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Chapter Thirteen

The bride carried a light within her through the dark woods. A light she could not see, but a light that drew the king to her. A light that had greater power than the king had ever seen. When he dared to name it, it was but one word—love.

—Anon., Tales from the Twilight Court

“K ate!” Caden flew into Kate’s open arms, nearly knocking her over.

She pressed her cheek to the top of his head and held him, smelling that familiar clean scent children always had after baths.

She let out a shaking breath, suddenly homesick, then pulled back a little to examine him.

He looked happy, healthy, and unhurt. Kate let out the tight knot of a breath she’d been holding on to. He was okay.

“Kate of the Winslows,” a deep voice said.

Kate looked up to find a man as tall as Roan with a similar build standing behind Caden.

His arms, armored at the shoulders and forearms, were crossed over his chest as he returned her scrutiny.

His dark-silver armor glinted dimly beneath the light of the room.

“Kate, this is Lord Rath Ender, First Lance,” Eudora said. Kate didn’t miss the affectionate way the Fae princess spoke about the handsome warrior or how she looked at him.

“It is a pleasure to see you awake and conscious,” Rath said to Kate.

“Did everyone see me unconscious?” Kate muttered.

“Most of the primary court,” Eudora said. “Roan landed in the middle of the throne room with you in his arms.”

“Great, that’s not humiliating at all,” Kate sighed. It was mortifying to think that everyone had seen her passed out in Roan’s arms. Caden lifted his head, confused. Kate tousled his blond hair, trying to distract him.

“Have you had enough to eat?” she asked her brother.

“Oh yeah—the fairy food is so good here.” He smiled, more confident again. “Did you solve the labyrinth? Are we going home now?”

“Not yet. I’m still working on it.”

“It’s pretty cool here, don’t you think?

” Caden said. “Rath told me that he can turn into a black dog, Eudora turns into a cat, and Roan becomes an owl. He’s the owl that you saved, you know.

That’s one of his special powers.” The boy seemed quite proud of himself for learning so much about their situation and the Fae realm.

Kate looked at Rath, curious about his Fae form.

“The Flower Fairy, you see,” Caden said, still excited. “She grants special powers to them before they become a grown-up fairy. Isn’t that awesome?”

“We’ve been keeping young Caden amused with stories about our world,” Eudora said with an indulgent look at Kate’s brother.

“And Rath took me to meet the goblins!” Caden exclaimed. “We saw them making swords!”

“I hope Rath kept you away from them,” Kate said with concern.

Caden’s brows knitted together. “The goblins?”

“No, the swords. I’ve seen you play with stick swords enough times to know you’d hurt yourself.”

“I assure you the lad was quite safe,” Rath said.

“Rath is gonna teach me how to play chess while you’re at the ball,” Caden said, then leaned up to whisper into Kate’s ear, “but I know he’d much rather be dancing with Lady Eudora, because he likes her.”

Kate held back a smile. It wasn’t hard to notice the heat that sparked whenever Eudora and Rath looked at each other.

The boy looked back at Rath. “I’m sorry you can’t go to the ball, Rath.”

Rath waved dismissively. “I shall simply have to entice Eudora to throw another,” Rath said with an amused smile.

The ball. Kate really didn’t want to go to some dance, but it was hard to tell Eudora because the princess seemed so excited about it.

In comparison with everything going on, it seemed so frivolous to Kate, but then again, the way the Fae viewed things, perhaps it wasn’t frivolous to them.

Caden had taken a different view of things while being here.

He’d dived into their world, wanting to learn all he could about it, while she had been focused on just the labyrinth.

.. and Roan. Maybe if she changed her thinking into learning more about the Fae, she could understand this world better and it would help her find a faster way out of this mess.

“It is time that Caden and I leave,” Rath said. “I imagine Eudora has much she wishes to do to prepare you for this evening.”

“Do you have to leave right now? I was hoping to spend a little more time with my brother.”

“I know,” Eudora sighed, “but the ball will be starting soon, and we must get you ready.”

Kate held on to her little brother’s shoulders for a long moment, wishing he didn’t have to leave. But a bargain was a bargain.

Kate pulled Caden close for one more hug. “Have fun with Rath.”

“It’s okay for you to have fun too, you know,” Caden whispered. “I know Dad and Mom don’t really let you have fun at home, but this is such an amazing place. You should have fun too, okay?”

Kate shut her eyes and squeezed Caden tight before she finally let go. Rath led the boy out of the room, leaving Eudora and Kate alone.

“You... you will send him home if I...” She swallowed hard.

“If I fail to solve the labyrinth.” She didn’t make it a question.

She needed Eudora’s word. “Because Roan never said what would happen to my brother. I was so convinced I’d win that I overlooked what would happen to Caden if I failed. ”

The Fae princess looked puzzled. “Yes, but?—”

“ Promise me .” Kate grasped Eudora’s hands, pleading. “He doesn’t belong here. He needs to go home. If I die... or if I have to stay here with Roan, I need you to promise that Caden will go home.”

She felt strangely desperate asking this, but her mind seemed more and more quiet, emptier of late.

When Roan was around, she couldn’t seem to think about anything else but him.

That had to be the Fae magic at work. She feared that if she didn’t solve the labyrinth, she might forget Caden altogether.

“Very well, I promise,” Eudora said. “Now, come with me. I must fashion a dress for you and craft a glamour that would fool even my brother.”

They returned to Eudora’s bedchamber, and the Fae princess simply began waving her hand in the air, and in a matter of moments she’d conjured up a dozen different dresses.

“Did you just make these?” Kate couldn’t help but reach out to touch the dresses that had materialized on the bed. They seemed to cover the rainbow of colors. She touched a pale-blue gown of watered silk that was embroidered with moonflowers.

“Oh no, I simply transported them from my official wardrobe, which is down the hall.” Eudora sorted through the dresses.

“Ooh,” the princess cried out in delight, “perhaps something like this.” She held up a deep-purple dress of fine-spun silk.

“We’ll have to change a few things, of course.

” Eudora waved a hand, and the gown floated in the air as though it suddenly settled on an invisible mannequin.

“It needs sleeves, I think...” Eudora whispered, and two gossamer purple open-ended sleeves suddenly appeared at the tops of the shoulders. They draped down the sides of the gown, but Kate could tell from the style that they weren’t actually sleeves.

“Now to touch up the bodice...” The bodice was a plain purple bit of fabric split down partway so that it provided a tempting glimpse of skin down the breast line in a V-shape.

The sweetheart neckline then grew into swirling patterns of silver embroidery that covered the purple fabric in Celtic patterns down the plunging neckline in the most beautiful way.

The skirts then billowed out, the fabric creating an iridescent shimmer. It was sensual, powerful, beautiful.

“What do you think?” Eudora asked.

“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Kate confessed.

“Yes, I suppose it’ll do.” Eudora pointed at Kate. “Strip down and let’s get you fitted properly.”

Kate removed her clothes and lifted her arms as the dress magically floated down over her body. Eudora shortened the length of the skirts but left a three-foot train and the draping medieval gossamer sleeves, which fluttered down by Kate’s side.

“Hmm... your hair. That simply won’t do.

” Eudora tapped her chin, then pointed a finger at Kate’s head.

Kate turned to look at the mess of hair in the mirror, and her lips parted in shock.

Her hair was now glossy in soft waves with a hint of curl.

Threaded in her hair were pearls and glittering jewels on fine silver threads.

“I can’t believe it. I’ve never been able to curl my hair like this before. Believe me, I’ve tried.” Kate sighed dreamily at how perfect her hair looked.

“Oh, it’s easy. You simply tell your hair what to do and let it think it was its idea,” Eudora replied.

“I’ve never understood why humans always try to use the most complicated methods when there are simple solutions.

” Eudora laughed. “Now shoes and jewelry. What about these?” She held up a pair of slippered kitten heels embroidered with stars against an icy-blue fabric.

Kate took them and set them on the floor.

She lifted her skirts and slid one foot inside.

The slippers fit perfectly and were shockingly comfortable.

Next, Eudora turned to her dresser and opened a rosewood box, sorting through glittering gemstones.

“Yes, this is what you should wear.” Eudora held up a diamond-studded necklace with a silver crescent moon.

“Lift your hair.” Eudora guided Kate to turn around and lift her hair up. Eudora settled the necklace around Kate’s throat and tightened the clasp.

“There. Now all we need is a glamour to hide you from the prying eyes of the court. Close your eyes, Kate.”

Kate did so, and felt a warm wind surround her, tickling her skin and stirring her skirts and sleeves. Then it faded away.

“Open your eyes,” Eudora said.