Page 25

O ne week later, the prince was still just as sick. Nothing had worked. No herbs, no crushed rare flowers that only grew in certain parts of the realm. Not even the foul-smelling stew Cora’s grandmother had bought from a local medicinewoman – one who’d insisted she could cure any ailment cursed upon a poor human by an angered merfolk.

Not that I’d expected that last idea to work, but at this point, anything was worth trying.

Of course, Arenn’s crystals were also just as embedded on my wrist. As I walked down the hallway, the flickering candles made them glimmer as if they were winking at me. With a scowl, I adjusted the golden cuff on my wrist so that it covered them. I didn’t need another reminder of my failure.

Between finalising deals for my kingdom and helping the cursed prince, I’d barely had time to do any research about my faery bond. The books Lukas had found were vague, and when I’d spoken to Arenn he’d been just as unhelpful as he’d been before.

“Like I said, human, your beloved king is welcome to try breaking our bond, but he’ll probably die trying,” he’d taunted me with two nights ago when I cornered him outside the library.

“But there has to be another way to remove it,” I’d argued, throwing my hands down. “What if you didn’t want to marry me anymore? You’re a faery. Surely you can take it away just as easily as you put it there?”

“But I don’t want to take it away.” His voice had darkened, smile vanishing into the night outside. “And no matter how much you pout, we will be wed, whether you’re willing or not.”

I’d run away after that, scurrying down the hallway with Arenn shouting something about how generous he’d been by letting me stay here to help Prince Raphael. Since then, it’d just been more failed attempts at curing the prince and more heavy stones piling atop of the guilty mountain growing in my chest.

At least the Dalkings were still willing to help my kingdom grow. King Ronan had said Ryntook would help too, though I doubted that offer would still stand if I failed to cure Raphael.

I squeezed my eyes shut as all the busy thoughts thundered in my mind.

“Are you alright?” Raena asked from beside me.

I glanced at her. She wore a stunning coral gown adorned with gold and crystals, that swished around her legs. Even her hair had been decorated with gold. A dainty tiara sat between two hair puffs, each one glittering with hair jewellery.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “I’ll be alright once we get to the ball.” Another lie.

“You know you don’t have to go, don’t you?” Her tone was gentle. “I mean, your gown is beautiful, and it would be a waste to let it go unappreciated if you spent this night alone in your bedchamber…” she added jokingly. “But maybe I could bring some of the party to you? I could fetch Marius and Terr, Ivy too if we can pry her off away from Theo. Then again, he could always join us—”

“It’s alright, really,” I laughed. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to show my face tonight. If only to bid the other rulers goodbye.”

Raena nodded, a sad smile on her face. “We’ll get you some wine when we arrive. That’ll help with your nerves.”

I couldn’t disagree. As usual the once-comfortable ball gown that Raena had commissioned for me now felt too tight against my skin. While we were dressing, I’d liked the way the bodice had been beaded to look like flowers that trailed down onto the skirt. But now, I just found the extra sparkle distracting. Along with the way the long green skirt dragged behind me. Raena said she’d asked the designer to make me look like I’d just stepped out of a flower meadow. But the longer I was in it, the more I wanted to just peel all the fabric off and collapse into a patch of real grass.

“We’re here,” Raena trilled. Huge double doors loomed ahead of us, muffling the roaring music coming from inside.

When the guards pulled the doors open, I winced. Golden light and noise slammed into me. And with Raena giggling at my side, I was dragged straight into the chaos.

Three glasses of wine later, I’d spoken to all the rulers and advisors on my list, as well as confirming once again with Ivy that she’d be happy to remain here alongside Marius and Terr. I hated the thought of leaving them – as if I were running from my problems instead of helping Raphael like my heart screamed at me to do. But I was a princess, after all. And I had hundreds of my own problems waiting for me back in Corlixir. Kingdom-sized problems .

“Are you ready to go?” Lukas pressed against my ear to be heard over the music.

I rubbed my temples, a headache brewing. “I’ve always been ready.” We’d return to my chambers. Help the servants pack. Then leave the following morning. That was the plan.

“Naria!” Raena shoved through the crowds to reach us, her smile brighter than the glittering chandeliers. “Where’ve you been? My family are here, and they’d love to meet you!”

I winced. “Oh, that would be lovely, but—”

“Leaving so soon?” Another voice piped up over the music. Queen Marigold squeezed past a group of noblemen to block our escape. “But the night has only just begun.” Ignoring me, she addressed Lukas, “And there are still so many lovely ladies for you to dance with. Not to mention, we still have some important matters to discuss.” Finally, she spared me a reluctant glance. “Why don’t you run along with your friend, dear? Let the adults talk. We’ll be just a moment.”

I narrowed my eyes, but before I could tell her exactly what I thought of her sickly sweet tone, Lukas drew close to my ear again.

“Let me handle this,” he murmured. “Go with Raena for now, and I’ll come find you as soon as I’m finished with her.” I wanted to argue, but then his voice darkened. “She won’t disrespect you anymore after tonight. I’ll make sure of that. But if she even tries,” he nipped my ear as if he couldn’t help himself, “she’ll have my entire army to deal with.” And then he lowered his lips to mine, kissing me hard enough to make Marigold’s lips slam shut. “Don’t go too far,” he warned, before pulling away and striding off into the crowds, leaving Marigold to follow awkwardly behind him.

“You’ve completely bewitched him.” Raena’s laugh brought me back down from the clouds I was floating in.

“Yes,” I breathed before clearing my throat. “Your family?”

“Oh yes! You’re going to absolutely adore them.” She swiped up my hand and pulled me back into the dancing crowds, my heavy skirt dragging with each step.

I did indeed adore her family. Her father was a sweet man with thick dark hair just as curly as Raena’s, while her mother was a tall, graceful woman with one of those bubbly laughs that made everyone else laugh with her. Raena had several younger brothers and sisters too, each with matching curly hair and warm brown skin, and all well dressed in dazzling clothes that somehow still stood out in a ballroom full of glittering outfits.

“Mother was one of Ryntook’s top seamstresses when she married Father,” Raena explained, drawing me away from her family and towards a buffet table loaded with sweets and sparkling drinks. “She used to tease us that he only married her so he’d always be the best dressed at court. But he lost that title when she moved in with him here, and now he’s got five others to compete with. Six, whenever I’m visiting.” She giggled while helping herself to the fruit punch.

Glancing back over to her family, I couldn’t help the twinge of sadness in my chest. What would it have been like to have what she did? A mother. Father. Brothers and sisters… Scrunching up my face, I grabbed a goblet of fruit punch. I did have that. I had the village mother, and all my friends.

Friends I’d soon be leaving…

“You said you had five siblings?” I asked quickly, tired of my thoughts. “But you’ve only introduced me to four?”

“Oh, yes!” Raena smiled, but then it faded. “Simon’s the youngest and he’s here too, but…” She chewed her words. “Well, he’s quite close to Raphael, and with the rumours and all—”

“Rumours?” I lowered my goblet.

“It’s all so silly.” Shaking her head, she dragged me away from the buffet table until we reached a small alcove in the ballroom’s walls. “We’ve tried to reassure him that it’s not true, but he’s young and so upset about Raphael, and at this point even the servants are gossiping.”

“Tell me what’s being said.” My scowl deepened.

Raena chewed her lower lip. “There’s a few different things…” she mumbled. “Some are saying the prince’s illness was brought in when you invited sick villagers into the palace. I’ve also heard some say that you carried the disease in yourself from Corlixir. And others – and this one is really ridiculous – are saying that you’re some sort of goblin-faery witch and that you cursed the prince as some bizarre revenge plot against Ryntook.”

“ What ?” I managed.

“I know,” she huffed. “I’ve been trying to distract them with other gossip, but right now nothing seems to be more interesting than Naria’s ‘evil spells’.”

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to tip my head back and scream at the absurdity of it all. I probably would’ve done had my throat not been too busy restricting my airflow.

“I’m so sorry,” Raena said, grimacing. “I promise I’ve been trying my best to shut them all down, but now some people won’t even talk to me considering I helped you with your ballroom clinic.”

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I sighed. “It’s fine.” It wasn’t. “We’ll be leaving soon anyway.” Or at least, I would be. How would Ivy, Marius, and Terr survive here with all the rumours? Would they be in danger?

“Ancients, why does everything just keep getting worse?” I pressed my palms into my eyes.

At least Arenn wasn’t here tonight. I could only hope he’d finally given up on pursuing me and gone back to Faelenna alone.

Unlikely, of course, but a girl could dream.

“There you are, my love,” a warm, familiar voice said behind me. “I wondered where you were hiding.” A smile touched my cheeks as I felt Lukas’s hand against my lower back. He’d never called me ‘his love’ before, but I could get used to the new name. The butterflies in my stomach certainly liked the sound of it.

“Oh…” Raena’s lips parted as she glanced between us. For a brief moment, something like uncertainty crossed her gaze until Lukas spoke again.

“You should return to your family,” he suggested to her, his voice low.

Her eyebrows pinched together.

“And perhaps drink something other than wine?” he added with a deep chuckle before stepping to my side and turning his gaze to me. “I think your friend has had a little too much this evening.”

“Maybe,” I mumbled, watching the back of Raena’s coral skirts as she shuffled back to her siblings. “That was odd.”

“Like I said, too much wine.” Lukas shrugged. “And speaking of,” he steered us out of the alcove and back towards the dance floor, “would you like another glass or shall we dance first?”

“I thought you wanted to leave?”

“Leave?” He huffed out a laugh, stopping on the dance floor to pull me closer and wrap his arms around my waist. “Naria, it is our last night here,” he purred. “Let me show the entirety of Ryntook exactly how much you mean to me,” tone deepening, he stroked my back, “exactly who has your heart.”

My throat felt like it’d been coated in honey, so sticky no words could come out. Only a short gasp as Lukas gripped the sides of my waist and spun me in his arms to the music.

“Dancing it is then.” He grinned, and for some odd reason, I couldn’t help but smile with him. The headache that once pounded against my skull melted away, leaving a growing warmth in my chest. And when my hands found his shoulders, my fingers teasing the back of his neck, I didn’t let go for far too long.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured after we’d been dancing for what must’ve been hours. My feet throbbed, but despite the pain, I found myself not wanting to let go of him. As if this were all some magic spell that would break the minute I pulled away.

“You’re beautiful,” I sighed back, brushing the side of his cheek.

Closing his eyes, he shuddered against my touch. But when his eyes opened again, sadness lurked inside them.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered. The dancing crowds around us were beginning to thin as guests returned to their chambers, the music quietening. “Lukas, what is it—”

“Shh.” His finger found my lips. “Will you just kiss me?”

“Kiss you?” I echoed, laughing at the fact he felt he needed to ask. “Of course.” But then an odd feeling twinged in my stomach. I wanted to ignore it, throw my arms around his neck and kiss him like he’d kissed me just hours ago. But the longer my gaze stayed locked onto his, the more there seemed something off about the glint in his smoky eyes.

“Is something wrong?” I whispered. “You look—” His lips crashed against mine before I could say the rest.

Gasping, I arched my back. It was like I had caught fire. Without thinking, my arms looped around his neck, and I pulled him against me as if his lips were the only thing stopping me from burning out. But there was something else, too. The odd feeling in my chest had grown to become an awful rocking in my stomach.

This felt wrong. This was wrong.

Why was it wrong?

Frowning, I pulled away from his touch. But my lips immediately felt cold without his pressed against them.

“What is it?” A nervous laugh rolled off him. “Come back, my love. Please.” He stepped towards me, desperation ravaging his features. “Please, human.”

My heart froze.

“I need this,” he pleaded. “You know we both do.”

Horror clawed up my throat. It all made sense now. The odd feeling in my chest. The way he compelled Raena to leave us. Had he been Lukas for the entire ball? My palms felt sticky. No . The kiss in front of Marigold was real. Not whatever that was.

“Stay back, Arenn.” I held my hands out, drawing away from him. By now, the late night crowds were thin enough that I could put a good distance between us on the dance floor. “How could you do this? You tricked me! You made me kiss you!”

Tears blurred my vision as his jaw tensed. “I didn’t make you,” he grumbled. “I asked—”

“And I only said yes because I thought you were him !” Around us, dancers began to glance awkwardly in our direction until Arenn, still glamoured as Lukas, charged forward and took my hand.

“Let go of me,” I hissed.

“You’re making a scene, darling.” Pulling me along, he dragged me off the dance floor until we reached the empty buffet tables. There were far less people over here. And the music was still loud enough that no one would hear me if I cried out…

My heart lurched.

“Listen to me,” Arenn said, pushing me against a table so I was caged in place by his two arms. “If you only want him,” he spoke as if the words hurt, “then I can look like this forever. There’s a ritual I can do and I’ll even let you call me by his name.” He swallowed, his voice turning rough. “We can pretend, Naria.”

“This is madness,” I sobbed. “Please stop this.”

Gently, he swiped a tear from my face, his hand lingering by my jaw as he spoke. “It’ll be just like tonight. Everyone else will see me as myself, but you will see me like this.” He drew closer, pressing his forehead against mine. “No one will know how you see me. It can be our secret.”

Another wave of horror crashed into me. “You mean everyone tonight saw me dancing with you? Kissing you?” I tried to shove him back, disgusted, but his arms remained locked at my sides.

“They had to know what we are,” he said through gritted teeth. “We’re to be married soon anyway. And with Ikelos dead, there’s no reason for the faeries to stay hidden.” He drew closer, his arms tensing. “You’re mine, Naria. Everyone will know it soon enough – so why wait?”

Nausea rolled over me. “Where’s Lukas?” I panted. “If you’ve done something to him to keep him away I swear to the Ancients, Arenn—”

“I did nothing.” His bitter expression gave way to a smirk. “He saw us dancing and left,” he chuckled. “You know, I caught his eye a few times while he watched us. You should’ve seen the way he glared at me.”

Snarling, I threw both hands against his chest and shoved until he finally stumbled back. “Never touch me again!” I almost screamed.

His grin faded. “Naria, I—”

“I mean it this time.” I marched back, putting some space between us before my fists closed the distance. “You are to stay away from me. Don’t speak to me. And never do this,” a flapped my hand at his glamoured body, “ever again.”

His brow lowered. “But you don’t like me without a glamour.”

“I don’t like you full stop.” My anger boiled over into a laugh. “And it won’t matter if you change your hair or your eyes or your… entire body,” I held back a gag, “because I will never ever want to touch you.” Fists clenching, I shuddered. “Because. You. Are. Not. Him .”

Arenn rose to his full height as his glamour faded. Lukas vanished in a glimmering blur, and in his place, stood the dark-haired faery prince.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he growled.

“Don’t you dare talk to me anymore.” Picking up my heavy skirts, I backed away. “And don’t even think of following me or I swear I will hate you until my grave.”

His gaze turned sinister. “You know there are ways I can make you love me.”

I didn’t let him elaborate. Swallowing down a sob, I raced towards the ballroom doors and sprinted down the dark hallway, my tired feet making the floor feel like knives.

I had to find Lukas. Had to explain that what he saw wasn’t real.

“Damn you, Arenn,” I rasped. As if I needed any more problems.