by Ivy Clyde
“Hey, not fair,” he said with a pout. His eyes danced with mirth as he laughed at me.
He was here to see my humiliation. Not only did he fool Moira into thinking he was truly interested to be her mate, but he’d also foiled my own plan. Come morning, he would tell the whole world about my infatuation with her. He would make sure the entire kingdom was mocking me.
Flames erupted all over me as my anger bubbled inside me like hot lava.
“You’re the one who attacked me just now,” said Cade, cocking his head to the side. “What do you have to be angry about? Are you angry you missed me?”
I stepped forward and began attacking him once more. My arms were a blur as I struck at him with speed and force. Cade dodged most of my strikes but took a few. Even as I mindlessly assaulted him, Cade only avoided being hit instead of striking back. Even through the haze of rage, I couldn’t understand what he was really up to.
A pained gasp escaped him as he fell to his knees. At that precise moment, a sphere of white-hot energy erupted from my palms and hit him squarely in the chest. His body was thrown backward from the force, driving it like a piece of rag in the dirt until his back collided with the trunk of a tree.
For a moment, my heart stopped beating. I couldn’t believe what just happened.
Cade’s body lay motionless on the ground.
“Cade…” My heart thundered in my ears as I sprinted forward. “Cade!” I shouted, kneeling down beside him. Raising him by his shoulders, I looked into his pale white face. “Cade!” I shook his shoulders, hoping to Aine he would open his eyes.
Cade’s body jerked with a hacking cough. Next moment, blood erupted from his lips, spraying the front of my tunic.
“You bastard,” he moaned, squeezing his eyes tightly.
Cade’s hand was clutched over the spot where my magic hit. His chest rose and fell in an erratic rhythm as he rolled away from me and coughed up more blood.
He was truly hurt. Shock kept me frozen on the ground. I couldn’t believe I’d really allowed myself to harm him this badly. “Why?” I whispered, my voice barely louder than the wind blowing through the wildly growing creepers and trees of the ruined palace quarters. “Why didn’t you block the attack? Why didn’t you fight back?”
“I don’t want to fight you, you fucking moron,” he said through the pained gasps escaping his lips.
Moving closer, I helped him sit up and rested his back against the tree trunk. His breathing turned harsh as he gasped, clutching at his chest.
“Let me take you back,” I said.
Just as I was about to reach him, he put up a hand, halting me. “Give me a minute. I’ll be okay.”
“Okay? Your core is damaged.”
“Yes, genius,” he said through clenched teeth. “You fucking broke it. It will be days before I’ll recover.”
Even though he was cursing out in pain, he didn’t aim any anger or rebuke at me. Guilt weighed heavy in my gut. I wanted to hurt Cade but didn’t exactly want to…The contradiction in my own thoughts frustrated me even more. No matter how much I’d forced myself to hate him, I couldn’t smother my true feelings for him.
Memories of the time I’d vowed to always protect him flashed by my mind. We’d been eight and one of our instructors ended up punishing Cade a little too harshly. I ended up biting one of the man’s fingers in revenge and made a promise to not let anyone hurt him again. And yet, blinded my own rage, I’d broken my oath to him.
I looked toward him, still unable to trust him fully. Could this be some elaborate plan to hoodwink me? No, it can’t be, my mind reasoned back. The blow could have destroyed his magical core completely. If I’d used my full strength, he would be dying right now. Cade didn’t dodge my attacks, trusting I wouldn’t go all the way to kill him.
A frustrated shout escaped. Whipping back the dark ebony strands falling over my eyes, I gazed at my brother’s face. “What do you want from me?” I asked. “What are you really up to?”
“I just wanted to talk to you,” he said in a low voice.
“What is there to say?” I asked. “You and Leon have Moira’s trust. The two of you can fight between yourselves and decide who gets to keep her.”
“Firstly, enough with the fighting,” said Cade, raising a finger. “Second, Moira isn’t a trophy to fight over.”
I stared at him as those solemn words left his lips. “Do you really care for her?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t understand it either but there is something about her that’s pulled me to her since the first time I laid eyes on her,” said Cade. “I was mean and a complete ass to her. I just couldn’t help myself. It was the only way to make her look my way.”
A chuckle escaped me. “That sounds like you. Irritate the girl out of her mind and then play nice.”
He shrugged and fell silent for a while as he struggled to calm his breathing. I settled down beside him and leaned against the tree trunk.
“I know you don’t trust me,” he said. “Leon didn’t trust me in the beginning as well.”
“Then, what made him change his mind?”
“I told him I wanted you to be king,” he said. “I told him about the queen’s plans if she becomes successful in putting me on the throne.”
“What plans?”
“She would have the two of you murdered to make sure neither of you would rebel against me.”
I stared at him, wondering what kind of madness had taken over Queen Brenna to even think of such traitorous thoughts. She was seeking to murder me and Leon, her husband’s sons.
“She was involved in your mother’s death,” said Cade. “But I don’t believe she commanded the deed.”
I couldn’t believe the things coming out of his mouth. Cade was in a very vulnerable position at the moment. He wouldn’t be able to do a thing if I took a blade and slit his throat. His core was too badly damaged to protect him in any way. He is not lying, I decided then. Whatever he is saying is the truth.
“I know you’ve been investigating my mother,” said Cade, unaware of my thoughts. “You may find a link to her but you won’t be able to connect her to the murderers.”
“Why isn’t she thinking of our father?” I asked. “It’s like she has completely forsaken him in his grief.”
Cade nodded. “I know. She is channeling all her efforts into making me king.” He punched his knee and added, “She even wants me to marry Deirdre, that vile woman.”
“She wants Coran supporting you.”
“Yeah, but I’d rather eat a mouth of poison hornets than marry her. Can you imagine my life as her husband and her father’s puppet? Our people would suffer and perish under their cruelty.”
I gave a nod. “They have been suffering the past few years already. The nobles overlooking the farmers are taxing them more harshly. I’d hoped the queen would act against them but she is giving them free rein in a bid to win their support.”
“For the last time, Rowan. I don’t want it.” His gaze met mine. “You were the one who was brought up as father’s heir. Neither Leon nor I would be right for it. Father is broken at the moment but when he sees the kingdom healing, he would recuperate.”
“You really believe Father would heal once more?”
“Yes. Once Father heals, he can help my mother,” said Cade.
I leaned back against the tree trunk and closed my eyes. For years, I believed Cade to have turned against me under the influence of the queen. His confessions were like a warm balm to my heart, soothing the pain of betrayal I’d been suffering for so long. He was still the brother I’d loved growing up.
“What about Moira?” I asked after a while.
“She is ours,” he said. For a moment, the haze of pain vanished from his eyes and they were bright and clear again. “We are hers.”
“We become her harem?” I voiced the strange thought. It wasn’t a foreign concept among us fae but it was rare for a female to have a ha
rem of her own.
“Yes,” he said. “Leon and I have already agreed. We’ve even shared her between us. It was the most amazing experience of my life and you know that’s saying something.” He started to chuckle but another coughing fit attacked him.
“You’ve both been intimate with her?”
“Intimate? We fucked her while the other watched,” said Cade, not bothering to hide behind more refined words. “You’ve got to see her when she is gasping and breathless from pleasure. Just the sight of her will make you come.”
The sight of her naked body being pleasured by my brothers flashed before my eyes. At once, I felt my cock stirring. Just imagining it was having such an effect on me. What would it be like if I was really there?
“Come over to our side, Rowan,” said Cade, breaking through my thoughts. “Stop fighting this battle on your own. You need people you can trust. Who else will you trust as much as me and Leon?”
“Can we break through the webs the nobles have created against us?” I asked, voicing the thought that plagued my every waking hour.
“We’ve come together, haven’t we?” he asked. “You, Leon, and me. We also have Moira on our side.” A smile rose on his lips. “You have no idea how powerful she truly is. Her strength surpasses ours. She just needs someone to train her to hone those instincts. She will be a glorious queen someday.”
A chuckle escaped me. “You are already imagining her as the queen?”
“You haven’t seen the passion she has inside her,” said Cade, his voice growing louder. “She cares deeply for the well-being of the lesser fae. Her empathy is limitless. She would go out of her way to help another. If there is one trait a ruler must have, it is this.”
A smile came on my lips. “You remember father’s words.”
“I do.”
My joy disappeared as I remembered why I’d gone to visit Moira tonight. “We need to get her out of the palace,” I said. “Deirdre asked me to kill her. If I don’t, she would do it herself.”
“I heard.”
“And Moira is planning to go to the feast in Coran’s manor tomorrow,” I continued. “It is most definitely a trap.”
“Yeah,” he said. “One way or other, she will be attacked by either Coran or his daughter. I guess you’ll have to go and make sure she stays safe. This bloody wound will take fucking weeks to heal.” Turning toward me, he landed a punch on my jaw.
I let him have it. His damaged core was definitely hurting more at the moment. All the potions and medicines in the world wouldn’t have much of an effect on him since the very source of his magic was injured.
“I will leave Leon with you,” I said, rubbing my jaw. “You can’t be on your own in this state.”
“You’re so good at hiding your emotions in front of the court,” said Cade through clenched teeth. “Why can’t you control it when you’re with me and Leon?”
“You’re my brothers,” I said simply.
“Fuck you.”
Laughter escaped me. Cade continued to curse me but there was no hatred in his voice.
“Call your personal brownie,” I told him after a while. “Ask him to fetch help. Say you were attacked by an assassin.”
“Yeah, I know what the standard excuse is,” he said, rolling up his sleeve to find the tattoo that bonded him with his servant. He pressed onto it. “You better hide before he comes. He will make a scene if he sees you here.”
Straightening up, I leaped onto the lowest hanging branch of the tree. Using it as support, I quickly climbed higher. From my vantage point, I could clearly see Cade and keep a watch until help arrived.
A short boyish figure appeared a few feet away from Cade. Next moment, panicked shouted erupted from the tiny creature as he called for help for the injured prince. I stayed up on my perch until I’d made sure more servants and guards came to aid Cade and take him away to recuperate in his quarters.
Cade left me with a lot to think tonight. Instead of going back to see Moira, I headed to my own quarters to make up a plan for tomorrow evening. She would only have me to protect her in the den of hyenas tomorrow. I had to make sure I was ready to handle whatever situation was thrown our way.
35
Moira
My glance stayed glued to the mirror as I transformed from a gawky high school teen into a fairy tale princess. Gilly swept an eyeliner brush over the rim of my eyelids to define and darken them, proceeding to add gold shimmer in the corners, giving my blue eyes a mysterious look. She gave my eye a dramatic effect but left the rest of my face comparatively simple.
“You are naturally beautiful, My Lady,” she said, adding a light pink tone to my full bottom lip. “You don’t need too much work to look pretty.”
“Thanks, Gilly,” I said, admiring the way I looked for the first time in my life. Apart from the makeup, the source of my beauty seemed to be coming from the pulsing magical core inside me. My complexion brightened and made my blond tresses shine with health. I didn’t look too different from the beautiful fae around me.
Gilly chose a dark navy gown for the evening. The corseted bodice was decorated with gold and diamond beading and stayed snugly against my upper body. A generous cleavage showed up, making me blush at the sight. I’d never exposed so much of my body among a roomful of strangers. The skirt flared around my slim waist in layers of light chiffon. Tiny diamonds sewn on the inky blue fabric twinkled like stars in the midnight sky.
“This is so beautiful, Gilly,” I gushed, turning on the spot to make the wide skirt flare all around me.
“Thank you, My Lady. You look gorgeous in it.”
She’d already fashioned my hair into loose waves that cascaded down my back. A tiara made of gold wires and flower-shaped sapphires sat around my forehead. There were gold bracelets at my wrists and gold and sapphire earrings at my ears. A large teardrop sapphire sat at the center of my cleavage. The jewel was stunning. Catching the light from the lanterns around us, it shimmered brilliantly.
I couldn’t stop gawking at myself in the full-length mirror before me. “This is beyond any prom fantasy I could imagine for myself,” I muttered.”
“What does ‘prom’ mean, My Lady?” asked Gilly.
“It’s a silly little party that happens in human schools. We make a big deal out of it.” A sad smile came on my lips as I remembered the times I stayed hidden in my room, knowing I would never be part of prom nights.
“What’s wrong, My Lady?” asked Gilly in a small voice.
“It’s nothing,” I said, giving myself a mental shake. “I guess I am ready to go.”
“One moment,” said Gilly. Going to the corner, she brought something back to me. “You need a cloak too.” Stepping onto a stool, she reached around my shoulders and draped the most extraordinary thing around me.
The fabric of the cloak seemed to have been made of water! The material was light and transparent but amazingly warm. It didn’t hide my dazzling dress or jewels but kept the chill away.
“What kind of material is this?” I asked, feeling the smooth, almost-transparent fabric between my fingers.
“This is a special cloth woven from spider-silk.”
“Spider-silk?”
“They are a kind of fae folk who are experts in weaving and crafting fabric,” explained Gilly. “No craftsmanship in terms of clothing comes close to their exquisite creations. Only the royals can afford them. I found this in the treasure chamber and brought it for you.”
“Thank you, Gilly. Really.”
She hopped down from the stool and gave a low bow. Reaching out, I made her stand straight and smiled at her. “Come, then. Escort me to my carriage.”
Gilly’s face was still covered in the herbal ointment but she smiled at me. I was all decked up tonight to meet the woman who’d done this to her. Rowan’s warning flashed in my mind but I didn’t let it scare me. The magic surging through me would protect me from her and anyone who tried to hurt me.
Gilly led the way through a network of
corridors. I didn’t pay any attention to where we were going because my mind was fixed on meeting Rowan tonight. Leon sent me a message this morning, telling me Cade was badly injured and he would be staying with him while Rowan would be at the feast to keep an eye on things.
I felt worried for Cade but Leon assured me in his letter, saying his brother would be fine after a few days’ rest. He’d already warned me last night about the way things would go down between his brothers. At the very least, I was glad to know Cade could get through Rowan and make him believe we were all on his side, that none of us ever thought of betraying him.
My gaze fell on the magnificent carriage waiting for me in the courtyard. My childhood dream of being Cinderella seemed to have manifested before my eyes. I was dressed in a gorgeous ball gown and about to step into a carriage harnessed to four beautiful white horses.
The only difference was that Cinderella was going to an actual ball to dance with a prince while I was going to a feast to face my enemies head-on for the very first time.
No, this is more like an episode of Game of Thrones, I decided, brushing away the idea of being a Disney princess. I felt more like Aria Stark at the moment than Cinderella.
Gilly helped with the train of my dress and cloak as I climbed into the carriage. Heading inside, she arranged my clothes again. “All done,” she hummed in a satisfied voice. Hopping out of the coach, she closed the door and bowed.
“Bye, Gilly,” I said as the carriage moved forward. “Look after yourself until I get back.”
Her short figure disappeared from my view as the carriage took a turn and headed toward the main exit gates. I settled back in my seat and looked through the small window at my side. Fields of goldflowers passed us by as we rode further away from the palace.
A chilly night breeze skimmed my face but the cloak kept me warm. I didn’t know what to expect at the manor, so I stayed alert even when we were on the road. My magic pulsed in my veins and surged to my fingertips at my faintest invitation.
All I would have to do is get inside the manor and find Rowan. As long as he was around me, no one would dare to approach me. If they did, they would either end up burned or have their cores pulled out of them. Still, I would do my best to conceal my powers. My best defense was the element of surprise and I didn’t want to ruin it this early.
