Page 14

When an elephant passed us, my mouth hung open as his large trunk reached out, almost close enough to touch. It was impossible not to grin like a child as I took it all in. I felt as if I was in a dream and might wake up to Thea’s knocking at any moment.

My dream from last night… I’d almost forgotten it. The women in my family took our dreams seriously—even pragmatic Ophelia insisted that they were important. She claimed that the gods communicated to us through them, as did the dead.

My mother’s face flashed into my mind and I closed my eyes, trying to recall the blurry memory.

She and Ophelia had been in the throne room, discussing my departure from Aurelius…

like it had been fated to happen. Mama said she’d watch over me.

I rubbed goosebumps off my arms. I knew she was close; I could feel her in the gentle breeze that blew through my hair .

I couldn’t stop wondering what Ophelia had wanted to tell me.

I’d become a living example of what happens when a sheep wanders too far from the herd.

A wolf finds you. I side-eyed Galen, looking regal and gorgeous as he sat on his horse.

His bronze hair shimmered with a million shades of gold and red under the glowing sun.

I kept catching him stare at me. Every single time, my stomach dipped.

We trotted through town until hooves met cobblestone, then dismounted and tied-off the horses.

I gave Hibiscus a scratch on her pink nose, while I fed her an apple I’d taken from the stable.

As we made our way into town on foot, I stayed close to Galen, letting him rest his hand on the small of my back.

Magenta flowers and dark green ivy crept along the white-stoned homes we passed. A thin, turquoise river snaked through the middle of town, dividing it in half. Cream-stoned bridges arched over the water, connecting the two halves. Oak trees with sprawling branches created a canopy over the roads.

The streets were filled with people going about their day.

Galen was protective, keeping his arm around my waist as we weaved our way through the bustling crowds.

Vendors sold unfamiliar produce, aromatic spices, textiles, trinkets, and jewelry.

The smell of seasoned meat, sweet breads and baked goods wafted around us as we passed through an outdoor market.

Magic must’ve helped build all of this. It was the only explanation for so much progress in such a short time.

The villagers appeared to be thriving in a world they weren’t native to, yet Galen had said they were desperate to go back to Erador—to the Kingdom that I was to one day rule—that his father had once ruled.

Humans had stolen their city when they’d left.

If Galen knew who I was, would he consider me his enemy?

Even though I hadn’t been the one to curse or exile them, I still felt the weight of what had happened.

Would they blame me for the sins of my ancestors?

I wasn’t even related to the royal blood line, but if they considered themselves the true rulers of Aurelius, then I was a direct threat to them.

In some ways, Galen and I were fated to be enemies.

I glanced up at him, observing his confident demeanor as his eyes darted around the streets, staying ahead of any potential danger.

Would they still want to leave Nymera if they weren’t cursed?

Did Ophelia know about their curse? Had she ever tried to break it?

I held onto the necklace she’d given me yesterday and gathered strength from its warmth.

It sometimes felt hot against my skin—other times, ice cold.

The star gave off a faint glow when it heated.

I assumed if it had any significance, she would’ve told me.

Then again, she hadn’t been as forthcoming with information as I’d once thought.

We walked from shop to shop, talking to the locals and sampling their wares. I ate a glazed cinnamon pastry in the shape of a six-pointed star. We sipped sparkling blood berry wine that tasted incredible, but looked gruesome after all I’d learned today.

The apothecary was my favorite stop. There were hundreds, no, thousands of glass vials filled with dried herbs and oils—many I’d never heard of. I carefully picked up each small bottle and inspected the contents, thinking of the impact new plants and medications could have on Aurelius.

“Is it very different than home?” Galen asked as we meandered to the seamstress to get my measurements.

“Aurelius is ancient… as you know. Buildings have been built on top of buildings. Change happens both quickly and slowly in a city that big. Monrovia feels fresh, energetic, lively…”

Galen grinned down at me. “I’m glad you like it here.

I think faeries have been able to thrive in Nymera in a way that we couldn’t in Erador—with the exception of the blood curse, of course.

It took hiding ourselves in Aurelius, to know peace.

If we could break the curse, then maybe we’d know it again. ”

“Were you born in Erador?”

Galen shook his head. “No, I’m not that old, though sometimes it feels like it. As heir to the throne, it’s easy to forget that I’m my own person, with my own needs.”

His gaze lingered and I cleared my throat, turning away as I said, "I’m impressed with the way your people have learned to coexist with nature.

In Erador, we tend to demolish the natural world…

or bend it to our will. We cut down forests to plant decorative gardens, dump sewage into the rivers, kill wildlife to make space for livestock.

But here… I can hear the birds singing in the middle of the city.

There are parks to rest in—your water is clear and clean.

I wish humanity valued nature as much as your people seem to. ”

“Human or faerie… there are always those who’ll choose personal gain over coexistence.

Destruction is creation, depending on the mindset.

We have a saying here: A forest of trees can create a home, but too many homes will destroy a forest .

Greed leaves us all with nothing. Balance is key, but difficult to maintain.

If you ever figure out how to stop corruption, let me know.

” He looked tired… sad . A glimpse of the man behind the Prince.

I felt an impulse to comfort him. If only he knew how much I could relate. “How do you think faeries would treat humans; hypothetically, if I was able to open a door to Erador?”

He came to a dead stop, surprising me as he pulled me to him in one smooth motion. His arms wrapped around me as our bodies molded together. He was too close; his seductive scent, his charming smile… those canines.

“If the leaders of our two worlds met, I believe we could come to an agreement that would satisfy all. It would just take a little… balance ,” he said, before cradling my head and dipping me back. His nose brushed against mine before I shimmied out of his grasp and glared at him.

I wanted to believe him, but it had been the polished Prince who’d answered, not the one who had dreams of his own.

All I could envision was the worst-case scenario; magic-starved faeries pillaging human villages, leaving a trail of blood.

Taking over economically, then politically.

They were powerful enough to make every human in Erador a slave—curse or no curse.

And like Galen had said, faeries were just as susceptible to greed as humans.

A faerie set on destruction—they’d be capable of unimaginable devastation.

A vision from last night’s dream appeared; Ophelia sobbing into her hands. She’d looked so vulnerable, so helpless. I never wanted her to feel that way again. I wouldn’t let her down. I wouldn’t let my world down.

“I think some would take what they wanted, rather than obey a treaty that was signed by a few world leaders.”

“Then it seems that I’ll have to convince you otherwise. We’re not mindless, blood-thirsty beasts. Let me prove it to you.” He took my hand in his and kissed it. I jerked it away, but the glint in his eyes told me he liked a challenge.

It was refreshing that he didn’t seem to mind my opinions.

In Aurelius, intelligence in women was not a virtue—neither was a loud mouth.

Here, it seemed that women stood on equal ground.

So far, from what I’d seen, they could dress how they wanted and say what they wanted.

I’d even seen women dressed in armor, standing amongst male soldiers .

I observed the villagers, both in animal and Fae form, going about their everyday life.

I’m sure some were good, some were bad, and most were simply trying to get by—just like humans.

I didn’t fault them for the curse or for what they were, but I couldn’t help them—not in the way Galen wanted me to.

Not when they’d acquired a taste for human blood.

After visiting the seamstress, we weaved our way through the streets, back towards our horses.

A scuffle outside of a tavern caught my attention.

Two large men were laughing as they pushed a woman back and forth—snapping their teeth at her.

I watched in horror as one of them held a flame in front of her face and the other restrained her.

Before I knew what I was doing, I’d rushed over and kicked the faerie holding the woman in the shin.

He yelped in surprise and let go. I sheltered her with my body and hissed at them like a cat protecting her kitten .

I’m not sure who was more surprised: Me, the woman, or the men…

perhaps Galen. He trotted over, Robert at his side.

“Who do you think ye are, girlie, starting a fight with a man twice your size? How’d you know I like them feisty?” A tall, thickly built, blonde male sneered down at me.