by Nissa Leder
Last night, she hadn’t noticed all the roses that hedged the outside of the courtyard. She admired the flowers as they passed—the tips of the buds faded into a new color. Fuchsia roses turned orange on the ends, red to violet, yellow to white. After a bit of a walk, they made it to the back of the castle.
The fence continued around, trees towering on the other side. Why had Cade brought her here? There was nothing to see but grass. Then an iron gate appeared in the fence.
“How…” Scarlett asked as Cade, arm still linked with hers, led them through the gate.
Chapter Thirteen
Cade couldn’t help but chuckle as surprise covered Scarlett’s face. He inhaled the fresh smell of the salty sea. The boom of waves crashing roared as he and Scarlett left the shadow of the tress. The sand sank beneath their feet. As quickly as footprints had formed under each step, they disappeared with the next.
Since Scarlett’s trip outside with Raith, Cade worried she might demand to be taken home. With his father’s rule—fae weren’t allowed to keep mortals against their will—he’d have no choice but to obey her request. He could keep threatening her with the pain she felt, but maybe a different approach would be better. The fae world offered many luxuries, and, as a prince, he could give her almost anything. Much more pleasant than the alternatives. So here Cade was, showing her all Faerie had to offer.
But he made no mistake; he would do whatever it took to keep her.
“You have an ocean here?” Scarlett watched as waves rolled onto the shore. “That’s crazy!”
Cade thought of a blanket from inside the castle and it appeared in front of them, spread out across the sand. He unlinked his arm from Scarlett and sat on the blanket. Scarlett removed her shoes and floral headpiece, setting them next to Cade, and jogged toward the sea. She lifted her dress before her feet found the water.
Cade watched her spin as she laughed. She was stunning and not just for a human. A spark emanated from her—like a star in the night’s sky, shining brightly, unaware of its innate allure. He’d been careful today when feeding from her emotion. He didn’t want her fully detached. Instead, he wanted her to be free from the intensity of the pain but still herself. While he’d never admit it should anyone ask, he enjoyed the human’s company. Unlike many of the fae women he’d spent time with, she wasn’t obsessed with his position. Things would only get worse if he won the battle against his brother and became King of the Summer Court. Even now, as a prince, he was a prize to be had. The status of any woman he wedded and her family would rise upon marriage to a prince. But as the king’s wife, she would become the second most powerful fae in the Summer Court.
Breathless, Scarlett plopped down beside Cade. “I’ve always loved the ocean.”
“I can tell.” Cade closed his eyes and felt the ocean breeze graze his skin.
“Don’t you?”
“I do. As a child, my brother and I would sneak here and play in the waves. Mother would have thrown a fit if she knew, but we were careful. Once she caught us sneaking in, our pants soaked from the sea, but my brother thought quickly and told her we’d been playing in the courtyard fountain.”
“Did she believe him?”
“Yes, but we still got punished, he more than I. Mother blamed his influence as my older brother. Apparently, I was too young to have such a devious plan.”
“And now you have to battle him for the crown?” Her eyes were both curious and sad. He reached out his power and searched her for sadness. A small amount had surfaced inside her, but he left it alone.
“It’s what I must do for my people.”
“Raith wouldn’t make a good king?”
“Mother doesn’t think so.”
“What about you?”
Cade wasn’t sure what he thought. He thought of the brother who would always take the blame if they got caught somewhere they shouldn’t be. The brother who helped Cade practice after their magic class as their magic was developing because Cade was having a hard time controlling his but didn’t want to disappoint their father. He wasn’t sure when things changed, but they did, and now Cade wasn’t sure how Raith would rule.
“I don’t think he really wants to be king,” Cade said. “And I can’t risk it. Not with the Summer Court at stake.”
Scarlett rolled up the sleeves of her emerald dress and hiked up her skirt so her calves and lower thighs were warmed by the sun. Cade slipped off his boots and socks, but left his clothes as they were.
“Do you visit the sea much?” Cade asked.
“I used to, then life got busy.” Scarlett’s eyes were closed as she leaned back, propped up by her elbows. Her long, chocolate hair flowed behind her, waving slightly from the breeze. “Is this ocean just for the Summer Court?”
“It borders both Summer and Spring.”
“Is there a court for each season?”
“Yes, unfortunately.” The Spring Court was tolerable, but Cade could do without the others. “The Autumn and Winter Courts can be…problematic.”
“Oh?” Scarlett twisted to her side, now using her elbow to prop her head as she looked at Cade.
“Faerie used to be completely separate from the mortal realm, and, a very long time ago, there used to be only two Fae courts: the Seelie and the Unseelie. Eventually, the Unseelie King found the connection between realms and let his creatures go exploring. Needless to say, it wasn’t good for humans. But some Seelie fae crossed realms and decided that humans needed protection. Not all the Seelie fae agreed. Many thought humans should fend for themselves, that it was beneath them to worry about mortals when their lives were barely a breath to us fae.”
“How chivalrous.” Scarlett huffed. “So, there were two and now there are four courts?”
“Six. Some of the Seelie and Unseelie fae preferred the human realm and so they built their courts amongst the mortals. They learned quickly that human emotion was especially potent. See, before the realms were connected, the fae fed off of the emotion of each other. Once they found the humans, that all changed. But the nobles of the Seelie and Unseelie courts were greedy and didn’t want all the fae to stay in the human realm, so they each created two courts to remain in Faerie, each tied to the realm by a season.”
“So, you can’t leave Faerie?”
“We can, but if our allegiance belongs to one of the season courts, we must return to our court at the very least for our season.”
“Your season?”
“Like in the human world, the seasons change here in Faerie. Each court has its chance to rejuvenate its power and be at its strongest.”
“Do the human realm courts follow the seasons?”
“No, they are uninhibited in their power. When they left Faerie, they bound ours. Each court was given a strength and each individual one part of that strength.”
“What do you mean?”
“We Summer fae were gifted the power of the mind. Each of us has our own unique form of the gift. I can enter dreams, Raith can see memories, some can see the future. Things like that.”
Cade wasn’t sure why he was telling her all of this. Perhaps it was the inquisitiveness that danced on her features, from her wide blue eyes to her parted peach lips. Or perhaps it was just a chance to talk to someone with genuine interest who cared to know about him and his life.
“But the Seelie and Unseelie Courts have all their power?” Scarlett sat up now and pulled her knees into her chest, her gaze ahead toward the waves.
“Cruel, huh.” Cade smirked. “They bound us to the realm and limited our power, while they can go wherever they please, full magic.”
“Do they get along?”
“God, no. They hate each other. But balance is required for the fae, and if one light court has full power, then one dark court must as well.”
“Dark and light?”
“The Seelie Court is good while the Unseelie Court is not, at least relatively. All Fae are out for themselves, if you ask me.”
Scarlett tilted her head tow
ard Cade. “Even you?”
“Yes, for my people.” He would do what needed to be done to protect his people, including suck the woman in front of him dry of emotion if needed. Which meant he’d already said too much to Scarlett. But he’d felt her pain in that graveyard, and even if she knew she was just a pawn in his chess game, Cade didn’t think she could leave him.
“Come on, come in the water with me,” Scarlett said. “Please.” She pouted her lower lip.
How long had it been since he’d felt the ocean? Five, six years, maybe more? He looked at Scarlett’s pleading look. Who knew the next time he’d get the chance to be free. If he won the battle, he’d be too busy with royal duties. And if he lost… Well, he may never have the chance again.
He rolled up his pants. “Only my feet.”
“Yay!” Scarlett bounced up. She untied the green ribbons on the top of her dress then slipped the dress over her head, leaving her in her slip, her bra and panties peeking through the thin fabric. She reached out her hand and pulled Cade up, dragging him to the shore.
The water splashed against his ankles. Just as he remembered, the water felt pleasant against his skin, its temperature warm. As children, he and Raith would hurl their clothing off and sprint straight into the waves, no modesty between brothers.
Scarlett was in to her thighs now, not even bothering to hold up her slip.
“Be careful, the waves can become unpredictable,” Cade said. Not only did the waves have a mind of their own, but creatures roamed their waters. They should be safe this close to the castle, though. The water fae knew better than to attack here.
She ignored his warning and waded further into the sea. She twirled, water waist high, glancing at him with joy gleaming from her face. Scarlet held her arms out wide and tilted her face toward the sun. But she leaned back too far and fell back into the waves.
Cade rushed to her, pushing easily through the water with his fae strength. Before he reached her, her head surfaced. Scarlett laughed as she stood. “I knew that would get you in here.”
“How conniving.” Cade wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her close.
Scarlett’s hair, now wet, shined in the sunlight. “You’re a fae prince. You need to have fun.”
He lifted her, her face inches from his. Gently, Cade pressed his lips onto hers. “This is more fun than I’ve had in a long time.”
They didn’t kiss again. Cade didn’t feed from her emotion. Once out of the water, he used his magic to dry them both. Scarlett glided the dress over her curves and tightened the ribbons across her chest. Her hair had dried, but still held its natural wave. She placed the flower headband back across her forehead, and Cade swore—minus her rounded ears— she nearly looked fae.
After they were back in the courtyard, Cade made the gate vanish behind him. Only he and Raith could use it, and he doubted his brother even thought about the ocean any more.
Chapter Fourteen
Cade escorted Scarlett back to her room then excused himself to attend to royal duties.
He had dried her with his magic, but she still felt salty from the seawater. She removed her dress and slip and made her way to the tub. Scarlett turned the knobs and water poured out of the spout. She was glad to be able to tend to herself. Having someone wait on her made her feel like a princess, but it seemed wrong. Even if Peony had chosen to be here, Scarlett didn’t need a servant.
Scarlett climbed into the tub as it filled. The warm water soaked into her skin, relaxing and loosening her tense muscles. She dipped her head under. When it resurfaced and she opened her eyes, her heart raced. Raith stood there, leaning against the wall.
“What do we have here?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“Get out.” Scarlett clenched her teeth.
Bubbles formed in the tub as the water turned off. “Better?”
At least her body wasn’t on full display now. “Can I help you?”
“You make me curious.”
“I’m glad.”
“And you’re spunky, too.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m here to give you some advice.”
Peony’s warning played through Scarlett’s mind—I listen and you should, too.
“I’m listening.”
He stepped away from the wall, staring at Scarlett with his bright blue eyes. “Be careful of my brother. He’ll do anything to win the crown.”
“And you won’t?”
“I didn’t say you should trust me.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
He turned away from Scarlett. “And be careful where you explore alone from now on, lest you wind up something’s lunch.”
And then he vanished.
How’d he know about that creature?
Scarlett enjoyed the rest of her bath free of any more interruptions. When she went to the bed to slip her dress back on, she found an orange tipped fuchsia rose lying across it.
Cade didn’t return until the next morning, his mood so different than when they were together at the sea. It wasn’t that he was in a bad mood, but he was stiff compared to the free-spirited moment they shared just the day before. After a night of bad dreams, Scarlett wasn’t the girl at the sea anymore either. The pressure in her chest eased minutes after Cade arrived.
He told her that Peony would be in that afternoon to help her prepare. Tonight was the opening ball to officially commence the challenge for the Right of Heir and he wanted Scarlett to be his date.
She wondered if it was strange for a potential future king to bring a mortal to such a big event, but she didn’t voice her concerns. Scarlett spent most of the day reading a book she found on a shelf in her room. It was full of fae versions of fairytales, even darker than the ones the Grimm brothers wrote. She considered strolling out to the courtyard for some fresh air, careful this time and staying well within the castle boundaries, but decided to open a window instead. The last thing she wanted was to run into Raith again. She would see him soon enough at the ball tonight and be forced to listen to any more brilliant advice he had—if Cade allowed him to talk to her, that was.
Peony arrived as the sun dipped behind the forest, its orange glow still lighting the sky. “Miss Scarlett.” She curtsied when she entered the room, a large garment bag in her hand.
Scarlett curtsied back. Earlier that morning, she’d spent an hour practicing. It seemed like an important skill in the fae world. Peony’s eyes widened. “Should I draw you a bath?”
“I already took one.”
“Then I will do your hair.”
After Scarlett put on her slip, Peony curled Scarlett’s hair into long, loose curls. She pinned a strand from each side back at the crown of her head and added a silver leaf headband. Then, Peony painted Scarlett’s face with peach colors, light eye shadow and a glossy lip.
Scarlett followed Peony back to the bedroom. Once there, Peony opened the garment bag and pulled out a lavender dress. She held it up for Scarlett to see. The lacy top had a halter strap and heart shaped neckline. The skirt was chiffon and fell to the floor.
“It’s gorgeous,” was all Scarlett could manage to say. It was the prettiest dress she’d ever seen. Peony helped Scarlett into the dress, buttoning the long trail of buttons on the back. Scarlett took herself in as she glanced in the mirror. The dress’s silver belt cinched at her waist, matching the leaf headband, which sat perfectly like a crown on her head.
“You look lovely.” Cade stood in the doorway, in a deep brown coat with embroidered silver swirls paired with brown leather pants and boots. “Are you ready?”
Chapter Fifteen
Cade twined his arm with Scarlett and led her down the hallway. She felt good this evening, no twinge of pain creeping in. Were things getting easier? Or was Cade to thank? They walked down a set of stairs and through another hallway before arriving at the grandest staircase Scarlett had ever seen. The wide stairs with dark wood railing led halfway down the flight before curving the other way. Columns accen
ted the top and bottom of the staircase. A male fae with platinum hair, dressed in a suit, stood at the top of the stairs and nodded to Cade.
“Announcing Prince Cade and his human, Scarlett,” the fae man said.
Cade’s human? He didn’t speak the word in a vile manner, but something felt off about it. But what did Scarlett expect? That she’d be announced as his date? She kind of did. Definitely not being thought of as his human.
There wasn’t anything she could do about it now, so she let Cade guide her down the staircase. Scarlett stepped carefully, fearful of tripping in the heels she wore. The room below was full of fae. All flawless and dressed elegantly. Scarlett could feel something buzzing in the room, an energy of sorts.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Cade led Scarlett to the side. The floor beneath her was a luxurious tile, a silver and fuchsia pattern spread throughout the room. They stood next to Kassandra and the king, who stared blankly ahead as if his mind was off in some distant land. Scarlett gave a small curtsy, which Kassandra returned.
“Announcing Prince Raith and his human, Natalie,” the fae man’s voice echoed through the room.
Natalie? As in her best friend’s name? It must have just been a coincidence. Natalie was a popular enough name. Scarlett’s gaze snapped to the top of the stairs. There, her best friend stood, arms linked with Raith’s. She wore a crimson, floor length gown with an opaque lace neckline. Natalie’s eyes doubled when she saw Scarlett. Her foot slipped on the stair and she tilted to the left. Raith’s hand quickly moved to her waist and kept her close.
When they reached the bottom stair, Raith looked at Kassandra and the king. Scarlett swore she could feel anger radiating off Kassandra when she took in Natalie, but her expression didn’t give any feeling away. Natalie kept her jaw clamped shut, her eyes wide with fear. Even her human instincts must sense the distaste pouring off of Kassandra.