The Lost Princess

by R. G. Angel

  I thought it was overkill but he was already doing us a favor so I swallowed everything I could have said and put on the tunic without another word.

  He rushed me down a corridor, down a small staircase, and across a courtyard before stopping in front of a narrow wooden door.

  “I’ll be waiting for you here. Don’t be too long. Go in.”

  I walked in to find Tamlin in his bed, propped up against the wall, a book in his hands.

  He turned toward me, his thoughtful look smoothing as I took off my hood and he recognized me.

  His face turned joyful at once as a smile spread on his lips.

  “My fairy,” he beamed.

  “My knight,” I replied, so relieved to see him alive and well. I rushed toward him and kissed his lips before sitting on the side of his bed as he grabbed my hand.

  “You’re so beautiful, my fairy. I missed you.” He squeezed my hand.

  “I know. I wanted to come but—”

  “I know, Fay. I understand.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “I thought I died.”

  I closed my eyes for a second at the memory of the blade going through him. “I know when I saw that fae—”

  “No, Fay. I barely felt that sword, but I saw Myros’ sword raised, and I knew I couldn't save you. I died at that moment.” His eyes filled up with so much anguish. “I failed you.”

  “The story is that I killed Myros,” I whispered.

  He nodded. “I heard. It’s the best version.”

  “Yeah.” I looked out the window. “The faes confirmed that I was the one who took his life. They’re saying Gareth was mortally wounded and disappeared.” I looked down at our hands linked together.

  When I heard that rumor, I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d caught him and killed him, and against everything I’d expected, I worried for him. It made me feel like a traitor. But no matter what, Gareth had been my friend once, and if it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been sitting there now with Tamlin.

  “I get it, Fay,” Tamlin said gently. “Even if I think you should not feel an ounce of anything other than contempt for him, I get it. He was your friend and no matter what, I'll always be grateful to him that I have you here safe and sound.”

  I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. “Are you in my head?”

  He shook his head, giving me a half-smile. “You know it doesn’t work that way. You need to give me access for me to be in it, but I can read your face. You wear your heart on your sleeve, Fay.”

  I nodded. “Yes, your father said I needed to work on that.” I grimaced. “He explained that a queen should keep her cards close to her chest.”

  Tamlin squeezed my hand. “You’ll learn, with time you will.”

  I chuckled. “I better learn fast; I'm getting crowned in nine days. The council seems to think we should ride the wave of my victory to ensure support from everyone.”

  “Yes, my father explained that to me too. You’ll need to pick your advisers too.”

  I nodded but that was also a subject I wanted to avoid for now because I had been certain I’d pick Tamlin as my military adviser as his father had been my father’s, but I realized that our feelings had been getting on the way. It was clear during the battle with Myros, and now I was considering more and more picking Aidan, my only blood relative left, but I wasn’t sure how Tamlin would react to it.

  As if on cue, Aidan knocked at the door.

  I sighed. “My time is up.” I leaned closer and kissed him. “I love you.”

  He smiled. “I love you too.”

  I stood up but he kept my hand in his.

  “Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll be up and running by your crowning. I’ll be there, right beside you.”

  I nodded. “I know you will, and then you and I can celebrate in private,” I added with a slight blush.

  “I’ll be well enough for that. Hell, I’m even willing to give it a try now.”

  Aidan knocked again a bit harder this time.

  I turned toward the door before looking at Tamlin again. “Nah, you need to rest, and we don’t want to traumatize him because I’m sure he’ll come inside in the next few minutes if I don’t go now.”

  He sighed, reluctantly letting go of my hand. “I’ll come find you as soon as I’m allowed.”

  “I can’t wait. I’ll see you soon. Rest, please.”

  I opened the door just as Aidan reached for the handle.

  “I said to be quick,” he growled, glaring behind me at Tamlin.

  “Thank you for bringing her over.”

  “Like you two children gave me a choice.” He sighed as if we were petulant children.

  I pulled my hood up. “Thank you, Uncle Aidan.” It was a cheap shot, but I knew that every time I called him uncle, I mollified him.

  He rolled his eyes, not oblivious to my trick but still gave me a small smile.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  We walked back in silence, and Aidan released a breath when we reached my room since we hadn’t met anyone on our way back.

  “Thanks again, I needed that,” I stated truthfully before entering my room.

  He waved his hand dismissively. “It’s okay. I've got your back always, and I will support your decisions even if they scare me.”

  “I know you will.” And this is why my choices are so difficult, I added to myself. “Just as I’ll have yours.”

  “Have a good night,” he added gruffly, not used to sentimentality.

  “You too,” I replied before walking back into my room.

  I looked at my closed door and realized that despite everything, I was changing, that my heart was not as much of a ruling force as it had been since the start of this whole new chapter of my life. My heart was telling me to pick Tamlin, that it was where he belonged, but my head… My head was telling me to pick my uncle, the one who would trust me instead of shielding me.

  I sighed, letting myself fall heavily on my bed.

  What the hell was I going to do?

  Chapter 23

  “Are you sure the dress is not too tight?” Nolwenn, now officially my head housekeeper, asked as she tightened the dress.

  I didn’t want a housekeeper; it made me feel all wrong. Aidan had laughed and explained that it was not like that in our world. It was a very well-paid job and that it brought a lot of honor. I believed him after seeing all the applications we received. I asked him to help me choose and he came up with Nolwenn’s name. He had been right; she was perfect for me now that she didn’t need to be as formal as before. It had been quite a promotion for her.

  “No, it’s… good,” I let out on a jagged breath.

  She laughed. “The crowning will last at least an hour; you will need to do some essential things like breathing during that time.”

  I blushed lightly, looking at her reflection in the mirror. “Okay, maybe the laces are a bit too tight.”

  “I thought so.” She loosened it up a bit.

  I was wearing a heavy burgundy dress that was tightened in the back with golden laces. It was my mother's dress, the dress she wore when my father announced their engagement. I thought it was perfect to wear for my crowning.

  “You are going to be a fantastic queen,” Nolwenn announced once she was done.

  I turned around, looking at her, and she seemed sincere. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome, but it’s only the truth.” She smiled. “You are beautiful, brave, kind, a real warrior. You got rid of Myros for us, that’s big!”

  I smiled but stayed silent. I was still uncomfortable with the lie we fed both sides even if the faes themselves didn’t want everybody to know that the killing blow had been given by their own prince… whatever his reason to do it. The only one who knew the truth were the ones who made it out of the clearing and Gareth… wherever he might be. But deep down I knew I would see him again, and I was not sure that was a good thing.

  There was a truce between the two clans as now the fae in charge, which
had been chosen by our martial court, was a moderate who did think a lot like us.

  I didn’t know if that peace was going to last but for now it was more than what they had for decades. I looked up at the painting of my biological parents and felt a small stab of sorrow in my chest. I hoped they were proud of me, proud of who I was, of the queen I was about to become.

  You are magnificent!

  I gasped, turning around to see my parents and Mick standing by the door, in front of Aidan.

  “Mom, Dad!” I cried out, running to them and pulling the three of them into a hug. I realized now how much I missed them, how much I needed them to be part of my new life as a fairy and a queen.

  I broke the hug. “How?” I asked, my voice breaking under the overwhelming emotions.

  My mom gave me a tender smile, brushing her thumb under my eye to dry the tear that had escaped. “We’re the family of the future Queen of Heulwen; we have connections,” she said with a teasing smile.

  “It was not easy,” Aidan conceded. “But Tamlin and I wouldn’t have it any other way. They deserved to be here, and you deserve to have them here.”

  My father threw him a grateful look. “We wouldn't have wanted to miss that for the world.”

  “You’re not mad at me? You don’t hate me?” I asked, looking at the three of them, only seeing love and care in their eyes.

  My father frowned with confusion. “Why would we—”

  “Nick died because of me.” I sobbed. I knew I shouldn't be crying; I was due to be crowned in the next few minutes, but I just could not help it.

  Mick pulled me into his arms, kissing the side of my face. “Never, baby sister. I love you too much to ever hate you. Nicky felt the same, but he didn’t follow the rules and—” He sighed. “It’s not on you. You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about.”

  I turned in his arms to look at my parents.

  “He’s right, baby,” my mom reinforced with a gentle smile. “You have nothing to blame yourself for. We’ve been worried about you but not angry, never angry.”

  My heart felt just a little lighter now, knowing my family still loved me.

  “I don’t want to rush you but…” Aidan started.

  My brother let me go reluctantly.

  “Oh yes, of course!” my mom exclaimed. “We’ll be right there in the front. We’ll speak more later. We love you.”

  I turned a grateful look to Aidan.

  “This means the world to me,” I told him, knowing that the words couldn’t really convey how I felt at having my parents there with me. They were my family for all intents and purposes… They had raised me; they loved me; they lost a son to the cause.

  I was so relieved that they still loved me as much as before as I realized that losing them would have wounded me beyond words.

  As I looked at Mick’s retreating form, I grieved again. I couldn’t help it. He was my brother too, but he was looking just like my Nicky… Each time I looked into his eyes, my guilt came back. It was hard.

  “With time it will get better,” Aidan said, coming to stand beside me, understanding the pain that I was sure was plain on my face. “I promise, the pain will fade… It won’t be gone—that’s impossible—but it will hurt less.”

  “I know.” I stood closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder for support. “It just doesn't feel like it right now.”

  Aidan was so fantastic with me; he was like another kind of father, and I trusted him with my life and the lives of the people I loved the most.

  I knew I would choose Aidan instead of Tamlin as chief of my security.

  I knew it was going to come as a shock to everyone, Tamlin’s father included, but I knew we were biased toward each other. We were thinking with our hearts first, not our heads. I knew Tamlin would understand—he had to.

  I’ll put Tamlin as the commander of the army and he’ll become a part of the martial court.

  I already told General Woods that I didn't want him to step down. I knew that he’d done a fantastic job keeping the kingdom in order after my father died, and he was the one voice that made a difference. How could I ever ask him to step down?

  He had been surprised by my request, but I knew it touched him too.

  Aidan turned me toward him, bringing me back to reality.

  “Princess, you look stunning,” he said, standing proud in his military uniform. “You will be a queen that will mark our history and I’m so proud to be there for you.”

  “That’s what I told her,” Nolwenn confirmed, adjusting my hair.

  “Ready to go?”

  I nodded, taking a deep breath. “As ready as I can be.”

  Aidan gestured me out where two guards, Yannick included, were waiting.

  Aidan walked beside me as Yannick and the other guard walked behind me.

  We made it to the huge crowning room and my pace faltered.

  I knew what to do, but I couldn’t control my heart going crazy in my chest. It was easy during the rehearsal since the ballroom was deserted, but now the actual crowning was in front of a roomful of dignitaries from every part of the realm.

  “Breathe, it’s just like we rehearsed,” Aidan whispered soothingly. “It’s just us.”

  As I walked up to the throne, I connected eyes with my parents and my brother. Their pride made me smile. When I made it to the end, I kneeled in front of General Woods who, as the head of the martial court, was in charge of my crowning.

  Behind him the high emissaries were sitting, and Tamlin was there, standing behind his father, near the throne I would be occupying very soon. I caught his eyes and didn’t let go, and as usual my fear just faded.

  He would be beside me every step of the way… helping me be the best queen I could possibly be.

  When General Woods put the crown on my head, Tamlin smiled brightly, probably reflecting my own smile.

  Who would have thought that me, Fay Newman, would ever be a queen? But in the end, I was not scared; I was now facing the future with confidence.

  I had love, I had trust, I had friendship… I did have my share of heartache, loss, and betrayal, but I knew that, from now on, I would be okay and if that was not the case, I knew I had enough people in my life that would stand by me and help me to make everything okay.

  Epilogue

  I wasn’t sure how long I ran, his blood still staining my hands both metaphorically and physically. I was numb—number with grief and anger.

  I stopped breathlessly, listening for any noise, but no, no one followed me.

  I looked down at my shaky hands and the specks of blood from the patricide I just committed.

  I ran my hand in my hair despite the blood. My father had always belittled me for being weak, for not being able to kill as easily as he did.

  I let out a humorless laugh. Who’s weak now, Father, huh?

  You are, you always were and always will be. You picked an insignificant girl over your father, your king. A girl who doesn’t care, who would rather be with that knight than you, Prince of the Shadows and Night… Pathetic.

  How could his voice taunt me even in death?

  He wasn’t wrong though, was he? What was she doing now? Did she even care what my fate was? No, of course not, only her stupid knight counted.

  Part of me hoped he was dead. It’d be easier when the moment came and I’d steal her back.

  Things had slipped up. I should have known better than to believe a word of my traitorous father. The only thing I wanted was to get Fay. If I could get her to the palace with me, I would have convinced her. I knew I could have, and yet my father had decided to execute her before my eyes.

  It was a step back. I had to figure out a plan to get everything back.

  Because I’ll get it all back: my life, my throne, my legacy, my revenge, and above all… my Princess Fay of Heulwen.

  Fay, Tamlin, and Gareth will be back soon in The Cursed Heir, the second and final book of the Blood Feud series.

  About Me

 
I’m a trained lawyer, world traveler, coffee addict, cheese aficionado, avid book reviewer and blogger.

  I consider myself as an ‘Eclectic romantic’ as I love to devour every type of romance and I want to write romance in every sub-genre I can think of.

  When I’m not busy doing all my lawyerly mayhem, and because I’m living in rainy (yet beautiful) Britain, I mostly enjoy indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with my crazy puppies and writing stories I hope will make you dream and will bring you as much joy as I had writing them.

  If you want to know any of the latest news join my reader group R.G.’s Angels on Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter!

  Keep calm and read on!

  R.G. Angel

  Also By R.G. Angel

  The Patricians series

  Bittersweet Legacy

  Bittersweet Revenge

  Bittersweet Truth

  Bittersweet Love (Coming in early 2021)

  The Cosa Nostra series

  Broken Prince (Coming in Early 2021)

  Standalones

  Lovable

  The Tragedy of Us

  The Bargain