Stolen Princess

by Nikki Jefford

  Liri wore a heavy metal crown with large sapphires and had changed from black to an only slightly less dark midnight blue suit. He twirled me around in the center of the ballroom, warm hands sliding from my fingers to my hips. The rest of the assembly could be waltzing in the outer courtyard for all the attention he paid them.

  Liri gazed on me as though I was the center of his universe.

  I knew it was all an illusion: as gorgeous and glittery as this magical masquerade ball. I wasn’t Liri’s beloved. I was his new pet.

  But unlike Aerith, I liked being kept.

  My body blossomed beneath the king’s gaze. My imagination ran wild. My heart yearned to become more than a servant—to discover joy with this dark king. To become a mate. A mother.

  In his arms, I didn’t feel trapped.

  I felt free.

  In the past, Liri had barely partaken in dancing, but tonight he kept me in his grasp song after song as though he meant to waltz his way into dawn. It wasn’t until the band took a break that we did.

  “Would you care for sparkling wine, darling Hensley?” Liri asked.

  “No, thank you,” I said, hoping that soon I would be pregnant. “Is there something less potent? Like water?”

  He chuckled and reached a hand to my face to tuck my hair behind my ear. “We would never drink something so boring at a party, but there might be sparkling punch.”

  Of course the punch sparkled. This was Faerie.

  My bright smile dimmed when an approaching raven-haired male sneered at the sight of me. “A human queen. That will be the day.”

  Liri puffed up his chest and glared at the intruder. “Sooner than you think.”

  Bottomless blue eyes looked at us through a snarling gray wolf mask. The male’s upper lip curled, nearly touching the mask’s jagged teeth. “Disgraceful,” he growled. “What would your father say?”

  “Nothing, since I killed him.” All warmth vanished from Liri’s eyes as his gaze turned to sharpened steel.

  The black-haired male in the wolf mask scoffed. “Crowns are easily stolen, are they not, Cousin?” He didn’t wait for an answer before spinning around and prowling across the ballroom like an animal after his next meal.

  A chill clawed over my bare shoulders. My head jerked to look at Liri, hoping I’d feel better once I saw my white-haired king and lover. His jaw was locked as he glared after the dreadful male slinking away.

  “Is that Fae really your cousin?” Even though I knew the answer, I willed it not to be true.

  “Malon,” Liri said with a sneer.

  For someone who insisted on keeping family close, it surprised me to only now be learning of Liri’s cousin. Though seeing what a prick he’d been, maybe it wasn’t so shocking he had never been invited to Dahlquist.

  “Do you have more cousins?” I asked.

  “Unfortunately,” Liri answered.

  My heart beat erratically. “Are you in danger?”

  The hard lines on Liri’s forehead softened, and the steel in his eyes turned silver when he looked at me. “Are you worried about me, darling Hensley?” he asked with amusement.

  I frowned, enraged by the threat on his life.

  Liri leaned in close. “Do you not fear for your own life?”

  “Your life is more important than my own,” I said honestly.

  Liri gave me a hard, unreadable stare then circled behind me. His hands snaked around my waist right before he pulled me against him. “Such an unexpected treasure,” he said, hot breath caressing my ear. “I think I should like to keep you forever.”

  The story continues in False Queen.

  A crown. A curse. A shocking family secret. Aerith, Melarue, and Hensley ALL return in the exciting follow-up to Stolen Princess.

  Continue reading for a scene from False Queen.

  False Queen Excerpt

  Aerith

  F

  lour dusted the kitchen counter and my polka-dotted apron stretched over my belly as I prepared a sugared dough.

  Mrs. Calarel had the afternoon off, and I was in cookie-making mode.

  A fire blazed in the brick oven, filling the kitchen with warmth and light. I had the space all to myself to hum and mix sugar, butter, eggs, and cream before adding in my flour mixture. Just wait until I had the cookies baking. Oh, the smells. It would be delectable.

  Grabbing a rolling pin, I got to work flattening the dough. It felt therapeutic, like shooting arrows into a target over straw.

  I pressed shapes into the smooth dough, cutting out squirrels and acorns, which I transferred carefully onto a lightly greased tray then set in the brick oven.

  While the first batch baked, I gathered the dough into one glob to roll back out, but not before pinching a section off and sinking my teeth into the doughy sweetness. If joy had a taste, this would be it.

  “Well, little one, I think it’s safe to say you’ll be made of sugar and spice and everything nice.” I patted my belly then rolled out the dough, inhaling the scent of the baking cookies.

  I grabbed the acorn cookie cutter, pressing it into the dough when Fhaornik rushed in, out of breath.

  “My lady,” he gasped.

  My heart sped up. Fhaornik never hurried, but now it appeared he’d raced back to the kitchen.

  “Is Jhaeros all right? Is it my sister?” I demanded, growing more frantic with each passing second. All the tasty goodness that had been lingering on my tongue turned bitter and rancid in my stomach.

  “You have a caller. Your Fae brother-in-law, my lady. Liri.”

  Instinctively, I reached for the rolling pin.

  “Where is Liri now?”

  “In the foyer with Mr. Keasandoral.”

  “Jhaeros is with him?”

  Fhaornik nodded.

  I didn’t trust Jhaeros and Liri alone together.

  But my cookies still needed more time to bake.

  I glanced at Fhaornik, who shook with agitation. I couldn’t ask the blind butler to stay and remove the tray. He could end up burning himself.

  Pitberries! I ground my teeth together and set down the rolling pin. As tempting as it was to smack Liri over the head and throw him in the oven, I needed something that could pierce through flesh if needed.

  I refused to return to Faerie. What was he doing here anyway? I’d expected Ella’s glamour to last longer than this.

  “Let Jhaeros know I’m on my way.”

  Fhaornik nodded and scurried out. Frowning deeply, I put on oven mitts, pulled the tray of cookies out, and set them atop a wood block on the counter. I gave the half-cooked squirrels and acorns one forlorn look before pulling off the mitts and tossing them upon a stool with a growl.

  Liri wasn’t welcome here. To top it all off, he’d ruined my first batch of cookies.

  I untied my apron and threw it on the stool with the oven mitts before storming out of the kitchen. I took a detour to the weapon’s room and grabbed my old bow and arrow. I had many to choose from, but I was feeling nostalgic. Maybe the same bow that had won me a Fae prince would put down a Fae king—if Liri was dumb enough to try forcing me from the premises.

  I had an arrow nocked and ready as I strode into the foyer. I didn’t know what to expect but it certainly wasn’t Liri’s hunched form, doubled over, groaning.

  Jhaeros watched him coolly from several feet away, arms folded over his chest. It looked like my mate-to-be had taken care of Liri before I had the chance. I couldn’t believe Liri had arrived in the flesh without any kind of guard.

  “Did you stab him?” I asked.

  A smile twitched over Jhaeros’s lips, but his jaw remained locked tight. “Didn’t have to. The foyer is surrounded in iron, a little addition I had installed after our return from Dahlquist.”

  “Good thinking.” Damn, I loved his foresight.

  Liri’s white head snapped up, his face contorted in pain. “Aerith,” he hissed. “We need to talk.”

  “So talk.”

  He tried to stand straight only to w
ince and fold over, clutching his stomach. “Please,” Liri gasped.

  I looked at Jhaeros and raised my brows.

  “Did he just say please?”

  Jhaeros didn’t return my amused smirk. He still looked ready to rip Liri’s head off with his bare hands.

  “I am alone. I came in good faith,” Liri said.

  “I’ll admit I’m curious to know what would cause you to do such a thing. Go into the sitting room, over there.” I used my nocked arrow to point the way.

  Liri narrowed his eyes but did as I instructed, shuffling his way across the foyer and through the door to the sitting room. Once inside, his bellow blasted through the doorframe into the entryway. “How dare you treat family this way!”

  I met Jhaeros’s eye and snorted.

  “At least he said ‘family’ and not ‘a king.’”

  Again, Jhaeros didn’t so much as smirk. Wait until he found out Liri had ruined an entire batch of cookies, then he’d have an extra reason to hate the Fae bastard.

  As I started for the sitting room, Jhaeros rushed in ahead of me. I followed close behind, aiming my arrow at Liri’s chest.

  “You’re not welcome here, Liri, but we’ll let you say your piece. Now talk.”

  Steely eyes narrowed on mine. Liri’s lip curled. He snarled. “Lower your bow.”

  “Give me one good reason to,” I countered.

  “I am not here to hurt you.”

  “Not good enough.” I kept him locked in my aim.

  “I’m not here to take you against your will either.”

  “That’s a start,” I said. “What about Jhaeros? Are you here for revenge?”

  I’d shoot Liri down before he got the chance to get within three feet of my beloved.

  “Why? Over my dead aunt?” Liri scoffed. He moved behind the sofa as though he meant to duck and use it as a shield if necessary. Liri gripped the edges of the stiff cushioned back. “I am glad the bitch is dead. However, I was most unhappy to learn I had been deceived and that you left Faerie without saying goodbye. Whatever our differences, Aerith, we will always be family.”

  “I’m starting my own family,” I informed him.

  “I see that.” Liri’s eyes flicked down to my belly. “I am relieved to see your child is well.”

  “Enough chitchat,” I said. “Why are you here?”

  “Will you lower your bow?”

  “It depends on what you have to say.”

  Liri shook his head and sighed. Silence followed.

  Jhaeros kept his arms folded, and I kept my arrow aimed.

  “They took Hensley from me,” he said at last. The crack in his voice made me lower my bow slightly.

  “Who did?”

  “My damned cousins; curse them to the seven hells,” Liri spat.

  Knots tightened in my stomach. I hadn’t given Hensley much thought since leaving Faerie. She’d made her bed and seemed to like lying in it. It appeared everyone had gotten what they wanted: Teryani, the Kingdom of Ravensburg (and even an Aerith lookalike for company); Hensley, the royal mate she desired; Melarue and Devdan, a portal to Earth; and Jhaeros and me, a one-way ticket out of Faerie.

  I should have known it was all too good to last.

  Hensley had been my friend and closest companion. She also spared me Liri’s wrath and attentions, for which I would be forever grateful.

  “Where is she, and what do they want?”

  Liri walked around the sofa and took a seat. Briefly, he put his face in his hands before lowering them to his lap. “Our mate bond had just been completed and the crown set upon her lovely head.” His lips puckered into a frown. “Then she vanished right there in the throne room in front of everyone. All that was left behind was the crown. At first I thought Ryo had something to do with it. He was the one who was holding the crown, but he said the officiary gave it to him before the wedding coronation.” Liri’s jaw tightened, and his fingers curled into fists. “The traitor who performed the ceremony didn’t even try to run. He just stood there laughing as Galather and Folas seized him. He was dragged to the dungeons and interrogated. The bastard made me look weak in front of our families most loyal supporters.” Liri hissed. It took several seconds for him to continue. “And he stole my mate.”

  “Sucks, doesn’t it?” Yeah, so I couldn’t help myself on that one.

  Liri scowled. “Back to what I was saying, the traitor said that my cousin Malon would visit me in a dreamscape that night and explain all. Not only had they disrupted royal proceedings, but the little shit meant to keep me waiting . . . which I did.” Liri’s shoulders sagged. “Cousin Albedo couldn’t be troubled. He wants the throne but sends his brother to do the dirty work. Malon gleefully informed me that Hensley’s memories of me and her time in Faerie had been stolen.”

  “How is that possible?” I asked.

  “With the help of my ex-lover, Isadore, a Fae sorceress. Curse her! She’s created an alternative life for Hensley in the mortal realm. Malon said that if I want Hensley back, I must go to the location they sent her on Earth and win her over without glamours or magic. If I try to tell her about her past in Faerie, or about our mate bond, her mind will be lost to me forever.” Liri’s lips formed a grim line, even his hair looked limp and defeated, hanging over his hunched shoulders.

  At least his cousins hadn’t killed Hensley. “What do you mean to do?” I asked.

  Liri’s chin snapped up. “Win her back, of course.”

  I squinted at him. Who was this Fae in our sitting room? “Without glamour or magic?” I asked dubiously. Liri simply wasn’t the courting type.

  “I am willing to do whatever it takes. My cousins think I cannot attract a human woman through fair means.”

  I had my doubts too, but I kept them to myself. Liri was clearly distraught, and I’d heard enough stories of the Elmray cousins from Cirrus to know they were far worse trouble than my in-laws.

  “Well, good luck with all that, Liri,” I said, giving a subtle nod at the door.

  His eyes widened. “I cannot leave the throne empty while I’m on Earth. That’s exactly what Albedo wants.”

  “I’m sure Jastra will manage just fine,” I said.

  Liri stood. “Jastra insists on accompanying me to Earth. You know I cannot leave the kingdom in the hands of Sarfina and Ryo.”

  I shook my head, hoping he wasn’t going where I thought he might.

  “I need you to rule in my absence, Aerith.”

  Yep, he totally went there.

  “You’re joking.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You know I don’t joke.”

  I certainly did, but it didn’t make his request any less ludicrous. “No, thanks. Not interested. I’ve got my own household to run and a baby on the way. As. You. Can. See.” Could I make myself any clearer? Wow, that first time he’d visited me in a dreamscape and claimed he’d make me queen felt like a prophecy circling around to bite me in the ass.

  “You are a princess of Dahlquist. It is your duty.”

  “No. As king it is your duty to rule your kingdom.” One I wasn’t overly fond of. I’d barely gotten out of the castle during my brief marriage to Cirrus. The Elmrays treated the palace like the center of the universe. As far as the noble Fae families who had attended their fetes, I didn’t much care who ruled over them.

  “I cannot save her unless I leave.” Liri squared his shoulders and shot me an accusatory look. “Do you know what Hensley’s last request was before she was taken? Her only request?” When I lifted my brows, he continued. “She wanted me to return you to the elven realm. That’s all she asked. She never gave up.”

  “And would you have granted her request?”

  Liri nodded. “I planned to following our ceremony, but before our union took place, we learned that you had already returned home after striking a bargain with Teryani. Hensley was extremely relieved.”

  Hensley, not Liri. No surprise.

  “Your happiness meant more to her than her own,” Liri continued.
“She wanted only to please the rest of us. She doesn’t deserve to have her memories stolen, her free will taken away, her mate ripped from her side. You didn’t see her in the human world. She was miserable, an empty shell. I know she never wanted to return. Please, Aerith. If you hold any love in your heart for your friend, help me so I can bring her home.”

  Ugh. Guilt threaded around my heart and tightened like a ball of string. Of course I felt bad for Hensley. I knew what it was like to be whisked off against my will and taken from the male I loved. I would never comprehend her choice of mate, but that didn’t mean I wished her ill. But still, I had no desire to return to Dahlquist. There was no one and nothing I missed about that place.

  “What about Galather or Folas?” I asked. “They’re loyal. Can’t one or both stand in?” As twins, they could even take turns—shifts—the same way they’d forced my sister and Devdan to guard me.

  “No,” Liri said firmly. “Servants can’t be left to govern. The nobles would use it as an excuse to back Albedo.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “But you do have one brother left.”

  Liri stood and flung his arms at his sides. “I might as well hand the throne over to Albedo while I’m at it.”

  “You doubt Ryo’s loyalty?”

  “It doesn’t matter if he’s loyal. He’s too young and impressionable. Albedo would find a way to influence him. It wouldn’t take much.”

  “And whose fault is that?” I challenged. “You’ve given Ryo no reason to back you, nor have you trained him for such a position.”

  “I never dreamed there would be a need to.”

  I huffed. Some ruler he was, not even grooming a replacement. The Fae likely saw it as tempting fate. I saw it as practical, plain and simple. Liri hadn’t been groomed either, and look how well that was turning out. I bet I could do a better job. A pregnant elf. It would be a big improvement over the current leadership.

  “Please, Aerith. You’re the only one I trust.”

  I guess some things didn’t change. Despite everything, Liri still had faith in me.

  I looked at Jhaeros, who was frowning at Liri. I wished I could read his mind or, better yet, have a private moment to discuss the situation.