by Alexia Purdy
At the mention of Anna’s impending wedding, my heart sank. My younger sister was betrothed to the monster Unseelie King Oran. If I could, I’d off him myself to prevent her from marrying him. Unfortunately, to keep the peace and the Unseelie court under control, Anna had to marry him. There was no preventing it. The only good thing was that he had to wait until Anna reached the age of consent, which was eighteen.
“How is that mongrel, anyway?”
“He is fine. A major headache when it comes to decisions having to be made; he always wants to make the final call, as if Jack and I are not the interim rulers until he marries Anna. It’s annoying.”
“I bet.”
“I’ve come to speak to Shade about Nautilus.”
At her words, the night air woke me up even more, my fatigue immediately dissipating. “Nautilus? Why?”
“His infatuation with Anna has become a concern, and I’ve come to ask Shade to recall her soldier so he leaves the girl alone.”
I knew better than to believe what she was saying to be true. Nautilus would not act inappropriately with Anna, no matter how he felt.
“That so? Okay, what’s the real reason?”
Evangeline frowned. “Anna is… she’s in love with Nautilus.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“How can you be so dense? She’s supposed to marry Oran.”
“Yeah, but Nautilus is a better match.”
Evangeline groaned, looking more frustrated than I’d ever seen her. “If she rescinds her promise to marry Oran, he’ll start a war with the Seelie. Can’t you see how much of a disaster that would be?”
“Oh.” I blew a breath out. Well, shoot. She was damn right. I’d let my dislike for Oran color my feelings about the matter. I had to try and look at it rationally, but I hated the idea of Anna being used as a pawn in these power struggles. “So you want Shade to recall Nautilus to keep him out of the way? Make sure Anna doesn’t break off the engagement herself?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t it wait? Shade doesn’t need the distraction, not with all these issues going on with Dylan and Soap.”
Evangeline’s face darkened. “I’ve heard she is now engaged to the changeling.” She scowled as though she was talking about filth. “He is a low born Teleen. Not worthy of marrying Shade.”
“That’s not up to you, now is it?”
Evangeline was taken aback by my comment but composed herself immediately. “Regardless, I need Nautilus gone. The last thing Shade needs is a war.”
I frowned. Shade didn’t need the extra problems, but my aunt was still right. That was such a bitter fruit to taste. “Okay. Well, you tell her yourself in the morning. Nice talking to you, Vange.”
“Benton, you know you can call me Evie.”
“Yeah, sure.”
I spun on my heel and headed back toward the palace leaving Evangeline scoffing in the middle of the abandoned garden. Who cared what she thought? Even though my aunt had a point, I doubted Shade would recall Nautilus. His presence in The Withering Palace kept Oran at arm’s length, away from Anna. That was all we could want for our sister. Nautilus was insurance in the best sense of the word. Oran was just going to have to be patient. But what if Anna did rescind her offer of marriage? She wouldn’t, would she?
Maybe. And if she did? Crap.
I hurried down the hall to wake Isolde and ask her for an opinion on the situation. Maybe she could convince me to stay out of it. But my fears plagued me as I made my way back to my room. Could Oran kill Anna for falling in love with another? How could we resolve this mess at the Unseelie palace? The place didn’t even speak to Oran as it had to all its other sovereigns, which meant he wasn’t the true ruler of The Withering Palace. Was he?
I shuddered thinking about the time it had spoken to me. I wondered, would it talk to me again if I returned there? I hoped not. It had only done so because Shade had ordered it to help Dylan, Soap, and me escape. It could stick to chats with my sister for all I cared.
But maybe if I could find another fey it would speak to, I could present him or her as the genuine Unseelie ruler and save Anna from her fate. If only. Where would I find such a person? Where would I find the rules and regulations for this kind of stuff?
My thoughts wandered back to Stone Rock Island where the main Faerie archives were held, where I’d found Rowan trapped under a curse her sister Kilara had placed on her. I doubted the Ancient spring queen was still there, but I’d find my answer in the archives. I just hoped the archivist who’d died had been replaced by a new one by now. Ilarial should have seen to that.
Dammit if another journey wasn’t in my future yet again, and I had to do it and return before Shade traveled to The Heart of Fire and Ice. She was counting on me to be there as her back up. At least Isolde would be with me this time, and perhaps Rowan and her pet beasts would be far away from the archives. I could only hope.
Chapter Seventeen
Soap
“You remind me of your father.” Iana toyed with a strand of her hair, twirling it back and forth until the ends were smooth and stuck together. “You look so much like him. He was handsome, you know. Charming until he had you in his clutches, then he proceeded to crush your soul until you couldn’t fight back any longer. Even I couldn’t.”
“But I’m not him.” I sat on a chair opposite my mother. “You forget, I know nothing of either of you. I was raised by the fey of the city of Aturine, in Guildrin. Did you not know that?”
Iana frowned and looked away, peering through the windows which hovered high above the palace grounds. It was a magnificent view, but I could tell it was all lost on her. “He was a fool, you know? I can’t even remember what I saw in him.”
“I didn’t come here to talk of my father.”
She jerked her gaze back toward me and scoffed. “What did you come here for?”
“You asked to see me.”
“I did, but you’re not required to visit me if you really don’t want to.” She chuckled. “These walls won’t hold me in forever, you know. Is this what you want me to be? A bird in cage to admire every now and then?”
“No, of course not. You don’t like your accommodations?”
She dropped her eyes to the floor, looking the part of the pathetic prisoner. “I want fresh air.”
“You can open the windows.”
“It’s not the same, and you know it.”
“What is it then?”
“How long do you think I can live here in these rooms you’ve so graciously charmed to keep me complacent? I’m not a pet.”
“You’re dangerous, mother. You know that. You’ve done too many things to the Nephilim and elementals alike. You can’t be trusted. Show me you’ve changed and maybe we can loosen the leash. Let the oracles bind most of your power and maybe… maybe… release could be possible.”
Her mouth pressed into a tight line, for she’d not received the answer she’d sought. I didn’t care. I had hoped our visits would be more forthcoming and warm. Instead, I found Iana cold, indifferent, and unwilling to cooperate. If she remained so, she’d be stuck in the suite of enchanted rooms forever. It was luxurious, far more than any prisoner could ever dream of having. There were perks to being the mother of the future second king of The Scren Palace. She was lucky she wasn’t down in the dungeon.
“There is nothing I regret. I’ve rid the earth of filth. And besides, my power has dimmed since you removed me from my home.”
“No, it’s regressed since you no longer have the Nephilim to siphon power from. Really, mother, you’re hopeless.”
“Get me out of here,” she pleaded, suddenly at my knees and grabbing my arm. “I can’t live like this. I’ll wither and die. You must help me. You’re my son.”
I stood abruptly, feeling my chest ache where it shouldn’t, my arm jerking from her grip. Her two-faced demeanor was off-putting, and I struggled to not walk away that very second.
“Now I’m your son? Why would you not a
cknowledge it after we captured you? I swore to protect you, but you pushed me away. Yet when you want something, I’m your son.”
Tears gleamed along the ridges of her eyes. “Please, I’m not completely well, but I know if I get out of here, I’ll get better. You’ll see. Get me out of here and we can go far away where these people won’t find us. You can have the mother you’ve always dreamed of. I promise that.”
I shook my head. “It’s too late for deals. You know it’s too dangerous to let you loose, no matter how badly I want that. There’s so much at stake right now, and we can’t have you running around risking it all. I’m sorry, mother, but I’m not the one to beg.”
Her face darkened, and she wiped away her tears as her skin turned a deep maroon. “Who then? Who is the one to ask for such a favor? Your half-blood queen?”
“You will not speak of Shade this way. You treat my fiancé with respect or I will not visit again.”
She studied me, probably analyzing if I was telling the truth or not. After a few moments, I could tell she had resolved that I was. “Very well. I apologize for saying that about Shade. She is a good woman. She obviously loves you selflessly. I doubt any other fey would.”
Her words stung, obliterating the sincerity of the apology. She was a puzzle I was having difficulty figuring out. She appeared sorry at times for abandoning me, but then her mouth opened and squashed any hope that I might have for the mother I’d once dreamed about. This woman was far from it.
“You are a difficult woman. I hope you think about what I’ve asked. and maybe we could build a relationship here, in my home. Otherwise, it could be a very lonely and extended stay.”
I spun and headed out of her quarters. She could not follow, for when she reached the doorway, an invisible barrier stopped her cold. Inside the small bubble of rooms, her magic was nonexistent. Servants never came nor went, for it was enchanted to provide everything Iana needed, including meals, fresh linen, and anything else she could desire.
Everything except freedom. She’d been banished to prison forever, or until rehabilitation was possible. At this rate, it would never come.
I would forever be visiting my mother’s broken mind until the day she withered. It was a tough pill to swallow and something I wished wasn’t happening, but she’d given me no choice. There was no way she’d ever be freed, not until she made the decision to mend her broken mind, and alone, that was not possible.
“You dare leave me here?” she called. “You are no son of mine. I curse you! You think Shade loves you? You’re wrong. She’ll never be yours. Never! Just wait. You’ll see.”
I closed the door behind me, sealing off her feral screaming and cackling. Though I had no fear of her words, they made me uneasy because she was a powerful witch, and words from any kind of witch should never be taken lightly.
I only hoped it was her madness talking, not her seer powers. Regardless, I hurried away. I wanted to be at Shade’s side to make sure she was all right. No matter what, I’d be there for her. I’d spent months without her love, and there would be nothing between us ever again. I swore it.
Chapter Eighteen
Dylan
I hovered on the sidelines, observing the bustling activity in the room. Fighting the urge to object, I listened to the council as they debated the merits of the various Teleen vying for the crown. The contenders made occasional speeches themselves, trying to strengthen their respective positions. It had already been a long day, and my head throbbed from the incessant arguing.
“Don’t want to hear the boring politics?”
Sylphi interrupted my thoughts, and I suppressed the frown threatening to form as she deepened her smile and batted her eyes at me. I pushed down a cringe and pulled away. She was part of my plan to win Shade back from Soap forever, and I couldn’t risk pushing her away prematurely. I swallowed my aversion to my ex-girlfriend and feigned the best smile I could.
“Well, it comes with the job.”
Sylphi moved as though to give me a hug, but when I didn’t respond, she settled next to me and turned her attention to the council. I knew better. She hated meetings, but this was a necessary evil if she wanted to be queen.
“I find these meetings interesting,” she whispered. “I never thought I would, but necessity demands it. I know you absolutely abhor all of this, though.”
I furrowed my brow. She could see right through me. That could be bad if she saw through my plans for making Shade jealous. It could backfire before I even started.
“You need to start participating in these debates,” I said. “There are only two left before the selection is made.”
“When are you going to teach me then?”
I rubbed my chin, sizing her up. She leaned toward me, her lips slightly parted. She was no idiot, and any man would be a moron to not notice her low-cut dress and cinched waist. Helen of Troy had nothing on her. Her charms weren’t going to work on me, but I noticed several Teleen men eying her with a hunger that could only be sated one way.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said.
She straightened, her eyes brightening. “Where to?”
“My quarters. Our dawn meeting the other day wasn’t enough. A lot has developed during the debates, and I need to get you up to speed on the politics of it all, or you’ll never beat these buffoons.”
She wilted a little but she brushed it off quickly. “Sounds perfect. Let’s go.”
In my quarters about a half hour later, I bit my lip as my frustration peaked. Sylphi got the logistics of a debate, she just didn’t have the patience to drive home her points. Pushing her was going to be a challenge. She was smart. This was boring stuff that made me want to rip my eyeballs out, but it was standard for a political debate in Teleen.
“You must be stone cold. You cannot let anyone break your mask. I’ve seen a few of the contenders get riled, and the moment that happened, they essentially took themselves out of the running, whether they know it or not. Only leaders who show no emotion at all will win.”
“Like Gretel?” Sylphi asked. For the first time since I’d known her, she looked nervous. Her presentation to the Teleen people was tomorrow, at the next debate, and I was helping her prepare her speech and coaching her on political behavior.
“Yes, like Gretel. When she became queen, she was ruthless and answered every question quickly, thoroughly, and to the point. There was never any kind of emotion, anger, confusion, sadness, happiness… nothing. No whimsical touch or hesitation in any of her speeches. I remember it well.”
Sylphi hadn’t been alive at the time of Gretel’s coronation. Neither was I, but my parents had been. Sylphi’s parents had been killed when she was young, and she had never received a memory transfer of their thoughts like I had with my parents. Gretel’s reign had begun centuries ago, but with my father’s memory of it, it felt like it’d been yesterday, even though I was starting to feel my age.
It was time to transfer some of those memories to Sylphi. It was an intimate process, to share blood memories with another, and there was no guarantee that she’d receive just the ones I wanted to share. This was concerning, for if she learned more about me than I wanted her to know, it could cause some real problems.
It was a wonder Shade had never really asked what had happened between me and this woman, but my story was long, and Shade was barely the newest chapter of it. Had she asked about Sylphi, I would’ve told her everything. Yes, Sylphi and I had been lovers. Yes, Sylphi had been under the impression that we were to be married one day.
But knowing the kind of person Sylphi was—conniving, selfish, cruel—I had never allowed myself to go that far with her. Still, there was no doubt she’d been my best friend for many years, and we had seen each other through a myriad of things before Sylphi’s greed and sadistic thirst for power had grown overwhelming enough that I was forced to sever our relationship. We had both suffered for it.
Sure, the scars remained between us, but I had to look past our history for both
our benefit. She seemed a changed person. Her new outlook on life was promising, and helping her gain the Teleen throne would benefit me the most in the end. I was glad I knew there wasn’t just a cruel and evil side to her; she’d work hard for our people as long as the malice inside her remained dormant. It had dulled significantly since she’d left Teleen. I could only hope it remained suppressed for both our sakes.
Even so, what if the Teleen people did not want her as ruler? What if they reject everything Sylphi could bring to the table?
“I’m never going to win,” she said, as though picking up on my concerns.
“You can’t think that way.”
“I’ve done too much damage; there’s too much to atone for. How will I convince them all that I’ve changed? I have changed. You know that, don’t you?”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. For some reason I didn’t want to admit to her that I thought she’d become a better person. I felt like if I admitted that, there was a chance it could rekindle what we’d once had. “It doesn’t matter what I think. You’ll convince them. You’re good at that. Spin your words carefully but firmly, and they will listen. You know how to draw an audience. Do what you do best, and it’ll happen.”
“It does matter what you think, Dylan. If they don’t believe you truly think I’ve changed for the better, no one will back me up.”
“What makes you think I don’t believe you?”
She stepped forward and reached out to touch the cropped locks of my hair. It had grown past my shoulders since I’d cut it when I’d disowned my brother Darren after he had attacked Shade the first day we’d met. Now, I had cut it down once more to represent my mourning for my love of Shade. No one had asked about it, but when a Teleen cut their hair, it meant they’d just gone through a terrible loss.
“If you did think I had changed… if you did like me again… could there be any chance for us?”
I shook my head, exhaling slowly. She was certainly wasting no time. I hated her for that. “No. It won’t work like that. Besides, if you win this all by yourself, you’ll never need a man to hold you up.”