by Skye Horn
Now, she just needed to sell her reasoning.
“My mother died before I could remember her, but I feel closer to her within my castle. I would like to get married in the same place as the woman who sacrificed her life for me and her kingdom.” The words weren’t dishonest. Thea had imagined herself getting married in Ivandor since living there. The only difference was, she hadn’t imagined herself marrying Declan.
But you won’t be marrying Declan, she reminded herself to calm her jittering nerves. Frederic’s face lit up with excitement, but he didn’t speak. He just stared at the three of them full of excitement. His being there only made Thea more nervous, though.
“I understand that desire,” Ismara said, and Thea felt a pang of guilt for the lies they were telling the queen. The kindness Ismara had shown Thea since her arrival had seemed sincere. Even if she was trying to force Thea into an arranged marriage, she hated lying. “And how do you feel about this proposal?”
A wave of relief crashed over Thea as Ismara’s attention turned to Declan. Apparently, it was his turn to sell the story now. She knew he’d prepared for whatever questions his aunt had for him, but Thea still felt nervous listening to him speak. The fate of the entire realm rested on them pulling this lie off.
“I believe I can find happiness in a marriage to Princess Thea,” Declan said without any hesitation. The words were as soft as his hold on her hand. He turned his head to look at Thea with an expression that made the muscles in her chest constrict. “She is the most loyal and caring person I’ve ever met, willing to do anything to keep those she loves safe. I would be a fool to live a life without someone like her to make me a better man.”
They hadn’t talked about this part of the plan either, but Thea felt her eyes beginning to water at his words and blinked furiously in response. His confession was enough to stir a slight sense of regret within her. For a moment, she imagined what their life could be like together if this were all real. Could she make him that happy? Would he be content to be with someone who could never love him in the way he deserved?
From what he’d said, the answer was yes.
Marriage would never happen between them, but she would do everything in her power to make sure he found the happiness he deserved when this was all over.
“Quite the change of heart you’ve stirred in my nephew,” Queen Ismara mused, looking between the two of them as Thea dragged her eyes away from Declan’s saddening smile. It was brief, but she didn’t miss that brief glimmer of hope in his eyes at whatever future he imagined.
Neither Thea nor Declan had a response to that, but it didn’t appear the queen expected one. Instead, she reached into a concealed pocket of her light blue dress and pulled out a little box that stilled Thea’s heart.
“This was your mother’s,” Ismara told Declan. Her eyes flashed with sadness that disappeared as quickly as Declan’s hope, and Thea made a mental note that she needed to get much better at hiding her emotions if she planned to continue interacting with the High Courts.
Declan took the box from his aunt and opened it with trembling fingers. Thea couldn’t see the contents of the box yet, but a moment later Declan was examining a small golden ring. From what she could see, it was not a diamond ring, but an emerald one. The jewels sparkled under the candlelight, a perfect match to her dress. The gold band was woven across itself, flowing over and under for infinity around the wearer’s finger.
It was magnificent.
“She would want you to have it,” Ismara said looking between them as the guilt in Thea’s stomach turned into nauseating knots that seemed as endless at the ring’s band.
The look on Declan’s face was indiscernible, but it was her own expression that she guarded. Thea couldn’t wear Declan’s dead mother’s wedding ring in their fake engagement. That was crossing a line.
However, Declan’s eyes met hers with no sign of those same feelings. Instead, he reached out to lift Thea’s left hand and knelt down on one knee. Her breath caught in her throat, but Queen Ismara nodded with an approving smile. Thea didn’t know if she’d ever be able to find her voice again, but she would try, because the next moment Declan was reciting words most girls dreamt of hearing in a decorated castle hall while wearing a beautiful gown.
“I suppose I haven’t done this properly yet,” Declan said. His voice shook, but he wasn’t looking at anyone but Thea. It made her want to cry and confess their lie. She couldn’t, though. They had to go through with this, and Declan was doing what his aunt expected of him. The problem was that the look she saw in his eyes wasn’t one Thea imagined he could fake.
What the hell am I getting myself into? she thought, but it was too late to run away now. This was the plan, no matter how intense it got. She swallowed her fear and anxiety, forcing herself to meet those caring amber eyes.
“I want to stand by your side as you change the world, Thea.” The intimacy of the moment only grew as Declan said her name without a formal title. “Will you allow me to do that?”
Thea couldn’t remain mute forever, but she also didn’t trust her own voice. She nodded as he gave her an encouraging smile that told her to believe everything would be fine.
“No matter what,” he continued, and Thea heard the hidden message beyond his words, “I’ll support you. Will you marry me?”
If everything Thea had heard about Faerie was true, then saying yes to any promise was hard to go back on, but she trusted Declan, knowing he would never force her into anything she didn’t want.
“Yes,” she said in a small, unimpressive voice. His smile did not falter, and Thea saw Queen Ismara nod her head in approval as Declan slipped the ring onto Thea’s finger. Surprisingly, it fit, but it felt heavy on her hand.
Declan stood, but did not let go of Thea’s hand. Instead, he squeezed it and looked back at his aunt.
“We will do what is necessary for Faerie,” he told her, sounding more serious than Thea had ever heard him sound before. She wondered what thoughts were going through his head and hoped he would allow her to ask him later, but for now, she just stood staring at the queen with a desperate hope that she would believe this whole charade.
He isn’t treating it like much of a charade, she thought, but tried not to let that worry show on her face. It was true, the way he was acting didn’t match the way she was feeling about this entire marriage ordeal, but perhaps he was only doing what needed to be done. It wasn’t wrong to want the best for their realm, but she felt absolutely wrong telling these lies.
“This is excellent news!” Lord Frederic burst. It surprised Thea that he’d stayed quiet at all. He cast a look over at Queen Ismara that said he believed every word that Thea and Declan had said, but Thea wasn’t sure about the queen herself. She looked between them with steady, assessing eyes, but only nodded her head again.
“That, it is,” she agreed. “It seems Princess Thea has had quite a positive impact on you, dear nephew.”
Declan’s face twisted into a smirk as he cocked his head and said, “Is it so surprising that I would want to do what is best for Gimmerwich?”
Thea choked back a slight laugh, but none of them missed it.
“It seems even your betrothed thinks it is,” the queen said, but to Thea’s relief, she smiled. “It’s a pleasant surprise though.”
“I ask that we may travel back to Ivandor as soon as possible to plan,” Thea said, steadying her own gaze on the queen’s.
“You are not a prisoner here,” Lord Frederic said, looking at Thea with wide eyes. “You may return home. Your council is likely eager for you to be back within the safety of Ivandor’s walls.”
Thea didn’t doubt that. She figured her council was just itching in their seats to find out if Thea would listen to their advice for once. They would have to have this same conversation all over again, but Thea hoped it would be less awkward the next time they did it.
“I would like to accompany her,” Declan added. Thea saw Lord Frederic hesitate, but the queen seem
ed pleased by this request.
“It would keep you out of trouble,” she commented. “When will you leave?”
Ismara directed the question to Thea, so she exhaled the tension she was feeling and replied, “As soon as my guard is ready. They are preparing as we speak.”
“Lord Frederic, please inform the rest of the council. You are already late for the meeting.”
Seeming to realize the truth of her words, Frederic nodded quickly and excused himself after kissing Thea’s cheeks and hands far more times than she was comfortable with.
“He’s an affectionate one,” Thea murmured, watching him go.
The three stood, Thea with her hand still clamped tight in Declan’s, clinging to his support as they tried to survive the rest of this encounter. She didn’t know what else to say, or what else Ismara expected her to say, so she hoped Declan would take the lead on the conversation.
“You are ready to leave today?” Ismara asked him with a tilted head.
“I can be. I am actually looking forward to exploring Ivandor.”
It surprised Thea to realize that it was likely Declan had been nowhere but Gimmerwich his whole life. He’d grown up in a time of isolation from the rest of the world. This would be his first adventure into the unknown.
Queen Ismara seemed to realize this, but she was keeping her emotions masked, remaining nothing but a serious leader in front of them.
“Well, then I only ask you say goodbye to Eric before leaving. He will be unhappy that he cannot go with you.”
This seemed to relax Declan. He loosened his grip on Thea’s aching hand slightly.
We’re actually going to pull this off, Thea thought, trying to keep those thoughts to herself. We are actually going to convince them.
She didn’t know if being excellent liars was commendable, but right now it was important.
“I’ll go see him now,” Declan said and then glanced at Thea, who tried to hide the horror on her face. He planned on leaving her alone with his aunt? Of course, that was what a dutiful future husband would do. He’d leave the two leaders of the kingdoms to finish any business they had. And yet, she couldn’t breathe. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard at midday?”
Thea nodded, unable to trust her voice in answering as he let go of her hand. To her surprise, he leaned down and kissed her cheek before departing for the door.
“Quite a transformation,” Ismara murmured as they both watched him leave. Thea felt a slow burn creeping up into her cheeks and her now-empty hand felt heavy from the ring, but she only nodded her response to the queen’s comment. “Our councils will be in contact. However, I have one thing I wish to say to you before you go…”
There was a nervousness to the queen’s tone that made Thea’s shoulders tense up. She didn’t want to be in this room any longer than she had to, but here she was, standing one-on-one with Ismara. Lying had been easier when Declan was there to support her. Now, looking at the woman who’d treated her kindly and given her advice, Thea felt the full weight of her guilt.
For Faerie, she reminded herself.
“What is it?” Thea asked, happy to hear her voice did not falter.
“Declan has been through a tremendous deal of pain in his life,” she breathed, taking the conversation in a direction Thea had not expected. “I realize the pressure that we are putting on the two of you, but it is not a decision any of us take lightly. He doesn’t deserve to be unhappy.”
Thea couldn’t speak. She just stared at Ismara, blinking back any emotions that would threaten to show on her face and trying to mask herself in innocence. She had no intention of causing Declan any more pain, but what other outcome could there be to this entire scenario? Would they not both feel pain at the end of it? It made her sick to her stomach to think about.
“I’m not asking that you fall in love with each other,” the queen continued without pause. “I’m just asking that you give him a chance at happiness.”
Thea bit back her remark about him being happier with a choice and nodded her head, knowing the queen’s words came from a place of good intention. Ismara wanted her nephew to find happiness in an impossible situation and wanted Thea to be the one to make him happy, to show him love, and to forget Kieran. Although Thea couldn’t commit to that, she could do everything in her power not to bring him further pain.
“I do not intend to cause him pain,” she confessed. “I care about him.”
The words were sincere, and therefore, the queen did not question them. Instead, she just returned the nod and then folded her hands in front of her. Thea knew the conversation was over.
“You should get going. Your guard and my nephew will await your arrival within the hour.”
Thea nodded and bowed her head.
“Thank you for hosting us in your kingdom. We hope to one day offer the same hospitality to you when the danger and uncertainty ends.”
Thea meant it. She appreciated the way of life Ismara had built for her kingdom and wanted nothing more than to be on good terms with the queen and her subjects, but for now, she had an entire realm to save. That journey began with returning to Ivandor under the cloak of a lie.
She could only hope that lie would not be the end of her relationship with Queen Ismara and Gimmerwich.
Chapter 26
The courtyard bustled with people when Thea met with the others at midday. Thea walked beside Ethel and Mica with one of her bags strapped over her shoulder while Jami and Derek followed behind them with the rest of their bags. She was thankful to be back in her leather boots and felt more relaxed with her sword and daggers strapped against her once more.
Kieran stood speaking with Amara in the center of the courtyard as they approached, but his eyes lifted to meet Thea’s gaze, as if sensing her arrival. His eyes gave her a sweeping once-over, lingering for a moment on the sword he’d left behind with a glint of a smile.
Declan stood a few feet away from them, leaning against a stone half-wall as he spoke to Brayden and Rolan. He had a trunk of his own beside him and also looked up with a slight smile and nod of greeting when she approached.
“Why are there so many people here?” Ethel whispered to Thea as they stared around at the crowded courtyard. Thea had walked through this courtyard many times since arriving in Gimmerwich and didn’t recall there ever being this many people in it at once. Many of them were whispering and staring at Thea. She wanted to shrink behind the cover of her wings.
“News spreads quickly in Gimmerwich,” Declan whispered. Thea hadn’t even noticed him move nearer. Kieran’s shoulders tensed, lifting the wings on his back a few inches higher, but Thea didn’t dare acknowledge it as Declan took her hand in his own. “They’re here to see us.”
There was a chuckle in Declan’s tone, but Thea felt the dampened palms of his hand and knew he was just as uncomfortable with all of this attention as she was. Ethel eyed their intertwined hands, but made no comment. Thea had briefed her with the information that they would need to keep this ruse up to succeed—which meant that her guards couldn’t know the truth. The fewer people knew Thea and Declan had no intention of getting married, the better. She knew Derek and Jami would be hurt when they found out she’d left them out of the loop, but she would pull the queen card and insist this was for their own good. Plus, she could consider it their last test for becoming part of her guard.
“Great,” Thea murmured, swallowing down her nerves. “Can we please leave then? Where is Haven?”
“Here.” Thea looked up at the sound of her voice. She crossed the courtyard, pushing through a few onlookers who grumbled and rubbed their arms at the impact. “If these idiots would ever let me through.”
A moment later she was standing by Thea’s side. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes darted as if the crowd of people was an imminent danger.
Everyone seemed in agreement about leaving the crowded courtyard as soon as possible, so they pushed their way through the crowd of people using their bags as barriers. Haven an
d Kieran took up the front guard posts, despite the looks of annoyance on Derek and Jami’s faces. Declan remained beside Thea, never letting go of her hand, and Ethel and Mica left with Brayden and Rolan to retrieve the horses.
When they returned, they had a few additional horses and a wagon full of supplies.
“I figured this would be easier than making your poor horses carry everything,” Declan stated as they loaded the luggage into the back. “Plus, not all of us have wings.”
He was right, of course, but Thea still felt uncomfortable accepting any help from him. Regardless, she pushed her pride away, offering her gratitude instead.
“Will you ride with me?” Declan asked with an inclined head, but Thea’s wings twitched, anticipating the flight ahead. She wanted nothing more than the freedom that the skies offered her, yet she hesitated, not wanting to offend Declan.
“Actually, we need to work on flying in formation,” Haven chimed in, looking at Thea. “Which we cannot do without our princess.”
If Declan saw the look of relief on Thea’s face, he didn’t let it show. He smiled, nodding his head in understanding as he pulled himself up onto the wagon with Amara.
“Then I will see you when we stop for camp,” Declan said, taking the reins of the horses. He looked at the rest of their companions. “Shall we?”
All eyes fell on Thea as they waited for her final word. The wind whistled around her, tickling the loose hairs of her braid against her cheeks, and she could smell the fresh scent of summer as the sun kissed her skin.
She didn’t respond. Instead, she took off at a gentle jog, stretching her wings out wide behind her and letting the wind carry her into the sky. Sending a thrust of powerful magic to the soles of her feet, Thea launched herself into the air.