Forbidden Queen Complete Series: Books 1-4

by Dyan Chick

  I turned to Jonathan. "Excuse me."

  I didn't wait for any sort of response or comment back from the human male before heading out into the crowd. When I approached Tristan, he was laughing and chatting animatedly with the female he had shared the dance with. I stopped next to the two of them, waiting for him to turn toward me.

  Finally, Tristan tore his eyes away from the other female and looked over at me, a grin on his face. "Cassia, glad you returned. I'd like you to meet Lady Anya, my youngest sister."

  I bit down on my lip as I repressed letting out a sigh of relief. The female he'd been so fixated on was another sister. She didn't look anything like Tristan, but I knew that his father had bedded multiple females in an attempt to gain offspring that were more powerful. I wondered where she hailed from and what her mother looked like. She was stunning, a dark-haired beauty who looked out of place among the silver and pale tones of the Winter quarter. Her dark blue dress and the sparkling jewels in her hair, set her apart from the rest of the guests.

  Anya dipped her chin. "Lovely to meet you, Cassia. I've heard so much about you."

  I wondered when Tristan had time to tell everyone about me. We only met a few days ago. Had he spent the few hours I was sleeping catching everyone up on my life story? I forced a smile on my lips. "It's nice to meet you."

  I glanced at Tristan and then looked back at Anya. "I hate to do this, but can I steal him for a few moments?"

  Anya dipped her head again. "Of course. Take all the time you need."

  I grabbed Tristan's hand and tugged him after me before he could have time to object. He interlaced his fingers with mine, and I was surprised to find his touch comforting. I resisted the first few times I had physical contact with him, but now feeling his large hand wrapped around mine gave me a sense of security that I knew I shouldn't believe. Nothing around Tristan was as it seemed. Even if he never lied to me, he had a way of distorting the truth that was nearly the same thing.

  "You're in such a hurry. Others might get the wrong idea about us," Tristan said.

  I glanced back at him then returned my attention ahead of us. I cut through the crowd toward the doors. "What idea might that be?"

  "Well, I do have a reputation of sneaking off during events like this with beautiful females. I'm sure they'll come to their own conclusions about what the two of us are doing in such a rush," Tristan said.

  If he was trying to get me to return to the party and avoid having this conversation because he thought I was worried about my reputation, he had another thing coming. As far as either of us knew, my reputation was already ruined. And hadn't everyone been telling me that sex wasn't a big deal here?

  I held his hand tighter, worried he was going to break free before we got to the doors. "Let them think what they want. Or I'm going to start telling them things you might not want them to know."

  The guard at the door stepped aside for us as he straightened to attention for Tristan. Once we were in the hall, I turned toward the Prince. "We need to talk. You need to start explaining things to me. If I'm stuck here, I need to know what's going on. I don't appreciate you telling everyone we're engaged and the only reason I haven't said anything is because I know you protected me. I just don't know what game you're playing anymore. I thought I knew who you were, but I was wrong."

  "You're right, you don't know who I am at all."

  Chapter Twelve

  "Enough, Tristan," I said. "I'm tired of the games. No more pretending to be something terrible. You're not as bad as you want me to think you are. I can see right through you."

  "What makes you think you know me at all?" he said.

  "I know you'd never hurt me. And I know you don't like it when people use you for their own gain. So how about you start trusting me a little bit and letting me in? You might be surprised at how I react."

  He was quiet, staring at me unblinking.

  I thought about my whirlwind day in the Winter Court. He'd brought me here to help him with humans, but there was no reason for him to tell people we were a couple. Something else was going on, which I'd long suspected, but I didn't know what it could be.

  "Why do you care what my plans are for you? You can smile and play along, and help me understand these humans. When your time’s up, simply tell them the arrangements no longer fit our needs and you can leave."

  My mouth dropped open as a pang of disappointment shot through me. "What is wrong with you? Why can't you just be honest with me? If you dislike having me around so much, why drag me here and go through all of this? You don't need me."

  "That's where you're wrong," he said. "Those humans will trust me because of you."

  "They won't if I don't play along. You took a huge gamble on this. How did you know I wouldn't just out you to them right away? There's nothing in our bargain about me pretending to be your lover."

  "For once, can you just trust me? I know you don't want to be here. I promise I will never hurt you. I need you to go with this."

  "But you have deceived me, you've tricked me, you've hidden things from me. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I would be willing to help you if you just told me what it was I was helping with?"

  Tristan opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, then closed it. He shook his head.

  I took a deep breath and raised my eyebrows, silently encouraging him to explain.

  "That's not how things work around here. You don't understand. We aren't in the Autumn Court. Anything you know, anything that's in your head, it's fair game for the taking. You're in the Winter Court now. A court of mind readers and people who can see the future. The less you know, the safer you are."

  I tensed, struggling to find a way to argue against these words. He had a point I hadn't considered. Whatever he had up his sleeve was in his head alone and anyone who wanted to know what he was planning simply had to look inside his head to find all the answers. "What about you?"

  "There are ways to protect yourself, things you can learn over time. You're not ready for that yet. It takes years of practice."

  "And all of this - whatever you're having me play out has something to do with the favor you asked of me?" I asked.

  "I meant what I said. I need your help with the humans. I need them on my side and I need them to trust me. I know the only way I'm going to get what I want is if I have you by my side."

  My brow furrowed. "So you can see my future."

  "Can you just trust me on this? I'm begging you, Cassia." Tristan lifted his hand and moved to touch my cheek I held my breath in anticipation of the touch, but it never came. Instead, he lowered his hand and I watched as he pulled his fingers into a fist.

  "The first trial will arrive any day. Soon as you solve that, they'll send the next one. When all three are done, you will be free to go. In the meantime, I could use your help with this. I should've asked, but I didn't know you then. I made a poor call, but it is in both our best interests. I promise you, everything I've done has been with thoughts of your safety in mind."

  "You've gotta give me something, Tristan. You haven't earned my trust enough for me to follow you blindly."

  Tristan tightened his jaw, then he swallowed. "I deserve that. And you're right. You know how the human world is, they don't listen to females the way we do here. Bringing you in as my betrothed gives you a status that they could understand. It was last-minute, something I realized when I overheard them speaking."

  "You seem to understand human politics very well on your own," I said. "What can I possibly teach you about them?"

  "Mannerisms, things they say, body language, subtleties." He reached for me again, this time taking my hand in his. "Our cultures are different and I pride myself on being able to read Fae, but so much of that comes from being able to see into their minds and their futures. I can't read human minds. I'm going to need your help on that."

  "I can't read their minds," I said.

  "No, but you're perceptive and your intuition will serve you well here. Ple
ase, I can't tell you anymore yet."

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, frustrated at how badly I wanted to help Tristan. I wanted to find resistance to helping him. I wanted something in my intuition to flare and send a warning, but there was nothing. There was no reason I could find to turn him down. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I wanted to help him and I found that I wanted to spend more time with him, which made me feel like I was betraying my own thoughts and my heart. But I knew I had to follow my instincts and I wasn't sure I'd even have a choice, anyway.

  Despite his mood swings, Tristan had never hurt me and it was possible he was protecting me in the only way he knew how. I opened my eyes and looked into the icy blue gaze staring down at me. He was patient, studying my features with a relaxed expression, as if giving me all the time in the world.

  "I'll help you, but you're going to have to start trusting me. You can't keep me in the dark forever."

  Tristan was silent, the muscles in his temple jumping as he tightened his jaw.

  "Give me something. Anything. Don't close me out." I gently set my fingers on his upper arm.

  Of all four princes, Tristan had started out the most open and willing to share the truth. The closer we got, the more he seemed to shut down. He reminded me in some ways of Cormac, who closed himself off from me anytime I started to break the surface of his hurt. Only now, Cormac was moving in the opposite direction, finally starting to open up to me.

  Tristan glanced around, as if checking to make sure we were still alone. "You recall the assassin?"

  I nodded, how could I forget?

  "And you know she was sent for me, not you." He licked his lips, pausing. It was as if whatever he wanted to get out was painful or difficult to say.

  I waited patiently, keeping my hand pressed against his arm.

  "My father sent that assassin. Things are in motion that will mean a lot of turmoil in the Winter Court. A war is brewing. I'm sorry I had to involve you. I promise it is safer for you this way."

  I dropped my hands, unable to find the words to respond to his admission. I knew his father was a tyrant. I also knew he had children with as many different females as he could and had them all tested in the hopes that some of them might have more power. Even with all that, even after going through my own father trying to sell me off, I didn't expect to hear that the Winter King would try to have his son and heir killed. "I thought you had taken over for your father."

  "Not because he stepped down. Only because he quit showing up and our court was on the verge of collapse. Someone had to and my siblings asked me to step up. Apparently, he's now viewing that as a threat against his own throne."

  "Your Grace?" a guard called out as he approached us.

  Tristan turned away from me to face the guard. "What is it?"

  "You told me to let you know if your human guests left the party. They seem to be losing interest."

  Tristan shook his head then turned back to me. "I need your help. How do I get them on my side?"

  "This isn't about trade, is it?" I asked, already knowing the answer. It all rushed into me at once, flashes of thoughts, short bursts of emotions that didn't belong to me. Anger and frustration and sadness twisted together and I suddenly knew what Tristan was after.

  My eyes widened as recognition crept in and I knew what Tristan was planning. All of it. Everything he had in mind flooded into me in an instant as if he'd poured his entire plan into me. I wouldn't be able to explain it all if I tried, but I could feel it. Suddenly, I knew what this was really about. Tristan was going to make a play against his father to take control of the Winter Court. But his father had already convinced the noble houses to support him so Tristan needed reinforcements. That's where the humans came in.

  "Thank you, Henry." Tristan waved his hand dismissing the guard.

  As the guard walked away, I caught Tristan's hand. "I understand what you're doing. And I'll help."

  "All I need you to do is get those humans on my side," Tristan said. "I don't want you involved in any of the other parts of this."

  "I'll do my best," I said. Then I walked back down the hall toward the ballroom, straightening my shoulders as I approached the doors. Lifting my chin, I walked through the room carrying myself as I expected a future Queen might. Casually, I walked over to where the humans were standing and I could tell from their hunched shoulders and darting eyes that they were intimidated by the others in this room. Humans were taught to fear magic, it was viewed as evil and punished without mercy. I needed to show them the truth and beauty of what magic could accomplish and that it wasn't something to be feared.

  As I approached, I noticed that some of them seemed to relax around me. Being female, I was probably seen as less of a threat. Add in the fact that I understood what their life was like and had been raised as a human myself, meant they could relate to me.

  I smiled as I stopped in front of the group and inclined my head in greeting. "I apologize for my abrupt departure. I'm still not comfortable in gatherings like this. I know I'm not human, but I still feel human. While I know none of them will hurt me, being around so many Fae can be overwhelming."

  I tried to give what I hoped was a knowing expression, as if we shared a secret. "But I don't need to explain that to all of you, do I? I should have asked you gentlemen if you also needed some air."

  The oldest member of the group chuckled and a couple others smiled at me. Tristan was right, they were more relaxed and at ease with me than they were with him. But if I was going to help him, I needed to build their trust enough that they could direct that trust to Tristan. Reminding myself that by helping him I was saving his life and helping the Fae who called the Winter Court home, I slipped into the role of fiancée and future Princess. "I'm incredibly grateful for the patience His Grace has had with me. I ask a lot of foolish questions, but he always indulges me. And so have his friends. The Fae really are nothing like the horror stories we were raised with in the human realm."

  The oldest member of the group leaned forward a bit, clearly intrigued by my words. I had his attention, now I needed to keep it.

  "Did you know that they have healing powers? They can help relieve injury and treat those that need repaired. And there are Fae who help things grow or who understand animals. It's a rather whimsical world, full of beauty unlike anything I ever saw in the human realm. Can you imagine what life might be like if we didn't have to worry about crops growing or watching our loved ones die of fever?"

  "Surely, you miss your childhood home," Johnathan said.

  "Of course I miss aspects of my human life." I swallowed a lump in my throat, surprised at my very real feelings emerging. "But surely, you realize how much better things are for me here? If we were in the human world, you wouldn't even be speaking to me. I'd have no power and no authority. Here, I can promise you that whatever I say will hold as much weight as that of any man."

  The oldest man smirked and extended his hand. "I'm Clive, we haven't been formally introduced.”

  I extended my hand and shook in the simple human gesture. As I did, I felt powerful and comfortable in the role I'd stepped into. I could almost feel Tristan's approval even though he wasn't standing here with me. He wanted me to play the role of his future Queen, and I decided I'd go all in. Any female who was going to be able to handle a life with the stubborn prince would need to have nerves of steel and she'd need to be just as sure of herself as he was. For the sake of appearances, I'd stepped into that role.

  "Clive, gentlemen," I nodded to the group, "please think of me as your translator between the realms. While I'm still learning about the nuances of the Faerie ways, I will do my best to navigate you through the process of becoming our allies. As someone who has lived on both sides, I can tell you, life is inherently better with magic."

  An arm wrapped around my shoulders and I tensed, ready to pull away. Then, Tristan's lips touched my cheeks. "I see you've returned to the party, princess. Welcome back. I trust you're feeling refreshed?
"

  I smiled at him, continuing the act, as very real warmth spread through my whole body from his touch. "I am, thank you."

  "Where we come from, women would never be interested in discussions of politics or alliances," one of the older men said.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. "Where you come from, you don't allow women a chance. Perhaps if you took some time to have actual conversations you might realize they have something to offer."

  "Our traditions are different here," Tristan offered. "We have long been ruled by Queens. Until the Winter Court broke from the rest of Faerie. Here in our realm, we have a king."

  "A partnership, you mean," I said.

  "Very true, I'd never ignore her advice or suggestions," Tristan pulled me closer to him.

  "The point is, that investing with us is an investment in the future. Your realm is set in old ways that have long held you back," I said.

  "If we help you," Clive said, "and you gain the throne. Then what becomes of our alliance?"

  "It thrives," I said. "And you know Fae can't tell a lie."

  Chapter Thirteen

  "You were amazing," Tristan said as we stood in front of my bedroom door. "Now you see why I needed you and your knowledge of humans here."

  "I do," I said. "However, it doesn't excuse the secrets and hidden agendas. How do you know I wouldn't have just agreed to help if you'd asked?"

  "You wouldn't have, that much I know," he said.

  I pursed my lips. It was difficult to argue with someone who could see the future. It was possible he had looked into my response. "Not because I didn't want to help you, I can assure you. It's just not great timing for me. I have Queen's Trial to think about. Plus..." my thoughts drifted to the princes I'd left behind.

  "I'm sure they're all pining away for you right now," he said, his expression hardening. "Good night."

  "Tristan, don't do that," I said.

  "Do what?" he asked.