Page 4 of Fae Queen Rising (The Crown of Everguard #1)

I n the darkest hours of early morning, I jolt awake, unsure if it’s still night or the new day. Surveying the damage, I notice my pillows are flung unceremoniously to the floor and my sheets are tangled around my ankles as well. My dreams, usually tame in their crafting, were confusing and wild all through the night. The dreams had something to do with the bard.

No, that’s not quite right, perhaps his songs? It all felt so real. It all felt so dark.

I dreamt as if his songs were about me. Not about my father’s conquests and honors, but my own. Which is silly because I never have, and never will have any conquests or adventures to speak of.

But that one song, the one with the slower melody, I can’t get out of my head. It continues to wrap me in darkness, creeping in so the light he spoke of can't shine through. But no matter how hard I try to decipher it, it's covered by a thin veil, keeping it dampened and just out of reach.

At the moment, I certainly feel dampened and unseen. And by returning to my family and to court, I feel lost as if my old life is just out of reach.

I hoped returning to the castle would be a new beginning, one where I had a small say in where I spent my time. It seems this is far from the truth. I failed the first time, so of course Father demands I try again. I spend the rest of the night tossing and turning, with dreams of court and the arrival of Lysander Sturdevant from Etos and an opaque veil of darkness covering everything.