by J. M. Kearl
I tossed it onto my bed, grabbed a towel and headed to the bathing room. I needed a hot bath to relax. Now I knew for sure the Fae would come to do exactly as Nimblewatt had seen before. And my skin still crawled at the fact that I’d sleepwalked all the way to the orchards to get my cursed crown.
Passing by groups of girls gathered into the common area, I peeked into one of several tub rooms and sighed with relief to find it empty and cleaned. With my magic I summoned hot water from the faucet. After undressing, I stepped in and slid under, scrubbing at my scalp. I popped my head above the surface and stared at the wall, letting my eyes unfocus as my mind drifted to my crown. Something in the back of my mind pulled me there, willed me to go after it. My logical mind fought that ridiculous thought away.
After my skin pruned and the water went cold, I rose and dried off. I didn’t want to tell anyone about this strange urge for the crown. Especially not Zyacus, he’d worry too much or probably try to destroy it and hurt himself in the process.
For once, I wished for classes to distract me from my own worries. That wish would be granted in the morning but I had the rest of the evening free.
As I changed into a clean uniform, a pink pixie flew through the high window and dive-bombed me with what looked like something sharp in her tiny hands. I jumped to the side and caught her legs before she crashed into the door. The object she had in her hands was a paper folded to look like a dagger. A message probably from someone bored. But what I didn’t understand was why it wouldn’t be sent the usual way, through fire.
“Unhand me you great oaf,” she squealed, wiggling like a worm.
“Settle down,” I said as she slammed her head against my fist. “And I will.”
I plucked the paper dagger from her hands and set her on the edge of the tub.
“The prince paid me to find you. An entire bottle of the good stuff, I might add, since you hadn’t responded to his other messages.” She stood and with her wings fluttering, she flew inches from my face. “You’re a fool if you let that beautiful hunk of a man get away. If I were human,” she licked her fingers in a seductive manner that made me cringe. “You get the idea. Bye, Princess.” Then she buzzed off, pink glitter trailing behind her.
I pulled open the intricately folded paper and inside it read: I’m waiting at the bottom of the stairs. If you aren’t here in five minutes, I’m coming up. Hopefully you’re dressed… or maybe more hopefully, not.
-Z
I smirked at that last bit. I quickly ran a brush through my wet hair and after dropping my things off in my room, I made my way to the stairs. Standing at the crest, I watched Zyacus pace back and forth. I smiled at his obvious concern, and made my way down. He paused when he saw me then casually leaned against the wall like he hadn’t been anxiously waiting.
“Princess Slumber finally emerges,” he said, folding his arms over his chest.
I chuckled at the nickname. “I had trouble falling asleep and then when I actually did sleep I apparently didn’t wake up to the sunshine.”
He pushed my hair behind my ear and kissed me. I opened my mouth to tell him about the vision but he cut me off, “Come on, let’s get you something to eat and then some girls put together a scavenger hunt. It will get our minds off everything. We can have some fun.”
I buried the urge to tell him about the vision. It was my burden to bear anyway.
We sat down in the nearly empty dining hall. A few stragglers hung around, snacking but it wasn’t mealtime. Zyacus bribed a cook to make me food, although I didn’t feel like eating. The anxiety of everything ruined my appetite. I just couldn’t stop worrying about the rituals of the blood moon and the Fae prince and that stupid crown always pulling at me.
I poked at a potato with my fork. I forced myself to take a bite and chewed it slowly. Zyacus sipped on a bubbly red drink from a clear mug. “So I hear the prize for this scavenger hunt is something coveted. I plan to get it.”
“Of course you do. You get everything you want,” I teased.
He tilted his head back and forth as if considering this. “Yeah, I usually do.”
Arrogant bastard. I couldn’t deny that I liked it. I liked this about him even when I mostly hated him. Confidence in a man drew me like a pixie to wine.
“Zyacus,” Mateo called from the doorway. “Someone needs to speak with you. Kingdom business.”
He groaned and pushed away from the table. “If I’m not back by the time you’re finished, we’re meeting by the sparring grounds for the hunt.”
“I’ll see you there.” As he walked away I had the urge to tell him about what happened to me. About my sleep walking and the crown but I stuffed the potato in my mouth instead.
Chapter 19
I only stayed in the dining hall alone for a couple of minutes before Legacy, Lora, Taz, and Aramis strolled in. The room went from light chatter at a few other tables to those four exploding the quiet with laughter.
“Hey, there she is!” Lora excitedly pointed at me.
Finished eating, I pushed my plate aside and put on a smile. The four of them surrounded me and sat down. “Where have you been all day?” Taz asked. “I was beginning to worry.”
“Nothing dramatic, I was just sleeping.” If it had just been Taz and Legacy, I would have told them about my incident with the crown but I didn’t know enough about Aramis at this point. I also didn’t want Lora to feel obligated to get involved in this mess.
Legacy looked at Taz. “See, I told you.” She met my eyes. “He didn’t believe me.”
Aramis sat directly across from me and had yet to look at me. He probably felt weird since the fight he had with my boyfriend. I’d seen him in class since but we’d been in different training groups and hadn’t spoken since.
I cleared my throat. “It’s good to see you again, Aramis.”
“Your highness, I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since, well, you know. I wanted to apologize for my behavior.” He fidgeted with a spoon on the table.
Wearing a pleased expression, Lora folded her arms as if she’d been the one to put her older brother up to this. “He was out of line.”
Both Taz and Legacy snickered. I shot them both blazing scowls and they shut up. “There’s no need to apologize. Besides, I don’t think you were the instigator.” The hot-headed Hesstian Prince was.
Aramis’s mouth slowly turned up. “I, well, no the prince brought the intensity but I should have backed off. He’s protective of you and I knew that.”
I wanted to say, no, he’s jealous and shouldn’t be, but how could I when I wanted to char the earth when Zyacus simply talked with Jennika. To be fair, they had a past and Aramis and I did not.
“Zyacus can be a prick,” Legacy said with a chuckle. “Visteal used to hate him. Like wanted to cut off his man parts.”
Everyone laughed including me. But I remembered her note, and since I didn’t think she had any suspicion about my vision I asked, “So what did you want to say about Taron?”
A blush stained her cheeks and she ran her fingers through her thick hair. “Oh, I know you all don’t know him well but would you mind if he joined us at the scavenger hunt? As my partner.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. Was Legacy a curse on men? Aric had died but thankfully been brought back even if it were as something else, and now Taron had been cursed to die. Maybe it was a good thing she never liked Taz back. I couldn’t lose one of my best friends.
“No, bring him,” I said with a smile. “He seems nice.”
“We don’t mind at all,” Lora said and nudged Taz.
Taz shrugged. “Whatever.”
“Guess what,” Lora said suddenly grinning. She pinched her brother and said, “My big bro qualified in the main seventh-year tournament! Isn’t that great?”
All of us rattled off our congratulations. It wasn’t easy to get into the major tournament. Madison only allowed the best.
“That’s really exciting, Aramis. You might face off with Zyacus a
gain then,” I said, smirking about their last brawl.
He sat back in his chair with a chuckle. “That would be interesting.” His inviting brown eyes lingered on me for a few beats until he leaned forward, resting his forearms against the table. “If you hated the prince so much before, what was it that changed your mind?”
I’d thought about this a few times before. “I can’t pinpoint a specific time that my feelings for him changed. But there’s a lot of things I like about him.” It definitely happened gradually.
“I don’t know him well, but he’s tough, that’s for sure,” Aramis said. “If fighting skills make a good king, he’ll be successful.”
“I think he’ll make a great king one day.”
“Vis, are you going to be queen of both Delhoon and Hesstia?” Lora asked, bouncing her fingers on the table. “Because that would be amazing. I think it’s the Queen that makes the King.”
My eyes dropped to the table. “I don’t know. We’re not betrothed. You all would know if we were.” It was awkward to talk about something Zyacus and I hadn’t really discussed. We were both so young. The only reason anyone asked about our union was because we were royal. None of the other students talked of marriage.
I didn’t want to say aloud, but Zyacus would probably be dead before I ever became Queen of Delhoon. He’d die before my mother would.
As if reading my thoughts Legacy said, “Zyacus probably won’t live long enough to see her be Queen of Delhoon.” As if her words wouldn’t sting. “I mean,” she stammered, blushing again. “But he might.”
Everyone scowled at her, including me.
Taz shoved her. “Real nice, Legacy. We don’t know that.”
“Just because he isn’t magic-born doesn’t mean there isn’t another way,” Lora snapped.
Aramis stood, his chair scraping against the floor. “Let’s get going. The hunt starts soon.”
I was thankful for the interruption.
The group of us headed toward the door then Legacy pulled me back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound harsh.”
“It’s fine,” I said even though the pit of anxiety I’d already been experiencing only grew. “I know you weren’t saying it to be mean.” What I really wanted to say is she should be worried about her own relationship, and how long that might last.
She smiled. “I’m so glad you’re not mad at me. I say stupid things sometimes.” She twirled a piece of her hair. “So, I wanted to ask what you thought about Taron. Do you like him? Do you think he’s cute? I think it might be time for me to let Aric go. He won’t even talk to me.”
My mind drifted back to the vision. “Yeah, Taron seems nice. And definitely cute.” I wanted to tell her, I really did, but if I could stop the Fae, she wouldn’t need to get her heart broken at all. She didn’t need to know.
“I guess we’ll see what happens with him.” Legacy beamed. “I need to go find him. Meet you outside.”
∞∞∞
Once I caught up to my friends we arrived at a gathered group of a hundred or so students from all kingdoms. Taz, Aramis, Lora and I waited for the game to begin. I hoped Zyacus would show soon. I didn’t want him to miss the hunt when he was so excited about it.
Aramis stood on one side of me and nudged my arm. “There’s the prince.”
A warm trickle rolled down my spine. I peeked over my shoulder finding Zyacus. Somehow my body or magic, I wasn’t sure which, always seemed to be aware when he was near. A shot of jealousy flamed within me, seeing him walk beside a girl. I tried to quell it. I promised I would trust him. He’s entitled to have girl friends. I have Taz and he’s never once said a word about it.
I had almost conned myself into relaxing until I recognized the big boobed brunette I hated. Does she have a death wish? Why in the burning pits of hell is Jennika still here? And why is he talking to her?
At a light tap on my shoulder, I snapped my head around with an angry glare. Legacy stood beside Taron. “Why is Zyacus talking to her. Better question, why is she even here? I thought you told her to leave.”
“I did,” I grumbled.
When Zyacus joined our group, he shoved his hands into his pockets. He noticed the tension immediately. “What are you all pissed about?”
I moved to his side and slid my hand around his back. I had to show I wasn’t a jealous psycho. “Nothing.”
Taz and Legacy exchanged knowing looks. Aramis and Taron seemed confused and Lora tugged her brother aside, probably to fill him in.
“Well, if you don’t say it, I will,” Taz said. “What’s the situation with Jennika? After last night especially.”
It seemed everyone knew about the fight me and Jennika had gotten into. If they hadn’t been there the cat network told them.
Zyacus immediately looked to me as if he hadn’t even considered why I might get angry. “She wanted to talk about kingdom matters that involve her and me.” He looked at each of our friends. “Nothing you all need to get riled up about.”
I withdrew my arm and moved away. Kingdom matters that involved them? Like their would-be betrothal?
He frowned and took my hand. “I’ll fill you in.”
I followed him, trying not to let my imagination run wild. So much about Zyacus confused me. How much I wanted him. How I could feel his presence. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. And holy phoenix, the way he challenged me and seemingly adored me made my stomach flutter in all sorts of ways. He was the only boy I’d ever considered tearing the clothes off of when we were alone, and yet a small part of me still didn’t want to accept it. That was the confusing part. Perhaps it was simply the old mistrust I had of him. Perhaps part of me still held that old grudge. Especially when we’d spent months apart. Perhaps I believed deep down he’d leave me for his crown. Legacy reminded me of another possible reason I couldn’t fully give into him; he would die of old age long before me.
“Vis,” he said softly. “I wanted to talk to you alone without the whole group around. I was called away because there’s been a change. My father sent word and Jennika told me that she’s going to accept a betrothal to my brother and wanted to tell me before it was official. I guess she thought I’d care. I told her I was happy.” He smiled.
After the meeting we’d had with his father I didn’t think he’d budge any time soon. “Why did he change his mind?”
“I gave my father an ultimatum before I left to come here. If he didn’t give me my free will, not only in who I chose to marry but as a grown man, I’m nineteen now, then I’d step away from the throne. I’m not going to be controlled by him or anyone.”
I smiled at the irony. Enden should have known his son would be as stubborn as him.
“My father said Drakonus has accepted as well. He’s always had a thing for her. Her father has agreed to the new arrangement. Honestly I don’t think she ever liked me for me; all she saw was a crown. She flirted with Drakonas more. Anyway, she’s going back to Hesstia and asked that you not hunt her down to kill her.” He grinned at the threat I’d made. “Everyone is happy.”
“This means you’re free.” My words came out in barely a whisper. This whole time I’d always worried he might have to give me up for his crown but now… now I had something new to fret over. The future for us was real. And as I’d always been told, no one courts a princess without marriage intent, and I supposed the same went for a prince.
“Free?” he repeated. “Not entirely.” His blue eyes held me. “You have captured me and…” he cheeks colored, “And I don’t think I will ever be free again.”
I couldn’t remember ever seeing his brazen confidence falter let alone a blush stain his cheeks. It looked good on him. I nervously grabbed onto the hilt of my sword. I had to grab something. “I know what you mean.”
That confident smirk returned. “There might even be a word to describe this feeling but I don’t think you’re ready to hear it.”
My lips parted. Love. He was right. I wasn’t ready to hear it. Aric had said h
e loved Legacy and yet look at them now. Many of our fellow students had “fallen in love” and fallen right out when someone else came along or they got bored or insert reason, but I didn’t want to hear that word until I knew he meant it. Until I knew he wanted me forever. The kind of love I wanted was a bond that wouldn’t break. A force that no one and nothing could stop. So desirable that people talked about it around a campfire.
Burning.
Smoldering.
Unquenchable.
“When you mean it with every bit of your soul, when you’re completely utterly sure, you can say it but not before then.”
My prince stared at me for a long moment before he slowly nodded.
A loud whistle cut through the evening air drawing us toward two girls standing on a large boulder. “Hello, hello everyone. We’re excited so many of you showed up,” the short strawberry blonde Delhoon girl said.
“And we have to recognize the crown prince and princess in the back,” the brunette girl beside her said, and a few cheers and whistles came from the crowd.
“Now,” said the first girl, “in honor of our blood moon.” She lifted a hand to the sky where the moon shone as scarlet as ever, “We have put together a scavenger hunt. On the property somewhere we have hidden a magical red orb that has a calming effect when held. You’re worried about a test? Hold the orb and your anxieties will wilt. If you find it, not only are you the winner but you get to keep the orb.”
That would be useful for me right now.
“Wahoo!” A boy next to me shouted along with the cheers in the gathered groups.
“But that’s not the only prize,” the brunette said. “Should you find the orb you’ll also get this.” She raised a golden bow with black markings etched into it. “It’s enchanted to always hit the mark. A rare prize generously donated by Firo Hazelvale.”
“I want it,” Zyacus purred.
I wanted it too. I’d never seen a bow like it. Enchanted weapons were rare. They had to be made by a weapons master who had the ability to imbue magic into them. To my knowledge no one alive had the gift. Anyone with magic talent could enchant items but the effects weren’t lasting. Why would Firo donate such a rare and expensive weapon?