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eleven

I arrived at the Great Hall before the Queen.

She struck me as someone who rushed for no one.

Taking in my surroundings, I decided whoever had designed this castle had impeccable taste.

The room stretched on and on, continuing past the sizable Dining Room into a sprawling, domed Ball Room.

The last rays of a rose-gold sunset gleamed against waxed marble floors.

Flowering vines crept along intricate, swirling copper frames that supported the high, arched ceilings. Curving panels of stained-glass windows made up most of the dome, depicting the changing moon cycle.

Vines met at a center point, dangling down around a glass chandelier.

The elaborate fixture consisted of thousands of small glass spheres that cascaded like drops of rain.

I inhaled sharply as I studied it. Simply beautiful .

It certainly didn’t scream magic shortage .

How much human blood had it taken to build such a fantastical display?

My attention swung back to the table of faeries when I heard someone cough.

The head of the table was empty, but all three sons dutifully sat around it.

Three unfamiliar faces also stared back at me; an older couple with silver in their hair and a beautiful female who watched me through velvet lashes.

I thought she looked about my age, but then remembered faeries were nearly immortal.

She had straight white-blonde hair that ran well past the curves of her petite breasts.

Stunning almond shaped-eyes curved towards dainty, pointed ears.

She was elegant—the epitome of ethereal beauty—and sitting right next to Galen, her focus turned to him.

Side by side, they looked like a well-matched pair.

A perfect balance of masculine and feminine; both blessed with high cheekbones, strong jawlines, and refined, straight noses. Too beautiful to be human.

I stumbled when I saw a glow radiating from each of them.

His was a deep golden red. Hers, a soft yellow and pink.

At first I thought I’d been seeing things, but no; shimmering energy floated around faeries in various colors and shapes.

I couldn’t see the subtle glow straight-on, but I kept catching glimpses from my periphery.

Each aura — or whatever it was—was unique, like a magical finger-print.

In Erador, auras were something oracles in traveling circuses claimed to see.

I’d never been allowed to go to any of the shows that came through Aurelius, but I’d heard stories.

I’d always just thought seers had a talent for telling people what they wanted to hear—a clever gift for reading body language.

But now I was questioning everything I thought I knew.

There was an open seat between Rafael and the older gentleman, but I hesitated, unsure of proper protocol. Was I supposed to pull up a chair or wait to be seated?

Everyone turned to me at once and I resisted the urge to bolt.

I froze in place as an inky black aura spilled from Rafael.

My round eyes met his as tendrils of smoke stretched towards me, like two grasping hands…

before blinking out of sight. His mighty power had seemed ready to swallow me whole for one terrifying moment.

His jaw ticked as he turned away. Nobody else seemed to notice, their attention still on me.

Louis jumped up and helped me to my seat. “You look stunning, Marigold,” he said with a warm smile. The glow that swirled around him was bright and playful—the same shade as his turquoise eyes.

I blushed at the compliment, smiling awkwardly before I sat down. “Thank you. I believe this dress suits me better than the one I arrived in.” I flashed a look at Galen in silent thanks. His stare nearly scorched my soul with its voracity.

The silver-haired male looked me up and down. He had a scar that ran from his temple down to his jaw. What could leave a faerie with such a scar? I tried not to stare.

“Hello, Marigold, is it? Are you being courted by Rafael, then?” he asked, acknowledging our seating arrangement.

Rafael responded before I could. “Absolutely not.” His sultry voice dripped like warm honey, but I could feel his revulsion—see it in his stiff posture. Apparently, the idea of courting me thoroughly disgusted him. Was there anyone he deemed worthy of his attention?

“I suppose courting isn’t your style.” The man gave him a knowing grin. I internally rolled my eyes. Men were pigs .

Studying Rafael, I noted a bruise blooming across his left cheekbone. He’d no doubt done something to deserve it. I was no seer, but I could see right through him.

He was a Prince, born too late to be King. Over time, he’d probably developed an ego complex from always being under Galen’s shadow, turning to brothels and bar brawls to seek temporary relief from his shallow existence.

Many bored noblemen became rakes; they weren’t unique, but of course thought they were.

If he followed the typical pattern, he’d be a perpetual bachelor until he was ready to sire heirs.

Only then would he choose a wife—one that would look the other way when he strayed.

He was the kind of man that Ophelia warned me about—the kind my governess enjoyed.

“I haven’t seen you before,” the older man said. “We’re longtime friends of the family. I’m Arnold. This is my wife, Dahlia… and my daughter, Isla.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said softly.

“Ah! I better warn you now.” He winked. “I’m essentially deaf in the right ear and the other one isn’t much better—not even healers have been able to help.

To be fair, I’m over five-hundred years old, so it was about time something broke down.

If you want me to hear you, you’ll have to speak up.

I admit, I make a terrible dinner guest.”

I groaned. Having to make conversation with Rafael for a whole meal might be the death of me. I eyed him warily, staying silent. How much blood did one have to consume to gain an aura so black?

Dahlia spoke next. “What’s your relation to the family, Marigold?” She studied me with a pinched face. None of the Princes jumped in, leaving me to give a vague answer. “I am a… distant cousin—just visiting for a quick holiday.”

“Oh lovely, where are you traveling from?” She could tell I was lying. I could see it in her tight-lipped expression.

This time Galen saved me. “She’s from Lavinia. She’s traveled here to be part of the Hyacinth Festival.”

His eyes were dancing with amusement, but the joke was on him. There was no way I was going to a party full of blood-thirsty faeries—I’d rather join the wylks in the woods.

The conversation ended abruptly when the Queen arrived, as everyone stood and bowed.

The skirts of her royal purple gown billowed in on an invisible wind.

Tonight her aura was a ruby red storm cloud, marbled with green veins.

It rolled overhead so aggressively, I half expected to hear the distant roar of thunder.

“Arnold, Dahlia, Isla—so lovely to see you. Galen and I are honored to host you over the next few months. I’m confident that your stay will end in a betrothal.” She smiled widely, motioning to Isla and Galen.

Galen’s eyes darted towards me and I looked away, feeling suddenly breathless. I hadn’t eaten yet, but I was almost positive I was experiencing symptoms of food poisoning. There was a stabbing pain in my intestines… my chest felt heavy. I was burning up.

Why had he pursued me if he was already promised to another? He must’ve been hoping for one last fling before he married. Pigs. All of them. He could stay cursed; the soulless, blood sucking, prick . My dress that had been comfortable moments ago was now too tight, suffocating me.

I looked at his soon-to-be fiancé. Isla was tall, thin… flawless. If she was Galen’s type, then he probably had seen me as a pet . I wanted to stand up and tell him that he was the dog. I’d just been a chew toy. One of many, apparently.

I let my petty emotions take over for the length of several deep breaths before I sat up straight and pretended Galen no longer existed. I had no claim to him… I didn’t even want him . So what if I was feeling a little possessive? It was just a natural reaction to the stress I was under.

As food was served, conversation flowed around the table. Rafael said something under his breath and I had to lean in to hear him. “Don’t be so obvious . You look like you want to jab poor Isla with your fork.” His smooth chuckle made the nape of my neck prickle.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I avoided eye contact, focusing on my first course of sliced pears and candied nuts over a bed of purple lettuce. The food in this world was to die for, unlike the company.

“You’re a terrible liar. You won’t survive long here if you don’t learn to hide your emotions. Galen may have led you to believe we’re a benign and merciful folk, but don’t forget that we value power above all else, just like your humans.” Rafael moved his chair closer to mine.

Scooting away from him, I attempted to converse with someone else. “Arnold, if you’re over five-hundred years old, does that mean you were born in in Erador?” I spoke at full volume, hoping he’d hear me.

The conversations around the table abruptly stopped. A fork dropped and clinked against a plate. All eyes were on me.