False Queen

by Nikki Jefford

  Their shuffled footsteps faded in seconds. Liri wore a bland expression, but his fingers curled over the table. We all sat for several more seconds in silence before Jastra picked up her fork and said, “Finally, some peace and quiet.”

  Liri nodded and grabbed his flute of bubbling juice. I feared he might break it the way his knuckles whitened as he gripped the glass stem. When he met my gaze, his fingers appeared to loosen.

  I swallowed before asking, “Is it unsafe to leave the castle?”

  “You need not ever worry about our safety, dear Hensley.”

  In his tone and expression, I saw not arrogance but full belief and conviction. He believed himself invincible. I couldn’t decide whether to feel relief or more worry still.

  “Dahlquist Castle is like a city unto itself. There is no reason to leave,” Liri stated.

  “But what of your people?” I wondered aloud. “Would it not reassure them to see you among them, especially with the changes in leadership here and in Ravensburg?”

  Jastra actually looked at me then, her eyes widening.

  Liri pressed his lips together. “Hmm. Perhaps,” he said evenly.

  “I would very much like to see your kingdom,” I pressed. “I’ve never been outside these stone walls.”

  As a servant, I’d never expected to step outside the castle. After rescuing me from Earth, Cirrus had offered me a position as one of his personal maids, lessening my duties after we became lovers before elevating my status as his bride’s lady-in-waiting—one of the best days of my life. Second best now.

  Liri studied me a moment before saying, “Our kingdom.” He was quiet for several more seconds. “Do you feel trapped here, dear Hensley?”

  I shook my head. “Not at all. The opposite. I love Dahlquist so much I would like to see more of it and its citizens.” My smile faltered. “But only if it’s safe.”

  “If you are by my side, then you are safe.” Liri puffed up his chest. He slid a gaze toward Ryo, who speared his last bite of soufflé and shoved it in his mouth, swallowing after a single chew. A slow smile lifted Liri’s cheeks. “Very well, the four of us shall attend the Fable Festival.”

  Ryo’s head jerked up. “Really?” A bright sort of hopefulness lit up his face. In his moment of pure, unbridled excitement, I could almost gloss over the dreadful behavior he’d displayed during our brief engagement. He was still young. Perhaps, with time, he’d become a dutiful brother-in-law—or a respectful one at the very least.

  “But not Sarfina,” Liri stated.

  Nobody lifted a brow at her exclusion.

  Jastra cleared her throat. “Are you sure, brother?”

  “We will go armed, of course.”

  “Of course,” Jastra repeated carefully.

  “It will be good to get out of the castle,” Liri continued, his eyes moving back to me. “You will love this place even more once you’ve stepped away.”

  One of Liri’s numerous footmen walked in with measured steps, coming to a smooth stop several feet from the king.

  “Your Majesty, your sister, the queen of Ravensburg, has sent a messenger with a note for you,” he conveyed in a dignified tone. “She requests a response at your earliest convenience.”

  Liri set his linen napkin on the table and stood. “I shall hear Teryani’s message in the library. Wait for me there.”

  The footman nodded and left the dining room. With slow deliberate movements, Liri strolled around the table until he reached my side. My pulse quickened as he leaned closer, lips practically brushing my ear.

  “Wait for me in your chamber. I want to see you in nothing but black silk when I return.”

  Heat rushed between my thighs, rippling inward, making me sway in my seat. Liri’s eyes brightened, and his lips puckered when he smiled. He pressed a kiss to my temple then walked away. My eyes followed his every step until Liri left the room, leaving it cooler than it had been seconds before.

  “Don’t even think about it, Ryo. She is off limits now.”

  Jastra’s warning dragged me away from my haze.

  I looked at Ryo, but his expression was schooled, bored even. I’d missed whatever gaze Jastra had seen on his face.

  “Unlike my brother, I have no interest in a human,” he informed his sister in a haughty tone.

  I took no offense. I’d rather he have no designs on me. It didn’t surprise me one bit given his behavior during our sham of an engagement ball when he’d all but sprinted across the room to escape me.

  Run, Ryo. Run. I never had any interest in you either.

  “But what of an elf?” Jastra asked, resting one arm on the table. “Do you miss having Aerith around?”

  I narrowed my eyes, but Jastra and Ryo were back to ignoring me.

  “Not especially,” Ryo said with a shrug. “I imagine she’s gotten rather fat by now.”

  Jastra burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she did. “Oh, Ryo. You are too cruel,” she said with wicked delight.

  My fingers balled into fists. If I had the power of compulsion, I’d make Jastra smash her plate over her teal head and smear her leftover eggs through her gleaming tresses.

  A smile lit up Ryo’s face. It wasn’t wicked, as I’d expected, but something more hopeful, like a child seeking a parent’s approval. I might have felt a twist of sympathy for Ryo if he hadn’t just insulted Aerith.

  I knew what was coming next, even if he didn’t. Jastra only doted on one brother.

  As her laughter faded, she leaned forward, the tops of her breasts forming half moons above the low neckline of her gossamer gown. “And what of Aerith’s sister, the mouthy redhead?”

  “Melarue?” Ryo asked uncertainly. “What of her?”

  “Was she more to your liking? Do you lust after elves as Cirrus did?”

  I was surprised to see Ryo’s cheeks turn red.

  “Why are you blushing, Ryo?” Jastra asked with a mean little laugh. She tossed her teal curls over one shoulder. “Perhaps she will return when Aerith gives birth. Can you wait that long? There’s always dreamscaping—or more permanent methods.”

  I narrowed my eyes, but it was nothing compared to the glare Ryo shot at his sister.

  “I am not like Liri. I would never kidnap a female. I suppose it was the only option for a prick like him.”

  “Careful, Ryo,” Jastra hissed. “That is the king you are insulting.”

  Ryo shrugged, his cheeks returning to normal. “At least he listens to the human.”

  Hot rage prickled and burned up my spine. “The human is sitting right here. And she’s going to be your sister and queen.” Great, now they had me speaking about myself in the third person.

  “Ugh. Don’t remind us,” Jastra said with a huff and an eye roll.

  Ryo leveled his dark brown eyes at me. “You’re not our sister or queen yet.”

  “Is that a threat?” I demanded. My voice rose higher than I expected.

  Jastra pressed the tips of her fingers together with a gleeful grin. “Indeed? Is it, Ryo? Are you threatening your former fiancée?”

  My lip curled. Ryo’s eyes expanded, and for a moment, a look of bafflement overcame his features as though shocked I could find him as disagreeable as he found me.

  He shook his head, eyes refocusing on mine. “It’s not me you have to worry about.” I slid a look Jastra’s way. “Nor her,” he told me. “After the stunt she pulled with Aerith, Jastra won’t risk Liri’s wrath again.”

  “Sarfina?” I asked.

  “I’d worry more about our cousins.” Ryo pressed his lips together in a grim line.

  A vision of a tall raven-haired male in a snarling wolf mask entered my mind. I couldn’t forget Liri’s sneering cousin Malon if I tried.

  Jastra gave a very unladylike grunt. “Albedo is no match for Liri.”

  “Who is Albedo?” I asked.

  “The eldest of our Elmray cousins. Has my brother told you nothing?” Jastra snapped.

  At least we were having a conversation.
This was an improvement, no matter how snippy she behaved.

  Ryo stood up, stretched, and yawned. When he was finished, he pressed his arm against the top of his chair’s back.

  “Well, I hope for all our sakes we remain safe, because if they get to Liri, I’m next.” Ryo pushed away from his chair and strolled out of the dining room as though he hadn’t just announced his impending doom.

  I scowled at his disappearing back. “King Liri should not be underestimated.”

  He’d foiled two attempts on his life before—by three of his own brothers. He could handle some miscreant cousins from afar.

  “For once, we are in agreement,” Jastra stated, gathering her hair over one shoulder. “Though there is no reason to throw caution into the wind.” Her eyes zeroed in on me. “Why are you so keen to attend Fable Week? What kind of game are you playing?”

  I placed both of my arms on the table and leaned forward. “I am not Fae. I do not play games.”

  Jastra rolled her eyes. “Right, because humans are such bastions of goodwill and honesty.” She snorted derisively, leaning back in her chair.

  “There is nothing truer than my love for Liri and my goodwill toward this family,” I said, my body shaking with emotion. “Given your family upbringing, I can see how that would be hard for you to believe.”

  “Try impossible,” Jastra said. Despite her response, her tone was light.

  A smile spread over my cheeks. “You never know, Jastra. Maybe one day you’ll realize you actually like me. It happened to your brother. It could happen to you.”

  Her responding scowl made me laugh.

  “That, human, will never happen.” Jastra pushed back from the table and strode out of the room.

  “Liri used to call me human too,” I called after her.

  And now he called me dearest. I didn’t expect such sentiments from Jastra, but maybe, just maybe, one day we could be friends. For now, I’d settle for sisters.

  Chapter Two

  Melarue

  F

  resh mountain air filled my lungs as the chairlift carried Devdan and me up Mount Alyeska in Girdwood, Alaska. Our snowboards looked as though they were sailing slowly over the treetops like long, misshapen frisbees.

  Devdan leaned forward, gripping the metal bar with his gloved fingers as he took a better look at the steep drop in the snow-covered trail below. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked.

  “Heck, yeah!” I tried not to bounce on the seat too much. “We took lessons. Plus, you know, we’re awesome.”

  Two weeks ago, we’d been surfing in Australia’s Byron Bay. We’d rocked the waves. So, snow . . . no problem!

  Devdan leaned back and glanced sideways at me. “Yeah, four lessons from the middle of the mountain. Maybe we should have done a few more runs before heading to the very top.”

  Before I could tell Devdan to chill, movement caught my attention as a male with yellow hair swished down the slope below. Powder flew up around his board at every sharp turn. He flew straight down the drop with the grace of a swan.

  I turned sideways on the lift’s hard bench and grinned.

  “See? Just do what that guy did.”

  “Yeah, easy,” Devdan said sarcastically. He looked down and frowned.

  “Tell you what,” I said with a grin. “I’ll give you a kiss after we reach the bottom of the mountain.”

  Devdan snorted. “Nice try. I want my kiss before I die, and if we make it to the bottom, I want a hot cocoa with marshmallows.” He scooted closer, pressing his thigh against mine.

  When I met Devdan’s stare, he raised his brows.

  My smile widened. He was so dang cute. We’d already coupled countless times during our two months of travel in the mortal realm, yet he continued to treat each kiss as a treasure he wished to steal. I wondered how long this feeling would last. The love-dove stage was just that, a passing phase. Allow it to run its course, and eventually it would turn into humdrum ducks sticking to one particular pond as life moved along. I would not become a duck!

  But for now . . .

  I leaned into Devdan and pressed my lips to his, calling forth warmth to heat our kiss. He pressed into me, our puffy ski jackets brushing together. Our cold noses rubbed. I called forth my elemental magic to send more heat to my face. At least I thought I did, but Devdan was definitely helping with the fire of his kiss.

  Loud whoops erupted from the chair behind us.

  I broke off the kiss to yell, “You’re welcome!” over my shoulder.

  In the chair in front of us an older dude and younger girl wearing a pink hat with a white pom-pom turned around to see what the commotion was about. I waved to them, and the girl smiled and waved back.

  Humans were both obnoxious and friendly—way more fun to be around than the sneaky Fae. My only complaint was that I wanted to meet more of the planet’s paranormal community, but they seemed to be pretty well hidden unless you happened to be in the know—which we weren’t. Devdan and I had been transported directly from Faerie to Earth, not knowing anyone in this realm. And we traveled from one place to another so frequently that we never got a chance to immerse ourselves in the local community and ask around. The only otherworldly element I’d managed to pick up on was outposts for communicating with other realms. Oddly enough, it was independent bookshops that had ties to the netherworlds. I had only to ask one of the clerks if they had a book called Harry Potter and the Outer Realms. They either knew what I was talking about immediately or gave me an odd look before locating a more senior staff member to deal with me. Nearly always I could find a clerk who would offer to place a hold and ask for my information. That was when I handed over my pre-addressed postcard. Pretty nifty—as long as they really were getting to my sister in Pinemist.

  I missed Aerith, but I was in no rush to return to the elven realm. I had a long to-do list to get through. Devdan wasn’t in any hurry to meet the supernaturals of the human realm. I think he was just concerned I’d find some sexy shifters to tempt me away with their animal magnetism. After we got through my list, I wanted to take a deeper look into the supernatural communities. Hopefully I’d have time before Aerith gave birth. I was not missing that! The pyramids weren’t going anywhere. The birth of my niece or nephew, on the other hand, was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Aunt Mel was going to be there on day one!

  Aerith was around twelve weeks pregnant. By my calculations, that gave Devdan and me another five to five-and-a-half months of travel adventures. As promised, I’d been sending Aerith postcards from every place we visited. She was unable to send any back, which was fine. What would she have to say?

  “Pregnant in Pinemist. Playing campaigne with Jhaeros and drinking sweetberry tea to pass the time.”

  Yep, that was about it.

  A cold rush of wind blasted over my nose and cheeks as the chairlift rose over another tower and approached the terminal at the summit.

  “Top of the mountain,” Devdan said with a grim voice.

  I zeroed my focus on the mound of snow where the man and his daughter got off the lift ahead of us.

  Once we reached it, we pushed off the chair, down the slope and to the left, positioning our boards sideways as we stopped to take in the mountain—now BELOW us.

  “Wicked,” I breathed.

  Devdan winced. “Hot cocoa with marshmallows,” he said firmly, as though it had become his mantra.

  The corners of my lips shot up. “Let’s do this!” I tipped my snowboard down the mountain as I said the last word.

  Arctic wind rushed over my cheeks and tore at my fleece hat. I felt alive like I never had back in Pinemist or Sweetbell. Elves weren’t big skiers or surfers, but we did like our weapons tournaments.

  I guess I wasn’t your typical elf. I liked a rush. Any kind of rush.

  I flew over my first jump, my braided red hair lifting with me. The snow had a thin layer of ice over it and made crunching sounds as I cut across the slope. Hopefully Devdan could keep up. I had to kee
p my eyes forward to navigate the steep trail.

  Down, down, down, I flew—the wind rushing by me. I felt fully awake. Energized. Invigorated. Like the queen of the mountain.

  The trail dipped and turned here and there but mostly it plunged. I couldn’t bring myself to stop and lose the feeling of unadulterated freedom. The snowy slopes urged me on, my board gliding below my thick boots. I managed to get a glimpse of Devdan behind me and was thrilled to see him keeping up.

  At the bottom of the final mound, I came to a smooth stop, turned to look up the mountain I’d just conquered, and yelled, “Radical!”

  Coming to a stop beside me, Devdan chuckled. “Want to do it again?” he asked.

  My jaw dropped. “What about hot cocoa with marshmallows?”

  He shrugged. “I could do another run down the mountain first.”

  I launched myself at him, no easy feat with my boots buckled into my board. Luckily, Devdan caught me as I crashed into his chest, arms circling his neck. I kissed his cheeks and leaned back.

  “You’re the best! Have I told you you’re the best?”

  The skin around his eyes crinkled when he laughed. “I love you, too, Mel.”

  “Hey! That’s not what I said.”

  “Maybe not, but it’s what I heard.” The scamp’s smile widened.

  Way to ruin the moment.

  “Are you trying to piss me off?” I demanded.

  Devdan wrinkled his nose. “I wish you wouldn’t use that expression. What does piss have to do with being angry?”

  “No idea. That’s what makes it so much fun to say.” I smirked.

  “Fine,” he said. “I’ll stick with being the best—for now.”

  Rolling my eyes, I bent down to unbuckle my boots. Devdan did the same, and together we carried our snowboards to the line for the chairlift.

  We spent the slow ride up the mountain recapping the awesome run we’d done from the top. After I suggested trying a double black diamond, Devdan went gushy on me again, answering, “You know I’d follow you anywhere.”