Everything sped up right before I shot out of the swirling tunnel. I stumbled backward, barely managing to keep my footing. Grass as brilliant as cut emeralds was crushed beneath my boots as I regained my balance and breath. Sunshine blazed down over rolling hills. There wasn’t a whiff of mist to be seen nor a tingle of winter’s chill. My coat, which had felt too thin moments before, turned stifling in the heat.
Before I could turn and take a look in the opposite direction, Devdan appeared, as though from thin air, hurtling toward me, face forward like he’d run after me rather than been yanked into the portal. His eyes widened right before he ran into me, knocking me off my feet and onto the ground.
“Oomph!” Air expelled from my chest when Devdan landed on me.
He jumped back to his feet, dragging me up with him. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking me over with concern.
“I’m fine, but who knows about Jhaeros? Couldn’t he tell I was trying to warn him?”
Devdan opened his mouth to answer then closed it as Folas appeared. The blond guard strode over. “Welcome to the kingdom of Dahlquist,” he said. “Until you have proven your loyalty, you are not allowed to be portaled directly into the castle. We must walk the rest of the way.”
“What castle?” I demanded, squinting into the endless green hills.
Devdan took me by the shoulders and spun me around.
“Ohh,” I said, staring in wonder at the turrets and spires rising in the brilliant sky. I’d never seen a castle until now. It looked magical and imposing. “We get to live there?” I asked, momentarily forgetting my mission. This was the stuff of fairy tales, legends, and myths. My legs were already moving faster, eager to reach the grand palace—and my sister.
Devdan jogged to my side to catch up. I couldn’t stop staring at the castle. A nagging feeling at the back of my head slowed my steps until I came to an abrupt halt. I glanced over my shoulder at the endless hills. There were no homes or signs of life on them. They almost looked like a portrait that had been pasted across the horizon.
“What about Teryani?” I asked, chewing on the inside of my cheek.
“She might take a while,” Folas said.
His answer set my teeth on edge.
“She won’t hurt Jhaeros, right?”
“One never knows with Princess Teryani,” Folas said. “Maybe she has something more pleasurable in store for him.” He smirked.
I narrowed my eyes. “She better keep her hands to herself. That’s my sister’s future mate.”
“Are all elves this possessive?” Folas didn’t hang around for an answer. He strode forward. “Hurry up.”
Devdan and I exchanged glances.
“He’ll be okay, right?” I asked Dev, wanting him to reassure me so I could go back to feeling excited about entering the castle and seeing my sister.
Devdan shrugged, his lips pursed, not looking convinced of anything.
Well, there was only one direction that led someplace. It wasn’t as though I could create my own portal back to Pinemist to check on Jhaeros. He was a grown male. He should be able to take care of himself. Hopefully.
By the time we reached the castle’s moat, sweat dotted my hairline.
“Is it always hot in Faerie?” I asked.
“It’s summer,” Folas said. “And the weather isn’t the same in all of Faerie.”
A drawbridge had been left down, almost as though waiting for us. I hurried to it, the first to step onto the heavy wood planks.
Faces peered at us from the watchtower, but no one called down. The castle gate led into a courtyard bustling with activity that reminded me at once of market day back in Pinemist—but much more chaotic.
Our path was blocked by a pair of oxen hitched to a cart with eight large barrels that were being unloaded from the back. Folas weaved around it. Devdan and I followed, turning sideways to avoid being bashed in the head by a heavy log a Fae carried over his shoulder. Behind the oxen, a wagon filled with a towering pile of straw hindered our route. Folas ducked beneath a thatched awning into a room bustling with activity and the stench of uncooked meat. Whack. Whack. Whack. A butcher knife hacked off chunks of raw flesh. Workers in aprons salted the pieces of meat then attached them to heavy hooks that hung from the rafters. Not all the workers were Fae—some had rounded ears. Flies buzzed around buckets filled with blood and guts.
I pinched my nose closed with my fingers, hurrying after Folas. He led us out of the stall and past a dead pig hanging upside down, its throat slit and blood draining into a bucket below. We rounded a wood partition, which took us past a pen squeezed tight with pigs.
“What time’s dinner?” I asked to try to lighten the mood, but Folas marched forward without so much as a grunt.
We passed stables filled with horses, wandering goats that tried nibbling on burlap sacks, and stores of grains that a black cat watched over, tail swishing as it waited patiently for mice.
I glanced over my shoulder, mouth ajar. The castle courtyard was like a town of its own.
Gradually, the noise died down the deeper we traversed into the castle’s belly. We reached another stone wall and gate, this one leading into a courtyard lined with hanging clothes drying in the sun. The women washing and rinsing garments from baskets all looked like humans.
This courtyard led into yet another one bursting with roses, sunflowers, dahlias, and lavender. Water trickled from a large circular fountain in the center of the garden. Two peacocks strutted across the stone path as we passed through.
From the courtyard of flowers, Folas brought us to a heavy wooden door that led inside.
I half expected to see Aerith waiting inside the corridor. “Where’s my sister?” I asked as we entered the palace.
“First you are to report to King Liri for inspection and instruction,” Folas said.
I pursed my lips, impatient to be reunited with my sister. I kept my eyes peeled for Aerith in the halls, but all I saw were unfamiliar faces in pretty clothes. Most of them ignored Devdan and me. Some cast curious glances our way.
Folas took us to a tall set of double doors where his twin stood waiting. His brows rose when he looked past his brother at me. I smiled and waved. He frowned, turning his head to his twin.
“What’s she doing here?”
“She demonstrated superior fighting skills.”
I lifted my chin proudly.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“That’s for the king to decide. Is he inside?”
“Go ahead and report to him. I will keep an eye on these two,” Folas’s twin said, stepping away from the door.
“You two wait here until you’re told you can enter,” Folas said as he pulled the door open and disappeared into the room on the other side of the stone wall.
“So, what’s your name?” I asked the Folas look-alike glowering at Devdan and me.
“What’s yours?” he said in a haughty tone filled with challenge.
“I’m Mel, and this is Devdan.”
The blond Fae wrinkled his nose, showing how little he thought of us and our names.
“So?” I prodded. “Who are you?”
He pursed his lips and glared at me as though we’d entered some kind of staring contest. Only, this was a not-sharing-names contest, which I’d already lost by telling him both my name and Devdan’s.
“His name is Galather,” a familiar female voice sang out in merriment.
I spun around and watched as Teryani strode up to the door, fluttering to a stop in front of us. I narrowed my eyes.
“What happened back in Pinemist after I was shoved into the portal?” I demanded.
“Nothing to concern yourself over,” Teryani said, eyelashes fluttering in false innocence.
I tried to read her expression, but it was as bland as the color of her hair and clothes. At least she hadn’t been far behind us. There wouldn’t have been time to seduce Jhaeros.
My shoulders began to relax.
Hold up, Mel. She
definitely had enough time to kill him.
I tensed and dropped my gaze to Teryani’s delicate hands, searching for blood.
A tinkling laugh emerged from the Fae princess’s lips. “Don’t fret, Mel. Your sister’s beloved is perfectly safe. I merely wished to assure him of your safety and Aerith’s.”
My fingers twitched over my thigh, unsure whether she knew the truth. “Your sister” could have meant Aerith or Shalendra, but I’d never told Teryani Shalendra’s name. Maybe Jhaeros had. Or maybe he hadn’t and that’s why she’d said “your sister.”
I pursed my lips while Teryani flashed me a dazzling smile. Aerith once told me that Fae couldn’t lie, which meant that if Teryani said Jhaeros were safe, I could stop worrying about him and refocus on getting my sister the freak out of Faerie.
The wood door groaned as Folas opened it. He noticed Teryani and raised his brows. “Any trouble?”
“Not even the tiniest,” Teryani said sweetly.
“Was he who he said?”
She nodded, grinning. “Her sister’s sweetheart,” she answered, inclining her head in my direction. “Though a wedding date has not been set.”
I couldn’t tell whether she was helping me out again. I doubted Jhaeros had wised up after my abrupt departure and gone along with my cleverly constructed ruse. If Teryani knew Jhaeros was in love with Aerith, she wasn’t sharing—for now. Nor had she lied.
“King Liri is ready to see you,” Folas said to Devdan and me. “Remember to bow when you reach the dais.”
I glanced at Devdan, who wrinkled his nose and shot me a look that read, “What in the seven hells have you gotten us into?”
I shrugged and strode forward, ready to get my first look at Aerith’s doting brother-in-law.
The room was one of ginormous proportions: a massive space from wall to wall and floor to ceiling where light streamed in through stained glass windows. So much space, yet only one piece of furniture—a throne atop a dais on which sat the king dressed in black wearing a gold crown. He had a pale oval face and long white hair like Teryani’s. In fact, aside from their conflicting choices of colors, they looked a lot alike. If I had to guess, I’d say Teryani was Liri’s twin.
The princess and Folas trailed in behind Devdan and me. Steely gray eyes followed our movements. Once we were five feet from the dais, Devdan and I came to a stop and bowed.
“You look nothing like her,” came a sharp voice. His lips pursed as though finding me lacking. Although it was summer in Dahlquist, the king looked cold as snow.
The wintry white male shouldn’t judge. Jhaeros looked like a total stud compared to Liri with his pasty skin.
I tried not to glower as I met Liri’s scrutinizing gaze. “We can’t all be twins,” I answered tartly.
Folas stepped forward. “This one has a mouth on her. Say the word and I’ll dump her back in Pinemist.”
“Wait,” Teryani said. “I think you will find her useful.”
The king narrowed his eyes at his sister. “I will, or you will?”
“Her presence will make Aerith happy.” Teryani shrugged as though Aerith’s happiness mattered little to her.
The king’s gaze returned to me. “Do you think being blood related makes you qualified to protect Princess Aerith?”
“No. I think my sword does.” I patted the blade at my hip and grinned. “Oh, and this.” I turned my hands over, palms up, summoning fire that swirled into balls of flame.
“She has fire magic?” the king asked, unease lacing his words.
That’s right, force to be reckoned with right here. He should be concerned—and watch his back.
“Yes, sire,” Folas answered.
I smiled smugly, curling my fingers to smother my beautiful flames.
“And what of the male?” The king slid his gaze over to Devdan.
“He had the best skills out of all of the males,” Folas said, leaving out the part about only three other males in Pinemist competing.
“Very well,” the king said. He looked down at Devdan and me. “One of you will watch Princess Aerith during the day, and one of you will guard her at night. Should any harm come to the princess, you will suffer a punishment most severe—regardless of your relation to her,” he added, staring pointedly at me.
“Works for me,” I said, staring right back.
“Folas, show them to their quarters and explain their duties in more detail.” The king flicked a slender white wrist at Folas.
I was really beginning to understand why Aerith had gone starry-eyed with Jhaeros. He was slender yet built, with rugged good looks, especially compared to King Liri, who, like his sister, looked cold and way too pretty.
As we followed Folas out of the throne room, I heard the king command his sister to remain behind. Hopefully she wouldn’t share any more insights into Jhaeros. When it came between King Cold and Jhaeros Keasandoral, I was most definitely rooting for Jhaeros. We elves had to stick together.
Out in the stone corridor, Folas nodded to his twin before setting off at a decent clip through the hall. “Royal guards sleep in the north wing,” he began.
“Where is Aerith’s room?”
“Princess Aerith’s quarters are in the south wing,” Folas answered. Before he could add anything more, my next question burst forward.
“Shouldn’t our quarters be next to hers?”
Folas turned his head and snarled at me. “Can you be quiet for even a minute? It doesn’t matter that your room is in the north wing. None of the guards spend much time in their rooms, besides sleeping. Princess Aerith will never be left unguarded. When it’s time for the two of you to switch, you will do so outside her quarters or wherever she might be at the time. I suggest you use the remainder of our walk to decide which one of you will take nights and which one days. After we reach your rooms, you will only see one another in passing.” A cruel smile jerked up Folas’s lips.
For once, my questions settled into the pit of my stomach.
This had never been part of the deal. I should have known the Fae would hide important details in the fine print. Not that we’d signed any contracts. When I glanced at Devdan, tears welled up in my eyes. I blinked them away, but Dev had seen. The concern in his gaze tugged at my heart. Is this how Jhaeros made Aerith feel? I had to remind myself this situation was far from permanent.
“You take days,” Devdan said gently. “It will give you more time with your sister.”
Folas grunted. “Good idea. Mel, here, might not like what happens at night.”
With Folas’s back to us, he avoided the missiles I launched at him with my fiery glare.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s a pit head,” Devdan said.
“With a pit where his heart should be,” I added.
I glanced at Devdan, hoping to share a smirk, but his lips were pressed into a frown. I wanted to reassure him everything would be okay, but my attention kept getting whisked away peering down passages and wondering where they led. Being Aerith’s guard wouldn’t allow for a whole lot of exploring. I’d have to save that for nighttime.
I lost track of all the hallways we’d passed to reach what Folas announced as the royal guards’ quarters of the north wing. He pushed open a narrow door that led into a tiny chamber with a single bed, wood chair, and a narrow table with a pitcher and washing bowl on top.
“The one next door is identical,” Folas announced.
“You take this one,” Devdan said. He’d been on his best behavior since arriving in Faerie. It was unnerving.
After we’d stuffed our few belongings into our rooms, Folas took us on another long walk to the south wing.
“You both need to know where Princess Aerith’s apartments are located,” Folas said. “Afterward, I suggest you return to your room and try to get some sleep.” This he said to Devdan.
My heart skipped inside my chest as every step took me closer to my sister. Was she expecting me? Or would this be a surprise? Either way, I couldn’t wait to see the look
in her eyes.
After reaching an ornately carved door in the south wing, Folas knocked and announced himself. When Aerith answered, her mouth and eyes flew open in utter shock.
“Mel!” she gasped, as though seeing a ghost.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Aerith
Even in the daylight, the dark halls had a way of playing tricks on the eyes.
It had to be a glamour. No way was my sister standing outside my room at the palace in Dahlquist. And standing beside her . . . Devdan? I glanced at him before returning my wide-eyed stare to the redhead smiling brightly, chin tilted up with pride.
Yeah, this was Mel all right.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
“I’m your new guard.” Mel lifted her chest and grinned.
I blinked, still unsure if my eyes were playing tricks on me. “My new what?”
“Devdan and I competed and won positions as your personal guards. I’m taking the day shift, and Devdan will keep watch outside your door at night.”
Horror clamped around my heart like icy fingers. Suddenly, the two shrubs Liri had placed beside the onyx archer made sense. Was bringing my sister to Faerie some twisted part of the game?
“Mel, no. You can’t be here.” I looked at Folas. “You have to return them to Pinemist.”
“King Liri insisted you have your own guards. These two won fair and square.”
Naturally, the blond sentinel belonging to Liri was no help at all.
“It wasn’t as grand as your tournament, but we still triumphed,” Mel said, practically bouncing on her toes.
She had no idea what she’d gotten herself into. She acted like this was just another adventure.
Folas stepped up to Mel and shot her a severe glare. “Listen up, fireball. From here on out you wait outside Princess Aerith’s rooms and only leave your post to follow behind her. You only speak when spoken to. If anyone attempts to cause the princess harm, you stop them by any means necessary. Got it?”
Mel saluted him.
Folas glared. “This is not a game.”
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