by Casey Bond
Leaving my gloves on, I slipped out my door and quickly locked it, heading downstairs. My footsteps didn’t make a sound on the cold, marble floors. Guards stood at each door leading to and from the palace, but their numbers had increased since dinner. Had Tauren told his father about the attempted poisoning?
Tauren wasn’t waiting in any of the gardens I could find. Rose’s potion must have done the trick.
I pushed through the kitchen’s heavy swinging steel doors and almost ran into Knox again. He laughed, holding up two glasses and a bottle of Champagne. “We have to stop meeting like this, Sable.”
I stared at the twin glasses. Did Tauren send his brother to retrieve them for him and Rose?
“He’s not with her,” Knox supplied, reading my thoughts. “He’s in his room, but will be down soon.”
“I wasn’t looking for him.”
“Liar,” he whispered, a knowing smirk on his lips. A long, silent moment stretched between us. Knox bent forward, whispering, “For the record, I’m all for shaking things up in the Kingdom.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“A witch and a prince? What an interesting match.”
Didn’t he tell Knox that I couldn’t marry him?
“You seem upset,” he mused, watching me carefully. His eyes were sharp, like his mother’s.
“I’m starving.”
He gave me a look like he didn’t believe me, but then used the Champagne bottle to point toward the back of the room. “The refrigerators are right there. Help yourself.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded once, gave me another quizzical look, and then bid me goodnight, pushing his way through the door.
On the center of one of the cutting board counters was a basket of fruit. I found a napkin and filled it with a bunch of grapes and a green apple, then left the kitchen to return to my room. I met Tauren in the hallway.
“How did you know where to find me?” I asked.
“I bumped into Knox.”
He stood in front of me, close enough that I could smell his cologne. Something spicy and rich. He didn’t smell like Champagne or rose hips, thank the goddess. Tauren studied my dress. “You look beautiful, Sable.”
“There’s nothing beautiful about this old rag.”
“You wore it the night of the Equinox, didn’t you?”
I nodded. That night would be permanently etched into his memory, and no matter what I did from this point forward, I would always be the Daughter of Fate to him, the girl who hung a criminal in front of a crowd of his people. The girl who told him he was going to die.
I might as well have been wearing my noose as a belt.
Silently, he brushed my gloved hand. “Too much residue?” he asked.
“Yes.” I nearly choked on the lie, but allowing him to see my necrotic fingers was not something I was willing to do. Not until I knew why Fate had altered them.
“Will you come outside with me?”
“Of course.”
He led me to a garden I hadn’t seen before, one that was partially enclosed with glass. Pale white moonflowers bloomed all around us, their musky fragrance perfuming the air. There was a small pond with a fountain in the center, its surface covered with pink waterlilies that craned their delicate necks toward the moon. “This is the Night Garden,” he told me once we were inside.
A simple, wooden plank swing hung in the corner. Tauren gave an encouraging nod. “You can swing if you’d like.”
I made my way to the swing and unwrapped the food I’d smuggled away. “Are you hungry?”
“No, thank you.”
I plucked a grape from the stem and popped it into my mouth.
“How are you?” I asked him.
Stress lines creased his forehead. He relaxed his expression, but answered honestly. “I feel horrible for sending so many home, but it had to be done. I hated hearing how upset some of them were, and I don’t understand why I couldn’t have just told them individually. Some were humiliated. Their family and friends were no doubt watching, hoping they would receive a raspberry. The producers insisted it was tradition, but it didn’t sit right with me. And I didn’t want to upset my father by asking him to change it. He has much on his mind.”
“I think some traditions should be broken.”
His eyes searched mine. “What do you think of the four who remain?”
Should I tell him Rose was manipulating him, or keep quiet? The sound of laughter – male and female – slid into the garden seconds before Knox and Leah popped through the door. He was still carrying the glasses and Champagne, and her arm was wrapped around his as if she’d gotten quite comfortable with Tauren’s younger brother.
Noticing us, she quickly recoiled her arm and stood up straight.
“Relax, Leah,” Knox said. “Tauren knows.”
My brows rose. Was it Knox who was kissing Leah like she was the air in his lungs the night I saw the shadow I thought was Tauren in her room?
“It’s why he extended your visit. Relax,” Knox soothed. His eyes slid from his brother to me. “It seems a little crowded in here. What do you say we find another garden to haunt, Leah?”
“That would be best,” she agreed, tugging him back out of the garden.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “How long have they been…?”
“Since the second night she was here. Knox is typically very casual with women, but he seems to really like Leah. I think the feeling is mutual, too.”
“It must have been uncomfortable having to pretend-date her on telecast, then.” I’d eaten half my grapes.
“You have no idea. I mean, she’s nice enough, but I knew she and Knox were getting serious fast.”
“What about the others?” I led, giving him a sideways glance. “Which one do you like the most?”
He hesitated. “You want to know who I want to marry?”
“I’m a citizen of this Kingdom. As such, I’m as curious as any about who my queen might be.” Please don’t let it be Rose. I didn’t know much about Estelle or Tessa, as they were quieter and kept to themselves, but I would blindly choose either of them before knowingly wishing for the she-devil.
“Tessa is nice. She’s a sculptor, like my mother was, so my mother loves her.”
I nodded. “It’s good that they get along.”
“Estelle is a painter, and she’s incredibly talented.”
“What do you like about her? What attracts you to her? The skill of painting is admirable, but what draws you to Tessa or Estelle?”
He ignored the question. “Then there’s Rose.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“I’m confused about her. One minute, I feel like maybe she could be the one I choose. The next, I’m not sure why I even thought it.”
I made the mistake of smiling.
“What?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about how confusing feelings can be,” I lied. Love potions could have that effect on their targets.
Tauren nodded toward the green apple I’d taken. “It’s a Sugarvein. Very sweet. You’ll love it.”
I took a bite and it was delicious. Like an explosion of sugar on my tongue, yet with a hint of tartness to counter the flavor. The Prince laughed as I greedily took another bite.
“Why didn’t you eat dinner, or dessert?”
“How do you know I didn’t?”
He studied me for a long moment. “Because I watched you.”
“Why?”
“I can’t seem to stop, Sable.”
I swallowed thickly as he approached. I let the napkin fall from my hands, gripping the coarse strands of rope on either side of the swing.
He stepped around me and gave me a push, swinging me toward the pond, then stepped away, toward a sliding door that had been left open. I sto
pped myself and twisted the swing to look at him.
“I’m afraid,” I croaked.
“Of me?”
I shook my head. “For you.”
“Has Fate sent a message to you again?”
“Nothing specific, but there’s this unsettled, almost writhing feeling within me, and I don’t know what to make of it. I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s not pleasant.”
He walked over to me as the swing’s ropes untwisted. He took my hand and waited while I stood. The flecks in his golden irises flickered in the moonlight. I brushed a dark strand of hair out of his eye.
“Today was busy. The coming week will be worse. I’ll get to spend time with you, but it’ll be while cameras are watching,” he said softly.
“You mean, while the Kingdom watches.”
Tauren nodded. “Sable, I need to propose to someone soon –”
I knew what he was going to tell me, but didn’t want to hear it. Not here. Not now.
I tugged my gloves off. Tauren’s eyes widened at the sight of my fingertips. “What is this?” He touched them, and a rush of warmth spread through my veins. I expected him to recoil, to curl his upper lip and back away. But I needed to touch him to perform this spell, and Fate’s answering warmth urged me to do it quickly. A violent magic churned in my bones. Fate was not only going to bless the spell, he would solidify it until it was unbreakable.
“I owe you a kiss,” I said, watching as his pupils dilated.
“Yes, I believe you do.”
“With interest.”
He smiled. “With interest.”
“Would you like to claim it now?”
Tauren didn’t hesitate. He brought his lips so close they brushed mine. “I’ve never wanted anything so desperately.”
Neither have I.
I took his hands in mine and held tight, then pushed my lips to his. I expected a tentative, exploratory kiss. What I received was an explosion of passion, want, and need.
One of Tauren’s hands found the small of my back and brought me forward until the front of me was plastered to the front of him. He threaded the other into my hair. The kiss was magnetic. He moved his lips over mine, waiting until I parted them. To complete a soul-binding spell was dangerous for both of us, but the witches were becoming bolder. They wanted Tauren dead, and if something happened that made it so I couldn’t be with him when they came…
And Fate… Fate was on my side.
I pushed the negative, invasive thoughts away and focused on the spell, letting it wrap around us while I enjoyed Tauren’s lips, the feel of his muscles flexing against me, and the silkiness of his hair. And then, when I could sense with every cell in my body that the magic was ready for the final ingredient, I leaned back and bit my lip until it stung, the coppery tang of blood seeping into my mouth. Then, while he was still dazed, I captured his bottom lip between my teeth and nipped. Tauren’s eyes popped open. Our blood mixed and the magic shimmered gold around us, the color of his eyes but brighter, too bright to look at for very long.
He withdrew, putting several feet between us, running his thumb over his injured lip. But the spell had been cast. He was protected now. “What was that?”
Just then, the door burst open and Brecan ran to me, nearly knocking Tauren over. “What did you do?” He wrapped his hands around my upper arms and shook, hard. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
“How did you know?” I asked, my eyes open in shock.
He didn’t have the opportunity to answer, because Tauren grabbed the back of Brecan’s shirt, hauled him backward, and punched him, the blow rendering him unconscious. It seemed to happen in slow motion. Brecan’s lavender eyes rolled back in his head as he fell slowly to the ground, as heavily as a tree would tip in the forest. His pale hair splayed around him in the rich, dark soil. For a moment, all I could do was cover my wide-open mouth. Then, I realized what happened. Tauren knocked Brecan out.
“Why did you hit him?” I growled, falling to my knees, unsure what to do next.
“You’re actually defending him? He put his hands on you, Sable. A man should never put his hands on a woman – not like that.”
He was right. Brecan crossed a line. But I knew my friend was also right to worry about the spell.
“What was he talking about? What did you do, Sable?”
Unable to meet Tauren’s eyes, I tried to downplay my actions. “It wasn’t dangerous. I just bound our souls.”
“Bound our souls?” he breathed. “What does that mean, exactly?”
Tears pricked my eyes. “I can’t let you die. Not when I have the means to prevent it. And I’m afraid I’m not strong enough to stop them. I had to do something,” I tried to explain, my rambling emotions getting the better of me.
“How does the spell prevent it?” Tauren swiped his thumb over his bottom lip again. The blood had stopped pooling, but if he didn’t leave it alone, it would start bleeding again.
Brecan groaned from his place on the ground, blinking his eyes a few times.
“How does the spell prevent my death?” Tauren demanded.
Brecan answered him, clutching what would be a very sore cheek. “If someone gravely injures you, Sable will forfeit her life for yours.”
Tauren’s mouth gaped open. I’d never seen the sea, never seen a ship when the wind left its sails, but I imagined it would look much the same way Tauren did. “Sable, no. Undo it.”
There was so much fear, so much desperation in the plea.
I couldn’t bring myself to answer him, so Brecan did it for me. “She can’t. Soul binding cannot be undone.”
Tauren shook his head. “Why would you do something so foolish?”
“Foolish? You are the crown Prince of Nautilus! You are the next King. That is your fate. And besides that, my actions weren’t chivalrous. Any citizen would do the same if they could. They would protect you, Tauren.”
“Just a common citizen doing her duty, huh?” he spat.
“Tauren, I can’t be with –”
He stormed away before I could finish my sentence. Brecan jumped to his feet, cutting me with his stare. “Why on earth would you do that? Bind yourself to him? He’s not one of us. Someone will likely always want him dead, Sable, which means you’ve forfeited your life. When he wears the crown, there will be no shortage of people who want to take it. It’s the fate of all kingdoms, of all Monarchs, to be replaced. There will always be strife and upheaval somewhere.”
“Don’t talk to me about fate, Brecan,” I seethed. “Nautilus has been ruled by the same family for thousands of years.”
“Apparently, someone thinks it’s been far too long,” he growled, stiffly standing to face me.
A frigid wind whistled through the garden and the night-blooming flowers began to sag. “What was that?” he asked.
I swallowed. “I think we both know what’s happening.”
He closed his eyes tightly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Ela. She’s weakening.”
She was the Priestess and protector of the Earth, its source of power and energy while she lived. Now, that source was evaporating quicker than a drop of water in a desert. I wondered if the soil would turn to sand once she faded away. Would the Circle be able to appoint a new priestess before the earth itself died?
Brecan left me in the garden without another word. I still wasn’t sure how he knew I’d bound my soul to Tauren’s, but asking him now would just cause another eruption of anger, and I didn’t want to endure more.
I sat on the swing, rocking back and forth, watching the flowers as their leaves and stems slowly withered.
19
Many hours later, as the sun began to creep over the horizon, Brecan returned, sporting dark circles and a bruised cheek that no doubt matched his injured pride. A muscle flickered in his jaw. “Mira is w
orried sick. She needs to get you ready for the day.”
I wasn’t ready to face the day, or to return to my room.
“Ready for what?” There was no way Tauren wanted to see me.
“You’re traveling to Sector Three, to a children’s medical ward.”
Witches rarely fell ill. Until their time on earth drew to an end, they barely even aged. But I’d never considered the people in the Lowers. I’d never given any thought to children falling ill or dying.
Silently, I stood, watching the garden for any other signs that Ela was gone. The leaves drooped on their stems, the edges curling slightly in on themselves, but they hadn’t fallen. “Is every garden like this?” I rasped.
Brecan nodded. “The trees and grass, too. Most are saying it’s just an early fall, but you know who they’ll look to once everything dies.”
“If it does. A new Priestess can replenish the earth and stop the death spreading across it.”
Brecan didn’t respond, he just waited as I walked toward him, and then he did what he came to do. He escorted me to my room and lurked in the hallway while Mira flitted around me like a crazed moth.
Finally she went still, her lips pinched tightly together. She stuck her dainty, ebony finger in my face and squinted at me. “You… you love him,” she whispered accusingly. “You can pretend not to, but now I know the truth.”
“I barely know him.”
“You bound your soul to his, Sable. Even the best of friends would never do that.”
She was right. I wasn’t sure how it happened, or how he slipped so easily through the walls I’d erected around my heart, but I loved Tauren. Did it happen the moment he stumbled up to my table, or even before that, when I thought he might have been the boy I was meant to hang? Or did it blossom when I received his invitation, or the subsequent profession that he was sincere about his reason for sending it? All I knew was that something in him was mine, and something in me belonged to him. I couldn’t let anyone snuff that out. That was all I could think of. All that mattered.
