Fae Magic: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Forsaking the Fae Book 1)

by A. M. Hardin

  “I don’t believe you’d do that,” I say automatically. I’m wary of it happening, sure. But I don’t believe he’s cold enough to treat me the same way my family does.

  “Even so,” he mutters before glancing behind him. From the entrance of the courtyard a maid is approaching. His guards immediately tense, ready to spring, until Julian waves a hand in their direction. “What?” he asks, his tone cold.

  Either he’s more pissed than he let on, or he just doesn’t talk to others the way he does me.

  The maid blushes under his stare and I roll my eyes.

  Of course. Even the maids are hot for the prince.

  I really shouldn’t be surprised.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Julian

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, your majesties,” the maid stammers with a deep curtesy.

  “What is it?” I ask, annoyed with the interruption.

  “It’s your father and mother, sire,” the maid says. “They have been summoned here to speak with the king and queen. They all wish for you to be in attendance as well.”

  I glance at Crystal and see she’s eyeing the maid with distrust gleaming in her eyes. “What about me?” Crystal asks her tone neutral as she narrows her eyes on the girl.

  The maid jumps and averts her gaze as Crystal steps to my side, speaking to her. “Um, I apologize, princess Crystal. I was told that you weren’t to be admitted to the study while the kings and queens are speaking with the prince.”

  Frowning, I glance at Crystal. She doesn’t look at all surprised by this and glances at me. “I guess I’ll see you later, Julian.” Crystal takes a step past me but pauses when I grab her hand. She stiffens slightly, barely enough to notice, but I noticed it when I touched her cheek earlier, and now again. What is she so tense about?

  “Take my guards,” I tell her. “At the very least let them take you to your rooms.”

  She breaks free of my hand and smirks at me over her shoulder. “No thanks. I can take care of myself, Julian.” She waves her hand in the air as she gets further away from us.

  “I-I apologize if I upset you or the princess, your highness,” the maid stutters, her face red as she looks at the ground.

  Sighing, I run a hand through my hair. “You’re fine. Go about your business. I’ll head to the study immediately.”

  She nods and scampers off faster than I’d have thought possible.

  “My lord,” my guard, Alston says carefully as we walk inside the castle.

  “What is it?”

  “Are you sure about this princess, sire? I’ve heard that she is quite deceitful. The fact that she avoids most of your inquiries proves that much. We have no idea what it could be that she’s hiding.”

  I stay quiet for a moment, thinking over how to answer. “I think you’ll be shocked at what she hides. I’m almost positive that it’s got to do with those vulnerabilities of hers that I mentioned. It may be how she knows how to protect herself. In any case, I won’t know until I get to know her better.” I give him a pointed look before we reach the study where my parents and Crystal’s are waiting. “You better not bring your reservations up to her. Those are your issues, not mine. Let it lie. We need to see how this all plays out.”

  He bows his head. “Of course, highness. I meant no disrespect.”

  I glance at Xavier, my other guard. “Do you have anything you’d like to add?”

  He shakes his head. “No, sire. I truthfully think that princess Crystal will be good for you and for our kingdom. I have no protests about her.”

  I nod once then open the door to the study, leaving my guards outside as I shut the door behind me.

  “Ah, Julian,” Crystal’s mother purrs happily, a calculating glint in her eyes. “I’m so happy you’ve come.”

  “Hello, son,” my father greets gruffly before narrowing his eyes on Crystal’s parents.

  “Father, mother,” I respond, nodding to my mom. I frown as I see all of Crystal’s guards present as well as my parents and the king and queens. The guards look bored, but Levi, Maxwell, and Ezra all have a fury burning in their gaze that I don’t understand. “What’s going on?”

  “I think that is best explained by your future in-laws,” my mother says sweetly, her hand resting on my father’s chest as he wraps an arm around her shoulder.

  Everyone turns to the king and queen expectantly.

  “Right,” Crystal’s dad says gruffly. “I think in light of the events of what has happened over the last week that this is the best decision for all involved. Your parents truly do not care one way or the other.” It doesn’t sound like a statement. That sounds more like a warning.

  I narrow my eyes at him, not liking the way this discussion is starting. “What decision?”

  “Your wedding with our daughter will be moved forward,” Crystal’s mom says, a glowing smile on her face. “Isn’t that fantastic?”

  Keeping my expression blank, I ask, “Moved forward? Why? When is the wedding to happen now?”

  “I believe that there is someone who is very unhappy with the alliance we have between our kingdoms. They want to stop the wedding before it happens. They have been sending assassin’s after my daughter. Just last night, she was attacked in her sleep.”

  I glare at him. “Why have I not been told of this until now?” I thought Crystal looked tired earlier, but just chalked it up to her having a shitty nights’ sleep. Not that she was being targeted by assassins.

  “Crystal has been well taken care of. Her guards were instructed not to leave her alone after the first incident occurred.”

  First incident?

  “And when was the first incident?” I ask, doing my best to keep the anger out of my tone.

  “Not long after the fight with Miranda,” the king says. “At the time, however, I believed it to be a scheme cooked up by Crystal in order to avoid this marriage. I didn’t take it seriously.”

  “As you should have when a member of your family is threatened,” my father snaps at the other king. “You didn’t say anything about the attacks to us in the chance that it was just a rouse by your daughter?”

  “Yes. I believed that after the first it would be finished. Then the attack last night happened, and miraculously, my daughter was unharmed in both instances.”

  Deciding not to waste any more time with this slime that doesn’t take threats to his daughter seriously, I ask, “When will the wedding be?”

  “A week from today,” the king says. “After that, our kingdom’s usual wedding night ritual will happen here, then you will be on your way to your kingdom the next day.”

  “Wedding night ritual?” my mother asks. “What do you do for that?”

  “When a noble or royal is married, the wedding is to be consummated in front of the heads of the noble and royal households of the kingdom,” the king says matter-of-factly.

  What the hell?

  My mother stares at the king, horror plain on her face. “That is a private matter no matter the station. Surely that’s not necessary.”

  “This has been a tradition in our kingdom for centuries. I will not be the one to change it. I did the consummation with my wife in front of them. It’s expected of us. Crystal knows what is expected of her and she will do as expected. She has known since childhood what is expected of her and the consequences of her actions.”

  I glance at Crystal’s guards and each of them have daggers in their eyes as they stare at their king. Holy shit. Nearly all guards I’ve known would lay their lives down for their king or queen. These three seem to be extremely offended and pissed off enough on Crystal’s behalf to kill them both.

  “And why are the princess’ guards here?” I ask, attempting to take my own mind off the fact that I’ll essentially have to have an audience when I fuck Crystal for the first time. “Why are they not with Crystal now? You said she was to have them with her at all times.”

  “Because a couple of our guards, including Crystal’s personal guards, will be in the
room on your wedding night as well, to make sure it’s secure. And to be witnesses of the consummation. They are here because they needed to know that the plans have changed. Crystal has other guards watching over her, right now.”

  That’s a damn lie. She had no guards with her when she left me in the courtyard. And none followed her.

  My mother splutters, her hand over her heart. “Exactly how many people will be in the room during this time?”

  The king looks at her. “Twelve. My wife and myself, Crystal’s three guards, two of my own guards and there are five head of families that will be present.”

  My father sighs and places a hand on my mother’s shoulder when she looks like she’s about to blow up at Crystal’s dad. “We understand that your kingdom differs from ours with the traditions it has. However, perhaps with the coming wedding and with my son staying here to get to know your daughter, you may like to have the help of my guards with securing the princess’s safety. I’d feel better knowing I was doing something to help ensure her safety. After all, she will soon be my daughter-in-law.”

  The king pauses thoughtfully before nodding. “Very well. I’m sure it will help Crystal feel more welcome knowing you’re willing to bring guards here to help protect her.” He looks at Levi, a dark look in his eyes that goes unnoticed by most in the room. “You three may go back to Crystal. Let her know I will be there shortly. Do not tell her what has happened. I will do that when I see her.”

  Levi’s jaw clenches before he bows his head. “Of course, sire.” All three of them leave the room, their shoulders tense.

  “I shall go prepare to have some guards sent here,” my father announces. He meets my gaze. “Son, why don’t you come give me a hand?”

  I inwardly sigh. “Yes, father.” I glance at Crystal’s parents. “If you’ll excuse us, your majesties.”

  They each nod, Crystal’s mom still wearing that cunning smile on her face. What the hell is with this lady? I don’t understand her one bit.

  Not that I don’t understand Crystal any better. However, Crystal doesn’t have the sinister edge to her that the rest of her family seems to have. I can only hope that the games her family are playing will be over with sooner rather than later.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Crystal

  My bedroom door opens, pulling my attention away from the book I’m skimming through. I frown at the glowers on my guards’ faces.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Where are the guards?” Levi asks, glancing around my room.

  I blink at him, confused at the hostility in his voice. “What guards?”

  A muttered curse from Maxwell and Ezra and a growl from Levi shocks me enough to set my book down. “What guards Levi? Why do all three of you look like you’re ready to murder everyone in this damn palace?”

  “The guards your father had sent to replace us after you and the prince separated,” Ezra explains.

  I scowl at them. “There were no guards sent to replace you. Julian tried having me take his guards with me, but I refused.” They gape at me. “What? I can take care of myself, you know?”

  Levi groans, running a hand over his face. “Damn it, Crystal!” he snaps at me, storming toward me. “You have assassins after you. Or have you forgotten that?”

  I stand and close the distance between us, jabbing my finger in his chest. “Don’t be a dick,” I snap. “I haven’t forgotten that there’s people out to take my life. You seem to be mistaking me for the little sheep I once was. Again.” I blank my expression, fighting to hide the disappointment I feel from him not believing in me as he once had. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need guards. I don’t need to be monitored twenty-four-fucking-seven.”

  He stares at me, his expression morphing into a wince. “Don’t, Crystal.”

  “Don’t what?” I snap, pushing against his chest, making him take a step back. “Don’t argue with you? Don’t be myself? Don’t fight back? What everyone here wants from me is fucking impossible. I am not the same girl who left here. She was a scared, weak, and vulnerable child. She was broken. I may still have a few broken pieces, but I am by no means broken. I am my own fucking person and I will damn well act like it. If you don’t like it, then you can fuck off and leave me to my fate.”

  All three of them stare at me as if they’ve never seen me before. Levi sighs. “I wasn’t going to say any of that. I was going to say don’t shut me out. Don’t shut us out. We’re on your side, Crystal.”

  Ezra and Maxwell nod in agreement.

  I scoff, shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter anyway,” I tell them, finished with the conversation. “Now tell me what made you all so angry?”

  “Your father will be here shortly,” Levi says carefully. “He has some news for you.”

  I close my eyes and breathe deeply. “I’m guessing it’s bad news?”

  “We can’t say,” Maxwell says.

  “Your father wishes to tell you himself,” Ezra explains further.

  I chuckle humorlessly. “Which means it’s news that I definitely will not like,” I sum up. I shake my head and head to the balcony doors, opening them wide as I step through. Resting my elbows on the railing, I look out over the trees in the direction of the portal.

  Their footsteps stop behind me.

  “I want to go home,” I mutter to the wind, paying them no attention. “I can’t stand being in this prison much longer.”

  I’m not expecting a response, so it surprises me when Ezra speaks up. “Then let us help you.”

  I look over my shoulder at him, shocked. Maxwell said something similar last night, but I didn’t pay it any mind, thinking that he was just all talk. Now, though, I can see they’re all in agreement and completely serious. “Why would you help? What’s in it for you?”

  “Seeing you safe is enough of a reason,” Levi grinds out.

  I sigh and turn back to the scenery. “Truth be told it’s not all that safe at home, either. I’d just rather be there than here. I have a life there, a job I enjoy. Friends. I’d like to get back to it. To not have to worry about coming back here, ever again.”

  “How charming,” my dad says, his voice thick with sarcasm. “Too bad you won’t be going back to that world again. However, you won’t be here long, darling daughter.”

  I tense as I turn to face my father, not surprised to see the guys had also grown tense as they were forced to step aside by my father pushing his way through them.

  “What does that mean?” I ask suspiciously.

  My dad smirks. “Your time here at home is limited. After all, you’ll be marrying the prince and moving to his kingdom. You’ll be his queen.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “What do you want, father?”

  “Come inside, I must speak with you,” he says gesturing me to go in front of him.

  Eyeing him suspiciously, I go back inside and sit at my vanity, projecting an outward calm that I am definitely not feeling. I watch as the guys and my father come back inside. My father shuts the balcony doors and I hear the snick of the lock being put in place.

  I frown. What is he doing? I glance at my bedroom door and the windows and see those have all been locked as well. Oh Gods. . .

  “Now that we’re in here, I can tell you what’s happened,” he starts, standing in front of me, almost cockily. “Your wedding to prince Julian will be happening sooner than expected.”

  Everything in me freezes. “What? What do you mean sooner? How much sooner?”

  My dad grins down at me. “One week from today you will be married. You will have your wedding night here then travel to Julian’s kingdom afterward.”

  My stomach churns as my father speaks, my heart sinking more and more with each word spoken. “You . . . you can’t be serious.”

  “I am very serious. With the assassination attempts, it is clear someone wishes to stop the alliance from happening. Until the wedding you are going to be under constant watch. You will be confined to your room, except for meals
when you wish to join us. No stepping outside. This alliance must go through.”

  “Father—”

  He towers over me. “This is final, daughter of mine.”

  Fuck my life. He’s serious. I feel like I’m going to be sick.

  “Father please . . . You can’t honestly expect to have me get married in a week and fuck someone I barely know in front of a room full of people that I barely know!” I say, my panic rising and my tone pleading.

  I don’t see the strike until it hits, and I’m sprawled on the floor. “You will fuck who I tell you to, when I tell you to, little girl,” my father growls.

  I sit up and cover my stinging cheek with my hand as I stare at my father, without caring that there are tears in my eyes.

  “It’s not any different than you expected. You always knew when you were to get married you’d have to fuck them in front of a room full of people. The plus side is that your guards will get to be in the room with you, so it won’t all be strangers.”

  I continue to stare at him, not wanting to believe that he’s truly going to go through with this bullshit.

  My father reaches down and grips my jaw in his hand, squeezing hard enough that I know I’ll have a bruise for a little bit later. “You will marry Julian in one week, Crystal, and you will fuck him as you are told to do. You will become his queen and bear his children. Whether you like it or not, you will not be returning to the human realm.”

  I bare my teeth at him, hissing when he squeezes my jaw harder. “I will never forgive you for this,” I manage to spit out.

  “By the time it happens, you’ll no longer be my problem,” he says with a chuckle as he lets go of my jaw so forcefully I end up back on the floor. He turns and stalks to the door.

  I laugh darkly, my grip on my powers loosening slightly. “Don’t you remember, daddy? I was never your problem to begin with.”

  He stills and slowly turns, his face contorted in fury. “What was that?”

  “Every chance you got, you dumped me on someone else. I became their problem until you decided it was time to bring the ‘problem child’ out.”