Curse of the Fae Moon: Allied Kingdoms Academy Book 2

by J. M. Kearl

  Picking up Sir Gideon’s striped fluffy body I moved him to the end of the bed. He stretched and yawned. “Oh hello, Princess. I tried to wait up for you but alas I fell asleep.”

  I smiled and stroked his head. “What are you doing here, Sir Gideon? I thought you had a grudge against the outsiders and didn’t want to come to this academy.”

  “My opinions on the matter have not changed in the slightest,” he said walking in a circle. “But I need to tell you something. My grandson Atticus contacted me with the task you had given him. When I had no new information he said he would keep searching. That was a week ago.”

  “I know I haven’t seen him either.”

  “So I came to look for him and while I was meandering the halls, you know how I do, I overheard someone talking about your Prince Zyacus.” He paused and yawned again.

  “Well,” I pressed. “Were they saying anything important?”

  “Oh I think so.” A second yawn and lazy blinking followed his comment.

  I tapped my foot waiting for him to go on.

  “He said, ‘soon Prince Zyacus’s bloodline trait will manifest itself.”

  That did sound important and also odd. What was a bloodline trait? “Did this man say what the trait was? And who was he?”

  Sir Gideon licked his paw as he spoke in my mind. “Unfortunately they saw me and quit talking. I am not sure who they were. Two men. Both light-haired. I do not believe they were students, as they did not wear uniforms.”

  If I had to bet, I’d say the men were the Hazelvales. How did they know so much about us? I thought about writing to Zyacus but after he’d treated me with such disrespect I wouldn’t be contacting him first. He needed to come to me with his tail between his legs.

  “I may have scratched and hissed at them. I got one on the arm, and there should be a few scratches.”

  “Sir Gideon,” I chided. “You can’t scratch people for no reason.”

  He stopped licking his paw and his big eyes went straight to mine. “I most certainly can if I do not like them. Something about those two bothered me.”

  I tried not to laugh. I didn’t want to encourage his behavior. “Well, thank you for the information. If you hear anymore, please inform me. And if you see Atticus tell him to quit messing around and come back.”

  He lowered his head onto his paws. “Certainly, your highness.”

  When Sir Gideon went to sleep. I wrote to my long-time wealthy great grandmother and set up a meeting for the next day. She was all too delighted to go to the castle to see my mother who would open the portal to bring her here.

  ∞∞∞

  The next morning I bounded down the steps expecting Zyacus would be there waiting as he was every morning before breakfast. When I hit the bottom step and didn’t find him, my heart fell a little. Could he still be angry about losing? And why would he take it out on me?

  I wanted him to join Taz and me to meet with Melody before our first class. Taz gave me a small wave. Slightly dejected, I made my way over and forced a smile. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes, and I already saw your mother on the way over here. The Queen is escorting Melody to the royal meeting room.”

  On the way I explained a few things to Taz. I didn’t want him to be put off meeting my great grandmother without some warning. “First off, Melody is—how do I put this—forward and acts superior. I’m also not entirely sure she is capable of feeling remorse or cares for anyone other than herself. You’ll see what I mean.”

  Taz raked his fingers through his hair. “She sounds wonderful.”

  Upon seeing me, the guards standing to the side of the royal meeting room opened the doors to allow us entrance. My mother paced the room while Melody sat in one of the high backed chairs with her hands folded on her lap. Her brown hair was braided into a crown on top of her head. She wore a midnight blue dress fit for a royal festival and her lavender, hawkish gaze traveled down my frame. Inspecting for flaws no doubt.

  Mother pulled me into an embrace. “Hello, my darling.” She smiled but I knew she thought I was up to something. “Melody wouldn’t say why you wanted to meet with her but that it was pressing.”

  I grinned, patting my mother’s arm. “Oh it’s nothing to worry about. The only thing pressing is my project due soon, about the Hazelvales. We had to pick an affluent family and obviously it would be off-putting to choose my own. And who better to know the good gossip and facts than great grandmother Melody.”

  I would tell her the truth later but I didn’t want my grandmother holding back information if my mother stayed to listen. They didn’t get along well. Mother said Melody had been too demanding over the years, trying to tell her how to best rule the kingdom. Mother was kind but she didn’t like being told what to do.

  “Oh,” Mother said, furrowing her brow. “Alright, well I have to get back to Delhoon.” She waved at Melody. “Send word when you’re ready to come home.”

  Melody nodded once. When my mother was gone she smirked. “Nice story but I don’t believe it.”

  I didn’t bother explaining my reason for lying. Instead I sat in a comfy chair, with Taz plopping down beside me. “My friend Taz and I need to know everything about the Hazelvales but specifically Firo Hazelvale.”

  “I thought you were coupled with the Hesstian Crown Prince. Who is this boy?” She looked at Taz as if he were scum on her shoe.

  “I am. This is my friend,” I drawled. “Like I said.”

  She only spared him a moment’s glance. “You’ve definitely come to the correct woman.” She tilted her head slightly to the side. “The Hazelvales have old money. Even more than me or rumor has it. I have three estates myself but our family has a home in each major city in Delhoon. Even one in Hesstia now. My fleet of prized horses rivals theirs. I have more servants than they do—”

  I cleared my throat. “Not to be rude but this isn’t about who has more money. I need dirt.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

  “For one, Firo is here at the academy. Putting his filthy paws where they don’t belong. I don’t trust him.”

  “I don’t trust any Hazelvale. You’d be wise not to either.” Melody tapped her fingers on the wooden armrest. “I’ve heard from some of my spies in their household that they wish to usurp power. They are recruiting more ‘guards’ to protect their properties and members of the family. I think they’re building an army.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Usurp power from us?”

  “I can’t imagine who else. They’re Delhoon. Why would they want the Hesstian or Collweyan throne?”

  “Academy soldiers would never be loyal to someone who didn’t win a Queens Challenge. Do they have a female powerful enough to challenge my mother?”

  “No one is powerful enough to challenge your mother,” Melody said, lifting her chin. “Which means they have other ideas.”

  “Have you told my mother of this?”

  “Don’t think she doesn’t have spies of her own.”

  It didn’t make sense that Firo had said he was recruiting for his family and also that I would “fit in.” If he planned to take my mother’s throne he wouldn’t want me. No, something else was going on. And putting the three of us royals in the arena day one for him and his “friends”... Was it a test? Did he simply like games as he said? Playing them with us could be lethal for him. All it would take is a word from my mother and Firo would be gone from this life. I didn’t care how many guards he had; we had legions of loyal soldiers.

  But maybe that’s why he chose us or more specifically, me. Who could he play games with that would have higher stakes? The highest risk likely belonged with me.

  “What about Firo? Is he powerful?”

  Melody kept drumming her fingers. “He’s above average but nothing remarkable. He has a taste for beautiful women. Often at parties he has one on each arm.” She sat quietly for a moment. “There is something different about them. I can’t quite put my finger on it but there’s a certain—ch
arm about the Hazelvales. They are well-liked by everyone. With the exception of my side of your family of course.”

  That sparked the memory of the Fae man I’d seen take the scepter. Maybe I wasn’t just paranoid. Maybe they were connected somehow.

  “Could they be connected to the Fae?”

  Melody blinked a few times as if the question confused her. The existence of the Fae wasn’t common knowledge.

  “My spies have told me of strange travelers from time to time.”

  “What was strange about them?”

  “It’s not strange per se but they reported on the visitors’ otherworldly beauty. All of them said it was unnatural to all have a similar look. The same small straight noses, perfect skin, slender builds. One even used the words, ‘almost inhuman.’”

  The only people I knew who had any real information on the Fae were the merfolk. And we couldn’t meet with them. I needed to see Firo.

  We talked with Melody a while longer, getting small details, nothing useful. But I got what I needed. The Hazelvales may be connected to the Fae. Perhaps they’d made a deal similar to the one Vyce had made with the vampires.

  Could the Fae have power enough to dethrone my parents, my all-powerful mother? I knew the Winter Prick could rival her but could he defeat her, and give rule to the Hazelvales? And if so, why would they? What was in it for them? I thought they came for brides and souls.

  Chapter 24

  When we left the meeting, Taz turned to me. “So if Firo Hazelvale or his family want to take over the rule of Delhoon, we need to kill him.”

  Taz’s boldness took me by surprise. I would expect Zyacus to say something like that but Taz usually played things safe. “I think we need to know more before we off him.”

  “How can we know more? Ask him, ‘hey do you plan on taking the throne? If so, how?’ What if they assassinated your mother and then you.”

  “Then they’d have to deal with my father and the warlords. The rule of Delhoon cannot be taken because the queen dies.”

  “Your great grandmother said her family has homes in every major city. I’d bet the Hazelvales do, too. They could kill the warlords they can’t get to their side. She also said that everyone likes them.”

  I thought about how many people would have to die to usurp the throne. And to do it without a war? Or maybe there would be a civil war. Could they get enough people on their side? My mother was well-loved throughout Delhoon as far as I knew. “A takeover of Delhoon doesn’t seem possible.”

  “But if they had the help of powerful immortal beings, it may be.”

  I let Taz’s words simmer in my mind as I headed back to my room. I needed to talk to Zyacus about this. How did this all fit with the blood moon? What if we were entirely wrong about the Fae wanting to take groups of us as slaves? Could the events be a distraction? These thoughts swirled around my mind.

  I put my pride aside and sent a note to Zyacus saying we needed to talk.

  I paced my room, waiting for a reply and when one didn’t come within a couple minutes I growled. That bastard. What could be more important than me right now? He was supposed to be in class but he’d still get the note.

  I spelled myself directly outside his first class door, and peeked in the window. I scanned the students and he wasn’t there. Did he skip class? Not wasting any time I appeared outside his bedroom and slammed my fist three times against the wood. I tapped my foot, waiting. When he didn’t answer, I shoved my way inside. “Zyacus,” I called. Spotting the lump under the blanket of his bed, my heart rate ticked up a few paces. He didn’t stir at all after I pounded on the door? A terrible thought hit me. But if he were going to die you’d have seen his death, I reassured myself as I crept toward him.

  Hisssss. I stilled when his silver and black short-haired cat growled.

  “You should not be in here,” she said into my mind stalking from his feet to the pillow.

  “I need to check on him,” I said, putting a hand on my hip. “Maybe you don’t know me, I’m Princess Visteal. His girlfriend.”

  Another hiss. “I am aware of who you are, you devious thing.”

  My mouth dropped. “Devious? What are you talking about, cat?”

  “My Prince came back upset. It was because of you no doubt.”

  “I’ve had enough of this.” Stamped over to him, risking a scratch, and pulled the blanket from his face.

  His cat let out a low growl when I leaned down and listened for breathing. “Piss off before I freeze you.”

  She jumped to the floor and crouched in a corner.

  Steady even breaths from Zyacus sent relief through me. I glanced at a clock on the wall. It was nearly nine. I’d never known him to sleep past seven am.

  I gave him a gentle shake. He didn’t wake. I shook him harder saying, “Zyacus, wake up,” several times.

  With a groan, he turned over to face me. Then with exaggerated slowness, he blinked several times before his eyes focused. “Hey,” he croaked.

  “Are you ill?” His flushed cheeks and sweaty hair were out of the ordinary if he weren’t training. So was his hoarse voice.

  He pushed himself upright and rubbed his face. Clearing his throat, he said, “I don’t think so. Is something wrong? Why are you in my room so early?”

  “Early?” I retorted. “You missed your first class.”

  He looked to the bright sun shining through his window. “What? I never oversleep.”

  Perhaps the hit he took to the head did more damage than anyone thought. “Did you drink a healing potion after your match last night?”

  He tossed his blue blanket off and put his feet on the ground. “Yes I drank one. Madison forced me to even though I said I was fine. I can’t believe I missed class.” He ran his hands over his messy hair. “I’m sorry by the way. For being so rude to you last night. I just—I don’t know—I’ve felt different lately. I snap to anger so much faster than usual.”

  “I noticed when you first were so aggressive with Lora’s brother during class.”

  He took my hands and pulled me onto his lap. “You know I’m especially protective of you.”

  The cat growled again.

  I glowered at the feline. “And she’s protective of you,” I said and stuck my tongue out at her.

  Zyacus patted the bed beside him. “Be nice, Penelope. You know how much Visteal means to me.”

  She darted out the cat door without a word.

  “I thought the hatred for being with you was reserved to human women but even the cat is jealous.”

  Zyacus laughed and nuzzled his face into my neck. It tickled so much that I squealed and wiggled in his grasp. Then he kissed me hard on the lips and after a moment I pushed my hands against his chest.

  “Before I forget. I need to tell you about the Hazelvales plan. And there’s something else too.”

  I started off telling him about my vision that confirmed Nimblewatt’s account from the last blood moon. And when I finished with all the details of everything I knew about the Hazelvales, Zyacus’s handsome face set in a permanent sneer. “I don’t know what to do about the Fae issue right now but Firo and his brother, let’s kill them.”

  “They are only two members of that family. It won’t solve the problem.”

  Zyacus stood and grabbed a glass bottle of water off his bedside table. “It’s a start. And why don’t you have your mother send soldiers to their estates and wipe them out?”

  “She’s not like that. We’d need solid proof. And right now we have hearsay from spies of my great grandmother who hates the Hazelvale family. It’s not reliable information.”

  “And your father?”

  I shook my head. “He wouldn’t either. We shouldn’t kill anyone without solid evidence.”

  “You told me that Firo threatened you during the tournament last night. What more do we need? To kill him at least.”

  “We need information from him first.”

  “Fine. We capture him, use some truth potion and the
n we kill him.”

  I wasn’t solid on the killing him part but capture and truth potion I could get on board with. “Alright, Taz is going to help. We need a plan.”

  “I’ll get Aric, too. You never know when a wild, strong, blood drinker could come in handy.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Tonight. I’ll lure him to the back of the property.”

  Zyacus’s lips pressed together. Clearly he didn’t like that idea. “Not alone you won’t.”

  “I’ll send him a note and tell him to meet me so we can talk. All of us can be there.” It would be easy.

  “What if he thinks it’s a trap? Which it is. The man doesn’t strike me as stupid.”

  I paced the room. “Do you have a better idea?”

  “Tell him I want a one on one fight for touching my girl.” Zyacus grinned wildly, liking the idea too much. “He’ll show.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You know I don’t need you to fight for me. We’ve been over this. It makes me look weak.”

  He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. But it would make me look that way if I didn’t stand up for my girlfriend. You’d do the same for me.”

  He was right. I would.

  ∞∞∞

  Zyacus set out on the task of finding a truth potion or learning a spell that would have the same effect. I went to find Taz to tell him the plan. I figured he’d be in the dining hall since it was lunchtime.

  When I stepped through the entryway, I spotted Aric eating alone at our royal table. I sat beside him and scooted my chair forward. “How are you feeling?”

  Although my mind flashed back to his crazed face and all the blood dripping from his mouth, I pulled a smile. It had been days since he attacked the girl and he’d been hiding out ever since. He barely looked at me, and wouldn’t meet my eyes.

  “I am better.”

  “If you ever feel out of control you can tell me or Zyacus.”

  He nodded but kept staring at his plate, pushing food around.

  “We need your help tonight with something. Are you up for it?”