Step forward, Ryo.”

  Ryo walked to the edge of the dais and bowed.

  Liri smirked as Ryo straightened. “Do you know why I’ve called you here this morning?”

  “To determine my fate, I imagine.” Ryo shrugged. “What’s it to be? Banishment? The dungeon? The guillotine?”

  Sarfina shuddered.

  Liri steepled his fingers, eyes gleaming as though taking delight in Ryo’s unruffled tone. “Perhaps there is a fourth option, little brother.”

  Ryo raised his dark brows.

  “Marriage,” Liri said.

  Ryo glanced uncertainly in my direction, causing Liri to leap from his throne.

  “Not to her, you imbecile!”

  Ryo narrowed his eyes and clamped his jaw shut as though to stop himself from lobbing back a return insult.


  Liri’s chest rose and fell rapidly. His anger appeared to have interrupted whatever announcement followed the one of Ryo’s betrothal.

  “And who is to be our brother’s lucky bride?” Teryani asked sweetly.

  Liri’s shoulders relaxed as he momentarily locked gazes with her before he returned his attention to Ryo. “Someone who has proven her loyalty to me. A woman I can trust not to conspire or make trouble. Someone who has been with us for some time now.” When Liri didn’t share a name, we all leaned forward. Was he going to tell us or make an announcement another time? An amused smile spread over Liri’s lips. “Hensley.”

  Arctic air filled my lungs as dread prickled down my spine. I thought I might be the one coerced into marrying back into the Elmray family. I never dreamed Hensley would be in danger of such a tumultuous fate. The Elmrays would eat her alive.

  Sarfina screamed. Jastra gasped in horror. Teryani was perhaps the most terrifying of all with her unreadable calm.

  Ryo’s lip curled in disdain. Before he could protest, Sarfina stepped in front of him.

  “You cannot marry our brother, a prince of Dahlquist, to a human,” Sarfina said, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

  Jastra grabbed her teal hair at both sides of her head and tugged, her eyes squinting as though she caused herself physical pain. “How can I possibly call that human my sister-in-law?”

  “At least marry me to a pretty elf,” Ryo said. “Host a tournament like Cirrus did. I cannot marry a human.” Ryo stuck his tongue out halfway as though he’d bitten into a lemon.

  Liri’s face turned to stone and his eyes to steel when he cut a look at Ryo. “Perhaps you’d rather marry the sky,” Liri said in a low, ominous voice.

  A shudder went through me, a reminder that Liri was a ruthless killer. Ryo seemed to remember this too.

  “I will do as you command—marry the human,” he said grudgingly. “May I be excused now?”

  Liri nodded. “Galather will return you to your rooms.” As Ryo stormed from the room, Liri grinned. “We made our first big decision as a family.” He sounded genuinely pleased.

  “You made it,” Sarfina grit out between her teeth, only loud enough for those of us standing below the dais to hear.

  “At least the little fool gets to live,” Teryani sang back, facing forward as though she’d never responded to Sarfina’s complaint.

  “No thanks to you,” Sarfina hissed. She cleared her throat and spoke up. “May I be excused as well, Brother?”

  Liri flicked his wrist at her. “You may. And try remembering that ultimately you got your wish for Ryo’s safety.”

  Sarfina’s smile looked forced. As soon as she turned her back to Liri, I caught the murderous expression on her face. The loathing in her eyes momentarily stole my breath.

  Liri looked at Jastra and raised one brow. “Do you wish to be excused as well?”

  Jastra shook her head. “I’d rather stay with you, if I can be of service.”

  Liri nodded, moving his gaze to Teryani. “And you, Sister?”

  Her smile was the kind that brought no warmth, like the sun back home during winter solstice. It was beautiful and blinding but transmitted no heat. “With your permission, I would like to accompany Folas on his assignment and observe tomorrow’s tournament.”

  I looked at Teryani, willing her to divulge more—a fruitless endeavor. Tournaments made me think of my own ill-fated competition back in Pinemist, the one that had landed me in Faerie the first time. It wasn’t like Liri was holding one on Ryo’s account. He’d already chosen his brother’s unfortunate bride.

  Liri stared at Teryani for so long I thought he might never respond. Finally, he nodded. “You are there to observe only.”

  Teryani puckered her lips as she grinned, then turned and fluttered out of the room.

  “That leaves you, sweet Aerith,” Liri said, fixing me in his gaze. “Perhaps you would like to deliver the happy news to Hensley?”

  I nodded numbly. For all I knew, Hensley would squeal in delight to be chosen to become a princess amongst the family she so readily served.

  “Folas will escort you to Miss Allen’s room.”

  “Who will guard you?” I blurted. Old instincts weren’t so easily abandoned, especially now that I was back at the palace. I was used to worrying about Cirrus. He’d never wanted to be alone with any of his siblings—not without a guard or me. Preferably several trusted guards and me.

  Liri wasn’t one for soft expressions, but the usual steel in his eyes appeared to drift into wistful gray clouds.

  Jastra stepped in front of her brother and shot me down with a contemptuous glare. “There is no one in all of Faerie my brother is safer with than me.”

  Ignoring the teal-headed nuisance, I stepped around Jastra to speak to Liri. “I will deliver your news to Hensley.” I left out “happy.” There was never happy news in Faerie, which was why this time I had to find a way to spirit Hensley away with me. No matter how adamant Hensley was to serve the Elmrays and call Dahlquist home, I had to get her out for her own good. Liri’s sisters would eat her alive. I didn’t trust Ryo for one hot second either. I wouldn’t put it past him to take out his aggravation on poor, innocent Hensley. Helpless Hensley. She was human and, unfortunately, didn’t stand a chance against Fae.

  When I stepped into the corridor with Folas right behind me, I nearly ran into an apparition that turned out to be Teryani. With her pale skin and otherworldly beauty, she’d fit right in with a nest of vampires in the human realm. I had no doubt she could be as vicious as any bloodsucker.

  “It is not time to leave yet,” Folas said, mistaking Teryani’s reason for lingering outside the throne room.

  “Yes, I know. I wish to speak to my sister-in-law before we leave. I can walk her to her rooms.” Teryani didn’t sound so sweet now that her brother wasn’t within earshot. Her tone was clipped—like chips of ice being hacked away from a glacier.

  Folas frowned. “My orders are to escort Princess Aerith to the royal wing.”

  “Then follow behind us but not too closely.” Teryani stared at Folas, unblinking until he nodded.

  “Very well, Princess. You won’t do anything mischievous?” he pleaded more than asked.

  “Not within the next hour,” she answered, which made Folas visibly relax but not me.

  As soon as we were out of earshot of Folas, Teryani walked close enough for her arm to press against mine. I resisted the urge to pull away.

  “I don’t think it was loyalty to Liri that caused you to refuse the Cirrus glamour last night,” she said matter-of-factly. “And it certainly wasn’t out of love for him.”

  I said nothing, wondering what she was getting at. Perhaps she was merely trying to frighten me. It wouldn’t work. My fears had already come true. I’d been stolen from Pinemist, taken from my sister and my true love. Being back made me numb.

  “Liri told me about the enchantment he placed over you,” Teryani continued, “the one that would transport you to a Faerie dreamscape the first time you were bedded by another male.”

  My legs kept moving down the corridor. My feet pattered over the flagstones. I didn’t respond.

  “I think this male you were with is the real reason you fought off the one you believed to be your mate.”

  Speak or don’t speak? Every reaction felt like one that could lead me straight off a cliff. If she’d known his name, she would have spoken it so she could watch my reaction. I could no longer allow myself to even think his name in case she managed a way to worm inside my mind using Fae magic.

  And so I kept walking until somewhere along the way Teryani drifted off like smoke from a distant fire that had been carried away on a wind that could shift at any moment to return with choking finality.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Melarue

  Clouds hovered above the glade, and fog curled two feet from the ground. The foggy breath of participants and onlookers added to the haze. All told, only a dozen elves had sh
own up at the glade. I imagined the rest of the townsfolk nestled comfortably inside cottages, drinking sweetberry tea beside crackling fires.

  This tournament felt nothing like the summer spectacle my sister had competed in twenty months ago. But I wasn’t here for the glory; I was here to win.

  My sword felt as much a part of me as a limb, its solid, comforting weight at my hip.

  Devdan had insisted on competing for the second spot, so I’d lent him a sword. We’d practiced the night before and early that morning. He’d stayed the night—sleeping on the couch. No funny business.

  Now we were at the glade to show off our skills, along with three other elves. The turnout was pit poor, but competing to become a personal guard wasn’t as glamorous as being made a princess.

  One of the competing elves looked barely thirteen and carried a rusted sword. I overheard him telling another shabbily dressed elf that his family had sent him in hopes he’d win and send home a healthy amount of coin for his services. Their situation reminded me of my family’s after Mother died. I felt sorry for the young elf but not enough to give up my spot. This was a rescue mission.

  A trumpet sounded, and two figures strode through the mist—one a petite female, the other a tall male. The female had long white hair and a white dress, making it appear as though she was dressed in the fog. The tall male with his blond hair bound in a low ponytail set my teeth on edge. I recognized the bastard as one of the twins who’d purchased the diamond choker.

  One by one, I wrapped my fingers around the hilt of my sword.

  “All those competing, gather round,” he said.

  Five of us strode forward, forming a semicircle around the blond Fae. The beautiful female in white stood just outside the circle, lips puckered, looking disappointed. Just wait until she saw my moves.

  “Not you,” Blondie said gruffly.

  I looked around to see who the grumpy Fae had addressed only to find everyone looking at me. My lips parted in protest before any words emerged. I snapped my attention to Blondie, who looked straight at me. Fire threatened to flame through my coat sleeves.