by Sofia Daniel
“It’s too late,” he said. “Magic has sealed your entrance into this ridiculous contest, and magic will seal your fate.”
My gaze darted to Prince Rory, who placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Calm down. She’s harmless.”
“You’ve been blinded by the wiles of this creature,” he snapped. “You and Caulden.”
The winter prince turned his head away. I couldn’t blame him for not speaking up for someone who both threatened to burn his dick off and then rejected his mating proposal. I turned back to Prince Rory, hoping his disdain for Lady Gala was stronger than his wish to side with his brother.
Prince Bradwell spoke first. “Well said, August. I also want her out.”
“Your Highnesses,” snapped the headmistress. “I will not permit you to interfere in this contest.”
“Fortunately for you, there is a higher authority,” said Prince August with a sneer.
I swallowed hard. If they meant to feed me to the wards, I was going to get the accursed painful death.
Prince August pulled out a horn.
Mistress Ellyllon’s eyes widened. “There’s no need—”
The sound rattled my eardrums, and I clapped my hands over my ears. Everyone else stared at me as though I was overreacting to the sound. Its vibrations seeped into my bones and shook them to the marrow. Pain vibrated through every cell in my body, and I fell to my knees, waiting for death.
Then silence.
I raised my head and blinked away tears. Everyone around me bowed with their heads facing the chamomile lawn and lowered to the ground. I twisted to find the most majestic pair of faeries sitting on two diamond thrones.
The male resembled Prince August, with hair that shone brighter than the midday sun. His eyes were dark and turbulent, like the Irish sea after a thunderstorm. He was in sharp contrast to the female, a delicate beauty with hair and eyes as silver as the moon. Her thin brows rose into a quizzical expression that gave her the look of a sprite.
My throat dried. King Oberon and Queen Titania were here, and they were going to sentence me to death. Prince Rory had threatened it, and we’d sort of come to a truce. But there was nothing to stop Prince August from making the same accusations.
A muffled sound skimmed over my eardrums, and everybody rose. Holding onto the side of the statue, I pulled myself up and bobbed into a clumsy curtsey.
The queen spoke first, but I couldn’t make out her words.
Prince August strode forward, waving his arm in my direction.
Both the king and queen turned to me, curiosity shining in their eyes. When King Oberon’s lips moved, I still couldn’t hear anything.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” I said, hoping I wasn’t shouting. “That horn did something to my ears.”
Large hands massaged my scalp, and the buzzing faded to silence. I turned and gave Prince Rory a grateful smile.
“Can you hear now, my dear?” asked Queen Titania.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The accusations leveled against you are serious.” King Oberon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his diamond throne. “What do you say to the charge of dark magic?”
The queen placed a hand on his bicep. “She couldn’t hear anything until now, darling.”
“Of course,” said the king.
By now, the entire academy seemed to have spilled out into the stone garden, taking up every available space. King Oberon asked Prince August to repeat his accusation, but I could barely decipher the legalese. All I heard were the words, ‘half-blood,’ ‘dark magic,’ and ‘oral stimulation of a janitor.’
A few people chuckled at that part, and my cheeks burned with shame.
King Oberon raised his brows. “And your response is?”
My throat dried to the consistency of tree bark, and I swallowed hard. The only part of that accusation that wasn’t true was my being a half-blood. But I couldn’t admit to being a human turned by dark magic and get myself killed.
Impatience crossed the king’s features, and he curled his fingers over the armrests of his throne.
“You see.” Prince August flung his arm in my direction. “The halfling has no defense.”
My mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. The truth was far worse than the charge.
“That’s because she’s a cast-off whose memories were replaced.” Prince Rory stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, I can vouch for this female.”
Prince August threw his head back and laughed. “Because you and Caulden are the proud recipients of her wantonness. Every time we come close, this lascivious female glows brighter than a mated fae in heat.”
“I’m not complaining,” said Prince Caulden.
“Neither am I.” Prince Rory turned around and smiled.
My only response was to stretch my trembling lips.
Queen Titania raised her nose in the air. “Must we venture into the realms of the distasteful?.”
The king patted her hand. “Half-bloods cannot help themselves, but what I don’t understand is which lord saw fit to enchant his illegitimate offspring in such a treasonous manner.”
My stomach dropped. If dark magic wasn’t a death sentence, then they’d likely execute me for treason. “Your Majesty, I—”
“How dare you address the king in such an intimate manner,” snapped the queen. “Do you mean to seduce my husband as well as my sons?”
A shocked breath escaped my lungs. Hadn’t they just told me to explain myself? What was it with this insecure queen?
“I didn’t fall to her wiles,” Prince Bradwell said in the voice of a teacher’s pet.
“Nor I.” Prince August rocked forward on his heels, acting proud of himself.
“Your Majesty,” said a voice from behind. Helen curtseyed low at my side and pulled me down.
I cast her a glance and copied her bowed head. It looked like people outside the royal family weren’t supposed to make eye contact with the King. No wonder Queen Titania got snippy.
“Rise,” said King Oberon. As we straightened, he tilted his head and raised his brow. “The daughter of Medietas?”
“Yes, sire,” she replied. “And I might be able to explain what happened.”
A fist of panic squeezed at my chest, and I glanced from side to side. All the princes stared at Helen with eager, curious gazes, and the Fated stood in a row, their eyes burning with hatred. I gulped. Hadn’t they used to be friends?
I searched around for signs of Gladiolus, Mr. Whittaker, and Flora, but they were nowhere in sight. My eyes shuttered closed. Right now, my only ally was Helen, and I had no idea what she was going to say.
“Speak, child,” said the queen.
“The legend of fated mates comes from a children’s story,” said Helen. “But up until now, fate hasn’t chosen a mate for any monarch.”
Queen Titania preened. “All queen consorts earned their right through a combination of beauty, charm, and power.”
I kept my expression neutral. The wretched female wasn’t even bothering to humble-brag, a term I’d learned from my DVDs.
“Get to the point,” said King Oberon.
Helen nodded. “Don’t you find it strange that I lost my powers the day before the fates supposedly chose mates for your sons?”
The king and queen exchanged shocked glances.
“What are you implying?” Lady Gala broke formation and bowed low before the throne. When King Oberon asked her to stand, she spread her arms wide. “This is obviously a case of unbridled envy. We all know that Helenium of Medietas was angling to mate with all four of the princes before she lost her magic.”
My mouth dropped open.
King Oberon scratched at his sideburn. “I had advised my princes to form a union with a single female to prevent our realm from being broken into four powerful courts, but that point is moot considering the emergence of fate.”
I frowned, and so did Queen Titania. She placed a hand on the king’s arm. “Helenium, this is a
serious accusation. What is your proof?”
Helen licked her lips. “I was in the Avarice district of the Mound—”
“She’s the one performing dark magic!” Lady Aster shrieked.
Queen Titania shot the diamond-haired faerie a stern glower, making Lady Aster’s mouth click shut. I swallowed hard. Earlier, I had suggested that Helen consult a hag, but she also hadn’t mentioned the outcome of her inquiries except to say that there had been no sign of Sicily.
Helen cleared her throat. “A seeing-hag stepped in my path, telling me that my enemies had murdered a flock of unicorns to summon the dark ones into a ring and sacrifice my magic to emulate fate.”
My mouth dropped open with a loud gasp.
King Oberon’s face paled. “What?”
“It’s a lie!” Lady Gala snapped. “No dark faerie can escape from Dubnos. That’s the lore.”
Queen Titania nodded. “Hear, hear.”
“Those four took my hair to the depths of Hope Woods.” Helen’s voice broke. “The seeing-hag said I could restore what had been stolen. All I needed were the hearts of the recipients of my magic.”
“She means to kill us,” screamed Lady Salix.
I whirled around to find the green-haired faerie leaning on Lady Gazania, whose beautiful dark skin turned the shade of ash. The other two fated growled like angry guard dogs.
Right then, I knew two things. One, that the Fated had sacrificed Helen’s magic, just as that blacksmith had reportedly offered the dark faeries his human servants in exchange for his brother’s freedom. And two, that Sicily was being kept at the Dark Fae Prison.
“Back to the pressing matter,” said Prince August. “I won’t mate with or allow my brothers to consort with such a wretched creature.”
Queen Titania tilted her head to the side. “I’m inclined to agree.”
My head swung from left to right. Wasn’t anyone going to discuss Helen’s accusation further? My friend clamped her lips shut, her nostrils flaring with frustration.
King Oberon frowned. “Perhaps a sexually available half-blood would be more satisfying a mate for four—”
“No!” The queen shot out of her throne. “I didn’t birth four sons to hand them over to such a base creature for orgies. They’re princes, not satyrs.”
I reared back. What the hell did she think I was, some kind of porn star?
“Very well.” The king flicked his fingers. “The matter is out of my hands.”
Prince August turned to me and smirked.
“Mother.” Prince Rory turned to the queen. “I’ll take Unity for my mate.”
“There will be no having of this creature as your mate or even a concubine!” snapped Queen Titania.
Cold sweat mingled with cold hatred and trickled down my brow, my back, my very being. “This is murder.” I tried to smooth the tremble out of my voice. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Prince August shook his head. “This is no execution. It’s your sentencing for the practice of dark magic and the interference with fate.”
“Didn’t you hear what Helen said?” I yelled. “There’s no such thing as a fated—”
“My Ladies.” Prince August swept his hands toward the Fated.
I tried to step back, but ice covered my feet, rooting me to the spot. Lady Gala gave me a smile as dazzling as moonlight reflecting on freshly fallen snow. I parted my lips to hurl one last insult, but someone had fused my jaws shut.
Bloody bitches.
Lady Gala placed her stone on the chamomile lawn. By now, the sun had completely disappeared behind the mountain, leaving a hollow circle of silver in the sky. New moon. Fuck. Any magic performed tonight would be extra potent. The princes had planned everything to result in my sentencing at this very moment.
Lady Aster was the next to place her stone on the ground, followed by Lady Salix and then Lady Gazania.
King Oberon leaned forward, clutching both arms of his throne. “Boys, are you quite sure you want to condemn this half-blood to Dubnos? The Dark Fae Prison is no place for a light faerie.”
“She has to go,” said Prince August.
“Father,” said Prince Rory. “Please, let me take her—”
“Silence,” snapped the queen. “The majority has spoken.”
“I also don’t want her to leave,” said Prince Caulden.
Lady Salix sobbed, but one of the others told her to hush. I didn’t know who because my chest ached, and my eyes watered with tears of gratitude. It was two against two. Or three against three, counting the wishes of the king and queen.
“Your Majesties,” Lady Gala bowed low. “Surely, the rightful Fated have a vote in this matter.”
The queen smirked. “Very well.”
Lady Gala inclined her head. “I speak for my beloved friends when I say that all four of us wish to condemn this interloper to the deepest depths of Dubnos.”
“Proceed.” Queen Titania raised her chin.
I tugged at my feet, but they remained fixed to the ground.
“This is tantamount to murder,” said Prince Rory. “Those dark faeries will rip her to pieces.”
“You’re just saying that out of dissatisfaction with your mate.” Prince August gave his brother a playful punch.
Prince Rory bared his teeth. “Don’t think I won’t go in search of Unity. I won’t stop until she’s mine.”
A breath caught in my throat. Was he saying that out of affection for me or hatred for Lady Gala?
“You will do no such thing.” The Queen waved her hand, and Prince Rory froze on the spot.
“Your Majesty,” snapped Prince Caulden. “You can’t just—” He also froze.
I stared at Helen, working out the source of her sudden quietness. One of those bitches had frozen her mouth.
“That’s better.” The queen turned to me with a happy sigh. “Are you ready for your fate? If you tell the dark monsters how much you like to mate, one of them is bound to offer you protection.”
Nausea rose to the back of my throat, and saliva pooled in my mouth. I wanted to spit in her face, but the wretched faerie would probably turn me into a jackrabbit or some other type of prey animal before sending me to Dubnos.
Instead, I sucked in a deep breath and pulled back my shoulders. If Sicily wasn’t in the Mound, maybe I would find her in the Dark Fae Prison.
“Ready?” Lady Gala grinned at her friends.
“Ready!” They joined hands, and magic flared out of the four stones, creating a diamond of light.
I dug my heels into the ground and clenched my teeth, even though the effort was futile. Fuck them. Fuck them all. If I survived the upcoming ordeal, I would return on the back of a kelpie and trample on their wings.
A gust of cold wind swirled around my back, blowing my hair into my face. My stomach lurched in anticipation of being thrown into hell, but I remained rooted to the spot.
Someone screamed, the shrill sound making my ears ring, but it wasn’t me. The sound whizzed past and disappeared as though it was falling down an infinite pit.
When the wind cleared, I turned around. Helen was gone.
Queen Titania shot out of her throne. “What did you do?”
“Helenium of Medietas slandered us,” said Lady Aster. “Sending her to the monsters was our right as the aggrieved parties.”
The queen’s jaw clicked shut. She slumped on her throne, turning to King Oberon to say something, but the king also remained silent.
I turned to the four princes, but none of them spoke. Nobody did.
Lady Gala pointed an icicle-covered finger between my eyes. “And the next new moon, you’ll be next.”
END OF BOOK ONE
READ BOOK TWO
From Sofia Daniel
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