Page 11 of Courting the Fae Captain (Romancing the Realms #4)
‘There has always been five leading the Rite. Five males, five hidden identities, creating a leadership known simply as the Pentad. In the years since conception, assassination attempts have occurred on numerous Pentad members. None have been successful.’
The Trials and Traditions of a Mithrian Fae
T he room my newfound friend had locked me in was lavish. Obnoxiously so. I’d expected some kind of sick torture chamber or love dungeon to spend my days in upon arriving. Instead, I’d been dumped in the height of finery.
What. The. Fuck?
The room was bedecked in cerulean and emerald accents, with gold trimming, over a tasteful ocean mural on the walls.
Silk comforts adorned every corner. Ornate brushes for hair and makeup lined a gorgeous pearl vanity, with jewels, accessories, and everything a noble lady could dream of thoughtfully laid out, as if in supplication.
I gasped as I took in the view from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the ocean on one side, unable to hide my awe.
The view was mesmerising, if a little frightening.
The castle had been moulded into the cliff face, carved from the very rock it nestled upon.
Likely, the foundations were more solid than they looked, but it was still alarming to see such a drop before me.
Above, the starry night swirled with mist from the ocean spray far below, circling jagged rocks that poked up like toothpicks from the water’s depths.
I loved the ocean and had spent much of my youth by the beach, but I never tired of its beauty.
There was something so powerful about the ocean.
It ebbed and flowed. It crashed before it calmed.
It gave permission to let go of every awful thought or memory, washing them away forever. I loved the ocean … and I hated it.
For all its beauty and might, it always reminded me that I was not in control and never had been.
My father had seen to that long ago. For a while, I accepted that as the way things were …
until he took Avadir from me. And now more than ever, I wondered if he’d taken my mother, too.
More mysteries. More heartbreak to unpack.
I threw one last glance at the jagged rocks and paused.
I hadn’t noticed it at first, but tucked behind an outcropping, just barely peeking out, was a dock.
It was a tiny thing, suitable for nothing bigger than some rowboats.
Anyone coming and going would need to navigate treacherous rocks, and those waves were coming in hard .
Still, it was the perfect little spot to ferry someone—maybe a few someones—out under the cover of darkness. Interesting.
I turned, tucking that information away as I scanned the rest of the room.
Everything was unnaturally perfect, and I wondered as I strode through the chamber if all of the rooms looked like this.
I jumped on the bed, notably free from any chains, and groaned as my head pounded in answer.
Assholes couldn’t let us have one night to rest before dumping us straight into the competition?
Captain what’s-his-face was off to a great start .
The bed, on the other hand, was the epitome of comfort.
I groaned again, only this time out of longing, tempted to bury my face within the covers and fall immediately to sleep, before thinking better of it.
I was covered in grime. The bed didn’t need to wear it as well.
With a huff, I sculled the glass of water left on the bedside and hauled my ass up.
I was almost afraid to check the giant wardrobe across the room, but … curiosity got the better of me.
It was true that I enjoyed experimenting with deadly potions and a spot of blade play or rock climbing in my spare time, but a girl could just as equally enjoy the finer things in life, too. And oh, did the wardrobe deliver.
“By the gods.”
The most beautiful dresses stared back at me as I gazed inside. I squealed a little, gathering them in my arms. Each one was a masterpiece, thoughtfully detailed and carefully lined with beading, embroidery, lace and— oh? Some had armour, while others were lined with scales, feathers and the like.
I checked the drawers, curious to see what treasures awaited inside.
To my disappointment, there was little in the way of practicality.
A combat suit and some boots for physical training, but beyond that, there were no weapons within the vicinity that I could see.
I would search every nook and cranny for something sharp, just in case.
A knock sounded suddenly at the door, followed by a flash of paper slipping inside. The people here were big on invisibility, it seemed, and less interested in chitchat or exchanging pleasantries. Fine by me. I trudged to the envelope and ripped it open without ceremony. The letter read:
Your presence is requested for a Midnight Masquerade. You will find evening wear in the wardrobe, along with a mask in the bottom drawer. A servant will collect you before midnight.
Remember, this is a game only one can win. Ride the swelling tides or sink beneath dark depths. Merciless is our ocean. Murderous are her makers.
I rolled my eyes. Pretty prose, but it was just another threat to keep us uncomfortable.
A masquerade ball was the last thing I felt like after today’s events, but it was highly probable that the captain would be there.
Hells, it was worth attending just to get a glimpse of the male we would be dying for.
Besides, I imagined the ‘request’ so kindly mentioned in the letter was anything but. I had no choice in the matter.
Fine . They’d seen us with blood on our hands and grime in our hair. Now they wanted beauty and pageantry. I smiled slowly as I ran my fingers down a silk dress, an idea coming to me. They want a show? I’ll damn well give it to them .