by Ivy Clyde
“What can I do?” Bending down, she clutched my arm and pulled me back to my feet. “The child is probably a thief trying to see if she can steal our money purses.” She pulled me away from the weeping girl and marched down the street.
“How could someone so young be a thief?” I asked, turning around to look at the poor kid. To my surprise, the child was no longer crying but staring daggers at Lucia’s back. An angry scowl marred her soft features, making her seem creepy and deadly.
“That wasn’t an elf child,” said Lucia, continuing to walk. “She was a gancanaugh’s brood.”
A chill shot through me. “You could tell just by looking?”
“You’ll be able to spot the differences when you’ve lived as long as me,” she said, glancing my way.
“How old are you?” I asked.
“Three hundred and eighteen.” She didn’t notice my astonishment and continued talking. “The dark sidhe are being attracted here lately. Night-walkers are a serious menace. They are taking advantage of the weakened population to attack without fear of any consequences.”
I stayed quiet, observing the signs of poverty all around me. The stark difference between the people of Aelia and Amaris was making my insides burn with anger and indignation. Vishen murdered my father to take his throne. There was hardly anyone in his way and he was still not taking any responsibility. What exactly did he want?
Looking toward Lucia, I asked her the same question as before. “Why isn’t Vishen looking after the welfare of the kingdom? Isn’t this what he wanted? To be in charge and to be in power?”
Lucia glanced down at me. “You are finally asking sensible questions.” She stopped in the middle of the street. “Look all around you, Moira. There is a way to change everything you see before you. Life can return to Amaris. You only need to agree to stay here instead of going back to the comforts of Aelia.”
“How can my staying help?” I asked. “These people need the help of the solar fae. They can help you grow plants and trees here. There is no dearth of grains and fruit there. Once I go back to Aelia, I can ask the princes to help me.”
She scoffed. “Why would they help us? They are our sworn enemies.”
“But there haven’t been any wars in the past thousand years,” I said, remembering what Isla told me. “There has been peace between the two factions.”
Surprise flitted through her eyes. “So, you have learned some history during your short time in the fae realm.” She let out a long breath. “Still, the princes of the Solar Fae Court are busy managing their own affairs. I doubt they would have time to spare to help us while their own kingdom is in the brink of destruction.”
“From what I heard, there is an heir to the throne of Amaris,” I said, remembering the conversations between Leon and Cade. “Shouldn’t you be asking him for help?”
Lucia suddenly giggled, the sound taking me by surprise. “Let’s go back,” she said. Grasping my hand in hers, she turned around to walk the same way we came from.
“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to keep up with her long strides.
“Somewhere we can talk more freely.”
People watched us pass by with reproachful stares. We both appeared richer than most of the pedestrians on the street. Lucia appeared positively wealthy in her sleek leather pants and knee-high boots. Even her corseted jacket was richly embroidered with silver threads.
I was glad to leave the market square behind me, welcoming the deserted pathway leading us back to the top of the hill. More questions arose in my mind. There was still so much mystery surrounding Lucia. Who exactly was she? Why did she seek me out? Why did she think it would help the condition of the people if I stayed here?
The questions churning in my mind kept me distracted until we reached the spot where we’d landed earlier. Lucia let go of my hand and walked ahead to sit on top of a stone boulder. I hadn’t even noticed she’d been holding onto me for so long.
There was something about her that kept me calm and relaxed.
“Tell me about King Arian’s heir,” I said. “Is he related to me in some way?”
She glanced up at me. Without a word, she removed the piece of cloth covering her face. Moonlight shone on her face, making it shimmer like polished marble. “I am playing King Arian’s heir.”
“What?!”
She chuckled. “Yes, I have fooled Vishen into thinking I am a lost relative of the dead king. It has allowed to me stay in the Moon Palace and keep a close watch over him.”
I shook my head. “Are you sure you’re telling the truth? The heir is supposed to be a male. Cade and Leon told me so.”
“I won’t lie to you, Moira, but I have been lying to Vishen and the rest of the nobles of the court. They think I am a man.”
I couldn’t help but stare at Lucia’s curvaceous figure. Only idiots would think she was a dude.
Lucia’s giggles made me look back at her. “I am a master at disguise,” she said. “That’s the reason I can look through most illusions.” The humor in her voice suddenly turned into anger.
“Why do they think you’re his heir?” I asked after a moment of silence.
“The royals of Amaris have the power to control water,” said Lucia in a grim tone. “Just like the solar fae have the ability to manipulate the life cycle of a plant, the lunar fae have power over water. Amaris is covered in waterfalls, lakes, and fountains. People call it the Water Kingdom as well.”
She paused for a moment to see if I was following her words and then, continued. “A royal heir’s power exceeds even further. There is a sacred chamber in the underground temple of the Moon Palace where a mysterious contraption controls the weather elements of the kingdom. Only an heir with true royal blood can control it.”
She took a deep breath and her gaze shifted from me to look into the distance. “After King Arian died, the weather over Amaris turned unstable. Three years ago, it rained so hard, the rivers and lakes of the kingdom flooded. Most villages were submerged. Even the lower levels of the Moon Palace went under water. That’s when I stepped up to take matters into my hands. I pretended to be a long lost relative of the dead king. Vishen didn’t even want me in the sacred chambers but the other nobles wept and forced him to allow me.”
“Were you able to stop the rains?” I asked.
“Yes,” said Lucia, meeting my gaze. “But it hasn’t rained in Amaris since then.”
“What?”
Lucia nodded with a wry smile. “I am not a true heir and neither can I trace back my lineage to the king from which my clan descended. The only reason I was able to operate the water portal was because of my enhanced abilities as a mage.”
“Can’t you try fixing it again?”
“I have tried but failed,” said Lucia. “Which is why you’re needed here.”
“If you can’t do it, how can I possibly do it on my own?” I asked her. “I needed someone to teach me how to use magic in the first place.”
“You are the only one left in this world who can operate the water portal and bring life back to Amaris,” said Lucia. “We still need to figure out a way to get you inside the Moon Palace and then down to the sacred halls underneath it. Vishen guards these places heavily, so that would be a challenge but I am willing to risk my life to get you there.”
“Why didn’t Vishen think of this when he murdered my father?” I asked in a bitter voice.
A hollow chuckle escaped her. “He is blinded by greed.”
“He can rule over a fucking barren land!” I spat. My breathing became harsh as I tried to control the burning rage pulsing in my veins. I wanted to find Vishen and burn him down until there was nothing left of him on this earth. He was the reason for everyone’s suffering.
“Amaris needs you, Moira,” said Lucia in a quiet voice. “You can do something to help. Even if you don’t feel confident in your abilities, at least take a chance and try.”
Her soft voice calmed some of my fury. My magic pulsed hard in my veins,
ready to flare out of my body at that very moment. All my powers came from the cores my parents sacrificed for my sake. Could I refuse their calls and turn my back on their people?
“You will help me if I decide to stay?” I asked.
“Of course,” said Lucia at once. “I will always be there to protect you and aid you.”
“Then, do something for me.”
“Tell me what you need.”
“Help me send a message to Prince Rowan, Leon and Cade. Tell them I am safe and where to find me. It will be fine even if one of them knows.”
Lucia’s gaze hardened. “Why are you bothering with them?”
“They are my mates,” I said. “I have chosen them all.”
A strange emotion flickered in her emerald-like eyes. “You’ve chosen your mates already?”
“I have.”
She lowered her head, hiding her expression from me. “It will be difficult to approach the princes. Do you know anyone trustworthy in the palace who can go unnoticed but still carry your message to them?”
It only took a second to think of such a person. “Gilly,” I said. “She is my personal brownie maid. If you find her, she will be able to take the message to one of the princes without attracting any attention.”
Lucia raised her head. “You have a personal brownie? Already?”
I grimaced. “Yeah, I bought her.” The notion was repulsive to me but that’s exactly how I came to have Gilly by my side.
Lucia slapped her knees and got to her feet. “Let’s go back to the cottage. Finding a brownie maid and approaching one wouldn’t pose a challenge. Let’s rest for tonight and tomorrow, I will take your message to Aelia.”
Relief spread through me at her words. As long as Rowan, Leon, and Cade knew where I was, I knew they would come to find me. They all needed to know about Coran’s connection with Vishen. It would help them figure out his strategies to betray the royal family. Deep down, I also believed I could find proof against him for what he did to my mother as well.
I had no idea how I would be able to achieve the mammoth task of helping so many people in both Amaris and Aelia, but Lucia was right about one thing. I had to at least try.
4
Rowan
Anxiety weighed heavy in my gut as I walked through the brightly lit hallways of the Sun Palace. The previous night slipped away but there was still no news of Moira’s whereabouts.
Within a few hours of the attack, I sent reinforcements to subdue and capture the lunar fae soldiers at Coran’s manor. I’d even commanded my men to arrest Coran if they found him. I was determined to find out whether he was hiding her somewhere.
My eyes prickled with exhaustion but there was no way I could rest until I found Moira. My emotions hadn’t been this unstable in years now. Memories of the time when I found my mother’s slashed and bloodied body came surfacing in my mind. Would Moira be in the same state when I found her? No, I told myself, fisting my hands tightly. My nails dug into my palm painfully, threatening to break the thick skin. She will be fine. She has to be fine.
Searching for Moira at Belenus Court offered no result. Lady Chantal and Dierdre hadn’t heard or seen her since she left to live in the Sun Palace. The human-born young woman called Isla hadn’t seen Moira either. The three women looked terribly upset and anxious for her but the search of the castle clearly told me Moira hadn’t gone there.
My mind churned over the facts. The only way someone could take her out of that room in Coran’s manor was through the window. Did one of the lunar fae soldiers already take her away? Was the elusive heir to the throne of Amaris responsible for the attack and Moira’s kidnapping?
My shoulder suddenly bumped into something hard, followed by a gasp of someone exclaiming, “Whoa, Brother!”
Rubbing my shoulder, I looked up at Leon. His amber eyes were fixed on me while his mouth was crumpled in a frown. “Watch where you’re going,” he said. “You’re going to crash into a wall if you sleepwalk through the hallways like this.” The annoyance in his face gradually melted away though. “Rowan,” he whispered, stepping closer to me. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?” Concern welled up in his golden-hued eyes as he met my gaze.
I shook my head. “How is Cade doing?”
“He is better but what’s wrong with you?”
“I need to speak to both you and Cade,” I said. My gaze noticed the way a group of passing maids stared at us. “It’s not safe to talk here. Let’s go to his chambers.”
“Cade’s?” Leon fixed me with a calculating stare. “Are you sure? The queen…”
“Moira is missing.”
“What?”
Pushing him away, I strode forward.
“Rowan! Wait up!” Leon called after me but I didn’t stop. His questions could wait until we were in the safety of Cade’s closed chambers.
Reaching Cade’s quarters, I looked toward the line of armed guards standing in front of the door. Several maids were stationed behind them, forming another line of defense. I couldn’t help the scoff that escaped me. Queen Brenna was safeguarding her son like a precious jewel.
“Move away!” I barked at the closest soldier.
“You may not come in, Your Highness,” said one of the maids. “Only Prince Leon has permission to enter these chambers.”
“How dare you?” I bellowed. “Move out of my way right now.”
The guards shifted away at once. Most of the maids trembled before me, their heads lowered in submission. Only two dared to stare back at me.
“Run to your mistress if you must,” I told them. “You won’t have long to wag those tongues much longer anyway. Once I am done here, I will issue the command to have your lips torn away and your tongues pulled out.”
The maids fell to their knees immediately. “Have mercy, Your Highness!” they wailed.
I stared hard at them. Their heads were lowered but their backs were straight. They didn’t take my words seriously yet, thinking their queen would protect them. These were the audacious, ill-mannered bitches the queen raised. Punishing them might offend her but what could she do if I did punish them? Moira was already taken away from me. What more could she do to me?
“You,” I said, glancing at the closest soldier. “Drag these insolent women away and carry out my command immediately.”
“Your Highness, please,” gasped one of the maids. There it was…the trembling voice of a truly scared woman.
“Rowan…” Leon’s voice was barely audible but the hint of concern in it didn’t go unnoticed by me.
The guard paused for a moment, probably wondering if I would show mercy to the two maids. I stood silent and erect, having absolutely no intention of retracting my command.
The quiet hallway rang out with the screams of the pleading women. This should teach the maids who thought they could stand against a prince just because they served the queen.
“Come,” I said, striding forward. No one stood in my way anymore as I pushed open the vast doors to Cade’s private chambers.
My half-brother was sitting up in bed, looking alert. His expression relaxed when he saw me and Leon.
“It’s the two of you,” he said, combing back the long locks of his sunshine-gold hair away from his eyes. “What’s with the commotion going on outside?”
“Rowan punished two maids who refused to let him enter your room,” said Leon.
Cade’s lips stretched in an easy smile while his lavender-hued eyes danced with mirth. “How dare they? Haha…what did you do, Rowan? Tell them to kneel for an hour and no lunch this afternoon?”
“He is having their lips and tongue torn out,” replied Leon in a quiet voice.
Cade’s laughter died on his lips.
“Are you serious?” he asked, staring straight at me. “You wouldn’t really do something like that. You rarely punish anyone with a beating let alone that.”
“I decided to take a few lessons from your mother,” I replied.
Cade’s face blanched while
Leon grasped my shoulder.
“What is going on?” asked Cade in a grave tone. “What has gotten you into such a mood?”
I stepped forward and sat down on one of the plush chairs by his bed. Motioning toward Leon, I said, “Come.”
They watched me warily. A part of me knew they were shocked and concerned by my behavior but I could no longer stay patient when Moira was still missing and I had no idea whether she was alive or not.
“Last night’s feast at Coran’s manor was nothing but a series of traps,” I said. “First, Moira was nearly raped and killed by a gancanaugh sent by Deirdre. Next, Coran’s manor was attacked by a battalion of savage lunar fae soldiers who launched a massacre on everyone gathered there. While I was able to protect Moira from the vile creature, she was taken away during the attack.”
“What? Where is she now?” Cade’s voice was heavy with anxiety.
“You don’t know, do you?” asked Leon.
“No.”
“No wonder he’s losing his mind,” said Cade in a low voice. He looked back at me. “Have you searched the palace and Belenus Court?”
“Yes. She isn’t here or there.” I let out a long breath and looked between Cade and Leon. “I also commanded Coran’s arrest.”
“You’re not holding back anymore,” said Cade. He gave a nod and leaned forward to punch my knee hard. “Good call, Brother! I wouldn’t have done any less in such circumstances.”
Some of the tightness in my chest loosened at those words.
“I agree,” said Leon. “The appearance of lunar fae soldiers in Coran’s manor is too suspicious to be ignored. What were they doing there in the first place? If this were a regular attack, they would destroy the villages on our border first. It’s suspicious how they were able to come so deep into our kingdom without any obstruction. We didn’t even hear any news of their sightings before this.”
“My mother wouldn’t sit still once she hears you’ve caught Coran,” said Cade, looking more anxious than before.
