by Ivy Clyde
Scurrying feet approached us. A pair of strange arms took me away from Lucia.
“Do you really want me dead, Elder Statesman?”
“Of-of course not, Your Highness,” gasped Vishen. “How can you say that? This was a pure accident. You know you have my support in everything you do.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Lucia was as good an actor as Vishen. They were playing around with each other, each trying to outdo the other.
“Well, then. You give me that woman,” said Lucia.
“What woman, Your Highness.”
“Her,” said Lucia. “She told me she was from your manor. I want her in the palace. I want to get to know the woman who saved my life. It’s time I started my harem. Don’t you think, Elder Statesman?”
Gasps and murmurs rose up among the gathered crowd. Vishen was quiet for a few seconds, unable to say a thing.
“It’s decided, then,” Lucia pressed on. “That woman belongs to me now. Send her to my palace tomorrow, Elder.” After a moment’s pause, she added, “Bring me a palanquin. I am too exhausted from carrying her to ride a horse.”
The place broke out into loud whispers. The person carrying me was walking away from the crowd. A few minutes later, my body was lowered inside the velvet-quilted interiors of a palanquin.
When the presence left, I opened my eyes. They’d deposited me inside a palanquin as I’d guessed. Next moment, I felt the box move. They were already carrying me away from the spot.
I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me. Lucia really did pave the way for me to enter the Moon Palace. As she promised, Vishen would be the one to take me there as well.
Closing my eyes, I leaned my head against the backrest of the palanquin. The immediate danger was over. Lucia was safe and I was being taken back to Vishen’s manor. Both my body and mind were exhausted now.
I wouldn’t even need to pretend to be unconscious anymore as sleep was quickly taking over me.
15
Moira
It was late at night when I was shaken awake from a deep slumber. Poppy shook my shoulders while loudly calling my name, urging me to wake up.
Barely able to open my eyes, I asked, “What’s going on?”
“Lord Vishen is here to see you.”
“This late at night?”
Her confused expression immediately alerted me. It would have been inappropriate if he’d chosen to visit me during the day. I rubbed my eyes hard.
“Where’s my robe?” I asked, looking around.
“Here, My Lady,” said Poppy, handing me a luxurious robe. “I will brush your hair for you.” Her hands shook hard as she took up the comb. I stayed quiet, letting her get on with preparing my appearance so I was fit to see her master.
My mind was calm now. I was finally ready to face the man who murdered my father. Cold rage pulsed through me but I stayed in control of my emotions. It was my turn to act in front of Vishen. Lucia had set the stage for me. I just had to keep up the act and open the way for me to enter the Moon Palace.
“The master is waiting,” said Poppy in a subdued voice. “We must not keep him waiting for too long.”
“Where is he?”
“He is in the entrance hall. Come, My Lady.” She took my hand and led me out of my chambers.
Two men were seated around the small table in the entrance hall of the house. My gaze automatically focused on the figure wearing a heavily-embellished black robe. He turned at the sound of my approach, staring straight at me with keen, piercing eyes.
“Come forward, child,” he commanded in a deep voice.
I lowered my head and didn’t move an inch.
“What happened, girl? Didn’t you hear me? Come forward.”
I took a few tentative steps and stopped.
“Closer,” Vishen commanded.
“I dare not, My Lord,” I said, keeping my gaze lowered to the ground.
A chuckle escaped him. Next moment, he’d risen to his feet. Moving forward, he came to stand before me. I still kept my gaze lowered in a demure gesture. Stepping closer, he hooked a finger under my chin and made me raise my face to him. “Look at me,” he said.
I obeyed him, looking up at him.
Vishen was a tall man, forcing me to tilt my head backward to keep gazing at him. He was a handsome man but could only be described as average when compared to the beauty exuded by the fae. He seemed to be in his thirties but his emotionless pale eyes told me he was much older. The long length of his dark hair was swept away from his broad forehead and tied at the back. Jeweled rings adorned his every finger.
He looked like an affluent man but there was a permanent conniving look about him. Maybe it was noticeable to me because I was aware of his heinous crimes. If my father had detected it, he wouldn’t have been fooled into trusting this man who would slowly poison him to death.
I took a deep breath and willed my emotions to stay calm. My magic pulsed hard in my veins, threatening to burst out of me to burn the man who’d murdered my father. I continued to breathe deeply, keeping my thoughts focused on Lucia who went through this struggle on a daily basis.
“You are quite a beauty,” he said with a calculative look in his eyes. “No wonder the foolish young prince fell for your charms.” Letting me go, he stepped away from me. “Do you know who I am, child?”
I gave a big nod. “Of course! You are the greatest hero of Amaris. My father said you’re the one strong pillar that’s holding the weight of the kingdom on his shoulder. I am so honored to be in your presence, My Lord.” My head was lowered but I peeked at him through my lashes.
A satisfied expression came over him. “You have a sweet tongue too.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
“It wasn’t a waste to take you in,” he said in a thoughtful tone. That calculative look was back in his eyes. “Tell me, girl. Are you willing to obey my every command?”
I fell to my knees. “Of course, My Lord. It would be an absolute honor to obey you.”
He didn’t ask me to stand, keeping me on my knees while he towered over me. “Tell me the truth, then. What happened in the woods earlier today?”
“It was so scary, My Lord,” I said in a shaky voice. “I got separated from my guards in the forest. For a long time, I kept walking and roaming through the trees but couldn’t find a way to get back to where we started. A long time passed while I stayed lost. Then, I heard some people and followed the sound of their voices. They led me to a peculiar spot.” I stopped speaking and lowered my gaze as if whatever happened next was too frightening to talk about.
“What happened next?” Vishen demanded. “Tell me what you saw.”
“There was no one there but the prince, My Lord,” I said in a choked voice. Part of me wished Lucia could see me right now. My acting skills would have definitely impressed her. Taking a deep breath, I continued. “The prince was lying on a…on a…I don’t know what it was. Like a circular bed made of stone. There was blood everywhere. I was already scared, so I approached him. He woke up after I shook him a little.”
“He woke up?”
I gave a nod. “He sat up and started speaking of dark spirits in the woods. For a while, he raged at me, thinking I was a spirit too. When he realized I wasn’t, he commanded me to carry him on my back. I wept and told him I didn’t know the way back but he still forced me to put him on my back and carry him. His weight exhausted me after a while. I fell when I could no longer keep walking.”
I let sobs escape me and swiped my hands all over my face. My head was lowered and the long strands of my hair kept me veiled from Vishen’s gaze. “I woke in my bed again,” I said after taking a minute. “Poppy said someone carried me back here.”
“You’ve had quite a rough time,” said Vishen. Moving closer, he held my shoulders and pulled me back to my feet. Hooking a finger under my chin, he forced me to look at him. “You ended up in the wrong place but it could lead you to the right place
.”
I let my face break into an expression of confusion. “What do you mean, My Lord?”
“You have been invited into the royal harem by the prince.”
I widened my eyes to display my surprise. “Really?”
He frowned and pinched my chin. “Don’t get too happy yet. You must prove your loyalty to me before I let you go.”
Vishen was a conniving, manipulating bastard. Lucia clearly commanded him to bring me to the harem. There was no way he could disobey such a direct command but Vishen didn’t know I was already aware of it. He was going to force something from me.
“How can I prove my loyalty?” I asked him. “I will do anything to honor you, My Lord.”
“You will keep a track of the prince’s movements,” said Vishen. “You will watch over the people he speaks to and trusts. Keep your eyes and ears open. If you hear him plotting against me, you must let me know immediately.
“Who would dare plot against you?” I gasped with wide eyes.
“I don’t trust Prince Eoghan,” said Vishen. “I will tell you that much. He claims to have been traveling over the past several centuries. There is no one who can confirm his stories of origin. The only reason I tolerate him is because he was able to control the rains that once threatened to drown Amaris. The other nobles of the court also don’t agree with my plans to eliminate him. I was hoping to take care of the problem myself but I’ve been unsuccessful once again!”
Vishen’s pale gray eyes grew cold with rage. His anger at the failed sacrificial ritual must have hurt his ego. The way he’d cried out when the Engorging Bell didn’t work was proof enough.
“Do you understand what you have to do?” asked Vishen, focusing his piercing gaze on me.
I gave a nod. “I must always stay loyal to you despite being the prince’s wife.”
An appreciative chuckle escaped him. “Very good. You’re pretty but not dumb.”
My glance fell on the man who’d stayed in the room all this while. He wore a luxurious black tunic and seemed to be someone who was trusted by Vishen. The man was tall and lean but had the stance of a military man. I wondered who he was.
“Don’t worry about Fyn,” said Vishen, noticing my stare. “He can be trusted.”
I gave a polite nod and stayed quiet.
“I will send you to the palace tomorrow,” said Vishen. “Be prepared.”
I smiled broadly. “Thank you, My Lord! I won’t disappoint you!”
“I hope not,” he said in a soft voice. “If you make a mistake, your whole family will pay for it.” He let his threat hang in the air between us as he smiled coldly.
“Yes, My Lord,” I said in a subdued tone.
A satisfied expression came over Vishen. He turned around and walked out of the room. The man called Fyn followed him immediately.
My lungs expanded as I took in a long, deep breath. Moving toward the table, I dropped into a chair and leaned against the backrest. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding. My skin glowed with an orange light that singed the light linen shift I was wearing. Taking in more breaths, I willed my magic to calm down.
Vishen was like a spider, casting webs around every person he met. He was now planning to use me to spy on Lucia. I couldn’t help but wonder how many people he was manipulating at the moment to stay in power.
He would never stop lusting for power, I realized at that moment. Whether it was my father or Lucia posing as a long lost prince, Vishen would never tolerate someone from the royal family.
If he ever knew of my existence, he would have come after me too. My parents were well aware of this and that’s the reason they took the drastic decision to hide me in the human realm.
I suffered through most of my life but at least, I was alive. And as long as I was alive, I would make sure to defeat Vishen and take back the control of my kingdom. Strong emotions surged through me as I made up my mind, suffusing strength back into my body.
Feeling more energized than before, I walked out of the entrance hall.
A chilly breeze swept away the robe from me, revealing the burnt patches on my nightgown. My bare feet crossed the courtyard to reach the small house where Rowan and Leon were staying.
I pushed open the door to their quarters and immediately started calling for them.
“She never learns,” said an annoyed voice from the corner.
“Don’t shout our names, Moira,” said Rowan from Leon’s side. “Come over here and tell us what Vishen wanted with you.”
I frowned at the pair of brothers. “You should pick some fake names for yourselves while we’re here,” I said.
“Call me Aengus,” said Leon with a grin. “If I have to pick a name, it has to be the god of love’s.”
Rowan chuckled. “Then, call me Daghda,” he said. “The man who gave birth to Aengus.”
Leon glared at him and made to punch him but Rowan ducked away. I watched them being playful for a moment. A smile came on my lips. It was so rare to see them both being so carefree. Back in Aelia, they were both cautious and alert. I wished King Drustan could see his sons being this way. Some of his pain would lessen if he knew they were still their old selves.
Once I’ve taken control over Amaris, I will help them get control of Aelia, I vowed to myself.
“Hey, Moira,” called Leon. “Come over here. You look cold.”
I went to sit at the table with them. Rowan poured me a goblet of goldflower wine.
“Where did you get this?” I asked, staring down at the faintly glowing wine in my cup.
“I stole it from one of Vishen’s cellars,” said Leon, taking a deep swig.
“The potion doesn’t have the same effect on the lunar fae but it still makes a delicious brew.”
“True,” I said, lowering the goblet. A few sips were enough to drive the chill from my body.
Over the next half hour, I told them about every single detail of my conversation with Vishen.
“What a fucker,” said Leon with a chuckle. “He’s going to use his niece to whore and spy for him.”
“The real Violet escaped a horrible life,” I said.
“I am wondering what would happen to Leon and me after you’re taken to the palace,” said Rowan.
“If there is no trouble, stick around here,” I said. “Lucia will definitely figure out a way to get you guys out of here.”
Rowan glanced at Leon before looking back at me. “Have you given a thought to what we found out?”
I shook my head. “Not really.” After a moment, I added, “We’re good friends already and we know each other’s secrets. I think that automatically makes us soul mates.”
“There’s more to being soul mates than just being friends,” said Rowan.
“Maybe…”
“Take your time to figure things out,” said Leon. “Since you’re going to the palace, you will have more opportunities to be close to her. Find out what she wants too.”
I gave a nod. A part of me was thrilled at the idea of being close to her again. There was so much I wanted to talk to her about. With no immediate threat looming over us, I was looking forward to getting to know my fourth mate.
16
Moira
I walked around the small entrance hall of my quarters, watching servants bringing in wooden chests and piling them on top of each other for lack of floor space. No one spoke to me. They all kept their heads bowed and went on with their jobs.
I escaped to my bedchambers and found Poppy preparing an extravagant set of robes for me to wear. Small chests of jewelry were heaped onto a table. Even from a distance, one couldn’t miss the sparkles and glow from the precious jewels. Gazing toward my handmaiden, I realized she was unusually quiet.
“What is going on?” I asked her. “Why do you look so serious today?”
Poppy looked up at me. Her mouth parted to say something but then, she stopped.
“Why are you hesitating?” I asked. “Tell me what’s going on in your mind.”
“You are leaving today,” she said in a small voice. “I was so happy to have you here but now, you will go to the palace. I may never see you again.”
A smile came on my lips. “You will get a better lady to serve than me,” I said. “Besides, I might come and visit you sometime.”
Her eyes widened. “You are going to the royal harem, My Lady,” she said. “You will never be able to step out without the prince’s permission. It will be a stricter place than Lord Vishen’s manor. You must take care of yourself there.”
“Don’t worry about me, Poppy. I’ll be fine on my own.”
She gave a nod. “You left your family and home for a good position. You have secured the best one for yourself. Ladies of the royal harem have a very comfortable life.” She moved closer to me and leaned into me. “I heard Lady Alana threw the worst tantrum ever.” A chuckle escaped her. “They say she destroyed one of Lord Vishen’s offices and almost hung herself.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s because you caught Prince Eoghan’s eye at the hunt,” said Poppy with a cheeky grin. “Lady Alana is angry you got invited into the royal harem and she didn’t.”
Light chuckles escaped me at the thought of what the poor pampered noble lady was going through. She’d been nasty to me at the hunt and even warned me to stay away from the “prince”. She had no idea about her own uncle’s schemes against him.
“What are servants bringing in today?” I asked, deciding to ask the question plaguing me since that evening. “There is hardly any space to move in the entrance hall.”
“They are gifts from My Lord,” said Poppy. “He is sending you to the palace with more clothes and jewels. Since you’re related to him, he has to make sure you represent him and his house in a good way.”
I moved over to the table filled with velvet-lined boxes of jewelry. Picking up a necklace made of white, lustrous pearls, I looked at it closely.
“That’s very pretty, My Lady,” said Poppy, staring at it.
“You like it?”
Poppy gave a nod.
“Then, you can have it.” I held the necklace to her but her eyes widened as she shook her head vehemently. “It’s yours,” I said, walking up to her.
