by Ivy Clyde
“No, My Lady. I can’t accept such an extravagant gift. I am not allowed.”
“You’re not allowed?”
She shook her head and gave me a sad look. “Forgive me for saying this but you are so naïve, My Lady. You are kind and trust people too easily. I hope no one takes advantage of you in the Moon Palace.” Poppy’s soft-brown eyes shone with tears.
“I’m going to be fine. Here, show me the jewelry you’re matching with that dress,” I said, hoping to distract her.
Poppy’s expression cleared at once. She began pointing at the jeweled hairpins and strings of pearls laid out before me. She was back in her element while I tried to suppress my own nervousness.
I would be taking my first step into the Moon Palace today. It was my father’s home and all the family members who came before him. It would have been my mother’s home too if she’d been lucky to escape the joint conspiracy between Coran and Vishen.
I am going to rid my home of all traitorous people, I vowed silently.
Seven carriages were lined outside the bamboo enclosure of my quarters. The one in the front was extravagantly painted in white and silver. Six white horses were tethered to it, reminding me of the ride Queen Brenna sent me to bring me to the Sun Palace from Belenus Court.
The six carriages standing behind were smaller and filled with the chests the servants brought in earlier. A chilly breeze blew away the delicate, thin braids framing my face. Poppy took almost two hours to fashion my blond tresses into an elaborate style, incorporating as my jewels and pearls into it as she could. An outer robe of light lavender silk blew around me as I waited for Vishen to come.
I glanced toward the spot where Rowan and Leon stood. They were partially obscured by the other servants waiting there. There was no way to speak to either of them when there were so many people around us.
Taking a deep breath, I exhaled it out slowly.
They would be okay, I told myself. We’d already talked last night and they’d decided to wait in Vishen’s manor until Lucia could figure out a way for them to get inside the Moon Palace.
A loud murmur rose up around me. My gaze shifted to the front and caught sight of Vishen marching toward us. Fyn walked behind him like a shadow.
I bowed along with the rest of the servants.
Coming to a stop before me, he said, “Are you ready, Violet?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
His hands clutched my shoulders and straightened me up. His keen gaze swept over me, taking in my luxurious dress and jewels. Looking into my eyes, he gave an appreciative nod. “You shine, child,” he said in a low, barely audible voice. “The bastard prince won’t be able to stay away from you.”
“My Lord…”
He shook his head. “You will call me godfather from now on.”
“What?” I gasped.
An indulgent smile spread through his face. “You’re my goddaughter now.” Like an ice cube melting in the hot desert sun, his grin disappeared, giving way to a cold, calculative expression. “You will have every chance to ascend in the ranks of the harem,” he said. “I will make sure you’re by Eoghan’s side.”
His words sounded like a blessing but his face looked like he was cursing me. Gesturing toward the carriage in the front, he led me toward it.
His hand tightened painfully on my wrist just as I was about to climb inside. I bit my lips to stop the gasp from breaking out of me.
“Don’t forget who you are,” he whispered in a harsh tone in my ear. “Don’t think anything changes just because you turn into Eoghan’s whore.” His pale eyes were like chips of ice as he glared at me.
“I won’t forget, Uncle,” I said.
His grasp on my wrist loosened and he stepped away, allowing me to climb inside the carriage. My heart pounded in my chest while my magic burned the tips of my fingers, wanting to take control of the situation and burn Vishen.
I was jerked backward as the carriage moved forward without a warning. Sitting up straight, I held onto the seat and looked out of the window. Rowan and Leon’s anxious faces stood out in the crowd as they watched me separate from them.
Within seconds, the carriage took me away from my temporary lodgings. It gathered speed as we crossed the vast grounds of the manor and headed toward the main gates. Releasing a deep breath, I sat back in my seat.
Vishen thought I was going to be his pawn, the person he would use to spy on Lucia. He thought he was sending me on his mission while the truth was that he was sending me to my real home.
My gaze fell toward the gloomy-looking people on the streets of Cataria. The pinched expressions on all their faces as my carriage passed by told me how much they hated the sight of luxury when they were themselves starving.
It won’t be long until things get better, I thought silently.
The crowd soon disappeared from the road we were on. Tall hills surrounded the carriage as it drove at high speed toward the shimmering palace in the distance. Even though it was nighttime, the mammoth structure glittered like a gigantic jewel in the moonlight.
The road to the palace was cleared of any pedestrians. Armored guards patrolled the area but they gave us a wide berth to pass through. I wondered why so many soldiers were stationed here. Who were they trying to keep away?
Soon, the carriage was passing through the gilded gates of the Moon Palace. My heart pounded with excitement at the prospect of crossing the threshold to my home.
As Lucia promised, I entered the grounds of the palace without shedding a single drop of blood. Warmth spread through me to know how cleverly she’d completed the task of getting me here.
I looked out of the window to marvel at the sights waiting for me. The grounds were crisscrossed by broad paths surrounded by water bodies. The entire palace seemed to be floating on a vast lake. Lights from the many windows of the building reflected on the calm surface of the water, creating a magnificent effect.
The Sun Palace of Aelia was magnificent but the Moon Palace of Amaris was absolutely divine.
Tall waterfalls cascaded on both sides of the staircase leading the way to the main entrance to the palace. The carriage didn’t stop there but took another path, taking me to a different section of the palace.
It was a while before the carriage came to a stop.
A few seconds later, I heard movement outside the coach. Next moment, the door was opened, revealing a pretty maid. She stretched out her hand toward me, gesturing me to climb out.
I took her hand and allowed her to help me down the steps of the carriage.
Emerging out, I found myself before a grand palatial structure. It was smaller in scale than the main palace but was just as beautiful. Moonlight glittered on the marble exteriors and my gaze marveled at the tall, carved pillar adorning the front entrance.
“This way, Lady Violet,” said the maid from beside me.
Her voice made me look to the front. At least a dozen maids in pale blue gowns were lined before me. They bowed to me and separated away, leaving the path open for me. Taking a deep breath, I picked the front of my skirt and stepped forward.
Energy surged through me the moment my feet stepped inside the glittering hall of the royal harem.
I was finally inside the Moon Palace.
I was finally home.
17
Moira
The luxurious interiors of the vast room reminded me of my quarters in the harem of the Sun Palace. The floor was covered in plush white carpet. Lush curtains draped over the tall windows. Dark, lustrous mahogany furniture dotted the hall while an opulent canopied bed took the center stage. The lavishness of the royal harem could make one forget the grim reality outside its walls.
The faint light of dawn filtered through the closed curtains. I was beginning to get used to feeling tired at the end of the night now. Even though I was worn out, my mind was still too agitated.
Moving toward one of the windows, I shifted the curtains away. The glass panes were shut to keep the chill of the dawn a
way. Opening them, I threw the window wide open. A gust of breeze blew my way. I was about to peer outside but a large shadow suddenly came at me.
With a gasp, I stumbled backward. My heart almost jumped out of my chest as I staggered, desperately trying to steady my feet.
Breathing hard, I looked toward the ethereal figure manifesting before my eyes. The first rays of the rising sun touched the tips of vast white-feathered wings, casting a halo around the person’s angelic outline.
“Lucia,” I gasped, recognizing the manly figure before me.
“Did I startle you?” she asked.
I nodded while massaging my chest. “You scared the heck out of me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. In the blink of an eye, her wings disappeared. “I was waiting for you to open a window so I could get inside without having to come in through the front doors. Forgive me for getting too impatient.”
I smiled as my heartbeat slowly returned to normal. “Don’t worry about it.” My heartbeat sped up again as I looked up at her face. She was no longer glamored and disguised as Prince Eoghan. The soft waves of her long silver hair cascaded down her shoulders. She was back in her signature tight leather pants, knee-high boots, and corseted jacket. “You look like the first time I saw you,” I told her.
Her emerald-green eyes were warm as they looked at me. “Feels like it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” she asked with a grin. The smile made her pretty face light up like the sun.
Heat pooled into my cheeks. My heart beat so hard, I was afraid she would hear it. Why was I suddenly reacting to her this way? The knowledge of her being my mate was doing strange things to me. A possessive feeling rose up inside me, urging me to mark her as mine.
Mark her? I questioned myself. How do I mark her?
My gaze fell on her luscious cherry-red lips. An urge to run my tongue over them came over me. Just to see what they taste like, I thought.
“Are you okay, Moira?” asked Lucia with a concerned look in her eyes.
“What? Oh-ya. Just fine.” My cheeks had to be red by now. I could feel the heat radiating off my skin as I averted my gaze from her.
“Why are you so flushed?” she asked. Walking up to me, she grazed my cheek gently with the back of her hand. “Are you feverish?”
My eyes almost closed at the feel of her cool skin. “No. I think I’ve been cooped up here too long. Can we go outside for a walk?”
Lucia glanced away from me and turned toward the window. “It’s daytime but guards would still be patrolling around the grounds. This place isn’t as lax as Vishen’s manor. You must be careful if you ever decide to step out.”
“I only wanted to go out with you,” I said in a small voice.
Lucia turned back to me and took in my pouty expression. “We could go somewhere if you really want to go. You deserve a treat for having come so far.” A smile curved her lips. “I never thought we would be here this early.”
“I didn’t think that either. You’re really clever, you know that? You used every situation in our favor. Even Vishen can’t figure out what you did.”
She grinned. “Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Moira.” She stepped toward the window and gestured me to follow her. “Come on. I am sick of the palace walls too.”
Gathering up my skirt, I climbed onto the window sill. Lucia’s arm went around my waist, pulling me against her tightly. “Hold me,” she said, wounding my arm around her shoulder.
This time I was ready for the stomach-flipping sensation when Lucia jumped off the window sill. Her wings appeared as we plummeted down the palace wall. With a single beat of those massive wings, we were thrown high into the air. My hold on her shoulders tightened as we flew higher into the sky.
Within seconds, we were soaring high over the palace grounds. From up here, I could see the Moon Palace in the center with the dark green paths radiating out from it and spreading like a spider’s web over the vast lake’s surface.
“They used to call Amaris the Water Kingdom as well,” said Lucia. “It’s too bad there are barely any lakes that haven’t dried up.”
“Why hasn’t the water dried up here?”
“The Moon Palace sits over the heart of the magic that controls the water. It will be a while but this lake would eventually dry out too.” She glanced down at me and smiled. “But that won’t happen. You will rejuvenate the moon magic and breathe back life into the whole kingdom.”
“You believe in me that much?”
“Of course.”
Lucia sped forward, making our hair stream behind us. A little excited shout escaped me as we zoomed through the air. She slowed down again, her wings gently flapping as she lowered us toward the ground. Looking down, I found we were hovering over a stream flowing through deep, green woods.
I held tightly to her to steady myself as our feet hit the ground. “Where are we?” I asked, looking all around me.
“This is Silver Woods,” said Lucia. “Its true beauty is revealed at nighttime. However, we’ll hide here until it’s time to go back.”
Pale sunlight streamed through the overhead foliage to make spots of gold on the leaf-strewn ground. The ripples from the flowing water glinted under the morning sunshine. The sound of rushing waters was loud in the quiet and still forest. “This place is so peaceful,” I said, taking in a deep breath. It was truly a treat to get away from everything.
“Make yourself comfortable.” Lucia proceeded to take off her boots, revealing small white feet. Even her feet were cute! Moving forward, she sat down at the edge of the bank and lowered her legs into the water.
“Isn’t it cold?” I asked, sitting down beside her.
“You can keep your feet warm.” She grinned at the struck look on my face, understanding how I hadn’t thought of the most obvious thing in a situation like this. “You will get used to being a fae,” she said, looking into the distance. “After being brought up as a human for all your life, you can’t suddenly expect to learn the ways of the fae.”
“I am glad you understand,” I said softly. “Leon gets exasperated with me sometimes.”
“Royal princes can be so impatient and demanding.” A light smile hovered on her lips as she kicked her feet in the water. It was getting hard not to keep staring at her like a maniac. Her beauty seemed to grow as she allowed herself to relax. My fingers itched to test the silkiness of her silver strands and graze over her flawless skin. The need to touch her was growing with every passing moment. Only my own insecurities kept me from reaching out to her.
Lucia had seemed to want me in the beginning but she’d backed off as soon as Rowan and Leon appeared. The three of us had no made secret of our relationship, openly kissing before her.
Back then, I was too unaware of my own feelings. Fear and doubts clouded my vision. My mind was full of the things Lucia told me about Vishen. After seeing the way people were living, I was even more determined to do something about it. In all that rush, I stayed ignorant about the way I felt for her.
In this stolen moment, I was relaxed enough to understand my emotions. It came as a surprise to realize I could feel this way about a woman. Back in my past life, I didn’t allow any romantic feelings to breed in my heart. I hated being touched by men so much I didn’t think I’d ever fall in love with one. The idea of falling in love was such an alien concept for me, I didn’t even think of it happening with a woman.
My time with Rowan, Leon, and Cade changed my outlook on love and relationships. I could trust them, hunger for their touch and do anything to make them smile. Isla and Gilly became my close friends, showing me another facet of relationships. Before coming to Aelia, I had neither friends nor lovers. I endured my foster mother’s cruelty, mistaking it for love.
Uncaring of the dirt and dead leaves, Lucia had laid down on the ground now. Part of her legs was still dangling in the water. I had the intense urge to lie down beside her but stopped myself. I didn’t know how to broach the subject of us being mates without making things awkward
between us. She knew about the fact before me but had chosen not to tell me. Her friendship was too precious to me to mess around with it.
“How long have you been planning all this?” I asked her.
She opened her eyes and gazed up at me. “You mean about Vishen?”
“Yeah.”
“Over the last ten years,” she said. “There was so much to learn and unravel about everything he did. At first, I didn’t even know what was happening. I received the news of my clan’s eradication a week after it happened.” Her eyes dulled as she recounted the awful memories. “I was in Sapphire Hills, fooling around with a bunch of young sky elves there. While I knew Amaris was in a bad state, I didn’t have to stay back there. My father and elder brothers were enough to look after the clan. They let me be free and roam around because I wanted to be a mage.”
“You must be really powerful then,” I said, hoping it would distract her from the grief of losing her family.
A sad smile came over her. “What’s the point of being powerful if you can’t protect the people you love?” She exhaled a long breath and sat up. “My whole family was destroyed by Vishen and there was nothing I could do.” She brushed away the tears streaming down her face.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
She shook her head and swallowed hard. “You don’t have to apologize. The person responsible for the massacre would soon pay for his crimes.” She took several deep breaths before continuing. “Vishen launched an attack on the clans the same day. He didn’t warn them. He didn’t give them a chance to seek help. He even tried hard to keep the news of the slaughter inside Amaris for as long as possible.”
“He didn’t want people to know what he did.”
“No. But how long can you hide the news of such atrocity? Eventually, I learned what happened. For a while I was lost, not knowing how to go on with my life. It took a while for my mind to calm down so I could figure out why Vishen suddenly attacked the clans.”
