I watched them go, tears coming to my eyes. I wasn’t sure if they were because I’d let Jax down, because Piper had beaten me, or because I wouldn’t get to see Fergus again. Probably all three.
My gaze fell on the crates piled up outside the door. Maybe this wasn’t over yet. If I could stack enough junk together, I could use it to climb up to the window.
I grabbed the crates, pulling them below the window. Most weren’t solid enough to use, but I stacked three of the sturdiest ones into a pile that reached my thigh. I turned on the spot, searching for something else amongst the junk back here. Lying on its side, a little deeper in the alley, was a rubbish bin. I lifted my skirt and ran to get it, breathing through my nose at the disgusting smell as I added it to the top of my makeshift ladder. It was rickety, but it now came up past my waist. There wasn’t anything else back here that I could use. The pile was as tall as I could manage. I still had to climb it and drag myself through the window. Hopefully, I was strong enough.
I stepped out of my toothpick-heeled shoes and wrapped the straps over each wrist. Then I slipped off the layers and layers of petticoats that were holding my dress wide, leaving the piles of fabric lying in the middle of the alley. I was not sad in the slightest to be rid of them.
I climbed onto the boxes, then onto the bin. The pile wobbled, and I placed my hands on the wall to steady myself. I would not fall. I had to get inside. Once the shaking settled, I reached up and slid the window fully open, then I pulled myself up until I could hook my arms over the sill. I hung there catching my breath before climbing my feet up the wall and pushing myself through headfirst.
I hadn’t stopped to think where I might end up—I wasn’t sure what sort of reaction dropping in through an open window in the middle of someone’s speech might get. But I also didn’t care. I needed to be part of this contest. And it didn’t matter anyway, because I ended up in a bathroom.
I slipped my shoes back on and pulled my cloak around myself to cover the dirty smudges on my dress. I tried to fix the flyaways that had escaped my bun with some water, but was only somewhat successful. Once I was done, I drew a deep breath and stepped out the door.
I found myself at the back of a large hall, a stage at the far end and rows of chairs filled with fae sitting between me and the stage. The back row, the row closest to me, was mostly empty except for the other girls in lilac dresses. Jasmine looked over her shoulder as the bathroom door clicked shut. She beckoned with her head, and I crept over to sit beside her.
Piper was standing behind a lectern on the stage, giving her speech, her clear voice ringing out around the hall.
“Where have you been?” hissed Jasmine.
I shrugged, hoping to appear casual. “In the bathroom.”
She frowned, but said nothing else.
A lady in the row in front of us turned in her seat and put a finger to her lips. “Shhh!
Jasmine raised her eyebrows at me, and I settled in to listen to Piper, wondering if the two children who’d shown me the window were all right. “…the role of Unseelie Queen, the role of Prince Fergus’ wife, should only go to an Unseelie fae. Someone who has grown up here, who knows the wants and needs of the fae of this kingdom.” Her eyes met mine. “It should never go to an outsider. Someone who has never lived in Faery, or even Unseelie, will not understand what we need. And the role should never go to someone who isn’t even fae.”
The fae at the front of the room clapped, and the clapping spread around the entire hall. Jasmine looked my way and gave an apologetic smile before reaching over and squeezing my hand.
It didn’t take a genius to realize the comments were aimed at me and Samara, the two humans left in the Declaration. Or they were aimed at the version of me everyone could see. I should have been annoyed about it. Fergus had agreed everyone was eligible, including humans, and no one in this room should have questioned it. Yet they were. All of that should have had me raging. And I was angry about it, but I also couldn’t concentrate. All I could think of were those two children everyone had walked past as they entered the hall. The ones I’d expected to help me without considering the consequences for them. Their parents had died, and I’d been so caught up in my own problems that I hadn’t even asked how.
I touched my earlobes where a gold hoop dangled on each side, and the jewels hanging around my neck. Why hadn’t I thought to give them those? Because I’d only thought of myself, that was why. Like always. It was the same as how I hadn’t considered making a monument to the lives lost in the battle against Rhiannon, because I’d only looked at it from my own viewpoint. I leaned over to Jasmine. “How long until my turn?”
She shrugged. “Piper, me, then you.”
I nodded my thanks. That was plenty of time to do what I needed. Without explaining further and to a confused frown on Jasmine’s face, I got to my feet and walked to the exit at the front of the hall, my toothpick heels tapping against the wooden floor. The sea of faces turned to stare at me, but no one stopped me and I soon turned the lock and let myself out.
The two children were sitting cross-legged near the door, their sign asking for food lying between them. Two clean lines ran down the girl’s dirty face—a fresh set of tears—while the boy’s forehead was creased with the largest frown I’d ever seen.
I eased the door shut behind me, then sat with them, crossing my legs the same way—my dress was already ruined, what was a little more dirt?
“You found a way inside, then.” The little girl’s voice was flat.
“Thanks to you.” I smiled.
“You must have lost, if you’re already back out here.” It was the boy who spoke, his frown, if possible, deepening.
I shook my head. “I didn’t compete yet. I was worried about the two of you.”
The boy gave a sad smile. “We’re not worth worrying about.”
“I doubt that very much. What happened to your parents?” My voice was soft. There was no easy way to phrase such a question.
The children glanced at each other before the girl answered. “They died when Queen Rhiannon attacked Wildeguard. All our family died that night.”
My mouth dropped open. “But … that was a year ago. Have you been on your own since then?”
They nodded.
“And no one helped you? Because I could talk to Lord Stanley. If he knew, he would—”
“He knows,” said the girl.
“And he has done nothing?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice.
She shook her head.
“It’s usually not so bad,” said the boy. “We get food from the rubbish and sometimes people give us gold. But since the Declaration started, everyone is distracted. It’s like they’re so involved in who the prince might choose that they don’t see us as they pass, so no one helps. We haven’t eaten in two days.” He glanced at his sister, who began to cry again.
I unclasped my earrings and placed them in the hollow of my dress across my lap while I took off my necklace. “Well, I can’t do much to help right now, but I promise that where I’m from, I am very powerful. Once I get home, I’ll make sure you get a place to live that’s all yours, but for now—” I scooped up the jewels and handed them to the girl. “—take these. Sell them. Get yourself some food and somewhere to stay.” Then I fished in my cloak pocket and handed the boy the ball. “And here’s something that might keep you from getting bored.”
The girl stared at the gold in her hand and shook her head. “This is too much…”
“It’s really not.” I got to my feet. I had to get back inside to give my speech. “I’m sorry I didn’t help when I first saw you earlier.”
I started for the door and a set of arms wrapped around my legs, quickly followed by another set. “Thank you,” whispered the little boy.
When I opened the door and slipped back inside, Phyllis was standing behind the lectern, up on the stage. “That is all for today’s speeches. We’ll be back with you shortly w
ith the results. At least two of these girls will return home today.”
“Wait!” I ran up the steps that led to the stage, stopping on the top step. “I haven’t spoken yet.”
Phyllis turned slowly to face me. “Your name was called. You didn’t answer.”
I pointed to the door. “I was just outside. Everyone saw me leave. Could no one have opened the door and called me back in?”
Phyllis gave a long slow blink, and I felt like I’d been called to stand in front of my headmaster at school. “The rules, as relayed to you in the common room this morning, state that I will call your name a single time. And if you don’t come up to the stage when you name is called, your chance to speak is forfeited.”
I hadn’t heard those rules. And I hadn’t thought I’d been outside long enough to forfeit my turn. “But … the prince can’t choose me if he didn’t see my speech!”
She shrugged, a bitter smile crossing her face. “That is correct. Now if you would take your seat, Miss Thornlea. I will announce the results when they come to hand.”
I glared at her and she stared right back, waiting to address the audience as I turned and walked back down the steps.
I balled my fists. How stupid was I? I could have talked to those kids on the way out after I’d given my speech. Or… Who was I kidding? Once we walked through that door at the end of today, there would be no stopping to talk to anyone, not if we wanted to catch the carriage back to the Unseelie Castle.
I was glad I’d helped them. What I wasn’t happy with was the way their kingdom had treated them since the death of their parents.
As I reached the bottom step, I looked up to find Fergus exiting a door I hadn’t noticed in the middle of the room. I stopped mid-step. I hadn’t known he was here today. I’d assumed he would watch all the speeches from the safety of the castle and decide who would stay from there. Yet here he was. Watching from some hidden viewpoint while starving children with tear-stained faces waited outside.
He wore black pants and boots with a loose-fitting white shirt. His hair was pulled tightly away from his face and his eyes were serious. He stopped at the bottom of the steps, waiting for me to climb down. I scowled at him, and then, suddenly, words began spewing from my mouth. “How dare you? What makes you think it’s okay to host grand balls at your castle, and speeches at your courts, when you have people within your kingdom who have nothing to eat? Who have no homes? You walked right past them on your way in here. Did you do anything? No! I know that because I was the last one inside, and every person in this room ignored the people who need our help the most.”
Fergus’ mouth fell open. He glanced behind, like he wanted someone to save him.
I followed his gaze, expecting Jax to march up and drag me away.
But no one was there.
Fergus cleared his throat and gave another quick glance over one shoulder. His voice was low, like he didn’t want anyone else to hear, but in speaking that way, everyone in the crowd leaned forward to listen. “And what would you have me do about it? There are many who live in this kingdom.”
“And as their leader, you should have their best interests at heart!” I narrowed my eyes. I couldn’t believe he would ask such a thing.
He clenched his jaw. “I do!”
I shook my head, telling myself to shut up even as words gushed from my mouth. “You did once. But when I see children hungry and homeless, I know that’s no longer true.”
Willow and Indira stepped through the same door Fergus had exited and walked up to stop behind him. Willow put a hand on his forearm. “Come, brother. This is not the place for such conversation.” She met my eyes as she spoke, and I felt as if I’d been turned to stone. We’d been friends once, but I’d made no attempt to stay in touch with her this past year, nor her with me. Seeing her made me remember how much she’d meant to me, and how much I missed her. I wished I would see some recognition in her eyes—if I couldn’t have Fergus know who I was, then she was my next choice. And for a moment, I thought she was going to burst into a huge grin and hug me.
Instead, her eyes fell on my perfect human ears. She turned up her nose and pulled Fergus past me and up the steps. Neither of them gave me a second look.
Indira took my arm. “Come, dear.” She guided me to an empty seat in the front row, where my fellow contestants were now waiting for the results. “You’ve had a stressful day, but it’s almost over.” Her smile was tight, and I understood it. I’d just yelled at her son, for all intents and purposes, the king. And I’d done so in a public setting. “Not much longer and you’ll be able to go home and forget all about today.”
Her grip was firm, and I had no choice but to go where she bid, sinking down into the empty chair beside Piper. Indira patted my shoulder before drifting back to the steps and up onto the stage to stand beside her children.
Piper stared straight ahead, speaking loud enough for everyone around us to hear. “Turns out you didn’t need my help to get yourself kicked out. You did it all by yourself.” She wasn’t even embarrassed to have locked the door that kept me out.
I couldn’t answer. I had no words and felt sick inside. I should have kept my mouth shut. No one spoke to the prince that way. Once I could have, but even then, I’d never have done so with so many strangers watching. What was wrong with me?
Phyllis stepped up to the microphone, while Fergus, Indira and Willow stood behind her, looking out over the hall. My heart catapulted inside my chest. I’d screwed up, and I knew what Phyllis would say before she spoke the words. “Amber Thornlea, please come onto the stage.”
Thinking I might throw up, I pushed to my feet. I moved woodenly, placing one foot in front of the other until I stood beside Phyllis, looking out at the sea of faces.
How I wanted this over with.
Phyllis began speaking the moment I stopped walking. “Miss Thornlea. Are you aware that it is an offense to speak to the future king in that manner?”
I nodded. Of course I knew. “I’m sorry.” I glanced over my shoulder at Fergus. He gave a nod and stepped up to the lectern beside Phyllis.
Forcing her to move aside, he spoke. “We had several criteria we were seeking to find in the winners today, and Amber is the only girl to meet every one of those criteria.”
An outraged cry came from Piper in the front row, which I would have relished were I able to make sense of the words coming from Fergus’ mouth.
It seemed Phyllis was having the same problem. “But … she didn’t even speak!”
Fergus gave a slow nod. “This is true. But the challenge was to show why you would make a good queen for this realm. Amber took the time to help those most vulnerable in our kingdom. Through her actions today, she has shown the sort of leadership I am looking for in my queen.” He twisted to face me and smiled, which made my stupid heart race. “The children have reported to me how you gave them your jewelry so they could buy food.”
A chair scraped across the wooden floor, and in the front row Piper jumped to her feet, already pulling the jeweled clips from her hair. “They can have these. They’re a family heirloom and just one clip will buy them food for a year.” She started for the door.
Fergus followed her path with his eyes and spoke into the microphone. “Sit down, Miss Ashfox.”
Piper turned as she walked, smiling at the prince. Her blonde hair fell in waves around her face, and she looked a picture of beauty. It wouldn’t surprise me if Fergus couldn’t remove his gaze from her. “Just give me a moment…”
“Sit. Down.” Fergus’ voice was like ice. More like his father’s than I’d ever heard. My eyebrows shot up at his tone.
Piper froze, then turned slowly back, mouth open to speak. Whatever she saw on Fergus’ face made her mouth shut so fast her teeth clicked. Slinking back to her chair, she didn’t utter another word.
“But we were told we must give a speech.” One of the other girls in the front row spoke up, clearly as disgruntled as Piper.
She can’t have seen the glare Fergus gave Piper, or I doubted she would have been so bold.
Fergus fixed his gaze on her, his smile appearing more like a grimace. “You were. But you also all had the same opportunity as Amber. Yet every one of you walked past the fae outside. Starving and homeless children. Amber was the only one who looked past her own problems to help someone else. She will not be going home today.”
He paused, and I caught a hard glare from Piper and an encouraging smile from Jasmine. I let out a breath, my knees shaking. I was so certain I’d screwed up. Certain I’d be leaving Unseelie in the next few minutes.
He looked out over the crowd. Over the girls occupying the front rows. “If even two more of you had done the same, the competition would suddenly have become very tight. I would have sent everyone else home today.” He paused, allowing the unhappy murmurs of the other girls to fill the hall before continuing. “But because it is not a competition without competitors, you will all stay.”
Some girls let out deep sighs. Members of the audience clapped their approval. I wanted to clap, too. Being the only girl left was not part of my plan. In fact, it would be the worst possible outcome of my time here in Unseelie.
“However, Amber will have immunity in the future challenge of her choice.”
This time the unhappy murmurs weren’t so soft. Fergus quieted them with a single look.
“She can choose when she wishes to use it. And that brings us to a close for today. I’ll see you all back at the castle.” He stepped out from behind the lectern, then jumped from the stage, landing softly in front of the row of girls competing for his hand rather than taking the stairs. Some girls clapped like he’d done something special, which made me want to barf. The stage wasn’t even that high. I could probably do the same—in my toothpick heels. Since when had he ever put on a show like this for other’s approval? It was like I didn’t even know him anymore.
Kingdom of Future's Hope (Royals of Faery Book 4) Page 10