Page 125 of The Masked Fae (Royal Fae of Rose Briar Woods 1)

We walk hand in hand through the halls, not bothering to hide our relationship. Enough people in the household heard about our marriage. The news of the handsome prince marrying the human girl who defeated the wicked queen is traveling through West Faerie like wildfire.

I can’t say I mind all that much.

When we enter the conservatory, we find Drake standing near a bush filled with crimson roses. He stares at it thoughtfully, only glancing at us briefly as we enter.

“You’re early,” Brahm says. “Did you leave at the break of dawn?”

Drake nods, keeping his eyes averted. “I did, actually.”

He’s still not comfortable with people talking directly to him, but he’s slowly healing.

“How is Sabine?” I ask.

“She’s growing restless,” Drake admits. “I believe she knows her coronation is imminent, and she’s beginning to panic.”

It’s been several months, and Queen Marison still sleeps, trapped in the nightmare of her own creation. The Fae physicians predict that even if she were to wake at this point, her mind would be addled.

The kingdom is in a state of waiting, expecting the golden princess to take the throne any day now. Sabine has already been ruling in the interim, making changes her mother certainly wouldn’t approve of—including one dear to my heart.

As long as they secure a traveling permit from one of the Fae border villages, visiting humans are now protected for a week instead of a day. It’s a start, though I’m confident the crafty Fae will discover a few loopholes that they love so much.

But because of it, Brahm has been able to retire his mask. There are now Faerie guards patrolling the thoroughfares, assisting travelers when they find themselves in a tight spot.

“When you go back, tell Sabine we’ll visit after we return from Kellington,” Brahm says.

We’re going to spend a week in my family estate, celebrating the Spring’s Eve festival that begins tomorrow. It’s been a little strange, splitting our time between West Faerie and Valsta, but I appreciate that Brahm is eager and willing to embrace human traditions for my sake.

Not only will I never miss a holiday, but I’ll never have to spend one alone.

Drake nods, still looking a bit absent as he runs his finger over a velvet petal. “Do you think…” He pauses, looking like he’s not sure he’s going to finish the thought. After a moment, he goes on, “Do you think there’s a chance Eleanor is out there? Somewhere?”

I share a glance with Brahm.

“I don’t know,” I say gently.

As soon as his curse was lifted, he began looking for my sister, asking anyone and everyone for information. So far, the search has been fruitless.

“We were so close to the border,” he says. “Could she have made it the rest of the way on her own? Is it even possible?”

No one has the answer to his question, but I hope he might find it one day. Even a confirmation of Eleanor’s death would give him closure.

Give us all closure.

We study the roses for a time, each lost in our thoughts, and then Drake suddenly looks up. “Oh, I just remembered. Why is there a pile of rubbish outside the front gate?”

“A pile of rubbish?” Brahm asks.

Drake nods. “Random things—old dresses and ribbons, shoes, undergarments. A filthy palette and several ratty-looking brushes.”

“It couldn’t be,” I murmur with a small laugh. I turn to Brahm. “You don’t think…?”

He shakes his head as if he has no idea what I’m referring to.

The princes follow me as I hurry through the halls and step into the spring sunshine.

When we arrive at the end of the lane, I grin as I open the gate. Sure enough, the things that were stolen from me the day I first entered the Rose Briar Woods are stacked in a shabby pile.

“Do you know what this is?” I exclaim, nearly clutching my old palette to my chest before I think better of it.