Page 24 of Manor of Wind and Nightmares (Fae of Brytwilde #3)
Now
A fter last night’s test, archery was almost comforting, an easy afternoon pastime as the fae conversed with us. Servants provided light refreshments. It was all surprisingly civilized and welcoming.
But I knew better. The muscles in my neck ached from the tension I carried, waiting for the moment something would go awry.
As we each took our turns aiming at our individual targets and comparing our results, I expected Ji to declare that we would next prove our skills by shooting toward our fellow contestants.
Kaede remained mostly by Laura’s side, their easy smiles making my chest ache every time I dared glance their way. With her, he seemed like himself again, not the haunted man I’d encountered twice the night before. With her, he was tender, attentive, charming. Alive.
It was odd to feel simultaneous relief that the man I loved still existed and envy that he no longer existed for me. Around me, he would forevermore be the withdrawn, angry prince stewing on his thoughts of revenge.
Bentley, thankfully, distracted me with encouragement and light conversation. I noticed Florian standing beside Charlotte, though he cast repeated looks our way.
Shooting was fairly easy for me, since I’d been trained in it, but some of the other ladies proved adept, having occupied themselves with archery back home.
Others struggled to hit their targets at all.
Poor Hattie was among them, a sort of desperation etched in the lines of her brow that made me wonder if she feared repercussions for not performing well.
Laura, however, did so well she even bested me. Her first arrow struck nearer the center of her target, earning her a wide grin. “Well done!” Kaede exclaimed.
And then another of Hattie’s arrows missed her mark, sailing so far to the left that it stuck in the branch of one of the cherry trees. White-faced, Hattie lifted her gloved hand to her mouth.
“I’ll fetch it, sister!” Laura giggled as she ran from Kaede, dashing toward the cherry tree and starting to climb. Petals fluttered through the air as she moved from branch to branch, stretching toward the arrow. One of her slippered feet slid, and Hattie gasped.
“Don’t risk falling!” she cried. “I will fetch another.”
Laura shook her head and laughed, her curls bouncing. “I’m fine! I’ve nearly reached it,” she declared.
While Hattie and the other women looked on nervously, the fae nobility watched in eager curiosity, as if even the act of climbing a tree was a test. I frowned, covering my eyes with my hand to block the sun as I sought Laura’s target.
My heart leapt into my mouth when I spotted the butterfly fluttering delicately before it perched upon the fletching of Hattie’s arrow.
Its wings were spotted in a vibrant shade of red I’d never seen in the mortal world—a shade that warned me it was no ordinary butterfly.
In this land, everything seemed to be deadly. Cursed.
Prince Kaede noticed Laura’s intent at the same instant I did. “Wait!”
Reaching overhead, Laura’s fingers brushed the next branch, just beneath the arrow—and the butterfly.
It fluttered its wings but did not move, apparently content to let the na?ve mortal reach toward its poisonous wings.
Laura didn’t look, either not realizing Kaede was worried or not hearing him over the gleeful shouts of the other fae.
“Oh, this is awful,” Bentley groaned, stepping forward as if to intervene.
But the prince was faster. Kaede tore off his jacket and began climbing the tree, scaling it faster than seemed possible.
Frozen to the spot, I watched Kaede capture Laura’s waist before she could stretch toward the butterfly. Her eyes widened, taking in the sight of the handsome prince seizing her, before her lovely mouth opened in another giggle, as if she thought it was all in good fun.
Effortlessly, Kaede hefted her over one shoulder and swung down from branch to branch.
As he gently deposited Laura on the ground, he murmured something I couldn’t hear.
Her gaze turned shocked before melting into something softer, and her eyes swept over his face, snagging for a moment on his lips.
How could I blame her? His chiseled jaw, sharp cheekbones, and deep eyes were mesmerizing in the early morning light, his ebony hair gilded by the sun’s rays.
I glanced away, kicking at a pebble.
“Are you all right?” Bentley asked. I could feel his gaze, seeming to bore into my soul as if he could sense a fellow heartbroken soul’s grief.
I nodded stiffly. “It seems everything in this kingdom is deadly.” My voice wobbled, and I let Bentley think it was out of fear rather than jealousy.
Ji took that moment to step forward and declare Laura the winner.
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled, the thrill of the competition apparently having taken hold of her.
She’d seen that Kaede wasn’t like the cruel fae who had tormented and killed last night, and that gave her a reason to keep trying for his hand.
In spite of myself, my heart sank. I knew I was in danger, whether I won or lost, and yet my silly emotions couldn’t forget the connection I’d once had with Kaede. We’d been ill-fated from the start, illogical and impossible, and yet the wanting remained.
Everyone turned back toward the manor soon afterward.
I was reminded of the fae’s endless thirst for excess when we reentered the Great Hall.
Once again, the servants had pushed the table and chairs against one wall and musicians were tuning their instruments.
Tables were already laden with trays of exquisitely decorated cakes and chocolates and tarts, as well as glasses of glistening wines in shades ranging from gold to navy to blood-red.
Ahead, Kaede turned to Laura, offering his hand and sweeping her into a dance.
Other fae paired off, some seeking the hands of the remaining mortals and others dancing with one another.
Callista barely concealed her sneer of disgust when one of the fae requested a dance, his tail lashing against his leg.
“She already accepted a dance with me,” Bentley said magnanimously, noting my worried expression.
I stepped forward to distract the man’s attention from Callista, fearing how he’d retaliate against her scorn. “I will dance with you, if you will accept.”
The man winked, seizing my hand and ushering me onto the dance floor. He twirled me closer to his body until his other hand landed on my waist. I clenched my jaw and settled my free hand on his shoulder, hoping I could force him to maintain some distance.
“How thrilling to make your acquaintance,” the man murmured, his amber eyes piercing.
He seemed to be assessing me, searching for I-knew-not-what.
Perhaps he’d been informed that Prince Kaede’s killer was among the contestants, and he was trying to find me out.
“I am Lord Glen Goldhart. And you are...?”
“Aurelia Sinclair.”
His eyes darted over my shoulder. “Is the girl who looks remarkably like you a relation of yours?”
I gave a single nod, my tongue cleaving to the roof of my mouth. Callista was a beautiful woman, and I didn’t like the way Glen’s eyes were tracking her as she whirled in Bentley’s arms.
He smirked and licked his lips. “How deliciously intriguing—that you must compete against her.”
My spine went rigid. “It’s not as if I must harm her,” I snapped.
He quirked a brow. “Is that so?”
Panic lanced through my chest. “What purpose would that serve? Why would Willowbark desire a queen with no loyalty to her own blood? Doubtless she would hold no allegiance toward her kingdom then, either—only herself.”
“Ah, you are a wise one,” Glen purred. He whirled me in a dizzying circle, making the room spin. “Though there are other qualities aside from loyalty that are important in a queen.” He paused. “And a king.”
My gaze darted inadvertently toward Kaede.
Glen dipped his head. “He is not like his father. We councilors hope this contest will also hone him into the ruler he needs to become. He’s getting closer, but not quite there.”
A chill raked down my spine. “How? And how does watching human women die help him toward that goal?”
Glen laughed, but it was not a warm sound.
His fingers dug into my waist painfully as he twisted me again.
“It hardens him. Reminds him that he is not meant to be soft toward mortals with fleeting, meaningless lives. He is to rule immortals. Even the wife he picks is a tool. You’re all instruments toward something—heirs, service, entertainment, pleasure.
” He flashed his teeth. “I suppose in the case of this contest, you could prove to be all of those things for us.”
Bile rose up my throat as we twirled again, the room blurring.
“Though,” he said gleefully, watching my expression carefully as if basking in my disgust, “Prince Kaede is closer to the man we wish him to be, now that he’s back from the dead. The experience changed him. Unfortunately, it also tainted his magic in a way that is not helpful for our land.”
My thoughts buzzed, but before I could ask how his magic was tainted, the song ended and Glen pulled away to offer me a bow, his smile gleeful and cruel.
As he strode away, I wondered if he was searching for a new victim to taunt and intimidate or if it was part of another test—to see if we could hold our own as they told us exactly what they thought of us.
When Florian requested the next dance, I released a breath of relief. Though I didn’t trust him, he at least had a gentlemanly air.
“You look pale,” he said, brow scrunched.
I weighed my options, keeping my tone light when I chose my response. “We didn’t experience the warmest of welcomes last night.”
“Kaede had been a little...indisposed. He’d requested that Bentley and I accompany him when he retired early. I do apologize that I couldn’t enjoy your company longer.”