Cursed (The Price of Magic Series Book 1)

by Freya Black

  Declan would have forced me to run up these steps, if I had made the trek with him instead of Sloane. Ever since he had seen the movie Rocky, it had been his dream to run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

  I couldn’t help but think about Declan as I sat on the top step, staring down at the fruit trees. I missed him, and that made me feel guilty. With a sour face, I peeled my jacket off and handed it to Sloane. He lifted me to my feet, and for the first time, I noticed my surroundings. I stood at the top of the stairs, slack-jawed, in awe of its beauty.

  Sloane laughed at my expression, his arms outstretched. “Welcome to Krona.”

  Two cobblestone paths converged at the bridge in front of us, dropping down into a bright green meadow. Proportionate to the Fey creatures roaming about, the village boasted miniature houses, brightly painted with round windows and doors, mismatched shutters, and pointed roofs.

  I leaned over the bridge, my eyes wide with curiosity. “Why did you ever leave this place? If I lived here, they’d have to throw me out. It’s so sunny and beautiful. Birds are chirping, and the air smells sweet and kind of amazing…kind of like you.”

  Sloane laughed. “I didn’t realize I had a scent.”

  I giggled as he lifted his arm to his face and took a whiff.

  “Hmm…you’re right. It must be from long-term exposure to Krona. I never even noticed.”

  Men with human torsos and long fish tails swam in the sapphire river below us. My mother had called them Tridents, mermen who protected the realm from Sirens and evil sea creatures. At the edge of the water, tiny girls hovered over large lotus flowers. Their wings flapped above their pastel dresses as they moved alongside the river like bees.

  “Are those pixies?” My cheeks flushed at their irritated looks, a result of their superhuman hearing. “I heard they grant wishes,” I said, lowering my voice to a whisper.

  “They can, but it has to be within reason. A fairy granted me a wish on my eighteenth birthday.”

  “What did you wish for?”

  He hooked his arm around my back, his steel-blue irises sparkling in the sunlight. “To see you, of course.”

  A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. “That was right before you came back to Arcadia. I guess you got your wish.”

  As we neared the end of the bridge, his aura darkened, and his anxiety became mine, burning my skin.

  I jerked back and slid my palm down my jeans. “What’s wrong?”

  His chin tilted to the sky where a monstrous stone castle was perched atop a mountain. Set into the clouds, it looked like something out of a fairy tale. “It’s my fault.”

  “You’re not making sense. What are you talking about?”

  “My wish is what started all of this…the portal…your curse. And, now, we’re breaking a law that could get both of us killed.”

  “You didn’t do this. It’s called a curse for a reason, and there’s nothing you or anyone else could have done to prevent it. My fate is sealed.”

  My heart crumbled into a thousand pieces when he frowned.

  “I still feel responsible. If I hadn’t—”

  “Stop!” I held out my hand, as if halting traffic. “It’s not your fault.”

  He leaned down, and our lips brushed together as the sweet smell of his skin and the warmth of his breath made my heart race.

  “It’s a coincidence, nothing more than that.” I shot him a stern look because I needed his pity party to end. “Got it?”

  He smiled in acknowledgment and kissed me.

  We reached the high walls and the smooth ledges that wrapped around the hillside, but we were only halfway to the castle. We made our ascent into the sky, and by the time our feet hit the top, my head was spinning in circles. In front of the gatehouse, men stood at attention, dressed in black knit pants, boots, and white quilted arming doublets. They had purple capes fastened around their necks with a gold chain belted at their waists. A select few sported round plum-colored hats, which I suspected carried a more official rank, while the majority wore white-and-purple caps with the peaks turned up.

  As we approached, they lowered their heads and bent at the knees. I raised my eyebrow at Sloane.

  He flashed a crooked smile and shrugged. “Just go with it.”

  A middle-aged man with light features and short hair stepped through the gates as they creaked opened. His medium height and build filled out the black robe embellished in gold. I chuckled as he moved forward with a tassel on the side of his cap smacking him in the face.

  He bowed in front of me. “Your Grace, welcome. I’m Claudius Montgomery, Chancellor of Krona.”

  Confused and too exhausted to ask questions, I smiled.

  He lowered his head to Sloane. “Your Grace, welcome home.”

  Sloane reached out and shook his hand. From Claudius’s reaction, I realized it was not customary.

  “Claudius, nice to see you.”

  “Queen Moira is awaiting your arrival in the Throne Room,” he said with a nod.

  Claudius escorted us through the bustling courtyard, behind the castle walls, and into the Throne Room. The ceilings were so high that the slightest sound made an echo. White light devoured the space, and the stained glass windows glowed from its warmth. Purple-and-gold tapestries bearing the royal seal hung from the walls. Even the carpet was purple. Until then, I’d thought the Coven’s overuse of the color was a bit excessive.

  Claudius whispered into the ear of a man wearing a white cap with two ostrich feathers sticking out of the top. He stepped to the side, his eyes shifting toward the floor. Sloane looped his arm around mine and positioned me on the carpet at the center of the room.

  The man with the ostrich feathers announced, “His Grace, the Duke of Varro.”

  I stared at Sloane sideways, waiting for the man to continue.

  “Her Grace, the Duchess of Varro.”

  My jaw almost hit the floor when it dawned on me that Ostrich Man was talking about me—Fiona Mandrake. I was sure it was a mistake.

  Sloane led me down the carpet, acknowledging the Queen’s courtiers. It was obvious that Sloane knew the women in the room. They bowed and smiled, their seductive looks irritating me more each second.

  The Queen’s throne was massive, made from raised pieces of marble and gold, and spanned the entire wall. Queen Moira was thousands of years old, but her youthful skin and high cheekbones contradicted her age. Her striking resemblance to my mother—and to me, for that matter—surprised me. Everything about her intimidated me. She strolled down the stairs like she was floating on air, her two sisters following behind her with equal grace.

  They lined up in front of us, and when the Queen stretched out her hand to Sloane, he kissed the top of her hand and bowed. “Your Majesty.”

  “Your Grace,” Queen Moira said to Sloane with a smile. Her voice was soft like my mother’s, and she spoke with what sounded like an Irish accent. She held her hand out to me, her beautiful features soft yet hard as stone. “Come here, child. Let me take a look at you.”

  Queen Moira walked around me, studying every inch of my haggard appearance. “You are just as beautiful in person as you have been in my visions.”

  My clothes were thick with mud and torn in certain places, and my hair stood on end. I was far from beautiful at that moment. As she loosened her grasp, I noticed the same scar-like crescent moon birthmark as mine. Her palm glowed a pale shade of green, the color of Green Energy.

  I stood there, speechless and statuesque, as she stared into my eyes, as if extracting my thoughts. She motioned her sisters to step forward.

  On her left, a woman the same age as the Queen with milky skin, long red curls, and bright green eyes that reminded me of Declan flashed a quick smile.

  “This is my sister Brigit, Princess of Krona.”

  “It’s been too long,” Brigit said, tugging at the sides of her white-and-black gown.

  I didn’t know if I should curtsy or speak or what was expected of me, so I kept my
mouth shut and smiled.

  “This is my sister Arabella, Princess of Krona,” the Queen said, gesturing to the woman on her right.

  Arabella had long black hair, straight as a pin, and powder-blue eyes, matching the stitching of her elaborate gown.

  The Queen eyed Sloane, and after a brief pause, she smiled. “I see Your Grace has taken good care of my granddaughter.”

  “Granddaughter?” I stammered. “But you’re—” I was about to say, not a human but a fairy, but I stopped myself.

  Queen Moira chuckled, but it was low and feminine. She oozed class and sophistication and carried herself exactly the way I had imagined she would—like a queen.

  “Not in the maternal sense, but we are family. Where do think your gifts come from, my dear? Mortals do not possess divine powers.”

  All of my Coven’s powers had come from the Fey, though mine had come from the most powerful of them all. I thought of what Kate had said about the prophecy and Katherine Cleary, and I realized, in some ways, Queen Moira was like family. After all, I was born in Krona even though I didn’t have a single picture to remember it by. My mother had always said that Kate was my earthly godmother and Queen Moira was my heavenly godmother. It never made sense until that moment.

  Without thinking, I blurted out, “Do I call you Queen or Grandmother?”

  Everyone laughed, including the Queen.

  “Oh no, dear. Please call me Moira. No need for formal salutations.”

  Maybe it was the Fey’s Glamour magic playing tricks on me, but I liked being around her. I had a fairy godmother, which was the coolest thing in the world.

  “Moira, it is,” I said, straightening my face to hide my excitement.

  After Sloane and I had a short reception with the Queen and her sisters, we were ushered upstairs to our bedchambers. A four-poster bed with gold silk draped from the canopy filled the center of the room. Beautiful tapestries and hand-woven rugs spanned the white marble. A wall of stained glass windows gave the room an ethereal glow. The air around me sparkled with a magical shimmer that reminded me of Enchanted Books & Beans.

  I had yet to explore the room before I heard a knock on the door. An older woman with brown hair tucked into a bun entered. She introduced herself as Clara and headed straight to the bathroom. She filled the claw-foot tub and prepared a delicious mixture of honey-scented oils. I slipped into the bath and scrubbed the dirt from my skin. The stench of my journey washed away, but the guilt I’d brought with me remained.

  My conscience weighed heavily on me as I looked up at the gold tiled ceiling. I felt compelled to message Kate, but that text would surely go unanswered. Other than Astral Glass, I had no idea how to contact another realm. If not for the prophecy, Kate would kill Sloane and then me. I shuddered at the thought of what we would come home to.

  Instead of focusing on things I could no longer control, I dunked my head underwater. The scent of honey clung to my hair, like shampoo. In fact, I didn’t even need it. One dip in their magical waters, and it was like stepping out of the shower. Not only did I feel clean, I also felt rejuvenated.

  Clara laid a blue silk gown with lace accents on the bed, accompanied by a matching sapphire necklace, headpiece, and earrings. She insisted on brushing my hair. Although strange, I allowed her to proceed as the Queen had instructed. After she pinned my hair into place, Clara positioned the headpiece and helped me with my corset. It sucked the air right out of my lungs as she tugged on the strings.

  A straitjacket would be more comfortable.

  I heard someone knock twice on the door, and Sloane entered. He was handsome, as always, dressed in black trousers, a vest, and a white long-sleeved shirt.

  “Fiona…” The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, reaching his steely-blue eyes. “You look…”

  I pinched the sides of my gown and spun in a circle. “You like?”

  “You look beautiful, like a princess.”

  I blushed at his compliment and collapsed in his arms. “Speaking of princesses, why didn’t you tell me about my title?”

  He bent down and kissed my forehead. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I’m pretty sure the Queen only made me a Duke because of you. Only the Fey are royals because they’re descendants of the Gods and Goddesses. But people like us can have noble titles. Of course, some of the Fey don’t take too kindly to mortals living among them, bearing the royal crest, but it has its perks.”

  Sloane hooked his arm with mine, and we strolled down the hallway with Claudius to the Great Hall.

  At the head of an oak table large enough to fit several hundred people, Queen Moira was waiting with a sister at each side. On cue, servants began pouring a thick liquid into gold chalices. The aroma of honey filled my nostrils. Everything in Krona smelled good enough to eat.

  Wait staff flew out of the kitchen, a dozen at a time, balancing gold trays of food in each palm. With quick robotic motions, they lined the table with delectable pastries, sauces, and breads. The feast could have fed the entire town of Arcadia.

  I tapped Sloane with my elbow. “The food is amazing.”

  He nodded.

  When I had his attention, I pointed to the round pastries filled with fruit. “What do you call those mini cakes?”

  He lifted one from the gold platter and took a bite. “Ambrosia and honey tarts.”

  Queen Moira waved her hand, and a servant set a serving tray of ambrosia and honey tarts next to me on the table.

  “They were your mother’s favorite, too, my dear. I would have them specially prepared when she came to visit.”

  “So, if I’m from the same bloodline as you, then you already know why we’re here.”

  The Queen folded her hands on the table in front of her. “Yes. The moment you tethered into Krona, I had a vision.”

  “Oh,” I said, thinking of the correct response.

  Floor-length tapestries were suspended from the vaulted ceilings on the wall behind Queen Moira. Her crest, a gold crescent moon with five stars surrounding it, caught my eye.

  “I guess you already know about the Hexenjagers,” I said, studying the banner.

  Her eyes fixed on mine, like she was reading my thoughts.

  My fairy godmother had features of a model, but they were as hard as stone. Long blonde hair covered her slightly pointed ears. She had skin like porcelain, and when she spoke, her voice was so calm and pleasant that it was as if she were singing the words.

  “Not to worry, my dear. Erilaz has just what you need.”

  I flattened my back against the chair to take pressure off my corset. The boning dug deep into my stomach, so much so that I thought it would crack a rib. Each breath hurt more than the last. I pressed into my side and managed to choke out, “Do you know why my mom kept the Galdrar?”

  Queen Moira wiped her mouth with a napkin and set it on her lap. “She suspected someone on the Council of impropriety.”

  Relief washed over me in buckets. The Queen had delivered the most amazing news—proof that my mother had made the right choice. My nails gripped at the table, which I hadn’t noticed I was doing until Sloane tugged on my arm.

  I turned my head, lost in my own mind, and then I looked down the table at Queen Moira. “Did she say whom?”

  Her eyes narrowed at her sisters, and I knew they were hiding something. Princess Brigit flipped her bright red curls, creating a veil between us, while Princess Arabella took a sip from her chalice.

  “We have our suspicions, but I can’t make accusations without evidence to support my claim. Until the next Lustrum of the Imperium Council, I’m afraid, my hands are tied.”

  Ten years ago, during the cleansing of the Imperium Council—what they called a Lustrum—the Council had considered my mother for a position alongside them. Repeated once every five years, similar in fashion to a presidential election, the Lustrum process would ensure the Council remained impartial. The five Council members who lived in Castra were comparable to Supreme Court justices. They’d hear and try
cases involving Divine Law and hand out sentences. But their powers had a much further reach than banishing offenders to the Gallows. They were the witches and supernaturals you feared most.

  The Queen waved her hand, and our plates disappeared. I wondered if the servants were for show or if, like the food, they were Glamours, a simple trick of the mind.

  “Sorry for the intrusion, Your Majesty.” Sloane waited for the Queen to nod before he began to speak, “After my father and I arrived in Arcadia, Kate was contacted by Councilwoman Valdis Stone through Astral Glass. We believe Hexenjagers opened a freestanding portal with a Scipio wand in the orchards here in Krona. I jumped through the portal, but it closed before I could tether back. My father found one in the Fomorian Forest that also brought him to Arcadia. If there are only three wands left in existence and we found one of them in a secret room hidden in Fiona’s bedroom at the Coven House, then why isn’t the Council looking for them?”

  Queen Moira straightened her back and remained so still that I wondered if she was breathing. “With my magic, I helped Amelia build the room before the Glamour War.” She stared through me, ignoring Sloane. “Go to that room if you ever need to communicate with me. The mirrors are Astral Glass. In regard to the Scipio wand and the Galdrar, I wasn’t aware that Amelia was in possession of either one. If the Council knew she hid them, they didn’t mention it to me.”

  Queen Moira snapped her fingers. “Claudius.”

  He rushed to her side in an instant, pulling her chair from the table. She smoothed her hands down the front of her violet silk gown.

  “I must retire to my bedchamber. Please see to it that Fiona and Sloane find their way back to their living quarters.” Then, she glanced at Sloane and me, flashing a set of pearly white teeth. “Tomorrow, Erilaz will assist you with your Hexenjager problem. Until then, good evening, my dears.”

  Princess Brigit and Princess Arabella nodded in my direction, flashing smiles over their shoulders, before they trailed behind Queen Moira.