Page 29

Zoey

I lean into Jake’s kiss, enjoying the comfort in the simple human connection. In the reminder of home.

When he pulls back, his eyes search mine, waiting for a reaction.

“I know this place is awful,” he says quietly. “But maybe we can make it less awful? Together?”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache. Because here in this twisted court of monsters and magic, he’s offering me a chance to not feel so alone.

At the same time, what just happened between us means nothing. Jake might look like Patrick and remind me of Patrick—although less so after that kiss—but that doesn’t mean he is Patrick. Plus, the only things we talked about before he made a move on me were crystals and penguins.

That’s hardly a solid base for a strong relationship.

A throat clears behind us before I can answer, and Jake pulls back quickly.

I turn to find Henry—the third pet of the queen—leaning against one of the twisted trees, his predatory gaze making my skin crawl.

“Don’t be greedy, Jake,” he says with a smirk. “The rest of us deserve a chance with the new girl, too.”

Suddenly, all three of Prince Malakai’s girls are here with us—Lacey, Katerina, and Brenda.

Like Aerix, Malakai has a type. All three of them are blonde and curvy. Although, all of them have eyes so haunted it makes my heart ache.

Whatever Malakai does to them seems to have broken them.

I stand, and Lacey frowns, looking up and down at my dress, which is dirty from kneeling to hunt for rocks.

“Zoey,” she says, with what sounds like genuine concern. “You have to maintain certain standards around here. The royals tire of pets who don’t present themselves properly.”

There’s something haunting about the way she says it—like she’s seen it happen too many times before.

Behind her, Katerina stares at the ground, her shoulders hunched, as if she’s trying to make herself invisible.

Brenda at least meets my eyes, although her gaze holds the same hollow warning as Lacey’s.

“Why does it matter right now?” I ask, although I brush some of the dirt off my dress, suddenly overly aware that it’s there. “Aerix isn’t here.”

Brenda sighs, glancing around as if making sure no one else is listening. “It’s not just about him being here or not,” she says. “Presentation is important in the Night Court. If the prince starts seeing you as less than perfect, it could change how he feels about keeping you.”

“Keeping me?” My voice is sharper than I intend, but her words hit a nerve.

“We’re not trying to upset you,” Lacey says quickly. “We’re just trying to help.”

Katerina shifts uncomfortably, although she still doesn’t speak.

“Maybe instead of worrying about getting dirty, we could do something useful. Like looking through that garden over there,” I say, motioning to the one with dark flowers that I noticed when I entered the courtyard. “Maybe there’s sage or some other herbs in it. We can gather it to cleanse ourselves and our rooms. Make them feel more like our own spaces.”

“Zoey,” Lacey says my name again, pity filling her eyes. “There are no magical herbs in that garden. And if you keep digging around like this, you’re going to get yourself sent to the barns.”

The barns.

Hearing it said like that makes me shiver.

Katerina’s looking at me like I’m a dead girl walking.

Brenda moves closer to Katerina and takes her hand in a small gesture of comfort.

“The barns won’t be an issue,” Henry cuts in, his eyes trailing down my body in a way that makes my skin crawl. “Aerix won’t be casting this one aside anytime soon. She’s far too... entertaining to look at.”

“It’s funny.” I step forward, unwilling to back down. “You talk like you’re in charge, but as far as I can see, you have no crown, no wings, and no magic. You’re as powerless as the rest of us.”

His eyes flash with anger, and I brace myself for him to lash out.

“No wings, no title, and no magic—but I’m still standing,” he says, calmer than I expected. “That’s more than some of us can say.”

I can’t help but glance at Katerina, who’s still staring down at her feet, refusing to look at me.

“You’re pretty.” Henry moves closer, apparently not done yet. “But pretty can only get you so far. And if you keep talking like that, you’ll learn how quickly things can go wrong. Because around here, it’s not just the fae you need to worry about.”

“You think you’re a threat to me?” I say, even though from what he’s saying, it sounds like he might be. “Because you lean against a tree and throw around cheap warnings? Let me guess—you’re trying to feel powerful in a place that’s made sure you’ll never be anything but a pet, just like the rest of us.”

Jake shifts beside me, his posture tense, but he stays silent.

This is my fight to win—or lose.

Henry’s smirk falters, but he recovers quickly. “You’ve got spirit,” he says, with obviously mock approval. “But spirit doesn’t mean much when it gets you sent to the barns—or worse.”

“Spirit’s gotten me through life just fine so far.” I cross my arms, meeting his gaze head-on.

Hopefully he doesn’t see how rattled I am inside. Because sure, my spirit’s gotten me though things like arguing my grades up, fighting for a prime spot on the tennis team, and pushing myself to learn new skills in gymnastics.

But none of that comes close to being anything like the place and situation I’ve been thrown into here.

“You don’t get it yet, do you?” Henry chuckles, low and humorless. “The fae don’t care about spirit. They care about obedience, beauty, and submission. You’ve got the beauty, which should keep you going for a few months. But keep playing tough, and you’ll see that your looks will only get you so far.”

Jake steps in, his hand brushing mine—a silent offer of solidarity. “Henry,” he says, steady but firm. “Back off. She’s new. She doesn’t need this from you.”

“Fine.” Henry throws his hands up in mock surrender, although it doesn’t stop him from checking me out again. “Do whatever you want. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Noted,” I say, as flatly as I can manage.

He steps away, retreating toward the tree he’d been leaning on earlier, and the other girls follow his lead. “Good luck, Zoey,” he calls over his shoulder. “You’ll need it.”

The space between me and Jake is silent for a few seconds.

All I can do is stare at where Henry was just standing, with a strange mix of anger and fear racing through my veins.

“Come on,” Jake says, bringing me out of my frustrated haze. “Let’s go to the garden. You said you wanted to see if there were any useful herbs there, right?”

I highly doubt he knows anything about herbs, but it’ll be a good activity to take my mind off everything.

Keeping my brain occupied is my favorite way to push aside my worries and doubts.

So, together, we walk over to the garden.

“I’m sorry about them,” he says once we’re out of their earshot. “Henry especially. Being one of the queen’s pets has gone to his head.”

“Malakai’s girls are all so broken,” I say, crouching down and starting to look around. “Especially Katerina. Does she ever speak?”

Jake kneels beside me, his shoulder brushing mine, his expression darkening. “Not since whatever Malakai did to her three months ago,” he says. “No one knows exactly what happened, but she hasn’t said a word since.”

I shudder, unable to imagine what could silence someone so completely. “And the others just accept it? They don’t try to help her?”

“What can they do?” he asks. “We’re all just trying to survive here. Some cope by following every rule to the letter. Others try to gain whatever power they can by aligning themselves with the strongest players.”

“And you?” I ask. “How do you cope?”

“I try to hold onto who I was before. And...” He hesitates. “I look for connections that remind me that I’m still human.”

The weight of his words settles over me. Because we’re all searching for something to keep us from breaking—whether it’s perfectly polished appearances, borrowed power, or simple human contact.

I look away from him, focusing on the flowers instead.

They’re beautiful—I’ve never seen black roses before—but there’s no sage here.

“You’re different,” Jake says, plucking a flower and holding it out to me. “Most new pets either have a mental breakdown from the shock of it all, or they shut down completely. But you… you’re strong. Determined. Smart. Stubborn.”

“Are those good things?” I ask, tilting my head slightly.

“They’re potentially dangerous things,” he admits, leaning closer and studying me with a fire in his eyes that I didn’t notice before. “But maybe they’re exactly what this place needs right now.”