Page 23 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses (Cursed Fae Courts #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aurelia

W e broke camp at dawn. Rydian was nowhere in sight by the time I dressed and joined the others. Callan was the last to emerge from his tent. I noted dark circles under his eyes, but when I asked him how he’d slept, he chirped out, “Great,” and flashed one of those charming smiles.

I let it go.

Slade was waiting with Shadow, the horse already saddled and stomping impatiently.

“Morning, Your Highness.” Slade dipped his chin at me and handed me the reins.

Shadow snorted at the sight of me.

I mounted without help and couldn’t shake the burst of pride I felt over the accomplishment. It was probably stupid, but I took it as a sign I was fitting back into the waking world. Hopefully, I could master the skills I’d need to navigate the Autumn Court just as quickly.

As we wound through the hills and into the valley, the temperature dropped. I pulled my cloak more tightly around me and kept my face angled down to counter the wind’s bite on my cheeks as much as possible.

On the far side of the valley, we crossed into Grey Oak Forest, a crowded autumn wood filled with a mass of Purple-Leaf Oaks that cast long shadows over the moss-coated ground. It was enough to distract me from the nerves that were growing worse the closer we got to the Autumn Court.

Finally, we emerged on the other side.

I stared out over a landscape rich with color—copper leaves that shimmered like burnished metal and deep emerald fields stretching endlessly under a blue sky. It was beautiful in a way that made my heart ache; a beauty that felt untouched by the looming shadow of war. I was both relieved to find it so whole and resentful that Summer had suffered so greatly in comparison.

Ahead, a large stretch of farmland yielded to a road, and we aimed northwest in a procession that became louder and more carefree the farther we went. The soldiers clearly deemed the lands this far into their kingdom safe.

I hoped they were right.

Callan rode beside me, chatting easily about the landmarks we passed.

I stole glances at him while pretending to listen, unable to shake Rydian’s warning last night—that Callan and the king would try to use me. It wasn’t very far-fetched to think a scheming politician might have his own angle. But this warning had felt different. Darker. More nefarious.

Then again, everything about Rydian felt that way.

Still, I tucked my magic in deep and willed it to remain dormant along with the rest of my secrets. If Callan kept his word—if he helped me find a way to wake and free my people—it would be worth sharing my kingdom with him. Or that was what I told myself.

We stopped for lunch on the side of the road .

Callan led me away from the others to a fallen log where we ate in relative silence. Despite the mostly open road, I still hadn’t seen Rydian or his scouts since leaving camp. Far to our left, a forest ran parallel to the road with farmland between. I studied the tree line but glimpsed nothing and no one inside it.

“Where’s Rydian?” I asked.

Callan’s gaze shot to mine. “I sent him on another errand. Why?”

I shrugged. “I expected him to escort us all the way to Grey Oak.”

Callan shook his head, his expression tight. “That’s not exactly Rydian’s scene.”

“What is his scene?”

His brow rose in a sort of challenge. “Why so many questions about a bastard-born son?”

I suppressed my flinch at the insult. Clearly, he was trying to remind me what Rydian was—and wasn’t. “He saved my life. I’m entitled to curiosity, aren’t I?”

Callan frowned but said nothing.

I decided to take the hint and change the subject. “Are you nervous about introducing me to your father?”

“Of course not. Why would I be?”

“My mistake. So, he knew you intended to rescue the long-lost Sleeping Beauty and whisk her home to live happily ever after despite having no kingdom or army to her name?”

He shook his head, refusing to take the bait. “He expects me to take a bride of royal breeding with sufficient magic so that our offspring’s power benefits the kingdom.”

I blinked.

Offspring?

Seven years had been enough to make me forget all that would be expected of a royal alliance. The reality came crashing down around me .

I swallowed. “Spoken like a true politician.”

He grimaced, but then his gaze became almost beseeching. “We were honest with one another once. About what this was—and what it could be. Am I wrong to think we might have that honesty again?”

I ignored the way my own conscience squeezed my heart. The only thing between us was a pile of secrets—but I wasn’t going to tell him that. I gave him my best vulnerable look and fluttered my lashes. “You tell me.”

He sighed then admitted, “My father is not an easy man. He’ll be unhappy you don’t have an army to offer him.”

“A fact I warned you about when you proposed,” I pointed out. “You said there were other benefits to our alliance now.”

“There are.” A shadow passed over his features.

“Callan,” I warned. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Our lands are not as untouched as you might think by Heliconia’s wrath,” he said quietly. “My father demanded I find a bride who would offer a solution for our people.”

“What kind of solution?”

He hesitated then said quietly, “My father would see me wed to Heliconia herself.”

I blinked, stunned at the ludicrousness of such an idea. “What makes him think she would ever go for that?”

“Because it was her idea.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”

“After her attack on your court, she tried to claim her victory and your father’s throne. But the other courts refused to recognize her coup or her claims as the queen of Winter and Summer. Then, she vanished, and it only solidified the realm’s resistance to her rule. Seven years later, every single kingdom continues to fight against her, no matter the losses her creatures inflict.”

“You think she’s trying to take control through diplomacy,” I said. “But why would your father ever agree to it?”

He made a face. “He’s as power-hungry as she is. He thinks he could lure her here for a wedding vow then kill her.”

I stared at him, understanding dawning in slow horror. “Your father would try to claim everything she’s conquered for himself.”

He nodded grimly. “He sees himself as lord of Autumn and Winter.”

I swallowed my fury as I said, “And instead, you intend to hand him Summer.”

“I’m being honest with you like we agreed,” he said. “I would much rather tie myself to you in a mutual alliance than risk my life and my crown with her.”

“And what happens when your father decides he wants my crown for himself?”

“I won’t let him hurt you, Aurelia.”

The Obsidian’s words came back to me. The key to Heliconia’s destruction was us. Callan and me. Which meant I had no choice but to believe the steadiness in the words he’d just offered me. “And my people? Will you protect them too?”

“I told you I’d help you find a way to free them. And I will.”

Yes, he’d help me free them—just in time to hand them over to Duron as the Autumn king’s subjects. But it was either this or Callan married Heliconia. And if Duron failed in his coup, if she conquered Autumn, where would that leave me? What would become of the prophecy then? Could I do this without the prince? Even Sonoma had insisted I needed his help. But so far, he was proving to be the one person most capable of stabbing me in the back.

I shuddered, suddenly chilled.

Callan noted it. “We should get going. I want to reach Grey Oak by sunset.”

Three hours later, rolling farmlands gave way to large estates as we reached the outskirts of Grey Oak. Traffic became heavier as we passed carriages trimmed in gold, their occupants obscured by thick curtains covering the small windows. Clusters of modest but well-kept homes lined side streets. Children played in front yards.

My chest tightened. How long had it been since I’d seen children playing? The sight was both beautiful and tragic. They waved at us as we passed. Callan waved back, grinning like we were nothing more than a friendly parade. I blinked back hot tears and did my best to keep my expression neutral.

We left the estates and traffic behind, turning onto a narrow lane that led up to a set of iron gates. Here, no more civilians roamed. Only those in military uniforms with the Autumn crest emblazoned on their breast.

Ahead, the road was bordered by a high fence topped with metal spikes. The soldiers in our procession quieted as swiftly as they had inside the Emerald Forest. It was disconcerting after a day of non-stop chatter.

Even Callan’s good mood had vanished.

A few minutes later, we passed through the heavy gates. Armed sentries looked down on us from a three-story tower on either side. My skin prickled with the feeling of their heavy gazes, but I kept my eyes fastened straight ahead as I rode beside Callan.

Behind us, the gates creaked and whined as they were pushed shut again. I flinched at the sound of them clanging together and the lock engaging. The whole setup made this place feel more like a prison than a haven.

Callan glanced at me, a tight smile flashing. “You can relax. No threat can touch you here.”

I didn’t answer. How could I when the only threat I was worried about now was him?

The road sloped gently upward, and as we climbed, I noted the armed men positioned at regular checkpoints along the side. Some stood watch in treetop posts, barely noticeable through the copper leaves that clung to the branches. Others marched past in plain sight, their swords gleaming at their hips.

Following the road, we wound steadily through it all, up and up and up. And at the very top of the hill, impressively large and moodily gray, stood Grey Oak Castle. I’d seen pictures of this place years ago during one of many meetings with my father and our generals. But those pictures hadn’t done it justice; the place was easily twice the size of Sevanwinds. I counted five separate towers from the front view alone.

Its outer walls were made of a light, smooth stone decorated with copper and burgundy banners that flew in the wind, the Autumn fae emblem emblazoned on each one. The castle rose high above the treetops, perched right on the edge of a steep cliff as if overlooking the lands beyond like a watchdog.

Something inside me wanted to turn and ride in the opposite direction at the sight of it. But after the gates I’d passed through to get here, I had a feeling that leaving would be easier said than done.

Another shudder rippled through me. My power, tucked tightly away, strained with unease.

“I hope Grey Oak pleases you,” Callan said.

I glanced at him, unsure how to respond. It was beautiful, yes. A sprawling fortress of stone and glass that gleamed in the evening light, its architecture was stunning, but there was a weight to it—a cold heaviness that made me feel small, even before we’d set foot inside .

“It’s… breathtaking.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s the pride of the Autumn Court. We’ve worked hard to keep it that way.”

As we reached the front, doors opened, and servants appeared, each of them bowing deeply as we dismounted.

Standing before the main entrance, I swept my gaze over the immaculate grounds. The gardens were lush, filled with autumn blooms, the scent of oak and pine heavy in the air. No one was in sight beyond the servants. No courtiers, not even a gardener.

I turned back to Callan as he rattled off instructions to the servants about preparing rooms for me and finding me a maid.

“I don’t need all that,” I said, waving him off, but he scoffed.

“Nonsense. You’re the future queen of two kingdoms. You need all that and more.”

The servant closest to me, a female, widened her eyes, but she scurried off before Callan could notice.

He glanced at the warrior leathers I still wore and frowned. “We’ll get you settled and freshened up. Find something proper for you to wear. I’m sure Father will be eager to meet you.” He flashed a smile and offered his arm.

I took it, though I wasn’t sure Duron would be eager about anything concerning my arrangement with Callan. Especially if it meant competing with Heliconia for his son’s hand.

Inside the grand hall, the opulence of Grey Oak was immediately evident. Tapestries depicting legendary battles decorated the walls, their threads glinting gold and bronze in the torchlight. Paintings hung in gilded frames above rugs thick enough to sink my feet into.

Callan led me through a maze of halls. Finally, he stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. “Your room,” he said. “What do you think? ”

I stepped inside and couldn’t help but gasp. The room was enormous, far larger than what I’d had at home. The high ceiling was supported by carved beams in an oak stain that matched the armoire.

A large bed, draped in silks and fur blankets, dominated the space, its carved posts intricate with fae designs—leaves and vines that seemed to pulse with magic. A fire already crackled in the hearth, casting warm, flickering light over the luxurious furnishings. Plush armchairs were arranged near the fire with more furs draped over their backs. I was sure it was all meant to be very inviting but instead left me with a chill. I rubbed my arms absently.

“It’s... beautiful,” I murmured, still taking it all in.

Callan chuckled at my wide-eyed reaction. “You’ll grow accustomed to it. After all, this is your home now.”

The word clanged through me, but even with my back turned, I refused to react.

I turned to find him watching me with that same easy smile, though his eyes gleamed with something more. He stepped closer, the warmth of his body sending a ripple of awareness through me. He reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face with a tenderness that caught me off guard.

On the road, he’d kept his distance so much that I’d believed our arrangement would be in name only. But now, the way he was looking at me suggested he wanted much more from me than my name.

“I’m glad you’re here, Aurelia,” he said, his voice low. “That our paths crossed again cannot be coincidence.”

His words were soft, almost intimate, as if we were the only two people in the world. He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against my skin, and for a heartbeat, I thought he might kiss me.

My pulse quickened as the space between us dwindled.

Behind him, a brisk knock sounded on the door before it opened. Callan stepped back as a young maid stepped in, my bag in her hands. She took one look at us and lowered her head, eyes wide in horror.

“Apologies,” she mumbled. “You sent for me, Your Highness.”

“Come in,” Callan told her. “You will serve Princess Aurelia from Sevanwinds—whatever she needs.”

“Of course, Your Highness.” She took a step forward, head still lowered as if bracing for a reprimand.

But Callan ignored her, saying to me, “I’ll leave you to get dressed. My father will want to see you at dinner, and I’d hate for us to keep him waiting.”

I nodded.

Callan hesitated at the door, his gaze lingering on me as if he was about to say something more. Instead, he flashed another one of those charming smiles. “I’ll be back soon.”

And with that, he was gone, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

I stood there for a moment, my mind racing. The luxury of the room suddenly felt stifling. I glanced at the bed, the thick rugs, the tapestries that seemed to watch me with their golden threads. It was beautiful—no question—but it wasn’t home.

The maid finally lifted her head, studying me nervously. “Shall we prepare for dinner, Your Highness?”

I sighed. “I’m not sure we have a choice,” I said, earning a flicker of surprise.

But she nodded and carried my bag to the wardrobe, pulling out the gowns I’d brought with me. I didn’t miss the concern on her face as she studied the fabric that had once been the best coin could buy. Now, it was probably outdated, though hopefully, it would work for at least one night with the king.

No matter what deal I’d struck with Callan, the truth was I needed the king’s blessing to seal it. Callan hadn’t said so, but I knew enough about royal politics to understand this dinner was so much more than an introduction. It was an interview.

A single chance for acceptance.

Without Duron’s blessing over our alliance, I’d be tossed out on the street, alone in the realm against a dark army and its queen who would stop at nothing to destroy me. The truth was that I needed Autumn much more than they needed me. And I was willing to do a Hel of a lot to get what I needed.

The dress had to be right.

“What’s your name?”

The maid looked up, startled. “Um, Vanya, Your Highness.”

“Please, call me Aurelia.”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly.” Her cheeks heated, and she looked down at the dress.

But I pressed on, needing at least one friend in this dreary place. “The gown is a bit older, I know. Do you think it will work for dinner with the king?”

Vanya looked up. She searched my expression in what felt like some sort of silent interrogation then finally seemed to relax. “It’s not a current fashion, but… I have some ideas,” she said carefully.

I smiled encouragingly. “I’d love to hear them.”