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I am in a different world , I said to myself over and over, trying to comprehend the impossible. We entered the interior of the castle, but it was as if the outdoors had followed us in.

Large glass windows and skylights flooded the entryway with light, bouncing off pure white stone.

Climbing plants scaled the walls, forming a labyrinth of vines and flowers.

Stained-glass windows created a rainbow light-effect on our skin as we passed under them.

There was a gentle buzzing in the air that made me feel awake, giddy…

intoxicated. One word came to mind: Magic .

Trees flanked us on either side, growing right out of terra-cotta stone floors.

They stretched towards the high ceilings, making it feel like we were in the middle of a bright and airy forest. Birds sailed overhead, flying back and forth between the trees.

Their songs floated through the air together in harmony.

And their feathers… they shimmered with every color of the rainbow as they flitted around us: Teal parrots with bright yellow chests, white ones with pink crests on their head, and a large red bird that looked like it was made of flame.

I’d never seen the wild brought indoors like this, even the art that covered the walls showcased nature’s beauty with oil paintings and murals of animals and landscapes. There were no stuffy portraits of ancestors… no dusty tapestries. Everything was full of life .

Galen watched me as I took in my surroundings. For some odd reason, he looked captivated—almost in awe—as if I wasn’t a filthy, nervous wreck.

When we passed a mirror, I decided I must’ve been reading him wrong, because I was in rare form, indeed. There were leaves in my unkempt hair and smears of blood where there should have been cuts. Where there had been cuts. How had they healed so fast?

My ankle was feeling better too, although I was milking the pain to stay close to the Prince.

Did this world allow one to heal at an unnaturally fast rate?

Something to ask Galen when there were less eyes on us, because currently there were guards everywhere ; they lined the hallways and trailed behind us as they stared and whispered.

“Would it be possible to freshen up before meeting the Queen?” I asked. “I wouldn’t want to offend her in my current state.”

“Ah, there will be time for that soon… Unfortunately, the Queen has been alerted to your presence and she’s waiting. It’s never a good idea to keep her waiting.” He threw me an apologetic glance before guiding me towards a set of gilded double doors.

It was all happening so fast. Shouldn’t a Prince understand the importance of appearances? It was difficult to feel prepared when I looked like a creature he’d pulled from a bog.

The heavily guarded doors swung open, and we were pushed into a tropical jungle. I tripped over a tree root that darted straight out of the marble floor and Galen didn’t miss a beat—catching me, then gripping me more firmly.

A warm mist settled over my skin, adding to my confusion, as I tried to figure out how we’d ended up back in the forest. I peered up, gawking. The ceiling was completelymade of glass. It was the onlyfeature that told me we were indoors.

A firm tug from Galen had me moving again—towards the Queen who was waiting for us on an elevated Dais. She sat in a chair that looked more like a gnarled tree stump than a throne.

An array of exotic plants framed the walk way. Some tucked themselves between exposed tree roots, others twisted up mossy trunks. Vines hung from tree branches in stringy tendrils, while water trickled down rock walls. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to feast my eyes on.

Plants that I’d seen as drawings in scientific journals exploded around us, like vibrant fireworks: Red bromeliads, banana trees bearing ripe fruit, fanned out monsteras, and birds of paradise .

Giant fig trees stretched higher than I could fathom—their trunks wider than five of me combined. They didn’t simply grow up , but also webbed across the floor. Their roots looked like massive hands, reaching, clawing, slithering towards us, before rising up into… were those snake heads?

I fought my impulse to run as I studied the wooden snake totems that lined the aisle. Each sculpture reared up, as if ready to strike, while jewels the size of my fist sat in hollow eye sockets that sparkled with malice.

Our feet clicked on the jade marble as rushing water grew louder, sounding as tranquil as a nest of hissing serpents. I wanted to cover my ears, close my eyes, and curl into the fetal position.

What god had I pissed off to end up in this situation? All of them?

I glanced towards a line of soldiers when I heard a low growl. There were wolves and monstrous cats sitting amongst uniformed men and women. They stood perfectly still, but I had no doubt that one whistle would send them sprinting over.

“Her Majesty, Queen Sylvia. You may bow and pay her your respect,” a uniformed herald announced. I bowed as the Queen looked down on us from her platform.

I could feel Galen’s mother staring at me.

I lifted my head, meeting powder-blue eyes.

Her angular face was set in a pucker that negated any inner beauty, though she looked young enough to be his sister.

I was taken aback, but concealed my surprise.

Obsidian black hair and pale skin contrasted sharply with her son’s golden features.

A dark red lipstick leeched any remaining color from her cheeks.

Dressed in a pale silver gown, in a more provocative style than I was accustomed to, she showed off ample cleavage on her otherwise thin frame. The fabric draped and twisted, reminding me of the flora that surrounded us.

Her skirts splayed out around her, extending past a throne that appeared to be weaved from dried vines and mahogany branches.

Gold flecks shimmered on dark wood, shining like starlight.

The chair looked alive, as if one of its vines might lash out and wrap around my neck at any moment.

However, it was not the throne that scared me, but the snake that sat in it, watching me through cold, narrowed slits.

“I was informed that you found a stray puppy wandering our property,” the Queen drawled to Galen, looking bored.

“And why exactly did you find it appropriate to bring her into my home? Please don’t tell me you want to keep her.

You should know by now that humans don’t make good pets , Prince Galen. ”

I clenched my jaw as she spoke. They really weren’t humans. I felt Galen’s hand on my lower back, steadying me, as I trembled.

I peeked over at him. He was glaring at her with thinly-veiled hostility.

“This is Marigold. She’s in need of food, rest, and medical attention.

Wylks found her before we did—she was almost their dinner.

She injured herself during the attack and doesn’t remember how she ended up in our forest. I’d like to offer her one of our guest rooms while she recovers. ”

“Marigolds… such pretty little flowers,” the Queen said as we locked eyes. “Although personally, I’ve never cared for them. They aren’t to my taste. Too cheerful, too bright… for something so short-lived. I find such obstinance, obnoxious .” She flicked her eyes down to where Galen was touching me.

I was in a foul mood. My ribs ached, my lungs burned—I wanted to light this corset on fire. And now a strange woman was slinging insults at me. Was I supposed to just roll over and take this?

“Mother—” Galen said through gritted teeth. She flashed her eyes at him and he corrected himself. “ Queen Sylvia … Please , let her rest tonight. She’ll be of interest to you. Trust me.”

They exchanged a heated look.

“I must admit, I am curious to know how a dirty little human managed to bewitch my son.” She curled her lip at me, as if I was a mud-caked piglet that belonged in a pen.

My fists clenched, but instead of releasing my rage, I swallowed it. It went down like hot tar. I curtsied to the Queen and asked sweetly, “You find me bewitching , Your Grace?”

Her head snapped to me, eyes narrowing. “Did you grow up in a cave or are you just extremely stupid? Speak to me again without permission and it’ll be the last thing you do.” My heart was in my throat as she flippantly said, “Now thank me for my hospitality and be gone.”

I bowed, tail between my legs. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Prince Galen, show her to a room in the guest wing,” Sylvia sighed. “She’s your responsibility. Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere without a chaperone. Understood?” He nodded. “I expect a full explanation, sooner rather than later. Do not keep me waiting.”

I was in shock, shivering from a deep chill in my bones.

There was no fight left in me. I yearned to be a child and cry in my mother’s arms until my tears ran dry.

How had my life changed so drastically in a matter of hours?

For the second time today, I felt as if I was falling, but this time there was no dream to wake up from.

Did Deric know I was missing yet? Ophelia would be worried sick by now. The entire fleet of guards was probably out hunting for me.

I stayed close to Galen, following him past guarded sections of the castle, as we padded through long, silent corridors. We turned so many times, I eventually gave up memorizing the way.

Oil lamps lit dark hallways with an amber glow as evening approached. They flickered against marble statues and ivy that seemingly grew out of thin air. Decor that felt lively in the daylight had turned ominous in the dancing shadows of dusk.

This castle was a complicated maze that I’d need to learn if I planned to escape. I wanted to put as much distance between myself and the Queen of Nymera as possible. I’d never met anyone more terrifying than Galen’s mother. I pitied the woman who ended up with her for a mother-in-law.

We stopped in front of a door and Galen unlocked it with an old-fashioned key he pulled from his pocket. “After you,” he said, following behind me and shutting the door.

I looked around the cozy, understated room, relieved it wasn’t a prison cell.

The walls were covered in a delicate, floral wallpaper.

Plants hung from the ceiling and spilled from large ceramic pots.

A limestone fireplace covered in hand-carved rosettes sat across from a large feather bed with a fluffed-up white duvet.

Had I not been filthy, I would’ve fallen into it, flat on my face, not caring what the Prince thought.

Galen watched me take in my surroundings. “The maids will be by shortly to draw you a bath and bring you dinner. Do you want me to ring for a healer as well?”

“Thank you. And no, I’m fine. Just… tired,” I said with a shiver.

Tired didn’t begin to cover it. I was consumed with dread and loneliness… fear and worry. I was confused. And angry . But he was the last person I wanted to confide in. He was the one who brought me here—to his mother, who’d compared me to a dog .

But he’d also saved my life and kept me safe… found me a place to sleep. My mind was rattled and I couldn’t tell which way was up. Was he friend or foe? Or something else entirely?

“Do you want to know more about who we are? Or would you rather wait until morning?” he asked. “You look like you’re about to fall over from exhaustion.”

He was observant—too observant. He appeared to be just a few years older than me, but he carried himself like he’d seen and done it all. And today he’d seen me at my most vulnerable… completely unraveled and at his mercy. And now there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to be done with surprises for now. My brain might melt out of my ears if my mind is blown one more time,” I rambled.

Part of me wanted him to leave me be, so I could reflect on the strangest day of my life. Another part was scared to be alone.

So we stood in silence. It was so quiet that I could hear him breathing. He stared at the fire, hands in his pockets, back turned to me. Was it my imagination or was there an invisible tension beginning to grow?

Why wasn’t he leaving?

I stood awkwardly between the bed and door, chewing on my lip, rocking back on my heels. I fidgeted with my fingers, staring at the dirt embedded under my nails. How long was he just going to stand there? I was about to tear this dress off whether he left or not.

I cleared my throat. “Well… thank you for every—”

My words were cut off as Galen dashed to my side, spinning me faster than humanly possible. He pushed me against the door in the next motion and pinned my hands above my head. I looked up at him, keen on an explanation, bracing myself for his next move.

“You’re going to be trouble, aren't you?” he murmured, looking down at my lips that were set in a startled O-shape.

I could smell his cologne of cloves and smoke, like a warm fire on a cold autumn day.

His eyes shined with an emotion I couldn’t read, while my heart began to thud erratically. I was a rabbit caught in his snare.

“ What are you?” he asked. We stared at each other. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, he kissed me.

And like a fool, I kissed him back.