by Ivy Clyde
“He wanted to kill every person with any royal blood,” I said through clenched teeth.
“That was the most important reason but he also ended up robbing the clans of their divine treasures.”
“Like the Engorging bell?”
She gave a nod. “I am sure he used many of them to gain power. He even planned to use the bell on a descendent of the king to steal his unique gifts and powers.”
A hollow laugh escaped me. “We fooled him so well.”
A wry smile came on Lucia’s lips too.
“Did you know about me when you first started going up against him?” I asked after a while.
“No. I didn’t know of your existence,” she said. She kicked her leg in the water, scaring away a fish that was nibbling on her toe. “I used every opportunity I could manage to figure out Vishen’s motives. There are many clan people who survived the massacre. They are powerless to do anything but the fire of vengeance still burns in their veins. We helped each other and planted ourselves in the palace and in the manors of Vishen’s close associates. Slowly, we began piecing together the bits of news and knowledge to understand what he was really up to.”
Lucia glanced at me and smiled. “Eventually, I learned of your existence.”
“Were you disappointed in me?”
Confusion flitted through her green eyes. “Why would I be disappointed?”
I shook my head and shrugged.
She leaned into me and looked me in the eye. “You’re extremely powerful, Moira. Get used to your life in the fae realm and you will find your true spirit. Since you are spending more time in the moonlight, your lunar fae powers will soon get unlocked too. You’ll be fit to rule over both Amaris and Aelia. You will bring the two factions of the lumina fae together once again.”
The confidence and sincerity in her voice made my heart swell with warmth and happiness. Entranced by her beauty, I leaned into her. Everything felt so right at this moment with her by my side, I forgot about all my dilemmas. My body leaned closer, my lips hovering dangerously close to hers. Lucia’s warm breath fanned across my face.
I closed my eyes when there was only a hair-width gap between us. My heart pounded in my chest as I leaned closer. But my lips never touched Lucia’s.
Opening my eyes, I found Lucia standing a few feet away. She was putting her boots back on. A flicker of anger and annoyance lanced through me. My rising anticipation was suddenly drowned out.
“We should go back now,” said Lucia. “You need to have a good rest for the theatrical performance you’ll be witnessing tomorrow.”
“What theatrical performance?”
Lucia chuckled, completely ignoring the frown growing on my face. “You didn’t think you’d be the only girl in the harem. Some more will be joining you tomorrow. Brace yourself for some very interesting characters.”
While the whole thing was a big drama, I thought Lucia and I would be the main actors. The thought of her being surrounded by other women was oddly infuriating. It was annoying enough to have witnessed the noblewomen doting over Lucia’s manly disguise. Now I would have to endure them being even more clingy and acting like they have a claim on her.
Calm yourself, I told myself. It’s all a big joke.
This simple logic wasn’t enough to cool my irrational jealousy. I knew I was going to have a very hard time separating reality from the illusion we’d created.
18
Moira
I woke up to a dark dusky sky. Beams of moonlight came in through the glass-paned windows, falling onto the floor in thick silver strips. Sitting up, I looked toward the corner where a woman was hanging a dress onto a tall stand. Looking closely, I recognized her.
A fae woman called Ebha became my new maid at the Moon Palace. She was older than Poppy and had a calm, silent demeanor, rarely talking unless I spoke to her. The dress she prepared for me that evening was extravagantly luxurious with layers of silk giving the skirt plenty of volume to flare all around me. She noticed me climbing off the bed and turned toward me.
“Merry evening, Lady Violet,” she said with a bow.
“You too,” I said, coming forward to admire the dark blue fabric of the dress.
“Please have your meal, My Lady,” she said, gesturing toward a fully laid table in the corner. “You will have new guests to welcome today.”
“New guests?”
Ebha gave a nod. “Some other ladies will be coming into the palace today. They will soon become your sisters in the harem.”
My nose wrinkled at the idea of calling these women ‘sisters’. “When are they coming?” I asked.
“In another two hours,” said Ebha. “It is best we hurry. Prince Eoghan would be there at the welcoming ceremony.”
Annoyance flickered through me again. Lucia didn’t come to welcome me yesterday. Stop being so petty, my mind berated. She came to you and took you away on a romantic little getaway. Some of my irritation disappeared at that thought. Taking a deep breath, I went over to the table to eat the food Ebha brought me.
After the meal, I went for a short bath and then let Ebha take over.
She dried and fashioned my hair into an elegant bun, proceeding to adorn it with buds of fragrant jasmine blossoms. Once my makeup was done, she helped me into the voluminous dress and laced me up tightly. The dress looked amazing on me but the tight lacings made it difficult to breathe. At least, they are not putting me in a corset, I thought as Ebha started putting jewelry on me.
“We should wait in the garden, My Lady,” said Ebha when she was finished. “That’s the spot where all the harem ladies would be gathered to meet the prince.”
“Can you take me there?”
“Of course, My Lady.”
She gave a short bow and gestured me toward the door.
I walked out into the vast hallway of the palatial harem. Ebha came up beside me and led me down the corridor. Passing maids bowed to me, hurrying away before I could take a closer look at them.
Ebha led me into a landscaped garden filled with bushes of white blossoms. Their heady fragrance wafted toward me each time a gust of breeze blew by. The place was neat and well-kept but it couldn’t be compared to the gardens and orchards of the Sun Palace.
“Have a seat, My Lady,” said Violet, gesturing toward a stone-carved table with stone benches around it. “I will bring you some refreshments. You can enjoy them until the other ladies are brought here.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking a seat on one of the stone benches.
Ebha left me in the garden. The evening breeze was chilly but I was able to use my magic to warm my body. A few white petals drifted down me. Looking down at one of them on my palm, I wondered how Cade was doing back in Aelia. With Rowan and Leon here with me, there was no one to watch over him or trustworthy to help him there. A sliver of guilt settled in my gut.
My mind wandered off to Isla and Lady Demitria. They probably had no idea where I was. They only knew I’d disappeared after the attack on Coran’s manor. There was still so much I wanted to ask her about my parents.
Closing my eyes, I leaned against the hard bench. A deep sigh escaped my lips.
“You have been here for just a day and you’re already exhausted?” a snide voice spoke right beside my ear.
My eyes flew open and I sat up straight, staring into the sneering face of Alana, Vishen’s niece. “What are you doing here?”
A triumphant grin came on her lips. “Did you really think you’d win one over me?” she asked with glittering dark eyes. “Don’t forget who I am. I am the Elder Statesman’s real niece, not some far-off relative he took in out of pity.”
“You are one of the women who will be part of the harem?” I asked.
“You’re really slow but to answer your question, yes! I have a place in the royal harem too.” Her grin disappeared. “You better stay out of my way or else…” Leaning down, she leveled her face with mine. “You were sneaky enough at the royal hunt, catching the prince’s attention.
I won’t let you get away with such tricks again.” The sound of approaching footsteps made Alana back away from me but the threatening look in her eyes lingered as she continued to glare at me.
A few seconds later, four strangers walked into the garden. Maids scurried around them, showing them to the spot where Alana and I sat. My gaze took in the newcomers. They were all youthful women dressed in luxurious gowns and expensive jewelry.
Alana scoffed from beside me. “The royal chamberlain couldn’t find anyone better than you lot?” she said with a sneer on her face.
It was a pleasant surprise to realize Alana wasn’t mean to me alone. Her attitude seemed to be the same with everyone else.
“Lady Eithna,” Alana cackled. “I can’t believe your family sent you and not your sister. Are they trying to offend the royal family?”
Eithna, a pretty fae woman with dark hair and blue eyes, flushed at that statement.
“And you two,” continued Alana, turning her gaze toward the blond-haired women. “Did they send you two here to entertain the rest of us? I have never met bigger dull-heads than you two.”
The two women who looked oddly similar hung their heads.
“Women of the royal harem are supposed to be elegant and intelligent ladies,” said the woman with violet-hued hair. “You are bringing disgrace on the rest of us by speaking in such a demeaning tone.”
Alana’s dark eyes flashed with anger. Her cheeks seemed to grow red and swell as she glared at the violet-haired woman. “Shut up, Boudica! This is not a place to be preaching.”
“It is not but I can’t help it when a spoiled brat like you is part of my group.”
“Your group? Who made you our leader?” Alana glanced around at the rest of us. “Are you really going to support her?”
“Calm down, Cousin,” I said from my corner. I smiled at the woman called Boudica and gestured toward a bench near me. “Want to sit with me?”
The woman smiled and gave a nod. She swept over to me and sat down.
I looked toward the blond-haired girls and the dark-haired beauty. “You guys are welcome to join us too.”
“Thank you,” said Eithna, the black-haired girl. She came to sit on my other side while the blond-haired women sat opposite to us.
“What are your names?” I asked them. “I am Violet, Lord Ampin’s daughter. My home is far away, so I never had a chance to meet ladies from the capital.”
“I am Ashlin,” said one of the blond-haired girls. “This is my younger sister, Caitlyn. We are Lord Dolan’s daughters.”
Alana made a scoffing noise. She still stood away from the group.
“Here, have some tea,” I said, pouring a fragrant liquor into small porcelain cups.
The women around me smiled and accepted the cups from me. They all seemed to be the same age but I knew their youthfulness came from their fae genes. Boudica and Eithna seemed to be the oldest among us. The two sisters seemed younger than them but they were definitely older than me.
Alana stomped over to us and sat down on one of the stone benches. It was funny how no one offered her anything. The five of us glanced at each other and gave each other subtle smiles.
Deep inside, I couldn’t believe I was experiencing a moment like this. The situation was reminiscent of petty high school society where a group of girls could band together to fight against one bullying, mean girl. At least, I am making friends here, I thought, sipping my warm tea. This was where I belonged and that was the reason interacting with people was so much easier.
About half an hour later, we heard someone loudly announcing the arrival of Prince Eoghan. The women around me jumped to their feet and hurriedly started fixing non-existent creases on their skirts or smoothing down their hair. I slowly stood up as Lucia, disguised as Prince Eoghan, walked into the garden.
She looked amazingly handsome as a man. The length of her silver hair was woven into thin braids and adorned with glittering emeralds which brought out the color of her dark green eyes. Her robes of black silk were heavily embellished with gold threads. Her tall, lean physique also made her an attractive male figure.
Lucia’s gaze swept over me but she didn’t show any signs of recognizing me.
“They’ve picked up very pretty ladies for me,” said Lucia in a deep, manly voice. “Who do I get to thank, Chamberlain Onyx?”
A dark-haired man in pale blue robes bowed deeply by her side. “The Elder Statesman studied all the details sent by the noble families and chose the very best for you.”
Surprise flitted through me. Vishen chose all these girls to enter the harem? Was he planning to use every one of us to spy on Lucia?
“I am so glad to see Lady Eithna here,” said Lucia.
Jerked out of my thoughts, I glanced at the dark-haired young woman beside me. Her cheeks were a pale pink as she smiled at Lucia.
Lucia smiled too. “I have heard so much about your talents in music.”
A loud scoff sounded at the tail of that statement. Alana was visibly pouting at Eithna.
“Come with me,” said Lucia, extending her hand toward Eithna. “Play the harp for me.” Her entire focus was on the furiously blushing woman. Acid burned in my veins as I stared at the two. At that moment, I couldn’t decide whether Lucia was acting or whether she was really interested in Eithna and happy to see her.
Eithna stepped forward and grabbed Lucia’s hand. My dark expression was mirrored in Alana’s face. We were both burning with jealousy.
Lucia suddenly tugged on Eithna’s hand, making her stumble into her chest. She gasped and looked up. “Forgive me, Your Highness,” she squeaked.
Lucia grinned down at her. “No apologies needed,” she said. “I wanted you close to me.”
Eithna blushed deeper and buried her face in Lucia’s flattened chest. My magic rose up within me in waves, urging me to eradicate the woman being so intimate with my mate. Suddenly, a realization flared up inside me. Did Lucia feel the same way every time she saw me with Rowan or Leon? Jealousy was such a painful emotion to keep suppressing. Did she suffer the same way and decided to let me go?
While I stayed buried in my thoughts, Eithna, Lucia, and the rest of the servants disappeared from the garden. Even Boudica and the two sisters were gone, leaving me alone with Alana.
“That slut is winning,” said Alana in a soft whisper.
“Do you know her?” I asked, turning my attention on her.
“She is the daughter of a concubine,” said Alana with a scathing look on her face. “Her father might be the great commander-general but she was born of a lowly concubine. She must have learned a lot of tricks to seduce a man from her mother.” Alana came close to me and stared at me with glittering black eyes. “You thought he would choose you,” she said in a soft whisper. “You feel angry because he didn’t even look at you.”
“That’s not it,” I said through clenched teeth.
A high, mocking laugh escaped her as she stepped away from me. “You’re just lucky to be here,” she said, moving away toward the gates which would lead her back to the harem building. “Don’t think you’ll ever amount to more than a concubine in the Moon Palace.”
I took several deep breaths to calm myself. There was no need to get angry at Alana’s mocking words. She had no idea what was happening here. The only thing that bothered me was Lucia and her relationship with Eithna. I couldn’t bear it if she ended up choosing Eithna as a mate just because I was too unaware and clueless of my own feelings for her.
19
Moira
The night turned darker and chillier, forcing me to head back to my quarters. My mind was in turmoil, unable to think about anything but Lucia. Guilt weighed on me too. Did I hurt Lucia in some way without meaning to? Did I ignore her too badly when I was with Rowan and Leon? She never said a thing about them or even complained. She never confessed she was my mate…
“Psst!”
“Hey, beautiful!”
I came to a sudden halt, staring at the two tall
men standing guard near the doors to my bedchambers. They were covered in silver armor, so I guessed they were soldiers. What was most disturbing was that guards never catcalled on passing maids or ladies. These two were clearly out of line.
One of the guards sniggered.
I glared at him. Most of his face was covered by a helmet, stopping me from identifying him.
“Aren’t you glad she looks that way when strange men call out to her?” said the guy who’d laughed. “That expression really makes me happy.”
I stared at the man. His voice was so familiar…
The soldier removed his helmet, revealing long locks of crimson hair.
“Leon!” I gasped, rushing up to him. “It’s really you.”
His handsome face broke into a radiant smile, taking my breath away but before I could get too distracted, I turned to look at the second man. He removed his helmet too, revealing his true identity.
“Rowan!”
“Hello, love.”
I looked between him and Leon. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Let’s go inside first,” said Rowan, glancing down the empty corridor.
I pushed open the door and stood aside to let them in first. As soon as they entered the room, I closed the door and turned around to face them.
“How did you guys get here?” I asked, moving forward to gaze up at my mates.
“Lucia’s people got us here and made us your guards,” said Rowan. “We don’t have to be hide in Vishen’s manor anymore.”
I hugged him tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Rowan made me look at him and leaned down to kiss me. His searing lips drove away all thought from my mind for a moment. Only the heat spreading through my core kept me pressed against him as he tasted me deeply.
Another body pressed against me. A second pair of warm lips kissed a trail along the side of my neck down to my shoulders. I moaned into Rowan’s mouth and he deepened the kiss.
My knees felt weak as shivers of hot pleasure cascaded down my body. I moved toward the bed. My mates followed me, still unwilling to let me go.
