Chapter Seven
T he next morning, the fresh, earthy scent of dew filled the air near our designated meeting place as I stood beside my horse, Sorsha, securing the last of my supplies. I ran my hand over my full name printed into the leather of my saddle bag, a gift from my father many rings ago. The last time I’d used it I’d snuck out after him when he’d left for another solo trip. My heart ached at the thought of how I’d stumbled home days later, blurry-eyed, leading two horses back by myself...
I chewed the inside of my cheek, sparking pain, a distraction from the haunting memory.
Around me, the council members had gathered, whispering in hushed tones as they waited to see Prince Caelum off. None of them paid me much mind, of course. They were all here for him , as though he were embarking on some glorious crusade rather than a foolish trip that could very well end in disaster.
My mother’s warm and steady hand fell upon my shoulder, a balm to the anxious fire simmering beneath my skin. She gave me a sidelong smile as Mannix’s tail thumped lovingly against my legs.
“Remember, Eedy, you have plenty of wit to hold your own against anyone, prince or not.” She winked. “If your father were here, he’d be giving you pointers on how to really goad a royal—whilst also advising you not to throw him off a cliff.”
I snorted. “So, a gentle shove would be okay?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I’d say that’s open to interpretation.”
I squeezed her hand, the ache in my chest easing slightly even as every thought of my father made the ring around my neck hang heavier. “Thank you, Mother.”
I’d just finished tightening the straps on my saddlebags when the distinct sound of hoofbeats rang across the hillside. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was the prince; the council’s reaction said it all. They straightened up in unison, fawning over his arrival with their excessive reverence.
Mannix let out a low grumble at the pathetic spectacle, which I couldn’t agree with more.
The prince dismounted with his usual effortless grace, his polished leather boots hitting the ground with a soft thud. Council members shuffled forward, offering words of admiration and well-wishes, while Caelum nodded in acceptance, his golden hair glinting in the morning sunlight.
“Your Highness,” Baldric Emberford said, his simpering words rising above the rest. “May the gods watch over you on this vital mission. The kingdom is so very fortunate to have you leading this endeavor.”
It took everything in me not to gag.
Caelum gave Baldric a smooth, practiced smile. “Thank you, Mage Emberford,” he said. “And may the council continue your further investigations in my absence. After all, this is a team effort, is it not?”
Baldric nodded, a flush creeping up his neck as he stammered, “Indeed, Your Highness. Indeed, it is. We shall do our part.”
With that, Caelum extricated himself from the council’s reverent circle and strode toward me. I steeled myself, expecting a flippant remark, but instead, his expression softened as he approached, his gaze settling on Mannix and my mother at my side. My mother rested a protective hand on my shoulder once more.
“Lady Blackthorn, I presume?” Caelum said, giving her a respectful bow of his head. “Your daughter has shown much tenacity in the short time I’ve known her. I wonder if I have you to thank for that?”
My mother’s hand tightened on my shoulder once more as she raised her chin, her eyes narrowing. “Well, I’d say that stubborn streak is actually her father’s gift,” she said, a touch of pride in her voice. “He was a man who believed in his cause, no matter what anyone said.”
Caelum’s eyes flicked toward me. His brow crinkled and his lips pursed, as if he was warring with himself on how to reply.
“He sounds like a...remarkable man,” he finally said, straightening to his full height while clasping his hands behind his back. “I can only imagine the courage it took for him to hold to his beliefs in the face of adversity. You must miss him dearly.”
His brow furrowed deeper, his blue eyes filling with an unnamable emotion.
Well, this was a new low for him, faking sympathy. I knew the king—his father—had been sick for some time, but he was still alive. I eyed the prince warily, knowing in my gut he was not a fan of my father. He had no right to stand there and pretend like he understood the tragedy it had been to lose him.
My mother’s posture, however, relaxed, her gaze warming as she offered him a tentative smile. “We do. Every day.” She glanced at me, her eyes misty. “But Eedy...she carries so much of his strength. Though, as I’m sure you’re aware, a tempered tongue was not part of the inheritance.”
“I’ve noted that,” Caelum said with a soft chuckle, snapping out of his pity gaze. “However, a quick mind is needed, especially if we are to outwit the fae. I’m happy to have your daughter with me on this journey.”
Oh, I’m sure he was happy. About as happy as a wildcat tossed into a freezing river.
Still, my mother’s cheeks flushed. “That’s a good viewpoint to have, Your Highness. You shall do well to not forget it.”
I rolled my eyes at what I was witnessing.
“Too bad the fae can’t be charmed to death, or we’d be set,” I muttered before I could think better of it.
Caelum turned the full focus of his blue eyes on me, flashing a grin. “Oh, I’m not above trying, Miss Blackthorn. Charm can be its own type of magic.” He stepped closer, his tone lowered. “It has opened many locked doors for me in the past.”
My traitorous blood pulsed faster in my veins, so I countered by squinting at him in disdain. His cool, piney scent was wafting off him in spades, and I coughed, stepping away from him and back to fumble with my supplies.
Hallows be, how am I going to make it through multiple days in this man’s company? He was already making me burn up in fury.
My mother gave me a gentle nudge after Caelum said goodbye to her, suppressing a smile. “Maybe you should give him a chance, Eedy. You might find he’s more than you’d expected.”
I forced a laugh, casting a sidelong look at Caelum as he mounted his horse once more in the distance. It was typical of him—controlled, polished, every word chosen with purpose. But a hint of doubt itched at the back of my mind, having watched him interact with my mother. Maybe there were other layers to him. Could there be something genuine in his sympathy, in the soft way he spoke to her? It was strange to see him like that, even stranger that my mother seemed to be buying into it.
On second thought, no. This was the prince . He knew exactly how to charm people, knew how to make them feel seen and heard, as if their lives mattered in his world. It was all part of his upbringing, of the facade he used to disarm everyone around him so he could persuade them to do what he wanted. He’d spent his whole life learning to be likable, to make people swoon with a smile and a well-placed compliment. Just because he had my mother hooked didn’t make any of it genuine.
No, I already knew all the layers of Prince Caelum, and I did not like a single one.
With a final pat to Mannix and a quick hug to my mother, I adjusted Sorsha’s reins, preparing to mount when I noticed Baldric Emberford making his way toward me.
Hallows be, what now?
“Miss Blackthorn,” he said as he approached, “a quick word before you leave.”
I sighed. “Make it quick, Mage Emberford. We don’t want to keep the prince waiting for his grand excursion into Velarune.”
He ignored my sarcasm, stepping closer. “You’ll be traveling closely with His Highness, and as a member of this council—and with your father gone—I feel it falls on me to remind you of the law.”
“The law?” I arched an eyebrow.
“Yes,” he said, his smile tightening. “Highborns and those with magic—such as yourself—cannot intermingle beyond the boundaries of duty. I trust you understand that.”
My grip on Sorsha’s reins tightened, the leather creaking beneath my fingers. “I wasn’t planning to intermingle with anyone.”
“Good,” Baldric said, his voice dropping lower, as if sharing some great wisdom. “It’s a woman’s responsibility to ensure these boundaries remain intact. Men can be weak to temptation, even a prince. He’s exceptionally charming; that’s not your fault. But I’d hate for you to bring shame upon yourself—our village—by letting things get out of hand.”
“If you think I need to be babysat, Mage Emberford, you’re welcome to join us,” I said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t think that will be necessary. Just keep it in mind, Miss Blackthorn. I don’t want to have to dismiss you from the council for inappropriate behavior.”
With a curt nod, he turned and walked away, leaving me simmering with fury.
The nerve of that high-handed coward.
I climbed onto Sorsha, my hands gripping the reins so tightly my knuckles ached. My mother caught my eye from the hilltop, her comforting presence grounding me just enough to swallow down the storm inside, but Baldric’s words echoed in my mind as Caelum rode up next to me.
“Well, Miss Blackthorn,” Caelum said, his eyes sparkling once more with their usual mischief, “it seems you’re ready to go, yes? I must admit, I half expected to find you still fumbling with your saddlebags until midday.”
I shot him a glare, not in the mood. “I’d be more concerned about whether you remember how to ride a horse, Your Highness. This isn’t a royal procession with someone to guide you the whole way.”
Caelum grinned wide, revealing his dimples. Too bad they were on the most annoying man in the kingdom. “Oh, don’t fret one bit about me. I’m quite a seasoned rider.”
“I’m sure,” I muttered. “Most of them probably ended with you lounging in a lavish hunting lodge. This will not be like that.”
He tsked at me. “Jealous, are we? I didn’t peg you as the type.”
“ Jealous? Why would I be jealous of a betrothed man who still beds a girl in every village.”
A muscle in his jaw feathered at the mention of his engagement, but he recovered quickly.
“ A girl, Miss Blackthorn? As in only one?” He scoffed as he circled Sorsha and me on his horse. “Give me a little credit. I am a prince, after all. And a generous one at that. I don’t limit the number of visitors who want to provide me comfort while I’m so far from home.”
Unbelievable. He was unbelievable . I had to travel for how long with this infuriating rake of a man?
I opened my mouth to fire back, but before I could, Ronan Dunmore stepped forward, holding a glowing acorn between his fingers. His eyes were solely on Caelum.
“Your Highness,” Ronan said, bowing, “I’ve prepared a portal to transport you and Miss Blackthorn closer to the fae’s borders. The journey would take a few weeks otherwise.”
Caelum accepted the enchanted acorn with a nod. “Thank you, Mage Dunmore. Always so dependable.”
Ronan handed a second acorn to me, this one wrapped in a small cloth.
“This will bring you back when your visit is complete,” he said, his voice clipped and formal. “Simply pop the top off and throw it in front of your path when you’re ready to return.”
I took it and tucked it into my satchel. “Understood.”
With the enchanted acorns prepared, it was time.
Giving the council one last charming smile, Caelum addressed the crowd for our departure. “Thank you, esteemed mages, for your guidance and confidence in this mission. Rest assured, Miss Blackthorn and I will return with answers.”
I huffed under my breath, shaking my head. It would be a success if we both returned in one piece, let alone with information.
Finally, Caelum popped off the top and tossed the first acorn onto the ground ahead of us. The earth shimmered, the air rippled, and a glowing portal formed on the path ahead of us.
Caelum waved his hand in the air, urging me forward. “After you, Miss Blackthorn.”
With a final glance at the council, at my mother waving, and Mannix whimpering from the small hillside nearby, I spurred Sorsha on and rode through the portal first. The calming sensation of magic washed over me as we crossed the threshold, like spring sunlight and damp grass. But soon, the scent of salt crawled up my nose, and the light dimmed until there was only darkness.