by Dyan Chick
Chapter Twenty
Banging and screeching cries sounded in the hallway, muted by the closed door. I turned back toward the door and Tristan held me close, his arms around my waist. I wasn’t sure if he was holding on to me to keep me from joining the fight or if he was trying to comfort me. I didn’t care the reason; I was glad he was here with me.
Guards arrived, followed by the queen herself. She stopped in front of me, her eyes lowering to linger on Tristan’s hands around my waist before looking back up at me.
Tristan dropped his hands and I took a step forward, inclining my head. “Your highness.”
She nodded. “I hear there’s an attack in progress?”
“A tear opened up in the ballroom. A monster…” I turned to look at Tristan as I searched for the name of the creature.
“A Larker, we think,” Tristan said.
“Who is in there now?” the queen asked, glancing toward the door.
“Dane and Ethan,” I said.
Some guards shifted uncomfortably, probably at my casual use of their names again. Right now, I didn’t care what they thought.
Something big hit the door and the whole thing shook. I held my breath wondering if it would hold.
“We should get you to safety, your highness,” a guard said.
She shook her head. “Wait here. If anything gets out, I want it eliminated.”
The queen walked toward the door, opened it and slipped inside, closing it behind her so quickly, I didn’t get a chance to see what was going on beyond it.
“I noticed you didn’t try to stop her,” I said to Tristan.
“She’s the queen, she can do whatever she wants. You’re not the queen yet,” he said.
“I should have known you were at the bottom of this,” Amala’s voice rang through the hallway.
I rolled my eyes and cursed under my breath. I’d rather be fighting the Larker than dealing with Amala.
“Open those doors,” she called.
Several of the guards moved in front of the doors to block them. “Nobody goes in.”
“I am the high priestess,” she said.
“You are a member of the high council, not the high priestess,” Jaya corrected.
Hearing Jaya’s voice, I turned to see that the entire council was standing near the other guards.
“Still, I outrank all of you,” Amala said. “Open the door.”
“You don’t outrank the queen,” I said.
“You are not the queen and after this stunt, you never will be,” she said.
“The queen gave the order,” a guard said. “Nobody gets through this door.”
“What’s going on, Cassia?” Jaya asked.
“A tear in the ballroom,” I said.
“You did this,” Amala said. “You lured away another candidate and you summoned the Under. I don’t know how you did it, but I will prove it.”
She turned and walked back down the hall, the other council members except Jaya following her silently.
“There’s really a tear in there?” Jaya asked.
“Yes, and a monster.”
“A Larker,” Tristan added.
Jaya shivered. “I hate those things.”
“They’re the worst.” Tristan’s upper lip curled. “All those tentacles.”
The ground shuddered and the doors rattled. I turned my attention back to the closed ballroom.
Smoke poured out from the room, coming out through the crack at the bottom of the door.
“What’s happening?” Jaya asked.
The guards backed up, moving away from the door.
I broke free of Tristan’s grip and ran toward the door. Without thinking, I threw it open and ran into the room.
The Larker was lying on the ground surrounded by a puddle of green goo, slowly spreading away from it.
The tear was sealed, the light and the void gone.
The queen’s dress was torn to shreds as were Dane and Ethan’s clothing. All of them were breathing hard while they stared at the fallen Larker.
At least they were all standing. They were all alive.
I looked at the monster’s tentacles, searching for Rose. Carefully, I walked to the other side of the room, still looking for her.
Finally, I saw her. Or what was left of her. Shriveled, barely a shell of what she once was, I could just make out the form of the once proud Rose.
Tears filled my eyes at the sight of her. She never had a chance. As soon as the creature had a hold of her she was done for. I just didn’t know it at the time.
“Cassia, you shouldn’t be here,” Ethan said gently.
“Guards,” the queen called. “Send for the healers. The Larker poison must be neutralized before anyone touches anything. Nobody gets in until they arrive.”
She walked away, not stopping to speak with me.
Tristan stood in the doorway, giving me space as I slowly walked back to the hallway. “She’s dead.”
“She was dead as soon as it touched her,” he said.
“That’s why you didn’t let me go in, isn’t it?” I asked. “I didn’t know.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
Dane and Ethan joined us in the hallway, but nobody spoke for several minutes. I expected to have to survive the trials, but not like this.
“Cassia, it’s going to be alright,” Dane said.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Ethan said.
I nodded, hardly registering their words.
Tristan lifted my chin with his index finger, so I was looking up into his icy blue eyes. “Cassia listen to me. You’re stronger than you know. The next few days will be terrible for you. And they’ll be worse if the Winter Prince is by your side.”
“You’re leaving?” I asked.
“Trust me, it’s better this way.” He attempted a smile. “There’s too much hate toward my kingdom. Too much lack of understanding.”
“Please don’t go,” I said.
“I have to,” he said. “They’ll take care of you, and I promise, I’ll be back for your coronation.”
“How am I going to do this? I almost died twice in the last two days,” I said.
“But you didn’t die. And you’ll keep fighting because winning this is the only way,” he said. “Losing is not an option.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. “I’ll miss you.”
He kissed me softly, his lips barely touching mine. “I’ll see you soon.”
“We’ll keep her safe,” Ethan said.
“I know you will,” Tristan said.
I watched as he walked down the hall, feeling like part of me was leaving with him. I knew I wouldn’t be alone, but I was stronger with all four of my mates by my side.
“Tristan, please be careful,” I called after him.
“Shouldn’t I be saying that to you? I’ll see you soon.” He turned the corner and was out of sight.
I was tiring of all the goodbyes. I wanted this contest to be over. “It’s just me and Lilian now.”
“Yes, it is,” Ethan said.
“That means whoever wins the next trial will win.” It didn’t seem real. It was what I’d been working toward, but I thought I had more time. Now, time was running out. Rose was gone. I knew I should take time to mourn her death, but she was difficult to miss after the way she’d treated me. Though, at the end, she’d been afraid and pleading with me for her family. Jaw set, I balled my hands into fists. If I won, I would honor that commitment. Whatever scared Rose would be dealt with and her family protected. Were these attacks more than just trying to get a specific candidate to win?
I turned to Ethan and Dane. “What do you two know about Lilian and Rose’s families? Would either of them have reason to take out the candidates? Could anyone in those households shift into other Fae?”
“Not here, Cassia,” Dane said. “We need to get you to your room.”
“I’m not going back there alone,” I said.
“We’re not leaving you,” Ethan
said.
We walked past the dining hall, dinner in full swing. The Fae in attendance had no idea a tear in the Under had happened so near them. I paused in the doorway, peeking in. Lilian was still in her spot, the chair previously occupied by Jaya was empty. The queen was also missing from her place of honor. I wondered what everyone was thinking. Especially since I was gone too. I’m sure it put an even greater target on my back.
When we arrived at my room there were four guards standing outside my door. I was used to seeing a guard or two but four was a bit extreme.
They stepped aside to allow me entry to my room without speaking. Figuring it was nothing more than increased security in response to the last few days, I ignored it and stepped into my room with Ethan and Dane behind me.
All three of us were a mess. Dane and Ethan much more than me. They’d destroyed the monster and sealed the tear. My stomach tightened as guilt worked its way through me. I’d stood outside the door, allowing them to take all the risks.
“Thank you for your help in there,” I said. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t arrived.”
“We’re glad we made it in time,” Dane said.
“Nothing like arriving to the palace just as your mate is screaming for help,” Ethan said.
“I’m lucky you were here,” I said. “I don’t want to think about what might have happened.”
“You’d be dead,” Dane said. “And the Larker would roam the castle until it found the dinner party.”
I shuddered at the thought of the slimy creature slithering through the halls. “How did it even get in here in the first place?”
“Someone must have summoned a tear,” Dane said.
“We don’t know that for sure,” Ethan said. “Could be the Under has gained the ability to bypass our magic.”
“No,” Dane said. “There’s something big going on here. This is more than Queen’s Trial. Can’t you see the strategy to it?”
“He’s right,” I said. “The flooding, the Sodalis after me in the woods, not to mention the fact that someone is shifting into other Fae.”
“I’ve missed some things,” Ethan said.
“Someone tried to kill me the second Dane left my side by creating a river in the bottom of the palace. Then, someone shifted into one of the other candidates,” I said. “Who can do that?”
“I wasn’t even sure Fae could shift into other Fae until Tiana did it,” Ethan said. “Is that even a thing they teach?”
Dane shook his head. “Not that I know of. Shifting into animals, sure; other Fae, no way.”
“Whoever created that tear is probably the same person who has done everything else. Does that mean Rose was in on it or that someone used her to get to me?” I asked.
“Good question,” Ethan said.
“We’re going to have to be very careful about where you go and what you do over the next few days,” Dane said. “Whoever is behind this is going to strike again.”
“We’ve got at least twelve hours,” Ethan said. “There’s no way they’d have the magic to do anything else after summoning a tear.”
“Unless they have help,” Dane said.
The door opened and Dane and Ethan pushed me aside, getting in front of me. Almost right away, their tension melted. I pushed through to see who the visitor was.
“I didn’t realize we’d have so much company tonight,” Nani said. “I suppose that’s why you needed extra help in your chambers.”
Nani stood in front of the closed door with Lucinda, the maid who had spoken to me at the ball, right behind her. Lucinda’s eyes were wide as she stared at Dane and Ethan. I was pretty sure she was terrified.
“Nani, thank you,” I said. “Can you tell me what kind of flower you gave me for my tenth birthday?”
Nani’s brow furrowed in confusion. “An iris, why?”
“Making sure you’re you,” I said. “Lucinda, I enjoyed our conversation last week in the stables. Thank you for coming.”
Lucinda looked equally confused. “We never had a conversation in the stables.”
I smiled. “Well, now that that’s sorted.”
“You figured it out,” Lucinda said.
“Figured what out?” I asked.
“The shifter.”
“You know about that?” I asked.
“It’s what I wanted to warn you about. The maids are impersonated daily. Different maids each time. Sent all over the palace. We’re getting nervous. We never know who is really who they say they are. Some of the girls think it’s a creature from the Under.” She looked at Dane and Ethan. “Was there really a tear here in the palace?”
“Yes,” Dane said.
“But it was new. It opened today and we sealed it,” he said.
Lucinda’s face went pale and she swayed. Nani reached out and guided her to a chair.
I walked over to where Lucinda was sitting and took the chair across from her. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”
She nodded, then looked around the room as if she was waiting for someone to jump out and get her.
“It’s alright,” I said. “You’re safe with us. None of us are going to hurt you.”
She swallowed hard, then licked her lips. “I heard the shifter speaking with another maid. She said something was going to happen during the second trials. She mentioned Rose.”
My shoulders slumped. “Rose died tonight.”
The maid covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a muffled cry.
“Cassia, what happened?” Nani asked.
“She was there when the tear opened. The monster got her, and we weren’t able to save her,” I said.
“That must have been the plan,” Ethan said.
“They’re setting up Lilian to win. I wonder if they saw Rose as a threat,” I said.
“They would have taken you both out tonight since you were both there,” Dane said.
A chill ran down my spine. If that Larker had grabbed me, Lilian would be our future queen.
Chapter Twenty-One
Holding my chin high, I walked into the banquet hall where breakfast was being served. Two small tables were set. One for the candidates, the other for the queen and the council.
Lilian was already seated, her usual confidence shrouded in a gloomy expression. It was unnerving to see Lilian so visibly upset and I wondered if she had been closer to Rose than she claimed.
I took a seat next to Lilian, then leaned closer to her. “How are you?”
“None of this is going as I expected it too,” she said. “I want to win, but not like this.”
“I know.” Part of me wished we didn’t have to keep going with these trials but most of me wanted to get it over with.
“How’s Malin?” Lilian asked.
“I heard they’re going to let her go home today,” I said.
“That’s nice,” Lilian said.
The hostility between us was gone. I wasn’t sure if I would prefer Lilian threatening me and calling me names. This new Lilian was making me uncomfortable. “Lilian?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sure you’re looking forward to going home, right? That warm welcome you told me about and the support. Win or lose.”
She smirked. “Glad to know you’re still you. Yes, I’m still me. And no, there will be no warm welcome unless I win.”
I still didn’t like Lilian like this, but I was more confident that she was actually who she said she was. “What do you think they’ll have us do?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. They do enjoy the maze, though. They’ve used it on every Queen’s Trial I read about, so that’s my guess.”
“Makes sense,” I said.
“I will try to beat you,” she said.
“I know,” I said.
The queen walked into the room, followed by the council.
Lilian and I stood as they entered and didn’t take our seats until they were in theirs.
Servants set plates of food down in front of us.
I glanced down at it but wasn’t feeling hungry today. There were too many other things taking up space in my head to stop and think about food.
Jaya stood and walked a few steps away from her table. “Please stay seated. I will go over today’s itinerary while you eat.”
Knowing that I should eat something, I picked at the food while I focused on Jaya.
“Today is the second trial and since there are only two remaining members, we are in the unusual situation of being able to crown the victor at the culmination of this trial.”
My heart raced. I knew this was a possibility, but it seemed so far away before. Now it was here. At the end of this, one of us would be queen. If we survived the trial, and whoever was trying to kill me.
“Not so fast,” Amala said, standing. She walked over to Jaya. “I would like to issue a formal complaint against a candidate.”
“We discussed this already, Amala,” Jaya said. “You can’t prove anything.”
“Yes, I can. I found this note,” she held up a piece of paper, “written by Cassia, requesting Rose meet her in the ballroom. Cassia set up a tear in the Under and lured Rose to her death.”
The room was silent and my whole body felt hot as anger seethed within. Had Amala created a false message or had someone left that behind for her to find?
I stood. “I never requested that Rose meet me. In fact, it was the opposite. Rose asked me to come to her. Even if it was me who arranged the meeting, the rest of your accusations are impossible. I don’t know how to summon the Under or create a tear. And why would I put myself in such great risk?”
Amala’s face reddened. “You probably had help from those mates of yours.”
“Amala, sit down,” Jaya said.
“They close all the tears, they’ve probably learned how to open them,” Amala said.
“Are you accusing two princes of Faerie of intentionally opening a tear inside the palace?” the queen asked.
Amala’s face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. “They could be working with her to help her win. She is their mate.”
