by Chanda Hahn
I was going to be sick.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Every part of my soul wanted to lash out and hurt Evander and his horrid mother, Queen Giselle. I had begun to fall for Evander’s quiet temperament and his deep questions about ruling. I thought that it was King Ferdinand who was the vile one, but I was wrong. It was the queen and her son.
King Ferdinand had a soft spot for the fae and had gone crazy out of desperation to protect his fae son.
My room had been cleaned up and put back to normal, minus the rug with the burn stains that had been rolled up and removed and the blank wall where the mirror had hung only hours before. I sat on my bed staring at the floor, trying to figure out how to fix everything that I had broken. If I hadn’t of come, the Broken Heart tavern and Madam Pantalonne would still be alive, as well as Nessa and Tess, my mother—alive though still trapped as a puca—and, of course, my sister wouldn’t be imprisoned.
A knock came at my door, and I ignored the persistent tapping. When it didn’t cease, I called out, “Go away!”
The door opened and Adelle slipped inside, closing the door behind her.
“Adelle, I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood for visitors.”
Her normally pristinely styled hair fell in disarray around her shoulders as if she had just woken up from a deep sleep. She looked horrible.
“You… you….” Her voice trembled, and her finger raised at me accusingly.
I stood up, my hands dropping to my sides, and I looked down at my feet. “You heard the news. I’m sorry, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.”
“Y-You,” she stuttered as she struggled to walk over to me.
“Adelle, are you okay? Have you been drinking perhaps? You don’t sound like yourself.” I moved to her side and reached out to touch her sleeve. Her skin beneath my fingertips was burning up.
She attacked. Adelle grabbed me by the upper arm, swung me around, and slammed my head into the wall so hard the paintings shook. Her eyes were dark and filled with hate.
“Free me,” she hissed out, and I could smell the sulfur on her breath and knew that it wasn’t Adelle anymore but Allemar controlling her.
“Free me. I freed your mother.” Her mouth twisted into an un-Adelle smile. This one was crooked and her lips twitched.
“Adelle, listen to me,” I said calmly. “This isn’t you. Remember, you are being controlled by someone else. You were right all along.”
Her hands reached up to my throat, and she squeezed. I started to choke and struggle for air. She was much stronger than I had anticipated.
“Adelle,” I grunted. But it wasn’t her eyes that looked back at me. I saw only darkness. I reached out, closed my eyes, and felt the warmth of my glamour spread over my body as I became Adelle. My hair became longer, darker. My dress mirrored hers. I was her, except for my eyes. I made sure that she looked into her own star blue eyes and not the black pools that I saw.
The pressure on my own neck faltered as she was confronted with herself.
“No!” Adelle cried and stepped away, her hands going to her ears as she kept mumbling to herself over and over. “Stop it. Go away. I can’t hear you anymore.”
I gasped and clutched my throat, feeling the burning sensation return as she had pressed on my earlier bruises. She was becoming frantic, and I needed to act. I had to save her. I walked over to her and touched her forehead.
“Somnus,” I whispered confidently.
Adelle’s eyes blinked and slowly closed, and she began to collapse, but I caught her midfall.
“Whoa!” I grunted and carefully laid her on the ground. She rolled over to her side, and I heard a contented snore. Then faltered. What was I to do with a possibly possessed woman? Who, when she woke up, may try and kill me a second time? “Oh drat.”
Another knock came at my door, and I looked at the collapsed girl in panic.
“One minute,” I called out and decided to roll her under my bed.
The person didn’t wait, because no sooner had I rolled Adelle under the bed then my door opened and Dorian walked in. When his eyes met mine, lighting up with excitement while my heart dropped in dread.
“Ah, you came back here. I expected you to stay in my room. There’s good news.” Dorian came over to me. “Your sister is still alive and in good health.” He reached out and grasped my upper arms. “I also have something I need to tell you. I’m not who you think I am.”
My heart was breaking at what I was about to do.
“Stop,” I whispered.
“I’ve lied to you, kept things from you.”
“Stop,” I said more firmly. “It doesn’t matter.”
Dorian frowned. “You don’t even know what I was going to say. It changes everything.”
“It changes nothing,” I snapped. “I promised I would marry Evander in the morning. And nothing you say will change that.”
“Yes, it will.” He reached out, cupping his hand behind my head and pulling me close in an embrace. “I can be your prince, if you will let me.”
His words so cryptic yet so poetic, but I needed to tell him. To warn him.
“Dorian, I—” My mouth began to burn and the words wouldn’t come forth. The spell made it impossible to speak of what was coming. I took a deep breath. “I’m going to ki—”
“Kiss me,” he interrupted me and pressed his lips to mine, silencing me with his kiss. He teased at my lips and tongue, making me weak in the knees.
I pulled away, and the tears began to flow. “No, you must leave. Go, run away from here.” I pushed him in the chest.
“Only if you come with me.” He grasped my hands between his. “I don’t want to be apart from you.”
“That will be awkward when I’m married to your brother,” I spat out angrily and watched as the smile fell from his face.
“You know?” He became very still. “That he’s my brother. That I’m Prince Vincent.”
“I know.”
“And yet you will still marry him?”
“Yes.” I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see the pain in his eyes that was mirrored in my own.
“Why?”
I had to think hard and fast, because the spell would not let me warn him but didn’t have a problem with me telling him to run away. I had to dig deep and bring out the claws and the words that I hoped would wound him. I was going to dig at his scars.
Angry tears of self-loathing poured down my cheeks, and I used the hatred to fuel my words. “Because he is not you. For how could I ever love a half-fae like yourself?” I watched as my words began to cut into his stony exterior. But he stood there nobly and didn’t move.
“Evander is twice the man you will ever be. You are nothing. A nobody. A bastard son that runs away from his duty and crown. A coward.”
“Don’t do this,” Dorian warned.
“You ran away then. You should run away now. Leave here, for I never want to see your face again. I love Evander. I will marry Evander and be queen. And you will do nothing but tarnish my wedding with your presence.” His face became cold, hard, unreadable, and he stormed out of the room, and I prayed that I had done enough to make him leave. Run far away.
I collapsed in a swirl of skirts on the hardwood floor of my room and buried my face in my hands and cried. Cried tears of grief, sorrow, pain, and relief. Because I had found a loophole in the contract with Evander.
They said I must kill Dorian tomorrow, not tonight. I only prayed that he wouldn’t show up for the wedding, because if he did, I might have to kill him.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Morning came rolling in under the cover of gray clouds and thunderstorms, very much like my mood. At the crack of dawn, servants were jam packed in my room as they prepared me for my wedding day.
Harmony didn’t seem the least disappointed that she wasn’t the one marrying the prince. In fact, her cheeks seemed rosy and there was a sparkle in her eye.
“I’m so happy for you,” she gushed over morning breakfast
in my room. “I just knew there was something special about you, and it seems I was right.” She broke her croissant and dipped her knife in raspberry jam and spread it over the soft, warm bread.
“Really, you’re not at all sad?”
“Nope.” She grinned mischievously at me. “In fact”—she held up her hand, and I could see the teeniest hint of gold-colored string around her finger—“I’m promised to someone too.”
“Who?” I asked, but I had a feeling I knew.
“Derek,” she sighed his name dreamily.
“He is perfect for you,” I said, meaning every word. There wasn’t anyone else here as pure as him.
“Of course, you will be invited to the wedding.” She grinned.
“I’ll be waiting for the invitation,” I said, turning back to my untouched breakfast. I had no appetite and doubted I would until the wedding was over.
“Too bad Adelle can’t join us,” Harmony said. “I knocked on her room, but she didn’t answer.”
“I think she’s a bit strung out by the news. I bet she’s just oversleeping.” I glanced at my bed. From where I sat, I could see her foot sticking out from under the covers. Carefully, I got up and moved over to the bed, and in a facade of adjusting the pillows, I pushed her foot back under the bed. She would sleep for a while longer as I had rewoven my sleeping spell over her. I only hoped she didn’t start snoring.
“It’s time,” Cristin said and waved in a group of dressmakers, all of them carrying various dresses in white and holding them up for my selection. “Which one do you like?” she asked. “They were all selected by Queen Giselle herself. You have gowns made from imported silk from Rya, pearls from Isla, and diamonds and gems from the mines of Kiln. All gifts from the other kingdoms for your wedding.” Cristin clapped her hands, and boxes of veils were brought in and laid out on the table.
“Can you give us some privacy?” I asked.
“But you will need help getting ready. The queen was adamant that you not be late.”
I gave her a cold stare. “Do you really think I would be late to my own wedding? Besides, Harmony will help me.” I reached out for Harmony’s hand.
Harmony fluttered and preened. “Of course, I will.”
Cristin curtseyed and left, taking all of the servant girls and dressmakers with her.
I turned to the pile of the most gorgeous dresses I had ever laid eyes on. They brought me no joy, only despair. For I would wear one of them as I walked down the aisle to marry a man I did not love to save a sister that I did love.
Harmony begin to sort through the dresses. “Nope, not that one. Yuck. Ew. Okay, what about this one? It’s timeless.” She spun, holding an A-line, high-neck dress covered in lace that ran all the way down the arms with silver rings that attached to my fingers.
I became excited. “Yes, and a veil. I need a veil.” A plan began to form in my head, one that seemed to have been in the making since the very beginning.
I scoured through dozens of veils until I found one that would work. “This one.” I pulled it over my face and could barely see anything.
“Are you sure?” Harmony frowned. “It will hide your face.”
“I’m sure,” I said. “It’s perfect.”
“Well, if you say so.” She flipped the lace back over my head and gave me a hug. “You will make the most beautiful bride.”
I grabbed the dress and tossed it to her. I slipped off my glass slippers and handed them to her with the veil. “No, Harmony, you will,” I said, and quickly explained my plan.
My stomach was in knots as I walked down the carpets toward the royal suites, trying to remember to keep my head up and my shoulders back and to not look like I was about to puke. I only had an hour to get my plan put into action, and even now I didn’t know if Harmony would be able to pull off the charade, I asked her to play along without giving her the full explanation, for the spell kept my lips sealed.
I tried to put a little sashay into my hips as I walked toward Dorian’s room, glancing at the mirror. I waved my hand and adjusted the shade of rouge on my lips to a darker hue. As I climbed the stairs, my heart rate climbed with each step, beating faster and faster as my nerves began to get the better of me. I opened the door into the study and saw that it was empty, other than the normal scattered mess of books and scrolls. Moving through the study into his bedroom, I saw that the easel was knocked over and the painting of me gone. Destroyed or tossed out, it was evident that it was no longer in the room. His wardrobe was open and looked like clothes were missing.
My plan was to come up here as Adelle and turn the tables on him. If he was here, I was going to seduce him, convince him to run away with me—Adelle. But it seemed I didn’t have to. He was gone.
I turned around and almost screamed as I saw Evander in the doorway of Dorian’s room. “How very interesting that I would find you here,” he said. “After you swore your undying love to me.”
My feet were frozen to the floor, unable to move as Evander walked toward me. He stopped inches from my face as his hand reached toward my neck. He brushed my hair over my shoulder, and his hand clasped my face roughly.
Then his mouth was on mine and he was kissing me passionately, unlike the one we had shared before. I was shocked by the aggressiveness of the kiss and how his hands wandered to my lower back, pressing me close. “My father told me to marry for money. But with you, Adelle, I get the whole package.”
I stiffened and turned my face away.
“What’s wrong?” I could hear the frustration in his voice.
“You’re getting married today,” I said.
“And why should that stop us? I don’t plan on being married for very long. Just long enough to fulfill the prophecy and become king. Then there will be an accident. You did say you wanted to be queen.” He ran his lips across my cheek and whispered in my ear, “I can make that happen. Be my queen.”
I felt queasy. He just admitted that he was going to kill me. My stomach lurched, and I pushed him away from me as I wiped his kiss away with the back of my hand.
His normally handsome face turned sour. “Let me guess, you came here because of him. You’re choosing Dorian over me?”
I didn’t say anything out of fear. Just nodded my head.
“I have to get ready,” I said in my best imitation of Adelle. “For your wedding.”
“Again, he steals what’s mine,” Evander began to vent and pace the room, his anger rising and my fear with it. He followed me to the study, and I opened the door to head down the stairs.
Evander came up behind me suddenly, his voice a low growl. “Well, if I can’t have you, no one can.”
He shoved me from behind. I felt air rush past me, and the floor dropped out from below as I fell forward, my momentum carrying me into nothing. The steps rushing toward my head. I covered my face and felt a soft cushion of air surround me, but it didn’t stop my forward fall. I rolled, tumbled, and fell down the curved stairs, but instead of a sharp jab, I was encased in warmth. When I hit the floor, I lay sprawled out and played dead. Closing my eyes, I used glamour to make a pool of blood cover my dress and accentuated the angle of my head. I heard Evander’s steps as he sauntered down each one, not in a hurry to check on me. He slowed, I assumed when he saw my dead body. He leaned close, and I felt the nudge of a boot on my leg.
“What a waste.” He clapped his hands, and I heard the soft shuffling of feet, probably a house elf. “Get rid of the body.”
The boots continued down the hall, and I waited, my chest screaming as I held my breath. A soft nudge came on my shoulder, and I peeked through lowered lashes. It was Dorian’s house elf Dinky. She must have used her magic to slow my fall and save my life.
She waved her fingers at me and gestured to hurry, pointing toward my room. I got up and glared after Evander. My fingers curled into fists, my nails biting into the palms of my hands. I was shaking with rage.
“Is Dorian gone?” I asked.
Dinky nodded.
“Good. I wouldn’t want him to see me murder his brother.”
The orchestra played a light and airy sonata, and I had to admit that the chapel was decorated beautifully for my wedding. Long, silk streamers hung from the ceiling, and vases of cream-colored roses lined the altar. The ceremony was small. The king and queen sat on smaller portable thrones, and Evander stood in front of them waiting eagerly for his bride. Long, wooden boxes lined the sides of the chapel, and the very few guests sat on raised benches within. Guards were scattered in groups of two throughout.
I adjusted the white silk gloves and checked to make sure Dorian’s button was still tucked against my palm and that my glamour was securely in place. The double doors opened, and I walked down the aisle.
I looked beautiful. The dress Harmony picked out hugged my curves, and the veil was thick and beautiful. From this distance, I could see her hands shaking, and she kept glancing over to me.
Very slowly, I shook my head no. Not yet.
Evander lifted my veil, and my smile was too bright, too forced, but he didn’t notice. The wedding continued as the priest began the vows, and I waited—waited for the right moment for the cue. For the priest to ask the right question. It was what we rehearsed.
My hands clutched the button in my glove, and I shifted my weight from one foot to another.
The priest began, “If anyone has just cause as to why these two should not wed, then spea—”
“I object,” I called out in my best Dorian impression and stepped from the bench seat on the side of the room, where I had been observing. Harmony, in my wedding dress, holding Evander’s hand, spun and looked relieved.
“I object,” another voice called out from the back of the chapel, and I turned and faced down the real Dorian.
“Oh, by the stars,” I groaned.
“Two Dorians.” Evander turned to glare at the woman on his arm and Eden’s shocked face. Harmony was wearing my glass slippers and my glamour held strong. “What is the meaning of this, Eden?” Evander shook her arm hard. “You were supposed to take care of this.”
