Page 63 of Unraveled (A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins #1)

Sunrays kiss the top of the forest as we glide closer to Aphelion. The rain clouds and heavy mist have parted somewhat, leaving the castle visible where it stands tall behind the conifer trees. The light gray stone and dark wood accents hazed by the distance are beautiful in the morning light.

Emotion clogs my throat as I tighten my arms around Ash’s shoulders and bury my face in the crook of his neck. A mild scent of blood lingers on the dark fabric of his clothes, which are torn and tattered from the torture he endured.

Now that we’ve left Penumbra, all my emotions barrel into me. The betrayals, the lies, Harper’s death...

“Are you alright, Monster?” Ash’s voice is tired.

He tightens his grip around me as we head toward the courtyard.

Thousands of grimoires circle around us, carried by the same golden enchantment he used when we escaped Hedrum.

Nera isn’t far behind and also carries her fair number of books with her.

Their power, especially when combined, leaves me in awe every single time.

“I should ask you that question...” My chest squeezes when I spot Finley’s carriage by the gates. Empty and tilted on its side. Did he survive his gunshot wound? Should I care? “When you left, you told me to not trust anyone but Naheli. Did you know Finley?—?”

On our way out of the library, Nera had been worried about Finley and the fact that he wasn’t there with us. It was me who told her what happened. Both siblings have been quiet ever since.

“After Hedrum, with the strixes’ party and the mirror incident, I suspected something was wrong with Marlena. I didn’t think Finley would be involved with Skye, but he was acting particularly off when I left that night, like he knew I was about to get attacked.”

When Finley begged Ash not to go looking for Nera that night, did he already know Morla was waiting for him, hiding under the guise of a scientist?

“He told me to tell you he was sorry, that he didn’t see how else to save Marlena,” I say, even though I don’t want to tell Ash what else Finley said before I left for Penumbra. In the end, he betrayed us all, and we almost died. But, I’m also not a petty person at heart.

Shame churns deep in Ash’s features as he avoids my gaze, nodding. “I’m sorry you had to find out what he did when I didn’t come back. After Skye betrayed me, I don’t have an excuse for how I let this happen with Finley too. And you and Nera got hurt because of it.”

“It’s not your fault someone you trusted blindsided you.

” I rest my hand on his cheek, shifting his face so I can look straight into his eyes when I say, “We were both betrayed by those we loved, and ultimately, believing people are good separates us from them. Finley betrayed us because he didn’t think there was a way out of this, but had he trusted you. ..”

My voice shakes as I think about Harper. Maybe her last moments in this world wouldn’t have been inside the machine room. I wonder if she knew about the strix and the hybrids before everything happened.

“Is the bond going to make you chase after him?”

“Eventually...”Ash hesitates. “Though perhaps his actions fractured our bond long before I suspected him. It may be why I didn’t feel the need to chase after him, or to protect him, for the last few years. I’ll eventually find him, and he will have to answer for what he did to us.”

We go down to the courtyard, while the chilly breeze of the early morning hits my cheeks. I’m tired, but I can’t help but smile as the grimoires move over us and toward the castle. “You won. You destroyed the veil and recovered your grimoires.”

It had been relatively easy since I knew the way in and the schedules the librarians kept. The evening guard never suspected the fae king and his sister would come steal all the forbidden texts.

“ We won, Monster.” Ash places me on the ground, and I’m already missing the warmth of his body as he steps away. “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to set that librarian’s cloak on fire. But that was a wonderful distraction.”

“I gave him three warnings,” I huff.

“Please remind me to never make you that angry, or you might set me on fire... again.” Ash chuckles and reaches for my hand. When I face the castle, the air catches in my lungs.

From afar it was beautiful, but now, as I stand in front of the glorious stonework, it leaves me speechless.

With the curse gone, some of the grime and lichen that had made a home on the stone has faded.

The magical roses that previously climbed the walls are gone—withered and brown, shriveled into nothingness.

We step forward just as Nera lands behind us.

She wears a dirty nightgown that has seen better days, the tattered edges streaked with mud and soot from the city, much like her pale skin.

The grimoires she carried pour into the castle as a side door swings open and fae of all shapes and sizes rush out.

Some have wings, others shimmer with the light—similar to Ash and Nera. All of them clamor at us, their expressions alight with joy and reverence.

I stiffen beside Ash. How are they going to react to me, a hybrid in this place which not so long ago was cursed by one?

“Don’t be nervous, Monster. They’re mostly harmless—but I was told once that the fae want human pets, so I’d be careful if I were you.”

“Have I told you I hate you?” I glare up at him, remembering when I uttered those words at him.

“Once or twice.” His grin—with fucking dimples—could blind a person. “But it’s the other words you said back in that dump of a city that I choose to focus on.”

My cheeks warm because I know which words he’s talking about. We haven’t spoken about my love confession in the cave, and I don’t think we need to dwell on it. I spoke my truth and showed him how I feel. Just like he’s done for me.

“Your Majesty.” A tall fae is the first to reach us. He bows, giving us a clear view of his beautiful silver hair tied back with a black ribbon. He places his palm over his heart in a gesture of reverence. When he straightens, his ebony eyes shift to me briefly before they go back to Ash.

A small smile graces his thick lips. He doesn’t look more than thirty, but something in his eyes screams that he’s much older than even Ash. “You did it. You broke the curse and saved us all.”

“I didn’t break the curse. Mia did.” Ash turns to me. My stomach flutters. “I believe you’ve met Alaris, Mia?”

I gape at the cook and can’t speak. Of course, he doesn’t look like a bald mole anymore, but I never expected him to be a handsome man either.

“Thank you, miss.” Alaris straightens his coat and smiles at me. “I knew from the first time you came into the kitchen that you were going to play a big part in His Majesty’s future.” With that, he steps back so others can greet us.

“Sir, where are our families?” someone asks from the back. A fae with pink hair that’s matted by grease and still has sticks poking out. “Was Eponde affected?”

“I haven’t gone back to Eponde yet.”

“Sire, are the hybrids returning?” another says.

“Is she a hybrid, like Morla?” Pink Hair says, in a harsher tone.

I wince. Ash’s gaze cuts to whoever spoke and everything around us grows dark with his temper. His aura thickens in a way that would have been terrifying a month ago. There isn’t a doubt in my mind this show of power is a warning for my sake.

“She’s my mate, so no, she isn’t like Morla.”

Silence descends after that and the fae with pink hair falls back behind the others. All of their eyes follow me, more with curiosity than not.

“Are the wards strong enough?” someone else shouts, cutting through the tension.

Ash places his hands on me and pulls me behind his body, giving Nera a look over his shoulder. Like I wouldn’t know he wants me out of here while he deals with his people.

“I just came back from Penumbra and haven’t been to Eponde—or any of our cities—yet. You are free to go and see if your families are well.”

Nera tucks her hand into the crook of my elbow and pulls me into the castle. “Boring politics,” she says, though her brows pinch in the middle. “Let’s go inside so we can get clean.”

I look back at Ash, who nods at me with a tight smile. Then he faces his people, and I let Nera guide me into the castle.

“Will he be alright?”

“Oh, yes. He was born to handle this,” Nera says. “You will learn, too, as you are bound to be their queen.”

I stumble on my feet at her words. Had Nera not caught me, I would’ve kissed the marble floor. Her smile is sad, but gentle—and true. “Don’t be nervous, Mia, you’re going to be an amazing queen.”

“You’re just saying that . . .”

“Have you met me?” This time her smile reaches her eyes. “You went to Penumbra and saved us. You’re powerful and amazing. They will grow to love you, like we did. You just have to give them time.”

Inside the castle, fae are everywhere. Some are cleaning. Others seem a bit lost, talking with each other in hushed tones. All look at us as we walk by, bowing at Nera and staring at me.

I never knew there were so many lunargyres in the castle, though I guess it makes sense. Many were statues out in the gardens, and many—Ash told me—lurked in the shadows. Perhaps some of them have seen me around during the last month and a half. And to them, I’m an outsider.

I glance at where the roses used to be, and a part of me mourns the loss of the plants. Another, bigger part of me is happy they’re gone, since Morla used them to spy on us.

I rest my hand over Nera’s, squeezing it tight as we step onto the floor where Ash’s room is. “How are you doing?”

“I’ve been better.” She shrugs. “But don’t worry about me. I’ll get over what Finley did... and what happened in that horrible place.”

Naheli waits inside Ash’s room. I guess it never occurred to me, but this is now my bedroom as well. The wolf spirit lies on the bed like we didn’t just come from battle. Her dark indigo fur buzzes with static. I stop right inside the doorframe before Nera can leave.

“I don’t suppose I could borrow a few dresses from you? I’ve been waiting for Morgana to bring me some new ones, but since she was Morla all along, I have nothing to wear.”

“You keep destroying the ones I lend you.” Nera’s mischievous smile takes over her features. “Plus, if you are without clothes, then perhaps I will get a nephew or niece early.”

“What?” I stare in horror at the back of her beautiful wings as she walks down the hall, waving me off and cackling like a maniac.

She just reminded me that Ash and I were together back in the Crossroads house, and I didn’t take the birth control potion the day after.