Kingdom of Future's Hope (Royals of Faery Book 4)

by Hayley Osborn

  Jax frowned. “Are you sure? Because—”

  “I’m certain. At least, I’m as certain as I can be. I’ve been getting reports for months of problems throughout the kingdom. Just little niggly things, like stock going missing and border squabbles, fae fighting with other fae.”

  I tilted my head to one side. “I’m having similar issues. Isn’t that normal?”

  Fergus shrugged. “I would have imagined so too, but Lady Shannon from the Winter Court came to me a few weeks ago, certain Rhiannon was alive, certain she had seen her.”

  I shook my head. “After so many years fearing her, it’s no wonder she thinks she sees her in other people. But I don’t think she can be correct.” Rhiannon was dead. She had to be.

  Fergus paced across the room. “Neither did I. So, I did some investigating. And Lady Shannon is not the only one who thinks it. And all the people who tell me they have seen her, also say she is looking for revenge.”

  I glanced at Jax, hoping for backup. This was all hearsay, and ridiculous hearsay at that. “But you have no proof.” Fae had been terrified of Rhiannon for a long time. It was little surprise they still feared her now, and saw her in strangers.

  He counted on his fingers. “On the first night of the competition, someone whipped the ocean into a frenzy that almost pulled several guests below the water to their deaths, including you, if I recall correctly. On the date of the second challenge, a chandelier fell from the ceiling, injuring spectators and almost killing myself and some of the competitors. Does this not sound like the work of Rhiannon?”

  “It might. Were she still alive.” I shrugged, still not convinced. “Sounds a little petty for Rhiannon, though.”

  “Not if she has only a little magic left.” Fergus stopped his pacing and looked between Jax and me. “Think about it. If she isn’t dead, then she had to have been hurt pretty badly. There is no one of royal descent in all of Faery willing to heal those injuries, and the new queen, Bria, now has all the magic Rhiannon once had access to as ruler of the Seelie Kingdom. If she’s still alive, it’s because she has a dryad helping her. And even if that’s the case, she’s now likely a lot less powerful than she once was. Maybe she can only do petty magic. Maybe she’s working up to something larger. Maybe she’s just practicing. This is Rhiannon. Why she does the things she does is anyone’s guess.”

  I still couldn’t believe any of this added up to Rhiannon being alive. It was just a whole lot of small coincidences. “I can understand why you think that, but I just can’t imagine it’s true.”

  “Why are all these people so convinced they’ve seen Rhiannon?” asked Jax, eyebrows lifting.

  “They saw her face.” Fergus was silent, his eyes going distant before adding. “And I’ve seen her magic.”

  Jax and I went silent. Rhiannon’s magic was a shade like no other. Unmistakable, some might say.

  “Stars, Ferg. Why didn’t you start with that?” Jax ran a hand down his face.

  If Fergus had seen her magic, then that was all I needed to believe she was back. Like Jax said, he really should have said so from the start.

  Fergus shook his head. “I don’t know. Because this is the first time I’ve said it out loud. And saying it makes it real. I really didn’t want it to be real.”

  That made two of us. “Where did you see her?”

  He shook his head again. “I didn’t set eyes on her face. Only her magic. I was riding Obsidian above the Winter Court alone one night a few months back. The red glow of magic—her red—shot into the sky from near the border between the Autumn Court and the Court of Darkness. I rode toward it, but by the time I got close, it had faded. The next day, the Autumn Court complained their crops had been decimated. But only their crops along that border. They blamed the Court of Darkness for trying to steal their land, but it was Rhiannon. I know it. I could never mistake the color of her magic.”

  “So you think she is hiding in the Autumn Court?” It seemed odd that she would live in the kingdom of her rival, rather than returning to her home kingdom of Seelie.

  “I’m almost certain. They have one of the last few dryads in our realm. And there were Court of Darkness guests around each time something has happened in the competition.”

  “And,” I said softly, “Dora is from there. And she had poison with her when she was going to visit you.” Before she was sent home.

  “And that,” he said, just as quietly.

  I walked over and sank down into the chair in front of Fergus’ desk. “I don’t think Dora was the person I saw through the glass trying to poison you. Is it possible that Rhiannon is also working with another of the girls in the contest? It might explain the things that have been happening at competitive events.”

  Fergus walked to his desk, perching on the edge. “It’s possible. I mean, it is the theory I am working on.”

  Jax sat down next to him. “Do you have any idea who it might be?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve spent time with all of them. None give off a vibe of wanting to kill me.” He gave his friend a wry smile.

  Jax ignored him and turned to me, all business. “Do you have any suspects?”

  “Piper.” Her name shot out of my mouth without a thought. “If she’s not working with Rhiannon, she’s really focused on becoming the next queen.”

  Fergus scoffed. “Piper? I know you two have had your differences, but I can’t imagine her trying to kill me. Or working with Rhiannon. She really is very sweet.”

  I snorted. “Sweet as a rabid hound. You can’t see past the blonde curls and blue eyes.”

  Fergus leveled a glance at me, his voice losing its warmth. “Careful, Queen Briony. Someone might think you’re jealous.”

  Queen Briony? I’d never before heard him refer to me by my real name. It hurt that he would do so now, which I guess was the point. I schooled my face to neutral and hoped my voice sounded distant. “She’s welcome to you, Prince Fergus. Especially when you’re acting like a giant jerk.”

  “She is from the Court of Darkness.” Jax’s tone was thoughtful, ignoring—probably on purpose—the growing argument between Fergus and me. “Piper, that is. Perhaps you have a point. I say we continue with Bria in the competition. She’s best placed to monitor Piper. And to discover things we can’t just because she is so close to the other girls.”

  Fergus’ glance at his friend silently questioned where his head was. “We’re talking about Rhiannon. You know, the only person in the kingdom apart from you who can see through the strongest glamours. She probably already knows Bria is here.”

  I shook my head. “It’s not a glamour. It’s a spell. Father made it.”

  Fergus set his lips. “Jax still saw through it.”

  “Father used to sneak Mother out of the Seelie Castle with this spell. Past Rhiannon, too. He is confident that only a puca like Jax will see through it.” And since Jax was the only puca left, he was the only one who could do so.

  Fergus didn’t seem convinced. “Seems like a risky game to play with someone like her.” He folded his arms across his chest.

  I narrowed my eyes. He seemed content to pick at everything I said or did. I gave him a tight smile. “A risk I’m willing to take. If you want my help.”

  Fergus opened his mouth to speak, but Jax was quicker. “We do. Thank you, Bria.”

  “You’re welcome, Jax. At least someone is grateful.” I folded my arms, knowing I sounded pathetic, and gave Fergus a pointed stare.

  Fergus leaned toward me. “Grateful? You want me to be grateful for having to watch while someone beat you to a pulp and you lay back and did nothing about it? Grateful that I got to pretend I didn’t know who you really were and how you could have fought back, if you chose to?”

  I stared at him, caught between wanting to bite back, and hearing what he said. He’d known it was me in that ring today. And it had bothered him to see me hurt. That made me happier than it should have. “How did you know it was me
?” I asked, quietly.

  Fergus shifted his gaze past me to something on the back wall. It seemed an age before he answered. “There have been many times in my life when my magic has strained to break free. Many times when I’ve had to concentrate so hard just to keep a rein on it that I could not do another thing except breathe. I already suspected you might be here, but when I saw you lying on the ground, counting your breaths, I recognized what you were doing. And it took all my control not to stop the fight at that moment and out you to everyone.”

  I pressed my lips together and nodded. I should have known it would take an amazing performance to fool him.

  “I think we can all agree that if you’re in danger, you must use your magic.” Jax pushed off the desk and headed for the door, beckoning me with him. I followed, putting the pin back on my top. “Otherwise, keep an eye on all the girls. And let us know if you come across anything suspicious.” He held the door open for me to exit.

  “And, Amber?” Fergus called from where he was still seated on the edge of the desk. With the door open, there was no calling me by my real name.

  I turned to look at him. He was again the prince with the cold eyes.

  “Use the black glass again to spy on me and there will be consequences you will not like.” His voice was so icy, I almost couldn’t recognize it.

  “You know when I use it?”

  He nodded.

  I swallowed, understanding why he was mad. I would be too, in his situation. I would not use it again. Ever.

  Jax followed me out the door, leading me through hallways and outside to the gardens. He was silent until we were outdoors. “He’s hurting you know. Has been since the moment you left.”

  I snorted. “He’s doing no such thing. He has a queue of women lining up to take my place, just like he said he would a year ago. You’re just making excuses for his destructive behavior.”

  Jax levelled a stare my way. “You don’t believe that.”

  “I do.” Or, I did. Fergus had said some things back there that I needed to unpack. And I would. When I was on my own. I sighed. “I had no choice but to leave.”

  “Perhaps.” We headed down toward the bottom of the garden. It was still quiet out here, no one around. I guessed the girls that were left were resting after today’s fighting.

  “It was the only option,” I repeated, unsure if it was for Jax’s benefit or my own.

  “You didn’t even search for another.” Jax’s voice was mild, but there was no mistaking the chiding he gave.

  I licked my lips. I couldn’t argue. I’d acted with the urgency I thought it deserved, to keep Fergus safe. Which had meant there was no time for looking for another option. “I didn’t want Fergus to die. I still don’t.”

  “I know. But together, the two of you did things no one else dreamed possible. You escaped from Rhiannon’s prison. You stopped her taking magic from Fergus’ people. You turned yourself from a strong human into an even stronger fae. You found ways to do all those things. Together. But the one time you needed to work for each other, you didn’t even try. Trust me when I say he’s hurting. The same way you have been this past year. And know that his comments in there were driven by that pain, and nothing else.”

  I shook my head, the bleakness of our situation smacking me in the face. “Removing the bond was supposed to make the pain of losing him—” My voice broke. I swallowed and continued on. “—It was supposed to make it easier.”

  “We all expected it to. But there is no one alive who has had their bond removed. No one knew for sure what the outcome would be for the two of you. Your time with Fergus was filled with so many powerful emotions that I guess removing the bond could only lessen them, not obliterate them.” He shrugged. “Just … cut him some slack, okay? And I’ll ask that he does the same for you.”

  I nodded. I could do that.

  “Thank you.” He squeezed my arm. “Keep safe and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He started back up toward the castle, his pace fast. Standing at the top of the path, smiling at him, was Selina. I wondered if she’d really come to visit me today, or someone else. My guess was someone else. And I couldn’t be mad at her for it.

  As I headed back to my room, I spotted Fergus in the distance, walking with Willow. I hoped he wasn’t too hard on her for not telling him I was here. The two of them walked slowly and didn’t seem to argue. Suddenly she stopped and looked up at him, shaking her head, her mouth wide in shock. I wished I could hear what they were speaking of because Willow suddenly let out a squeal and jumped up and down, before pulling Fergus into a hug.

  It seemed I’d no sooner closed my eyes to sleep when a loud bang had them flying open again. I lay in the darkness, my heart racing, trying to work out if I’d actually heard something or if it had been part of a dream.

  As I was dozing off, it came again. A few moments later, doors began opening and shutting in the hallway, accompanied by murmured voices.

  I pulled on my black shirt and pants, and made my way out into the hall. The other girls were standing around in their nightdresses, some sleepy, some clutching another girl’s hand and looking like they wanted to run and hide.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Samara shook her head, her arms folded over her chest. “No one’s sure.”

  “The castle’s under attack,” said Essie, moving to stand beside Piper.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” said Piper. She was leaning in her doorway, seeming not at all concerned by whatever the noise was. “Magic doesn’t make that sort of noise. And this castle is impossible to penetrate.”

  “That’s not true.” Jasmine’s hair was messy from sleep, and she rubbed her eyes as she spoke. “Queen Rhiannon found a way into this very castle a year ago this night. If it was impenetrable, that would not have been possible.”

  “I can’t use my magic!” cried Piper. A bronze ball sat upon her hand. If no one else could see magic, they wouldn’t know she was lying. I didn’t know what that girl’s game was.

  Kaylor called her magic to her hand. “I can use mine.”

  I shook my head, just as the noise sounded again, rattling the sconces on the walls. Forgetting her, I ran back into my room and pulled on my boots.

  “Where are you going?” Jasmine peered through my open door.

  “To find out what is going on.” I glanced up from lacing my boots. “Want to come?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s … wise.”

  “Why not?” Seemed like a better idea than sitting here, waiting.

  “I’m sure we’re safer here. And if we’re not, someone will come and get us. Which they won’t be able to do if they don’t know where we are.” She wrung her hands together, far more scared than she’d been before her fight earlier today.

  Perhaps she had a reason to be worried. Perhaps she feared something I hadn’t considered. “What do you think is happening out there, Jasmine?”

  She shrugged, then dropped her voice low. “I think the castle is under attack.”

  My stomach knotted. I also thought that was likely. But I wanted to check, to find something that might prove me wrong. Or to help with defense, if that really were the case. “Who would do such a thing?” If Rhiannon was back, then I guessed it was her, but I was interested in who Jasmine thought might be behind it.

  “I don’t know. Prince Fergus and Queen Briony are no longer on speaking terms. It could be her. Maybe she still loves him and is upset by the Declaration.”

  I ducked my head, busying myself with my laces. She was right, I thought the Declaration was stupid. But not stupid enough to attack the castle. “Perhaps.” I stood up. “Whoever it is, I’m going to check it out.” Another bang rattled the walls.

  Jasmine jumped.

  I squeezed her hand as I walked past. “If I see the prince, or Jax, I’ll be sure to send them here to keep you all safe.”

  She nodded, attempting a smile.

  The re
st of the girls watched in silence as I walked past them all. No one else asked where I was going—I guessed they’d heard my conversation with Jasmine. No one offered to join me.

  I made my way up the staircase at the end of our hall, both because it sounded as if the noise was coming from up there, and because, if it wasn’t, I was fairly certain there was a balcony that would offer a vantage point where I might see whatever was happening.

  As I made my way higher up the narrow winding staircase, a flash of light stole my vision, chased by a heavy thud. A piece of stone dislodged from the wall above and tumbled down toward me. I ducked out of the way, my heart rate tripling. For a moment, I considered the sense in coming up here, and I thought about heading back to where the other girls waited. But it was only for a second. Then I continued climbing. I’d never sat around and waited for something to happen before. I saw no sense in starting now.

  At the top of the staircase, I eased the door open and waited for a flash of magic that would signal someone firing upon me. When nothing happened, I stepped onto a balcony similar to the one where Rhiannon had made her stand. From up here, the guards—or more likely the royalty who lived here—could watch the happenings outside the castle walls from the relative safety of deep inside the walls.

  Small pieces of the castle stonework were scattered across the balcony, but it was too dark to make out the damage that might have been done to the tower above. I stepped over them and closed the door.

  Before I could turn around, a hand clapped across my mouth and dragged me deep into the shadows.

  ELEVEN

  I bucked and kicked, trying to get free. I should have listened to myself. Coming up here was a stupid idea. No one would come to rescue me because no one knew I was up here.

  “Bria?” Fergus’ voice sounded in my ear. I stilled, and he lifted his hand. “What are you doing here?”

  I turned toward him, my heart racing so hard from the fright he’d given me, I didn’t know if my voice would work. I put my hand on my chest, trying to quiet my breathing. “The same as you, I imagine.”