Page 52 of Manor of Wind and Nightmares (Fae of Brytwilde #3)

Now

E verything was pain, my world a tumult of splotchy colors each time I tried to sit up. I was assaulted with weakness.

“You’ve had a full day to recover,” Ji snapped.

Blearily, I glanced about the infirmary and then up at where Ji hovered over my cot.

“It’s time for the final test.” His grin was as bone-chilling as ever, though it was difficult for me to even worry with all the other emotions spiraling through my head.

Did my pain mean Allvar was draining me of life? If not, where was he, and when would he come to collect on our bargain? Had Kaede taken the antidote? Had it worked?

“Final test?” It was the only question Ji could answer for me.

“Yes,” he snapped impatiently. “The other women are already preparing. You must go to your rooms and have one of the servants help dress you so you look presentable, as citizens have been invited to attend. The land already seems to favor Laura, given her use of Prince Kaede’s magic, but we must do a final test to rule out the rest of you before declaring her the winner. ”

My stomach felt sour. “Surely the prince can announce his preference for her and put an end to all this?”

Ji scowled. “That was not the king’s command. We must continue. Don’t waste any more time. I’m ready for this business to be over.” He spun on his heel and stalked from the room, as if I were inconveniencing him, when he was the one tormenting us.

I stared at the ceiling, plagued with the need to know Kaede’s fate. Anxiety was a tangible shadow clinging to me and weighing me down as I pulled myself from the cot. The infirmary was deserted, so I left without any fussing from a healer or Florian.

Back in our rooms, Wisteria was swathing Callista in layers of shimmering green.

My sister stood before a mirror, lifting her gaze to meet mine as soon as I entered.

Her eyes held a silent question, making the back of my throat burn with the memory of her request. I looked down, not able to bear the sight of her one second longer.

Her betrayal, her selfishness, hurt far too much, even if I knew, deep down, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Another maid seized my arms, her strange, horizontal pupils eager, as if she enjoyed serving us humans. “Finally. We haven’t much time,” she muttered.

I felt like a doll, limp and pliable as the maid tugged and primped, pulled and tweaked.

She scrubbed my face, clothed me in a light, flowing dress, and combed through the tangles in my hair, leaving the waves to cascade down my back.

She brushed a hint of rouge over my lips and a powder along my eyelids before turning me to face another mirror the maids must have brought into our rooms for this occasion.

It was one of the most beautiful dresses I’d ever worn, more stunning for the simplicity of its cut.

The fabric was a bold shade of maroon, adorned with countless beads and tiny jewels that glistened in the sunlight.

With sleeves that hung off my shoulders in a loose, gauzy material, I would have felt exposed, but the simple scooped neckline was sensible, resting across my collarbones.

Though the bodice was fitted, the laces weren’t so tight that I couldn’t breathe comfortably, and below the waist, light, flowing skirts spilled to the floor. It was surprisingly easy to move in.

I smiled mirthlessly at my reflection, having the morbid thought that I’d been well adorned for my death and transition into the afterlife.

“Aurelia—” my sister began as soon as she saw my maid had finished with me.

A loud rap at our door interrupted us. “Don’t keep our audience waiting!” For once, Ji’s rude, annoyed tone was a welcome sound.

Escorted by our maids, who continued to primp us with nearly every step, wiping away invisible lint and tugging at our skirts to avoid any wrinkles, Callista and I followed Ji through the endless halls and down the steps to the back exit of the manor.

Outside, a warm spring morning greeted us, the sky pure and clean.

Everything smelled of fresh rain, the grass still wet.

Birds twittered and a gentle breeze heavy with the scents of flowers and greenery kissed our cheeks.

I drew in a deep breath, fighting off the weakness assaulting me.

Ahead, countless fae had gathered throughout an open courtyard in the gardens alongside Willow River, browsing tables strewn with all manner of delicacies, treats, and even wines and liquors despite the early hour.

Musicians played a merry tune, and some guests had already coupled off to dance, wings and tails and hair fluttering, feet and hooves stomping.

Nowhere in the crowd did I find Kaede, Florian, or Allvar. I sought out any sympathetic face, but Azalea and Bentley were also absent.

My sour stomach continued to trouble me, anxiety clinging to my every breath.

I couldn’t tell if it was my fear for the prince or my weakness making my lungs so heavy.

All I knew was that my time was running short, and instead of being able to seek out Kaede to see if my sacrifice had been worth it, I would be spending what could be my final hours—maybe even my last moments—as entertainment for vicious fae.

“Gather close!” Ji called as he approached the crowd, gesturing for the remaining contestants—aside from Laura—to gather near.

My eyes snagged on Florian. A breath of relief filled my lungs at the sight of someone welcome and kind, even if there was little he could do to mend anything. As soon as he spotted me, he strode forward, dodging swaying nobles and laughing councilors. “Aurelia, how do you feel?”

I forced a wan smile. “Nervous.” It was the truth, though for reasons apart from this next awful test.

He nodded soberly. “I tried to talk them out of this, but I was outvoted. It’s a barbaric tradition, if you ask me, and at the very least, it should be something only fae are allowed to participate in.

We have a natural affinity for magic, after all, and our immortal bodies can withstand more injuries.

Not to mention, we respond better to healing magic.

” He swallowed. “You only just recovered. I tried to convince them that it’s clear Prince Kaede and the land have chosen Laura, and to simply end the competition. ”

His words were frantic. I shook my head, gently pulling away. “Don’t trouble yourself, Florian. I knew what I was walking into when I joined this competition.”

Ji raised his hands, and the musicians and chatter gradually fell silent.

Only the twittering birds and coursing river interrupted the quiet, a heavy contrast to the tension in the air.

Callista seized my hand, her palm clammy, and I didn’t have it in my heart to withdraw mine.

I squeezed her fingers, trying to find comfort in her presence despite the raw wound in my heart.

“Today is a momentous occasion as we finish our competition to choose Crown Prince Kaede Willowbark’s bride and the future queen of our kingdom.

” A smattering of applause and jeering smiles interrupted the quiet.

“Obviously, such an important role requires a suitable woman. The land must choose someone worthy of our prince and our magic. So far, one has shown an ability for wielding the prince’s power.

But the others must be definitively ruled out.

And therefore, as is our long-held tradition, we will have our remaining competitors who have not yet manifested magic go through a series of our initiation ceremonies. ”

Beside me, Callista tried and failed to hold in a whimper. “I don’t want to be a princess anymore,” she muttered. “I want to go home.”

“That’s not an option until this contest is finished, Callista, and you know it,” I said, as gently as I could. “You saw what they did to those who tried to escape.”

“Before,” Ji continued, “we dosed the women with some of Prince Kaede’s blood so that their mortal bodies could temporarily hold his magic. This time, we will not do so.”

Probably because they cannot risk another vampire, I thought.

“These women have already been exposed to his magic, and now it is up to the land to let us know who is worthy,” Ji announced.

“We will call them forth one by one and determine if they show any signs of magical prowess.” As always, his smirk was unnerving as he drew a piece of paper from a bowl a servant held out to him.

Unrolling it, he called out: “Caroline Layton!”

Caroline, a petite lady with milky, freckled skin and a shock of strawberry blonde hair, nearly stumbled. Her complexion turned so pale it was nearly translucent, and I feared she might become ill.

“Come, we haven’t all day,” Ji snapped. As Caroline crept forward, struggling to hold back tears, the advisor turned back to the crowd.

Many of the fae were jeering, taunting Caroline and instilling more fear into the poor girl.

“I must also add that there is more at stake than the choice of our next queen.”

Beside me, Florian stiffened. I cast him a sidelong glance, but his expression revealed nothing.

“Those contestants who survive and also fare favorably but are not deemed the victor will have the option to remain here. We will raise them to positions of prominence in our kingdom, with their choice of fine estates and generous compensation for all they’ve endured, for they will have proven themselves worthy. ”

Surprise sparked in my chest. I hadn’t thought the fae would be that generous toward those who didn’t win the contest. Not that it mattered—even if I hadn’t given up my life for Kaede’s, my only wish would have been to return home.

But...

Florian’s stiff posture. The way he’d been convinced I’d do well in the competition, but that Laura was Kaede’s choice.

My mouth soured as realization hit.

“You have been using me,” I murmured, voicing my thoughts aloud. “All this time, you courted me because you expected me to do well enough that I would have the option to be honored. You wanted me to fall for you and stay, so we could marry and you would gain further wealth and status alongside me.”

“Aurelia,” Florian pleaded, turning to me with wide, beseeching eyes. “I care for you. You must believe me, I want—”

Whatever he’d been about to say was lost as Ji raised his fists into the air and shouted. “May the final test begin!”

Fae screamed and cheered and applauded, some chanting in excitement, though they were so loud I couldn’t make out the words. Hattie stood somberly before Ji, who waved a fae I’d never seen before forward.

Meanwhile, I stepped away from Florian, my mind and heart reeling. It hardly mattered in the end—I had no future left with anyone at this point. No future left at all. And yet.

And yet.

It did .

It hurt, a yawning, all-consuming cavern in my chest. Aside from Kaede, before I’d betrayed him, aside from my mother long ago, before I’d lost her, I couldn’t recall a single person who’d truly loved me for me.

For everyone else, I was a means to an end.

A tool. Someone to serve them and provide and protect them—that was all my remaining family saw me as.

A means to gain status and wealth. That was all I was to Florian.

And for the warlock, a manner in which to gain more powerful magic.

Even some of the other contestants in this gods-forsaken competition seemed to have begun viewing me as a helper and guide through the horrors of this place.

I was pulled from my painful reverie as the unfamiliar fae—a man with long incisors that reminded me of the pictures I’d seen of elephants and their tusks—curled his hands into fists.

Flames burst around his hands, smokeless orbs of furious red and orange that did not burn or hurt him at all.

He sneered at Caroline, who choked on a scream, tripping over the hem of her elaborate gown as she tried to retreat. Laughing, he flung the orbs toward her.

Flames burst to life on her clothes—one licking up her skirts while the other singed her sleeve.

She screamed and dropped to the grass, beating the flames out of her dress.

When she stood, tears tracking down her face, the layers of her dress were charred and smoking, while her sleeve was gone, leaving behind a horrifying burn.

The flesh was a terrible mixture of raw red and ash-black, and the odor filling the air made my stomach twist as I fought off the urge to gag.

“Failed!” Ji shouted as the fae laughed and clapped cruelly.

Tears blurred my vision as I tore away from my sister, pulling my hand free and racing to Caroline. “This isn’t right!” I cried. “Call a healer!”

I caught Caroline before she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Around me, fae cackled. “She’ll be fine,” a woman said in a gravelly voice, seizing my arm and yanking me away from Caroline with her inhuman strength. Caroline collapsed in a heap.

Two servants dashed to Caroline, lifting her lifeless form and lugging her toward the manor as if she were a barrel of supplies being delivered. Where was Azalea?

“Thank you for volunteering to be next,” Ji said, ushering me toward the Willow.

My heart pounded in my ears, another bout of weakness making me stumble and catch my breath as I tried to keep pace with his lengthy steps.

Spots sparked before my eyes. I was vaguely aware of Florian shouting something, but the sounds around me dulled in comparison to the sounds of my own heartbeat and the growing ringing in my ears.

One of the courtiers stepped to the edge of the water, grinning wickedly as she lifted her hands. The river began to churn, the current altering until it was a swirling vortex, rushing so rapidly that white foam danced upon the waves and droplets splashed against my dress, soaking the hem.

Without preamble, Ji shoved me into the whirlpool.

Between the relentless current and my heavy skirts, I was sucked down instantly, tossed and thrown in endless darkness.

My temple struck something hard and I choked on a gasp, inhaling a gulp of river water.

Lungs burning, I flailed my limbs in vain, unable to tell which direction would take me toward the surface.

I was utterly disoriented, my head throbbing and my chest aching.

Why fight? The thought was cruel, painful, and yet I knew it rang of truth.

I would die soon anyway. My sister would weep, mourning the loss of the one who always gave everything for her.

Florian would grieve his hopes of wealth and status.

Kaede would, perhaps, still regret that he didn’t have an opportunity to sate his desire for revenge.

I let my eyes drift close, for everything was dark anyway, and stopped fighting. Stopped trying to swim. Stopped trying to keep the water out of my lungs.

I embraced the darkness.