Intrigues of the Solar Fae Court

by Ivy Clyde

  My arms tightened around her. I couldn’t imagine how suffocated she must have felt without knowing or understanding herself. There was no one to guide her or teach her to protect herself. My heart bled for the pain she suffered. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, knowing it was already too late to do anything.

  She brushed at the tears on her cheeks and met my gaze. “Are you going to tell me to forget what just happened?”

  “I have to,” I said. “It’s not that I don’t like you, Moira. I do, and that’s the reason I must keep you away from me. They murdered my mother with the sole aim to hurt me. They wouldn’t spare you.”

  Her expression grew grim. “Who did?”

  “I don’t know,” I said through clenched teeth. “It could be the queen, it could be one of the noblemen or it could simply be someone else unrelated to me and my family.” My fingers brushed over the peach-soft skin of her cheek. “But I can’t let you die the same way too.”

  Her hand closed over mine. “What if we keep things a secret?”

  I shook my head. “It’s still too risky. There are eyes watching my every move, both here and in the palace.” My hand caressed her silky, gold strands. “But I promise to keep you safe, Moira. Even if I can’t promise anything else, that is one vow I’ll never break.”

  Dawn was breaking in the eastern horizon. It was time for me to leave. Breaking away from Moira, I stood up. “I must go now.”

  Moira looked like she wanted to say something more but stopped herself. I didn’t have any words to make the situation better either. Exhaling a long breath, I headed for the door.

  “Do you want me to wait?” Moira called out just as I was about to open the door.

  “Don’t,” I said without turning around. Wrenching open the door, I walked out to hide the pain spreading through me.

  15

  Moira

  I could have slept the few hours after dawn but sleep eluded me. The wound in my arm still throbbed but the intensity had decreased. The herbal ointment Rowan gave me was close to being miraculous. It closed up the deep gash in my flesh without the need for any stitches. Not only that, but the wound was also already drying up quickly.

  It wasn’t the pain keeping me awake but all the things Rowan told me. He wanted to be with me but couldn’t because he was afraid someone would come after me. I was already aware of what happened to his mother but didn’t think the matter would scar him so badly, he would choose to stay alone.

  My finger brushed over my lips. They still tingled from the memory of his kiss.

  I shifted under the blanket and turned to face the windows. The sky was already blue with wisps of white clouds dotting its vast expanse. It was already a new day but I couldn’t calm my mind. The situation with the three princes wasn’t as simple as I’d initially thought. There was a lot at stake for all three of them. Rowan and Cade were fighting for the throne while Leon was waiting for the feud to get over so he could have the freedom to do what he wanted.

  I twisted around and stared at the wall. Somehow, a strange girl landed between them and was told she could be their potential mate. Even though they would like to be with her, they were each held back by their own reasons, most of which seemed to stem from court politics.

  So far, I’d kissed both Rowan and Leon. Both their touches lit my body on fire, causing a deep, pulsing ache to flare up inside me. My body wanted them both at the same time. A hot flush spread over my cheeks at the thought. It grew hotter as I thought of Cade in the mix. Even though he’d started out being the biggest asshole among his brothers, I knew he was thinking about me too. Deirdre had confirmed that much for me last night. It was the very reason she felt threatened enough to come kill me.

  A knock sounded at the door, breaking me out of my fantasies. Sitting up, I brushed my fingers through the tangled mess of my blond hair and went to open the door.

  “Hey, you’re not dressed yet.” Isla frowned at me from the threshold. She was already dressed neatly for the day in her academy uniform.

  “Get inside,” I whispered, tugging at her hand. Shutting the door behind her, I faced her. “You won’t believe the things that happened last night.”

  Her gaze was already set on the paste-covered wound on my arm. “What happened to you? How did you get injured?”

  I put a finger to my lips to stop her from talking so loudly. Beckoning her forward, I gestured to the spot beside me on the edge of the bed.

  “What’s with all the mystery?” she whispered, looking eager.

  “Do you know some noble bitch called Deirdre?” I asked when she sat down beside me.

  Her brows rose high on her forehead. “Of course, I know her. Why are you asking?”

  “She attacked me last night.” Pointing to the wound, I added, “She did this to me.”

  Her expression turned grim. “Tell me everything from the beginning.”

  Isla’s face remained frozen in an expression of surprise as I narrated the events of last night, including what happened between me and Rowan. A glance at the clock on the wall told me we were already late for breakfast but Isla didn’t seem fazed about that fact. She continued to give me her undivided attention, soaking up the story with interest.

  “You hid a lot of things from me,” said Isla by the time I finished.

  “Rowan threatened to kill me if I told anyone about our interaction.”

  Isla nodded. “It was very smart of you to keep your mouth shut. That’s the only way to survive the twisted ways of court politics.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Prince Rowan isn’t wrong though. He is an exceptional warrior and strategist. He is loyal to the king. He is not involved in any shady business. The commoners like his impartial ways. His only weakness is his heart. That’s the only thing his enemies can attack. They will kill anyone he loves just to bring down his morale. I am impressed he’s thinking of you before satisfying his own needs.”

  “Rowan said he settled matters with Deirdre,” I said, voicing the thing making me most anxious. “She isn’t the type of girl who forgives and forgets, right?”

  “Not a chance,” said Isla. Her short blond hair bobbed as she shook her head vigorously. “She will definitely pay you back for ruining her face.”

  “What about Rowan?”

  “I am sure he is paying on your behalf. Deirdre isn’t someone who will be happy with gold and jewels. She already has enough of those. Whatever she demands will cost the prince dearly.”

  My teeth sank into my bottom lip. Rowan didn’t go into any details of the arrangement with Deirdre. I began feeling terribly selfish for being angry with him without understanding the underlying cause for his rough, cruel treatment. He’d been trying to help me from the start. The real him was the guy who saved me from the clutches of the night-walker back at the Troll Bazaar in Lost Sanctum.

  “What should I do?” I asked. “Rowan said she will stay away from the academy for a month to recover but what do I do when she returns? Is there a way to get out of here and hide somewhere?”

  Isla chuckled. “Do you think you’re in Lost Sanctum or New York? If they want to find you, they will easily do so. Her father is Lord Coran. Even the king wouldn’t be able to save you if he makes you his target.”

  “So, I’m fucked either way?”

  “Kind of,” she said with a shrug. “The best thing to do is to capture one of the princes. They might be the only ones who can protect you.”

  “I don’t want to depend on anyone,” I said, looking down at my knees. Leon’s proposal to be his mistress rang in my ears. I didn’t want to be as desperate as that but…

  A knock sounded on the door. Isla and I glanced at each other.

  “Were you expecting someone?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Stay here.” She got up and walked to the door and opened it.

  “Is Miss Nelson here?” said a high, girly voice.

  Isla opened the door wide. Holly peered around her waist to glance at me. The brownie-ma
id strode forward and came to stand before me.

  “My Lady wants you in her office,” she said in a tight voice. “There is a royal messenger who wishes to see you.” Her beetle-black eyes roved all over me. “You need to hurry and clean up before I can take you to them.”

  “Let me help you,” said Isla. She rushed inside the bathroom and came back with a wooden box. Opening it, she took out strips of what looked like dried kelp. “Extend your arm,” she said. “I will bind the wound for you.”

  I gave her my arm. She quickly wrapped the wound with a long strip of the dried leaf and then proceeded to cover it with a layer of white linen.

  “I have waterproofed it for you,” said Isla. “Go take a shower and I will lay out your clothes for you.”

  “Thanks.” Turning toward Holly, I asked, “Will you wait?”

  “I must,” she said curtly.

  I headed into the bathroom and stripped out of my clothes. Stepping inside a glass stall, I turned on the shower. Warm water gushed out immediately. A sigh escaped me as my sore muscles relaxed a little. It was too bad I couldn’t spend longer under the soothing, hot water.

  After a few minutes, I turned off the water and stepped out. Donning a bathrobe, I walked out into my room.

  “You look cleaner,” said Holly with a nod. “Get dressed quickly now.”

  “Turn around,” I said.

  The brownie maid frowned at me.

  “Human modesty,” said Isla and turned away from me.

  Holly huffed and did the same. “Hurry up, child,” she said in an irritated tone. “It won’t bode well for you if you keep the royal messenger waiting.”

  “Give me a minute. I’m almost done.” Holly tapped her foot impatiently while I quickly changed into the Belenus Court uniform and made sure it was neat. “I’m done. You can look now.”

  “Your hair is still untidy,” said Holly. She took out a comb from one of the pockets of her dress and marched toward me. Hopping onto the bed, she beckoned me. “Come here.”

  I exchanged a glance with Isla and went to stand before her. She brushed my hair some more and tied it at the back in a high ponytail. She turned me around to face her. After a few seconds of consideration, she framed my face with a few loose strands.

  “All good?” I asked.

  “As good as it can be given the circumstances,” said Holly. “Come. Let’s be on our way.”

  “I’ll catch up with you later,” I told Isla.

  “Be careful of everyone if you are asked to go to the palace,” said Isla in a grim tone. “Stay on your guard at all times.”

  Holly grasped my hand in a tight grip. Before I could say a thing to Isla, I felt a sudden suffocating sensation, followed by my vision blackening immediately. The earth seemed to vanish from under my feet and reappear the next second.

  Gasping, I nearly fell on my face. Only Holly’s iron-grip on my hand kept me on my feet as my vision swam before my eyes. Once the haziness lifted, I realized I was standing outside the door of Lady Chantal’s office.

  “Did you just make me teleport?” I gasped.

  “I don’t understand human jargon,” said Holly in a cold tone. “Now, behave.” Raising her hand, she knocked on the door.

  “Enter,” came Lady Chantal’s voice.

  Holly still had my hand in her grasp when she pushed the door and walked inside.

  Both Lady Chantal and Demitria were there but a third person was also present. Dressed in a purple tunic with rich gold brocade, his appearance was regal. The man himself was handsome and looked barely older than twenty but my time in the fae realm had taught me to look at their eyes rather than their flawless faces. The depth of emotions in those eyes told me of their real age.

  “Thank you for bringing her here,” said Lady Chantal.

  Holly bowed low and walked out of the room.

  “Come forward, Moira,” said Lady Demitria. “The royal messenger has come to you on behalf of Queen Brenna.”

  I stepped forward but felt nervous. What could the queen of the solar fae want with me?

  The stranger cleared his throat, making me glance at him.

  “The queen wishes to meet you, Miss Moira,” he said in a pleasant voice. “Please come with me.” Turning toward Demitria, he gestured toward the door. “Please accompany us, My Lady.”

  “Are you coming too?” I asked.

  “Yes,” she said with a smile.

  Relief spread through me. At least, someone familiar was going to be with me when I met the woman who was rumored to have murdered Rowan’s mother.

  “Don’t be nervous,” said Lady Demitria as we walked out of the room. “The queen only wants to see the girl who has the ancient mating seal on her. This symbol hasn’t been seen in the kingdom for at least two thousand years.”

  “Does it even matter?” I asked. “The princes rejected me.”

  “It is still quite a rarity,” said Demitria.

  While we talked, the messenger guy guided us along a network of hallways. He seemed to know his way around the castle since he quickly led us to a carriage waiting in the grounds.

  “Wow,” I breathed, staring at the most beautiful horses I’d ever seen. Their black coats gleamed under the sun as they let out gentle neighs.

  A hand curled around my wrist just as I was about to go close to them. “There are many magnificent things that will call out to you in the Sun Palace but you mustn’t reach out to them without a second thought.”

  I looked at Lady Demitria. She was smiling but the expression in her eyes was grim.

  “I understand,” I whispered as the strange man gestured for us to enter the coach.

  I followed Demitria inside the luxurious coach. My hand brushed over the velvet-covered seats and marveled at the richly-embroidered curtains at the small windows. The interior was more lavish than a limousine’s.

  When I was young, my mom took me to ride the horse carriages in the city once. They were mostly a tourist attraction but when I told her I was a princess and needed to travel in them, mom agreed to it. The coach had smelled faintly of vomit and tobacco and the ride had been quite noisy and bumpy but I’d loved every second of it.

  However, it was nothing compared to the carriage driving me to the Sun Palace. It was fast and the ride was amazingly smooth. There was no jostling or bouncing inside this vehicle. If I hadn’t seen the horses earlier, I’d have assumed we were inside a car.

  “Can I ask you something?” I whispered.

  “Go ahead,” said Lady Demitria.

  “Is it possible for me to live somewhere other than the school? I don’t take any regular classes because I wouldn’t fit with anyone, so there is no point.”

  “Where do you want to live?”

  “I don’t know…just away from Belenus Court.”

  She was quiet for a moment before leaning forward. “I know some of the students tried to bully you but it shouldn’t be a reason to leave the castle. It is the safest place for you at the moment. Take your time to acquaint yourself with our world. Get to know some people. Once you’re ready, you can go.”

  What she said did make sense. Other than the first few days, no one had been able to attack me. The books in the library were a great resource as well. I even had a friend in Isla. The only reason I wanted to leave was to avoid Deirdre when she returned.

  “Chantal and I will protect you,” said Demitria. This close, I could see the sincerity in her gaze. Emotions swirled in her jade-green eyes but I couldn’t name them but a deep intuition told me she could be trusted.

  I relaxed and gave a nod. “Thank you.” My gaze shifted to the open window. Vast fields extended out on both sides of the road. Wildflowers grew everywhere, suffusing the cool autumn breeze with their fragrance. I looked back at the mage before me. “Is it possible to recommend me a teacher who can teach me to use my powers? I am able to do small things with it but I want to learn how to use it to defend myself.”

  A gust of wind swept away the loose crimson
curls from Demitria’s pretty face. She looked thoughtful for a moment. “I will teach you.”

  I hadn’t really expected her to volunteer for the job.

  A chuckle escaped her. “You know, I’m quite good at duels. King Drustan wanted me as his personal guard but I refused.”

  “Is it possible to refuse a king?”

  “If you’re powerful enough, you can,” she said in a soft, barely audible voice.

  “Can I get as powerful as you?”

  “You have the capability to be much stronger than me,” said Demitria in an unusually grim tone. “What you need most is the ability to make the right decisions.” She leaned toward the window and looked out. “We’re going to be at the palace soon.” Turning back to face me, she added, “Be careful when you talk to me there. Even if you can’t see them, there is always someone watching and listening.”

  Her words made me clench my teeth. Anxiety swirled in my gut as I clasped my hands on my lap. Queen Brenna was not only rumored to have killed Rowan’s mother but she was also Cade’s mom. I didn’t know what to think of her but if I were to consider Demitria’s warnings, she had to be a dangerous person.

  16

  Moira

  The carriage window wasn’t big enough to let me capture the full scale of the magnificent palace in the distance. Glittering like a structure made of pure gold, the reflecting light nearly blinded my eyes. Some of my nervousness lessened because of the distraction.

  The carriage passed through a tall, beautifully-gilded gate which was heavily guarded by elves in golden armor. Demitria didn’t say anything while I hung my head out of the window like a dog, taking in the most fantastical sights around me as we were taken further inside the palace grounds.

  Carefully manicured flower beds made colorful carpets, sweeping across the vast expanse of the grounds. Golden statues of playful nymphs, satyrs, and other faerie creatures lined the broad path through which we passed. Further away, I saw glimpses of landscaped lawns adorned with glittering fountains but the carriage moved away too fast for me to get a proper look.