by Zoe Parker
I’d asked them to arrive at dawn so no one would notice them. Secrecy was fundamental to this mission. The only one who knew about my plan was Albert.
I left the blanket I’d wrapped myself in on the bed and put on a lightweight dress of finely worked wool in a soft pastel pink. I didn’t know if it was suitable for the occasion, but I doubted the color or pattern of the dress I was wearing would matter to my guests. I knew their type: ruthless soldiers, crude men whose conduct was often questionable. If I decided to go barefoot, they probably wouldn’t even notice. But I was the Queen, so I slipped on a pair of flats.
I approached the mirror and stopped for a moment to study my reflection. My hair was loose and fell around my face in soft waves. There were dark smudges under my eyes and my face seemed thinner and paler than usual. I hadn’t slept much after the revelation my vision had shown me. I wondered if the three soldiers I’d chosen to accompany and guard me on my mission knew yet that this wouldn’t be just an ordinary job.
I picked up the crown resting on the dresser and set it on my head. After a last deep breath, I opened the door and stepped out of my chamber. I wished I could know what would happen, that I could see the future and be reassured that, in the end, everything would be fine. But my powers had weakened because of what was happening in my world, and my visions weren’t always reliable. I wasn’t even sure the one I’d had yesterday was true. Uncertainty and dread coiled like a venomous serpent in my stomach.
May the Goddess help me.
2
Victoria
The palace had never seemed so gloomy to me. The sun had risen, yet its rays seemed unable to penetrate the thick windows. I went down the stairs hesitantly, one step at a time, as if trying to postpone the inevitable.
Only a few minutes remained before I would have to meet them. Was I excited? Agitated? Terrified? A little voice in my head kept telling me to flee, to run away from the three dragons waiting for me, while a competing, stronger voice compelled me to run to them. To meet my destiny. It confused and frightened me. Everything was about to change—or maybe it already had. Until recently, I’d been nothing more than a princess. I’d been happy and had everything I could ever wish for—until the night my parents had died and my world had been turned upside down. It had taken only a moment for everything to change, to turn into something I wasn’t ready for. My life as a carefree princess had ended abruptly and I’d been forced to become a queen, a queen who was always tired and busy, with too many problems to solve and too many things to think about. I had no idea how my mother had always managed to look so regal despite all the worries and responsibilities on her shoulders.
I shook my head. I wasn’t my mother. I was only me, or what was left of me. But I would do whatever was in my power to be worthy of the crown I was wearing. Including facing the three men who were waiting for me downstairs.
I arrived at the door of the council chamber, my heart hammering in my chest, my hands sweaty, and my breathing fast and irregular. Taking a deep breath, I pushed on the heavy wooden door. It opened with a sinister creak. I lifted my chin, straightened my shoulders, and entered the room, trying to act more confident than I felt.
From the large window behind the desk came a faint, rosy light, reflected in the imposing cherrywood furniture. I saw Albert first, standing in a corner, and then the three men sitting with their backs to me. As soon as the door creaked, they sprang to their feet and turned toward me, bowing.
“Please.” My voice trembled. “There’s no need to be so formal.”
The three raised their heads, moving in sync as though they shared one brain. I stepped back when they straightened up, revealing their powerfully muscled bodies. I swallowed audibly, staring at the face of the first man. His brown irises were flecked with luminous green and a disheveled lock of hair fell over his forehead. High cheekbones framed a gentle face. His finely drawn lips parted slightly when he saw me.
Had he recognized me? Silly question. Of course he knew who I was. I was the Queen, everyone knew my face. And yet I was wondering if he understood that our destinies were linked, that our lives would intertwine to the point that our souls would become one. Would a simple touch from me be enough for him to realize that we were destined to spend eternity together? Ultimately, I knew we couldn’t fight fate—but now that I’d seen the men my vision had told me were my Twin Flames, I no longer had any wish to change my destiny. Not to be coarse about it, but they were extremely attractive, far more so than I could have imagined. I couldn’t suppress a sigh of relief. It could have been a lot worse; Fate could have decreed that I be bonded to a horrible man instead of three handsome dragons. It was true dragons didn’t exactly enjoy great fame or respect in Faery; the Fae thought of them as rough and primitive, though they were given grudging credit for being fierce warriors and generous lovers.
But they’re dragons, the doubting little voice in my head kept reminding me. How could I be their Twin Flame? I was a Fae, and Twin Flames were only supposed to be dragons, not Fae. That was why I was still having trouble believing what I’d seen in my vision. I was determined not to say anything to them about it. Just in case it wasn’t true, and they didn’t feel drawn to me the way I did to them, I didn’t want to feel like a complete fool.
But now, just looking at them was making shivers run through me. I’d already seen their faces in my vision of the future, but I hadn’t foreseen how my body would react in their presence. I’d heard the legend of the Twin Flames, but I hadn’t captured its true meaning. To be honest, I hadn’t paid attention, since only dragons could have Twin Flames. I would be the first Fae ever in the history of Faery to be a Twin Flame. I didn’t understand the workings of destiny or why it had chosen me. But what I did understand now with every cell of my being was what being and having a Twin Flame meant. I would no longer be a splintered, incomplete being. Being a Twin Flame meant being whole and complete.
“My Queen, my name is Jacob.” His voice roused me from my thoughts, abruptly bringing me back to the present. Taking my hand, he bent his head toward it in a reverent gesture. The contact of his hand with mine sent shivers through me. My body and soul recognized him instantly. Afraid of losing control, I pulled my hand away abruptly, leaving him with his eyebrows raised and his mouth open. He said nothing, though, for which I was grateful.
I averted my eyes, my cheeks burning with embarrassment, and my gaze fell upon the second man. He was slightly taller than the first, with brown eyes and blond hair, a square jaw, and a full mouth that held my eyes a second too long.
The man cleared his throat and my blush deepened. “My Queen.” He bowed, taking my hand in his. Like his companion, he bent his lips to it. “My name is Jason.” I was more agile this time at worming out of his grasp. Physical contact with them was a sweet torture I neither could nor wanted to prolong.
I nodded to him, my smile tense and awkward, and turned to the last of my guests. He had very dark eyes, and in the faint morning light that filtered through the window, his dark hair seemed to have violet reflections. His face was angular, his features hard and masculine.
He too took my hand. “My Queen,” he said in a voice so low it penetrated my bones. “My name is Kyle. It’s an honor to serve you.” He brushed the back of my hand with his lips. The crude gesture did nothing to change the impression I’d already formed of the three of them. His lips should never have touched my skin, and yet, with the irreverence worthy of a dragon, Kyle had already broken the first rule of polite society.
My knees buckled. As if my body had suddenly decided it could take no more, I found myself crumpling to the ground. My knees hit the floor with a dull thud, shattering the confident, regal image I’d tried so hard to project.
3
Kyle
It had never occurred to me that the Queen of Faery would be so . . . unqueenlike. But at least she was beautiful, with the body of a goddess incarnate. A temptation for the soul and a pleasure for the eyes. Many were the things I wis
hed I could do to her.
I frowned when I saw her sway and crumple to the ground with a thud. She reminded me of a fawn trying desperately to stay standing, her long, slender legs trembling visibly with each step. I shook my head. I had to admit I hadn’t expected this.
“Let me help you.” I grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet. Then I looked into her face. For a second, the thought crossed my mind that I might be next, collapsing to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Her eyes were the gray-blue of a stormy day, her face was round, with a splash of freckles on her small, slightly upturned nose, and her hair was the color of fire, striking the perfect contrast to her pale irises. The power she emanated was so strong I felt my knees give. The overwhelming desire to prostrate myself at her feet washed over me. What the hell was happening to me? I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. My body, one well-hidden part in particular, had decided to wake up and salute the Queen properly.
Oh my Goddess, she was driving me crazy and I had no idea why!
I heard someone clear his throat. The elderly servant who had been standing in a corner of the room now placed his hand on the Queen’s shoulder. He gently guided her away from me to the huge chair behind the desk. His eyes were affectionate as he regarded her and his hand on her shoulder was reassuring.
For a moment her eyes met his. A slight smile appeared on her lips in a mute show of gratitude. I could see she trusted and cared for him in a way that was different than the usual regard a master has for his servant. I felt my stomach clench and had to close my mouth and tighten my jaw to prevent a growl from escaping my throat.
Goddess, I really am going insane.
She returned her attention to us as the servant left the room, closing the door behind him. “Please take a seat.” Her voice was a light breath, delicate, but sure. Yet I knew how agitated she really was. I could perceive her heart hammering furiously in her chest. She was nervous, and I had the completely irrational feeling that we were the reason why.
“I’ve called you here,” she continued, “because I need to travel to the Winter Kingdom and I’ve been told you three are my best soldiers.”
This simple explanation might have been sufficient for some, but my eyes and my senses told me it wasn’t the whole story. I was about to open my mouth to express my doubts when Jacob spoke.
“My Queen.” His deep, low voice held a note of pride at the sovereign’s words but, like me, he seemed to sense that there was something strange about this. “Don’t misunderstand me. We’re truly honored by your confidence in us, but we’re just simple soldiers. Perhaps you should address your request to one of the officers. I’m sure they would be better equipped to accompany the Queen on a diplomatic mission.”
“It’s not a diplomatic mission,” she responded severely. “And I don’t think it’s wise of you to question my orders.”
“I’m sorry, my Queen. That wasn’t my intention.”
She studied him for a few moments and I felt her heart skip a beat. Her breathing became agitated. Apparently the little fawn could bite.
The Queen closed her eyes and began to speak in a neutral voice, giving nothing away. “We leave tonight, when everyone is sleeping. It’s vitally important that no one know where we’re going or that I’ve left the palace.” Seeing the questions in our eyes, she sighed. “Albert will take care of the details and assure that no one is aware of our mission. I repeat, it is vitally important that our journey remain secret.”
“May we ask what we should expect from this mission, my Queen?”
She looked at Jason. I thought she was about to say something, but instead she shook her head. “You may not,” she replied coldly. “The only thing you need to know is that you will be escorting me to the Winter Kingdom.”
He nodded, confused, and fell silent.
“You’re dismissed for now. I will await you at midnight outside the main gate. Pack lightly but be prepared for a harsher climate than what you’re used to.”
“As if it wasn’t cold enough already,” I muttered.
“Is there something you want to say to me, Kyle?” Hearing my name on her lips made me start. For a second, I felt the blood drain from my face and the words die in my throat.
“No, my Queen. It’s my honor to be able to serve you.”
She frowned, catching the sarcasm in my tone, but simply nodded and left us without another word.
So the fawn had claws as well as teeth. A small smile curved my lips at the thought. One thing I was sure of, this was going to be interesting.
4
Victoria
There had been a time when I would have laughed at my reflection in the mirror. The wool of my dress and petticoat was coarse and itchy. The skin left uncovered at my neck was already breaking out in a rash. But I supposed I couldn’t wear my fine silk gowns and attempt to go unnoticed. I snorted and tried to ignore the stiff fabric that was irritating me—literally. I was also wearing boots. As ugly as they were, at least I had to recognize that they were comfortable. I wove my hair into a simple braid that fell over my shoulder. I’d decided to forgo jewelry and makeup. After a last searching look at my reflection in the mirror, I convinced myself I was ready to go. Pulling the heavy cloak around my shoulders, I buttoned it under my chin, hoping it would be enough to protect me from the cold. Drawing the hood over my head, I prayed no one would realize who was hidden beneath it.
Albert had taken care of my luggage, strapping it firmly to one of the horses. We’d decided to travel with four horses to keep from fatiguing the poor beasts under the weight of two bodies. I hadn’t ridden for years and my experience was limited to the grounds of the royal palace. I’d loved riding with my brother, chasing him through the trees, playing until the sun went down. It felt like a lifetime since those happy days instead of only a few years. I took a deep breath and attempted to gather the little courage that remained to me, then left the room and went forth to meet my destiny.
Outside, the frigid air hit me square in the face. The temperatures plunged so much at night that everything froze. The cloak, however, seemed to do a decent job of keeping me warm. I let the darkness swallow me, hiding me from prying eyes. It took me more than twenty minutes to reach the huge gate that gave access to the royal grounds.
The guards snored loudly at their posts. Albert had really thought of everything, I realized as I tiptoed past the two poor Fae who had been drugged to allow me to escape in secrecy. I felt guilty about them, but I reminded myself that I was doing it for them too, even if they didn’t know it.
A rustle of dry leaves was the only warning I had before a hand went over my mouth. “Shh, it’s me, Jason.” His fingers slowly left my lips and I had to focus on suppressing a small moan of protest. I could see I was seriously going to have to limit any kind of physical contact with my three escorts if I wanted to carry out my mission without my hormones driving me crazy. I turned to look at the dragon that was leading me through the darkness. I couldn’t see the horses, but the smell was unmistakable.
“Forgive me, my Queen, for my rough ways, but I couldn’t risk anyone discovering us. As you said, it’s vitally important that this journey remain secret.” I couldn’t make out Jason’s face, but the sarcasm in his tone was plain. I could understand his attitude, why he was reluctant to accompany me on this journey. I hadn’t given them any information and I was basically forcing them to go on a mission they knew nothing about. My behavior wasn’t helping to heal the centuries of abuse the dragons had suffered at the hands of the Fae. These three probably thought I was like everyone else, that I considered their lives worthless and wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice them for my own ends. After all, that was what the Fae had done since the beginning of time. But they were forgetting I wasn’t just any Fae. I was the Queen of Faery, descended from the Goddess of Fate. I would prove to them that every single life in Faery mattered to me—even the life of this surly dragon who was using my words against me.
I turned away. “Which one
is mine?” I asked, gesturing in the direction I imagined the horses were. Dragons had no trouble orienting themselves in the dark, but for the Fae it wasn’t so easy. We needed the light to see.
“My Queen,” Jacob called in a low voice, “I don’t think it’s wise for you to ride alone at night. Even though the horses can orient themselves with a little moonlight, I think it would be better if you didn’t ride solo.”
My jaw tightened and I clenched my fists. “I’m perfectly capable of riding in the dark,” I lied.
“Very well. You’re in charge.” I heard an edge of bitterness and hostility in his voice. Who was I kidding? It was more than an edge. It was going to be a long, tiring journey, I thought, taking the reins Jacob handed me. Setting one foot in the stirrup, I mounted the horse.
“We stop to rest only when the sun goes down. Until then we will only make brief stops to water the animals and eat.” No one dared contradict me this time. We had to reach the Winter Kingdom as quickly as possible. It was a matter of life and death: my life and Faery’s.
5
Victoria
We rode through the night and all the following day. My back hurt, my eyelids grew heavy, and my stomach cramped with hunger. As I’d decreed, we stopped only to water the animals and stretch our legs a little. I was so agitated and nervous about our journey that I couldn’t eat anything. But now that the sun was low in the sky once again and we were nearing the inn where we would spend the night, my stomach began to growl loudly, reminding me that it needed nourishment.
We stopped in front of a two-story wooden building. Dense black smoke emerged from a hole in the roof. There were lights on inside the inn and from the windows you could see the shadows of the guests. I slid off my horse and landed on the ground, my legs trembling. I’d never ridden for so long and my muscles were protesting.
