by ERIN BEDFORD
On a new quest, my feet hustled down the hallway and past several startled servants. I rounded the next corner, so close to my destination that I almost didn’t see the pudgy council member headed directly toward me.
“Your majesty, I’m glad I ran into you.” Randolf’s round cheeks were red as if he had been running toward something himself.
Brows furrowing, I held my hand up. “Whatever it is, it’ll just have to wait.” I rushed past him before he could stop me, his voice caring behind me.
“But...but Your Majesty!”
Leaving him behind, I kept going until I found myself before the glass doors of our beloved gardens. The gardens had been in my family since the beginning of the Spring Court. The very first fae queen planted the first seed of magic here, and from it, grew a single rose. The magic from the rose then spread out across all of the land, covering fields, valleys, and hills with glorious foliage and only stopping once it hit the barrier of the other courts. We kept the original rose here, in the garden, locked away from any who would dare see to harm it, accidental or not.
Coming into the gardens without prior approval was a grave offense, one that not a fae in all of Elphame would dare to break. It was the perfect place to bring Ericka.
As I pushed the doors open, I took a deep breath of air. The air in here always seemed cleaner, more alive than anywhere else in Elphame. No doubt because of the lack of outside interference to the growth of the garden.
My booted feet sank into the plush green grass, and I knew I was home. Being the king of the Spring Court wasn’t only a name. I was just as much a part of the garden as it was a part of me. The magic that ran through every vine, every branch ran through my very blood. Coming here always made my head clearer. My muscles loosened, and my skin tingled with the magic of the air. Sometimes I wondered why I ever left this place to begin with. I should remedy that.
I moved down the natural path, and my eyes skimmed the flowers in constant bloom. The reds and blues. The vibrant greens and startling yellows. Any color one could imagine was represented right here. Crystal trees sparkled beneath the natural light coming in from the glass dome above us. The branches reached for the sun as if they could touch it from down here.
I remembered climbing those trees when I was a young boy. I’d wanted to pick one of the many beautiful, burnt orange blooms to give to my mother. Unfortunately, while dazzling, those branches were also sharp and fragile as glass. I had crashed through the branches and onto the ground below. My mother, who had been singing to the rose, heard my cry of panic and rushed to my side.
I’d expected her to scoop me up into her arms and hold me tight, to tell me everything was going to be alright. But the moment she saw me there on the ground, her eyes darted to the tree. Outrage and dismay covered her face as she crooned to the tree, choosing to sooth it over her own child.
“You must never climb these trees again, Balefire,” she’d chastised me as she led me out of the garden by my arm. I still remember the sting of her nails.
“But I only wanted to pick a flower for you,” young me had cried as I held back my tears.
Scoffing at my words, my mother stopped us outside the garden doors. She knelt before me, her hands on my shoulder, and her grip hadn’t lessened in the slightest.
“The garden is not a playground. You must have respect for where you came from.” She gestured back to the garden beyond the doors. “This garden is us. It is everything, and if you hurt it, then you are hurting us. Do you understand?”
My young head nodded, tears sliding down my face. “I understand.”
I sighed as the memory dissipated. My mother instilled my reverence for this place at a young age, and I learned that lesson well.
A giggle jerked my head to the side, and I cocked an ear toward the sound. Muffled voices came from further in the garden. Someone was here.
My jaw tightened, and my feet sped across the grass toward whoever had dared to trespass in my gardens. My chest felt tight and burned from rage. All thoughts of wooing Ericka vanished from my mind. The only thing in it now was the need for punishment and blood.
The sounds led me to turn down the path toward the center of the garden where I knew the rose that had created our world, and my need for violence roared to an all-time high. The laughter and chatter grew louder as my steps drew closer. One voice stood out from the chatter. It should have faltered my steps, but it didn’t. All it did was cause my ire to grow further.
“Sybil!” the human I’d been so eager to share my bed with cried out. “You are so bad. I can’t believe you did that.”
My tattoos on my arm and chest burned as pushed through the final steps to the center. The clearing which marked the middle of the garden held the single rose encased by a glass cage which was then surrounded by a golden metal fence to keep all who would dare to touch it at bay. At the foot of the rose, sitting on a blanket covered in food just outside the fence was Ericka and who I could only assume was Sybil.
The brownie - Sybil - opened her smiling mouth to answer Ericka’s comment, and it was she who saw me first. The light in her eyes diminished, and her voice went silent as her mouth hung open in utter horror. Enraptured by her fear, I let a growl rumble out of me. My eyes locked onto Ericka as she realized her friend was no longer paying attention to her. Slowly, Ericka’s head turned, and the smile on her face dropped as her brows furrowed in confusion.
Sybil gained her bearings first. She scrambled to her feet, her head dropping down as she bent herself in half in an effort to appease me. It was in vain. Nothing could slake my need for violence. Ericka stood as well but slower. It was as if she treated me like some animal, thinking her glacial movements and held out hand would cause me to find another quarry.
“Your Majesty,” Ericka’s voice was low and steady, an attempt to be soothing, but it fell on deaf ears.
“You aren’t allowed in here.” The gravelly sound of my voice caused Sybil to flinch away, but Ericka didn’t move an inch.
Ericka took a single step forward her hands still out in front of her. “We meant no disrespect.”
“No disrespect. No disrespect?” A haughty laugh burst out of me and I had to fight back the magic trying to force its way to the surface. I couldn’t lose control now. “Your very presence is an abomination on this place.” My rage could not be contained any longer. My back arched and my arms flew out to my sides as a long, burning roar poured out of my throat. The walls of the garden shook, and Sybil, still bowing to me, shook in time with that roar. Even Ericka flinched, the abominable human who had no regard for her life or anyone else’s, it seemed.
Good. She should fear me. Everyone should fear the raging beast inside of me. Well, now it had come out to play.
“Leave,” I snarled as I took a heavy step forward. “Leave now!”
Sybil scurried away never once lifting her head to meet my gaze, but Ericka hesitated. It was enough to push me into action.
Before she could figure out what she had done wrong, I was on her. My hands, which had turned to claws, gripped her arms so tight that she squeaked in pain. I savored in her fear as the tinge of it filled the air. As I bared my teeth at her, I pulled her close until I could feel her rapid breath on my face.
“You think you can just go where you like? That you are invincible because I have a minute interest in you human?” I gripped her tighter, pulling her even closer. “You are not worthy of this place. You are... nothing.”
She squeaked once more as she pushed against my hold on her. “I didn’t. I don’t. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.”
“Of course.” I chuckled darkly. “Of course, you didn’t think. You never do... but you will now.” I released one arm and jerked her with me toward the door. “You will learn your place and learn it now.”
Chapter 15
Ericka
I was in trouble. Big trouble. When I suggested we go to the garden, I didn't think that it would be a big deal. Also, when I mentioned it
to the rest of the kitchen, none of them had told me how big of a no-no it would be. I certainly didn't expect the king himself to show up and blow his top off.
I winced at the grip Balefire had on my arm as he dragged me through the hallways. I'd never seen him this way. Sure, he was a major ass, but so far, he'd been all bark and no bite. Now, I wasn't so sure I was safe from that bite.
Now he seemed to be out of his mind with rage. While there was no outside difference to him, there was something different about him. His teeth seemed sharper than before, his gaze chilly. I feared what he might do like this.
"Where are you taking me?" I gasped, trying to keep my fear pushed down where it belonged. However, it did nothing to keep my heart from racing and my palms from sweating. Had the king been holding my hand rather than my arm, I was sure he'd have felt it. Right now, I was less worried about embarrassment and more worried about where he was dragging me off to.
Balefire didn't answer my question, huffing a growl as we stomped through the castle. Servants and nobles scattered at the sight of us... or rather the sight of him. I cast helpless looks their way in the hope that one of them would step in to help me, but it was like I didn't even exist. Their eyes darted down, and their footsteps quickened in the opposite direction. Not that I could blame them. Had I been in their shoes, I probably would have done the same.
The king dragged me toward a part of the castle I'd never been before. It was darker here. Less populated and cold. A chill ran up my arms, and I wished I had my other arm to rub some warmth into them. When we started down a set of stairs, I'd had enough.
I dug my feet into the stone step and jerked with all my might, ripping my arm from his lethal grasp. Placing my hands on my hips, I glared at the king. I still had to tilt my head back because of his height which sadly made my glare slightly less effective.
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where you are taking me."
Balefire reached for me again, and I sidestepped back and then hopped back up a step.
"Don't touch me. I didn't know the garden was off limits. In like a punishable by death sort of way. You can't punish me for something I didn't know."
His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed as he studied me, searching for a lie.
I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin. "I deserve to know where we are going."
After a moment, a dark rumble of laughter burst through his lips which made me jump in place. Eyeing him warily, I inched back another step, but before I could really run, his hand lashed out and grabbed me by the wrist. I struggled against his hold, but this time, he was ready for me.
"Let me go!"
"No," he barked, and he pulled me down the few steps I'd gone until we were nose to nose. "Knowing or not, it doesn't matter. You broke the law. Now, you must pay for it."
We started again down the stairs, but this time, I wasn't going to be a quiet and willing participant. I would not go to my death having never fought for my life. I just wouldn't.
"This is ridiculous," I argued at his back. "It's just a garden. What's so special about it? It's not like we were hurting anything."
Balefire grunted.
Pursing my lips in annoyance, I continued, "Besides, you can't expect all your servants to know right off the bat what is off limits and what is not. You need to have some kind of orientation or a sign." I hummed as my brows furrowed. "Yes, a big sign with large letters." I used my other hand to pretend I was holding a sign up. "Do not enter, or the king will have a hissy fit."
The king stopped so abruptly that I banged into his back so hard that my nose stung from hitting it. With one hand, I rubbed the end of it as Balefire spun around, leveling those bright blue eyes on me.
"You do not even know the word self-preservation, do you?” he roared. “You just talk and talk, thinking that you can get away with anything just because I—"
"Just because you what?" I arched a brow, slowly lowering my hand.
“Never mind.” Balefire shook his head, his golden locks swaying with the movement. "Never mind." With that, he spun back around and stomped even more forcefully down the stairs. The stairwell became even darker the further down we went. The only light came from the sparse torches sticking out of the walls.
"Why don't you have electricity down here? It seems kind of dangerous to be climbing so many stairs in the dark," I mused. My fear had mostly disappeared, mainly because he didn't seem as angry as before. I had that effect on people. Some loved me to death or hated me on sight. I was happy to say that I had more admirers than haters, though that was more for my current condition than back home, where I was too busy to make much of a single friend.
"She likes it this way," was the only answer Balefire grunted out to me.
"She who?" I lifted my hand to my face, looking from side to side as if the dark stairwell would give me some answers.
"My dragon."
For a moment, my eyes dipped down to his lower half a warm heat spreading over my cheeks. Why would he call his... thing a she? Then it dawned on me. Oh. An actual dragon. I was worse than a siren in heat! At the thought of Shirazan, nervousness filled me, and I jerked my arm once more.
"No way, no. I'm not going to where that crazy bitch lives. She already tried to kill me once."
Angling his head back to peer at me from the side of his eye, Balefire sneered, "With good reason I'm sure."
"Ha! Good reason?" I placed my free hand on my chest and glared at his back. "My very existence was enough to piss her off. I'm not going anywhere near her after having actually done something wrong."
"So, you admit you were wrong? That's surprising." I could hear the smile in his voice even if I couldn't see it.
"Now, wait just a second. I never said I was wrong. I still stand by my ignorance." The moment the words came out of my mouth, I wished I could take them back. There was no way he wasn't going to twist that beyond hell and back.
To my surprise he didn't do anything but grunt as we stopped before a door. Releasing my arm, he searched the dark nook next to the door for something. When he found it, a key, he slid the metal into the door and turned the lock. Pushing the wooden door open, he gestured for me to enter.
"Not gonna happen.” I shook my head, my eyes wide and my mouth hanging open. “You're gonna have to kill me."
Light twinkled in his eyes as he reached for me, and I wasn't sure if it was a good look or a bad one, but I knew if I went in that room, I wasn't coming back out until I was extra crispy. Balefire’s fingers curled around my arm and pulled me forward until our chests pressed together. Had I not been in fear for my life, I'd have swooned after I smacked him upside the head of course.
"What do you think you are doing?" I gasped as I pressed my hands to his chest, trying with all my might to separate us.
"You think death would be a better alternative than your punishment?" Balefire questioned with a tilt of his head. "Do you really not care for your life?"
I stared at him, mouth agape for a moment before snapping it shut. "Of course, I do! But I'd rather die a swift death than be burned alive by your crazy mistress. After all, I did break a rather important rule. Don't you think I deserve an important death? One that requires full attendance of the court and... and..." My eyes darted around as I tried to delay the inevitable. "And Finch. Finch should be there. He is your adviser, isn't he?"
Balefire's eyebrows furrowed and then his eyes narrowed on me. "What of Finch?"
As I saw that I had caught his attention, I kept going, letting my mouth get away with me.
"Finch is far sounder of mind than you are, your majesty." I gave a mock bow as I backed away from him. "It's no wonder you can tie your own shoes, let alone make a decision without Finch by your side."
Teeth gritted and jaw tightened, Balefire wagged a finger at me. "You would do well to hold your tongue, human."
"Oh, so we're back to human, are we?" I laughed haughtily. "I should have known better than to think that speech this morning
was anything other than one of your little ploys." I crossed my arms over my chest and raked my eyes over him. "No doubt you were just itching for a reason to toss me to your dragon. Did you even like my food?"
"Do you dare accuse me of lying?" He took a large step toward me, and I shuffled backward until my back hits the door frame and he loomed before me.
Swallowing down my rising fear, I stared up into his eyes and lifted my chin in defiance. "If the pixie fits."
Balefire's hand shot out, and his thick fingers wrapped around my neck. My feet lifted off the ground, and I wiggled like a worm as I tried to break the hold of his grip. He wasn't squeezing so much as holding me up, but still, it wasn't exactly comfortable.
Unfortunately, for all my poking and provoking, he didn't take the bait to give me a public execution where I might have had a chance to talk my way out of it. Instead, he drew us into the wide-open room with a stone walkway, which surrounded a large hole in the floor. The ceiling was open so that the sky could be seen, and the afternoon light poured in to give the room a rosy coloring. Balefire moved toward the edge of the stone walkway and held me out above the hole. My feet dangled in the air, and tears burned my eyes. My nails scratched and clawed at the hand holding me, but it didn't seem to affect him in the least.
I didn't want to die like this. I didn't want to die at all. But me and my big mouth. I couldn't just leave well enough alone. I had to make things worse. Everyone was right. I did have a death wish. I was surprised I'd lasted this long without ending up dead or worse. Now, I was going to get that wish.
A low growl caused the walls to rumble around us, and I struggled to take in breaths. My fear caused my lungs to forget how to work. I fought to pull in breaths of air but couldn't find my breath. My eyes flew open and locked with the cerulean blue gaze of the king of the Spring court. I took gasping breaths and got out one word.
"P... please."
Balefire's hard glare softened for a moment, but then the sound of beating wings interrupted whatever connection we had. His face hardened once more, and I released his hand, letting my arms fall out at my sides. If I was going to die, then let it be with dignity. I closed my eyes with a resigned smile, counting down every heartbeat until he released me into oblivion.
