“Fuck,” Riven muttered to himself. “Come on, Admiral…”
Tanith watched him intently, his eyes vacant for a few moments before he slammed his palm on Leevi’s desk, splintering the wood.
“Why are you standing here?” she asked frantically. “Do something!”
The king turned sharply. “He isn’t answering.”
“Answering?”
“The mind link,” he explained. “Fae can speak to each other in our minds. It comes with the territory, and it expands a mile outside the barrier of the island, all the way to the beaches of Ellesmere. I know he can hear me.”
“Then he’s ignoring you,” she stated, less than impressed. Some king. Now her sister would pay the price.
“I’m afraid so, but he won’t go unpunished,” he promised. “The choice is yours. I can have your sister returned, her memory wiped, or you can allow her to stay and make the choice for herself.”
Tanith looked back out to sea. She watched Shaw’s ship hit the barrier, the air becoming tangible in a pale, warped blue wall. In seconds, it was gone.
She remembered the way he’d thrown himself over to keep her from falling overboard when they’d arrived. She thought he had quick reflexes, but he’d known what was waiting. He’d known all along what was to be expected on the island, and still, he’d brought Meelah.
It was too late to turn back now, and Tanith couldn’t stand to trick her sister the way their mother had tricked them both. The way all the rulers had tricked their kingdoms for generations. She would be better than that.
“Let her choose.”
Riven nodded. “Done. Shall we greet her in the throne room?”
He extended his arm, but Tanith shook her head. She was too angry for formalities. “No. I’ll talk to Shaw while you talk to Meelah. He answers to me first.”
The king seemed impressed. “So be it, princess.”
+
Tanith paced the hall with her fists at her sides, nails digging into the skin. The guards had brought Meelah first and Tanith had watched from where she’d hidden in the shadows. She wanted nothing more than to run to her sister and embrace her, but there would be plenty of time for that when she was done shoving her boot up Shaw’s ass.
Just as she wondered what was taking him so long, she saw him trailing down the black carpet of the hall, two guards escorting him from behind as though he might try to run.
Not on her watch.
Tanith stepped forward, blocking his path and crossing her arms over her chest like an angry mother who’d found her child sneaking in past curfew, but there was no apology, no regret in Shaw’s eyes.
“What. The. Actual. Hell,” she seethed.
Without being told, the guards made themselves scarce, moving to the end of the hall as though it would offer any real privacy.
“I can explain,” he started, and Tanith merely rose a brow. “She chose Shadow Hunt for her internship last minute. I had to intercept her, and I’m sure you can understand why.”
Part of her eased knowing his motives weren’t completely selfish. That didn’t mean they weren’t stupid, though.
“How did you know that?”
“I lead Wickenvare’s navy, the longest standing military branch in the world. That means I have spies planted in every human naval force on every continent. There isn’t a ship that sets sail that I don’t know about, especially not one with a royal on board. I would have told you, but I had to act fast.”
“You had to act fast,” she mocked, blood boiling. As if his lack of communication weren’t already an issue, he’d only managed to dig himself a deeper hole. “Well, so did I. That’s why I made a deal with Riven. He was sending his own set of spies to Shadow Hunt. They would have protected her, and she would have been fine. Then you had to go and intercept… I mean… those men were from Ellesmere. What did you do to them?”
Shaw shook his head quickly. “They aren’t dead. Their memories were taken. When they wake, they won’t remember what happened.”
“I’m sure they’ll figure it out when they realize Meelah isn’t on board and they’re right next to the island.”
“The captain is a plant. His orders are to sail on, so it’ll be at least a day before the guards bother to check on her. No doubt they’ll think she’s seasick in the meantime,” he explained easily.
Tanith scoffed. “Everything is so simple for you, isn’t it? You don’t bother to think ahead. What did you assume would happen when she got here?”
“She’ll have the same choice you do.”
“Exactly! The difference is that I already know what she’ll choose! She has someone at home. A boy she likes, and she would never leave our mother or our kingdom behind. She will choose to have her memory taken and when she returns home, what do you think will happen?”
Shaw didn’t answer.
“I’ll tell you,” she went on. “If we’re lucky, my mother will send her right back to her internship in Shadow Hunt, so you will have taken her here and messed with her mind for nothing. Or, my mother will know exactly what happened when her daughter turns up not knowing how she got off the boat, or where she’s been in the meantime. Why is that bad, you ask? Because in three weeks, my mother is sending the best men in her army to steal the Light and take it to the human lands. So, if Meelah goes back, she could very well decide she wants to send her men early! That means I’ll have no time to consider my options, and we might dive headfirst into a war!”
For once, she saw regret on his face, a seed of doubt that maybe his decision hadn’t been the best one.
“I didn’t know,” he said finally, but it wasn’t an apology.
“You can’t even admit that you were wrong?”
He shook his head. “Can you blame me for my actions? You and I both know what was waiting for her in Shadow Hunt. I couldn’t stop it from happening to you or Kent, but I can make sure she never steps foot in a room alone with Bristowe.”
“That’s just it! You could have stopped him years ago! If you’d stayed, and challenged him for the throne, you could have ruled the minute you turned eighteen! Kent would have had you to look up to and neither of you would have suffered under your father’s thumb! I wouldn’t have either, but you just had to up and leave. You just… You don’t think.”
She was out of breath by the time she finished, unsure how so much had come tumbling out. It wasn’t a speech she’d prepared beforehand, but it did the trick because it made Shaw consider his words before he answered, and from what she could tell, he rarely did so.
“I can’t change the past,” he started, brown eyes hurt. “I’m not even sure if I would dare to do so if I had the chance. All I know is that I was doing my best to make sure no more hurt was caused by anyone with the Shaw name.”
Tanith backed up a step, shaking her head. “You failed.”
She turned her back on him. Again. She’d lost count of how often she’d done it, but every time was well deserved.
Without knocking, she let herself into the throne room.
“…it will be your choice.”
Riven paused mid-speech as Meelah spun around, her face breaking into one of relief and joy before she ran to her sister, embracing her as though they hadn’t seen each other in years.
“You’re alive!” Meelah sang. “I was so worried.”
She pulled back and studied her before her grin dropped and she glanced over her shoulder at the Fae King. “Is what he says true? About this place and the Sight?”
Tanith nodded. “Yes. Given what I know about you and your budding romance with Gregor, I think it’s safe to say this place isn’t tempting to you?”
Meelah shook her head. “It might be a good vacation spot, but no. Mother… Well, if I had my memory, maybe I could talk some sense into her. Even so, I can’t leave Ellesmere behind and… Wait. How did you know about Gregor?”
“I saw your goodbye. It’s an island thing,” she explained.
“Oh. Well, he’s so charming
, isn’t he? Sweet too. You should hear his stories from the farm.”
If she stayed, she never would, but something told Tanith she couldn’t leave just yet. Maybe it had something to do with how it felt to have her sister on the island with her, or maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t ready to go back to a life of ignorance yet. She didn’t know, but for whatever reason, her decision to leave seemed much less sure all of a sudden.
“I’m sure he’s as great as you say, and I hope you’re happy with him, but we need to figure something out.” She looked up at Riven. “You know the dangers. If we take her memory…”
“There can be no exceptions,” the king insisted.
“But perhaps we could come up with another solution.”
Tanith turned to see Shaw enter the room, his regret gone as he regained his ego, standing tall, sure of himself as ever. As he came to a stop beside her, Meelah reached for her sister’s hand, holding her though she might disappear again.
“I think we’re done listening to you for the day, Admiral,” Riven quipped, lifting his finger to have a guard escort him out when Meelah interrupted.
“Wait! He brought me here. I understand it may not have been the wisest decision, and none of you have been exactly clear on why that decision was made, but nevertheless, he brought me to Tanith. I feared I’d never see her again, and that was no mistake. If you have a plan, Vaere, I’d like to hear you out.”
He nodded in thanks, not bothering to correct her on his name. “I was going to suggest we take her memory as the law requires. If we return her to the ship now, I could have the captain change routes. We’ll tell her King Bristowe has fallen ill when she wakes and send her to Ograboden to study under Queen Rory. As for Queen Avret, we’ll send her a letter informing her that Meelah changed her mind on where she’d like to intern. No one has to know she was here or that there was any time lost.”
At the plan, Tanith was impressed. All eyes were on Riven as they waited for his word of approval, though he took his time mulling over the details.
“I suppose that would be alright.”
The sisters exchanged glances. “Are you sure you’re alright having your memory taken? It can be quite invasive.”
Meelah nodded. “It’s the best choice I’ve been offered. If what they say is true, you’ll either return home or stay here. If you come back, then I trust you’ll tell me everything again after mother divulges the truth to you as the next ruling royal. It seems like something higher-ups might learn after their coronations, so either you’ll return, and you’ll know, or I’ll step up as the remaining successor and learn the truth all over again. If that’s the case, I’ll know you’re alive and well on the island. That’s all I need.”
Tanith almost breathed in relief. Her sister may have been young, but she had a responsible mind. It eased her as they embraced again.
“We need to leave now if you aren’t staying,” Shaw insisted. “The crew will wake soon.”
Meelah sighed and nodded, kissing Tanith on the cheek and meeting her eyes bravely. “Until I see you again, or until you see me with whatever island magic allowed you to stalk me today,” she jested. “I’ll miss you in the meantime.”
“And I’ll miss you,” Tanith agreed, going in for one last hug. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Shaw stepped between the pair, interrupting the moment and gesturing towards the door. Reluctantly, the young princess began to follow.
“Meelah?” Tanith called.
Her sister turned. “Tanith?”
“What were you saying on the docks the day I came to the island? You were shouting something, but I couldn’t hear you.”
Meelah smiled sadly. “I was reminding you to look for the fireworks. Keep an eye out for them again if you stay, alright?”
Tanith frowned, about to remind her that she would have no recollection of what occurred on the island when her sister dug her nail into her arm, dragging it along the skin and drawing blood.
The king rose from his throne suddenly, and Shaw paused as she carved a symbol into her flesh. A crossed star with two squiggled lines behind it. The symbol of light in the old language.
“This will remind me,” she stated proudly. “Every year on the anniversary of your departure, should you decide this is your new home. Otherwise, we can watch them from your room together.” She gazed up at Riven. “Don’t worry. It won’t remind me of immortal creatures that I didn’t know existed before today.”
The king nodded as Shaw led her off, the pair hurrying down the hall to fix the Admiral’s mistake before it was too late.
“We came too close to disaster today,” Riven stated.
Tanith nodded in agreement. “I know. What will be his punishment?”
“Grounding.”
She rose a brow. “You’re grounding him?”
The king smirked. “Literally. He won’t be going out to sea for the time being. I’m thinking for a month at least. Someone else will have to lead his expedition because having his feet remain on solid ground is the worst punishment I can think of for a sailor.”
“Clever,” Tanith complimented; her grin one of approval. “I suppose that means someone else will take me home if I decide I belong in Ellesmere?”
He nodded. “Only to the barrier. From there you row, just in case anyone is watching from the human shores. Three weeks,” he reminded her.
“I know. Twenty-one days. That’s all the time I need.” She hoped so, at least.
“Good,” the king complimented. “I have my guards hunting Ekko and Ward in the meantime. The sooner they learn the truth and consider their options, the better.”
“I think they’re in the city,” she noted. “I ran into Ekko there.”
He dipped his head in appreciation. “Then that’s where we’ll turn our sights. I’m sure they haven’t gotten far. Rest now. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
She smiled slightly. “Is that a threat or a promise?”
Riven flashed his sharp teeth. “Both.”
CHAPTER 19
Tanith had inadvertently avoided her maid in passing the night before, but come morning, Kenna was inescapable.
Her uniform was a black dress with a silver apron, plain in all regards despite the fact that her beauty outshined the drab design. She had wavy blonde hair chopped about two inches below her shoulders and thin hazel eyes shadowed in neutral makeup. For a fae, she was pale, and she must have been considered short, despite the fact that she was slightly taller than Tanith.
“Why can’t I wear pants?” she asked the maid, sprawled out on her bed in yesterday’s clothes as she looked between the two options hanging from small iron hooks in the wall.
Kenna sighed dramatically. “You’re a princess. You should be used to dressing like this.”
“I am,” Tanith defended quickly, sitting up without bothering to brush back her bed head. “But I’m on vacation. How about I wear this again until you find something more suitable.”
The blonde scrunched her nose, flicking judgmental eyes to the green pants and white shirt she’d worn for her arrival. “This isn’t a vacation and those clothes reek. I couldn’t possibly let you walk out of here in that.”
“I just washed them! They’ve been worn for barely twenty-four hours!”
“That’s about ten hours too long,” Kenna informed. “If you had a fae sense of smell you’d agree. Now choose, or I will.”
Tanith’s mouth twisted into a frown at the subtle threat. Why had she gotten the pushy maid? With a low grumble, she looked between the two new dresses.
One was mauve, floor-length with frills and ruffles that probably added ten pounds. Far too heavy, so she considered the second option. It was pale blue with a pleated skirt that would reach her knees. The sleeves were elbow-length and the fabric was sleek, shiny enough for her to guess it was satin.
“That one,” she decided upon, pointing to the blue.
Kenna turned and reached for
the hanger with another short sigh. “I thought you might choose this one.” She tossed the dress next to Tanith on the bed but wiggled her finger when she reached for it. “Ah-ah. Washroom. You’re in dire need of a bath.”
Tanith rolled her head back in exasperation and followed the maid, watching her fill the golden tub with soap and oils until it was steaming, a thick layer of bubbles on top.
“Did Riven put you up to all of this or do you reserve this special treatment for everyone you care for?”
Kenna waved a hand of dismissal and helped Tanith out of her clothes, looking like she wanted to burn them as she tossed them aside and helped her into the water. She didn’t mention the scars, and for that, Tanith was grateful.
The maid kneeled behind her after pulling a soft-bristled brush out from one of the cabinets and scrubbing away at Tanith’s dirty skin as though it offended her. “King Riven only gives me basic instructions. The rest is up to you, so if you’d prefer a yellow dress tomorrow…”
“No thanks.”
“Then I’ll choose two more options and you can pick your favorite again,” she answered easily. “Don’t mind me if I’m forward, either. I don’t have time to skirt around with formalities.”
Tanith felt her forehead crease. “Don’t the fae have all the time in the world?”
“Theoretically. That doesn’t mean we like to waste it. Besides, I understand you’re on a deadline too. The faster I get you out of this room, the sooner you can take a good look around at what Wickenvare has to offer.”
“You know about the timeline?”
Kenna chuckled shortly. “Of course. Even if I didn’t have inhuman hearing, a blind woman could have noticed the guards tightening their ranks. The king is pulling his army together, just in case you don’t decide whether you’re leaving or staying in time.”
The princess of Ellesmere raised a brow. “What would he do if I don’t come to a conclusion?”
“Everyone does.”
“But if I don’t? At least not before my three weeks is up.”
Tanith & Shaw (The Fealty of Firstborns Series Book 1) Page 16
