by Kris Black
“My father instructed me to bring you into the woods tonight and carve out your heart if your negotiations with him failed, which I am assuming they did.” He clenched his fist and tightened his jaw. “And to make it look like a faerie ritual.”
“What? Why?” Alina huffed out.
“Do I really have to spell it out for you?” He frowned a bit and then steeled himself. “Alina. Marry me.”
Alina was so mortified, she had to steady herself; her face screwing in confusion. She was no stranger to marriage proposals. But this one was probably the second most shocking of her life - only following Christian’s first proposal as a close second.
“I beg your pardon?”
“That is the only way to save your life, to keep my father happy and protect you from him and the queen. Marry me. We get along, we are friends. That is more than I can say of most marriages. It would be so easy to fall in love.” Alina opened her mouth trying to think how to respond, but Felix - either not noticing or not caring - kept on. “And you could be fully recognized! If you married me, the nobility would support me, support us, being on the throne. You’re new to them, but with me, at your side, there is nothing they can say.”
Alina looked at him as though she had never seen him before. Was he suggesting that they marry because he was her friend and he wanted to be king? That, without him, she couldn’t be queen? Her indignant outrage stole up and through her mouth.
“Fully recognized?” Alina stood tall, her posture offering no doubt to her breeding. “Why do people keep saying that? I am the Crown Princess. I am the daughter of the King! Whether or not they like it, I will be queen - whether or not you are at my side. I do not need you to legitimize any claim I have. I am legitimate.”
Felix wavered, as though he wasn’t expecting such a vehement response. He clenched his fist at his side; the knuckles turning white.
“In response to your question, it’s a resounding no. I will not marry you. I will never marry you.” Her chest rose and dropped, the angrier she became. “I am already betrothed.” Alina held up her hand with the ring Christian gave her still firmly in place, where it would stay. “Now, I will thank you to return me to my bedroom.”
Felix looked from her enraged face to her hand, the gemstone shining in the firelight. His face appeared purple in what little moonlight there was. “Does the king know about your betrothal?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“I’ll take that as a no, which means I still have a chance.” He started toward her.
“What? No. Stay away from me!” She warned and backed away.
“Or what?” He challenged.
“Or I’ll scream,” she said and took a deep breath to do just that. She remembered what had happened in the greenhouse. There were larger, older trees here in the grotto. What would happen if she screamed here?
Felix was upon her before she could blink. His hand covered her mouth fully and her eyes widened. He moved his other hand to the back of her head to steady it. She tried to bite down on his hand, but he increased the pressure so much that her eyes watered in pain. Her lips gnashed against her teeth painfully, cutting the inside of them.
“Don’t you understand the situation you’re in?” He whispered harshly. “My father does not make false promises, he will destroy your family Alina. He plans for every scenario. Why else do you think I was waiting outside of the greenhouse? Even if you tell your father, there is nothing that could stop him. Not with my mother backing him. If we just do as we’re told, everyone will be safe.”
Not her. Not Christian. Not Christian’s people. They wouldn’t be safe if Alina married who the duke told her to and stayed here in Lormount and forgot about the pack. Forgot about the curse.
Alina went limp and Felix uncovered her mouth. “How is your mother so powerful that she can overcome the king and queen? I’ve hardly heard of her.”
Felix let out a huff that was some semblance of a laugh. “My mother isn’t the Duchess of Northurst. The Duchess is barren.”
“But who-?” Alina asked and stopped up. No. It couldn’t be.
“The queen is my mother,” Felix confirmed. “Her land in Welby and the dukedom of Northurst aren’t that far from each other. They had an affair before she married and I was the byproduct. The duchess agreed to legitimize me as hers so long as my father sent me away as soon as they married my mother off.”
“That’s why you’re a Ward of the King? Because Calista took you with her?” Alina gasped, everything lining up. Calista’s vehement opposition to Felix marrying a halfling, her rampant favoritism towards him. He was her son.
“My father instructed her to use iron against you, that’s where she came up with the apple.” Felix snapped. “I didn’t know until after I saw it in the mirror and confronted him with it. They determined that if you wouldn’t marry me, you being dead was just as good. In fact, I think Mother preferred it. She wasn’t supposed to use it until after he tried one more time to convince you to marry me.”
“And the poison comb?”
“Mother’s first attempt to kill you.” Felix frowned. “I didn’t know about that, and neither did my father. He had still been hoping to marry us. As punishment, he framed my mother’s closest friend for it. Despite all this time, she still fears him.”
“And do you fear him?” Alina’s voice quivered as she stalled, glancing all around the circle, trying to come up with a plan.
“Anyone would be stupid not to. He has no remorse.” Felix’s eyes flashed as he stepped forward one more step. “Whoever you're engaged to can’t possibly protect you from him. He has spies and friends everywhere. You think my mother and her enchanted mirror was terrorizing? My father can accomplish that and more without one.”
Alina backed up a few more steps, the snow crunching underfoot. She was so hot now; she was sweating. She needed to unclasp the cloak before she burned it up with the heat of her body.
As she reached up to undo the clasp, Felix pushed her back further, tripping her before landing nearly on top of her. The reality of what was happening truly hit her. Of what Felix might be about to do.
She shot out one of her fists, colliding it with the side of his head.
His head shot sideways a bit.
“Alina-” he tried.
She screamed then. For all she was worth; which wasn’t much. Not after the energy she had expelled the day before and in the greenhouse. Her arms and legs flailed wildly, connecting wherever they could. She screamed and screamed herself hoarse. Angry tears burned her eyes as she thundered her fists on his body wherever they could find purchase. Something pulled at her. A great, old force reaching out for her and allowing her to harness it.
Her heart was thundering, and she couldn’t think. She had to stop him!
“Marrying me is the only way everyone gets what they want. I get to be king, and Calista will stop trying to murder you!”
Something knocked him off her in a flash. So sudden it took Alina a few moments to realize he had gone. She struggled up, slipping and sliding in the snow. Felix lay a few feet from her, stunned and looking up at one of the great trees behind her like it was a monster.
Had the tree knocked Felix off her? Protected her like the vines and plants in the greenhouse? Did she even have enough energy left in her to do something like that?
Alina laughed at the absurdity of it. Her laughter started to become hysterical. She was losing her mind. She undid the cloak finally, her skin felt like lava.
The bond pulled tautly. A scent wafted through the air, of snow and pine and wolf - like Christian. She felt the pressure of his hand in hers, palm to palm and fingers entwined. The sting of the gem in her ring, biting into her clenched palm.
Her enchanted ring.
She shifted her hands slightly. Her right hand clasping over the band.
One turn.
Felix made two more steps towards her, his face set and determined. “Alina, know this is the only way.”
“I think you want it to be the only way.” Alina shot out the accusation. “No matter how nice you are, or pretend to be, you only want the throne.”
“My parents have always expected me to take the throne. You threw a wrench into that plan the moment you turned up.” He moved closer again and Alina cried out, throwing out her hand.
A massive root pulled up from the ground, making a barricade between them and launching snow and dirt in all directions. Alina had to kneel in the snow and catch her breath. She had nothing left. Her magic was drained and her skin was on fire. Her bones were molten. Sweat dripped from her nose and chin. How was it possible to be this warm, kneeling in the snow?
She reached for her ring again. Her vision was blurring, darkening around the edges. She might not make it out of this forest.
Two turns.
Felix climbed over the root and made his way closer to her until he stood before her, so close she could reach out and touch him if she wished. Alina did nothing, she couldn’t have, but two smaller vines lashed out and wrapped around each of his wrists.
He halted, looking from one hand to the other than up to her. “Alina, please. I won’t hurt you. You’re clearly not well. Let me help you.”
Alina was panting, barely able to even lift her head to look at him. “I didn’t. I can’t.”
“Let me go, Princess.” He admonished like he was scolding a child throwing a tantrum.
“Go to hell,” Alina whispered, moving again for her ring.
“Your wish is my command.” A deep, female voice said, halting Alina’s hand. Felix’s eyes widened and then his face contorted in pain before he let out a muffled cry. Alina watched in horror as a hand came through his chest, clutching his still-beating heart.
Blood gushed out like an unstymied leak. It covered Alina’s beautiful blush dress in crimson in only a few seconds.
She screamed as Felix slumped dead on top of her. She continued screaming as she pulled herself from under him, his head facing her and his eyes glassy.
The woman stood in the clearing, midnight hair and navy gown so deep it could be mistaken for black. She had pinned one side of her hair back, revealing pointed ears. A faerie. She was still holding the heart, the thick blood coating her alabaster hand and arm, mirroring Alina’s own. She was beautiful and terrifying. Like an avenging angel - or devil. The faerie scoffed in disgust and dropped the heart.
“Mortal men’s hearts are just too weak. If only your mother had understood that. I hate human men.”
Alina moved backward, scrambling for purchase on the icy ground. Blood and icy water soaked through her gown soaked now, making it cumbersome. She began to shake again as she watched the wicked faerie advance on her.
“Somehow, I was expecting more from my niece than this.” She shook her head. “But, with a mortal for a father, I suppose I should always have been expecting disappointment.”
Niece? This faerie was her aunt?
“Maeve?” She whispered in terror. “Why?”
“This is the thanks I get for saving your life from that wretched mortal?” She looked at Alina like she was only an insect. “I wasn’t about to let him ruin my plans. You have a curse to fulfill, Niece.”
“We-we’ll break your cu-cu-curse.” Alina’s teeth started chattering again, so hard now that she was sure they would break. Her whole body trembled in terror, in cold.
“Ah yes, you can try. I know my poor, dead sister did. And where did that leave her?” Maeve scoffed. “Breena betrayed our people. Not only that, she tied you to that warmongering queen’s son.”
“I-I-I’m his m-m-mate.” Alina tried to be forceful, but she was so tired.
“Hm, are you now?” Maeve’s eyes filled with delight. “But what would have happened had Breena not re-woven the curse? Perhaps there was another destiny meant you to be with?”
Alina couldn’t focus, couldn’t breathe. She no longer had any sensation in her fingers or her toes. In the back of her mind, she remembered this, the longing to simply succumb to the cold.
Maeve’s head turned, inspecting her niece. She turned, seeing the glinting of the knife in the shrubbery. She glided over and picked it up and hissed, dropping it again. “Filthy humans.” She growled before composing herself and picking it up once more, this time with the hem of her dress as protection.
“I can see I’ve lost your attention.” She walked back over. “You only need to be alive to complete the curse. And think of what this will do to that mate of yours and your poor, devoted father? Something to remember me by.”
The glint of the knife startled Alina just before it embeds itself in her thigh. Alina screamed as Maeve pulled the knife out. Just as Maeve took aim again, Alina grabbed her left hand in her right, finding the metal there and twisted.
Chapter Nineteen
The Enchanted Castle
One minute Alina was not there, and then she was.
The magic had worked as though she were just gently picked up from one place and deposited the next like a babe in its mother’s arms - albeit, a rather rough mother.
Alina knew the room the minute she materialized. The suddenness of it all, coupled with her wounds, caused her legs to give out and she collapsed in a heap of skirts. The smell was overwhelmingly Christian like he was wrapping himself around her and Alina could hold back no longer. She laid her head on the floor and wept.
Her skin began to tingle, her gums aching. No, not now. She pleaded as her jaw ached, opening like it was morphing into something else. Her fingers clenched in pain as she screamed, the phantom pains overtaking her. Blood seeped from the wound on her arm. Her body seized as she watched the blood flow freely from her thigh. She could do nothing to staunch the blood as her muscles and ligaments contracted without control.
When the pain finally subsided, Alina didn’t have the energy but to lie on the ground, unblinking at the wall.
It could have been moments or eons before the door to Christian’s study burst open like cannon fire. She didn’t even have the energy to startle as she lay there.
“Alina?” His deep voice breathed out. “Alina!”
She couldn’t make out his words, only the timbre of his voice as he yelled for help. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms, rocking her gently and whispering into her ear between shouts.
She was finally safe. She was finally home. She could finally sleep.
“Alina, stay awake. Please, stay awake!” Christian urged - no, he pleaded.
Didn’t he know how tired she was? Couldn’t he see that she couldn’t stay awake?
“Alina.” He sobbed as she finally gave in to unconsciousness.
Alina’s leg hurt and her arm burned. That was the first thing she thought as she began to stir. It burned and stung like someone had stuck her with a hot poker. She moaned as she summoned the energy to open her eyes. The sunlight was shining beams in through a partially opened curtain, dust dancing in the rays.
“Alina?”
She turned her head towards the deep, groggy voice. Christian sat beside her, his hair a mess like he ran his fingers through it a dozen times. His eyes were bleary like he had just awoken as they roamed her face. He squeezed her hand as he stared at her.
Slowly, sensation began to return to her. Her thigh was throbbing. Her body ached as she tried to move to sit up, but heavy quilts held her to the bed - blankets so thick that they covered her in a film of sweat. Her hair stuck to her forehead and droplets ran down her temples.
“Too hot.” She wrangled out, her voice almost unrecognizable.
Christian was up in an instant, pulling blanket after blanket off of the bed. They made a considerable pile on the floor. Christian didn’t stop until only a sheet covered Alina. It was then that she realized she was also naked, but couldn’t bring herself to care.
“Help me up. Please.”
Christian was tentative to touch her as if she would break on contact like fine porcelain. He helped her sit up, his hands soothing on her burni
ng skin. She sighed in relief, until he backed away, sitting on the chair he had moved to the side of her bed.
And it was her bed. Her bed in the golden room she had spent months in.
“What can I do? Is there anything I can get you?”
Alina shook her head and scooting a little, or attempted to. She didn’t make it very far before she ran out of energy. “Get in.” She pleaded.
He looked torn. “You almost died last night. You were blue in places - and the bruising…” He stopped and looked at her thigh. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I’m not dying now. I’m not dying at all.” She took a deep breath, her voice still raspy. She wondered if maybe she had damaged it screaming. “I just want my mate to hold me.”
He hesitated for only a second more before he gingerly climbed onto the bed, pulling the sheet over himself. She turned to him, to stare into his face and memorize the lines. She had almost not seen him again. What would have happened had Felix succeeded in his mission? If Calista had killed her when she tried?
Felix. She felt like she would vomit. Him, on top of her with his eyes glassy and face drained of life. Him in shock as his heart tore through his chest. The pile rose, along with the tears.
Maeve, standing over her, a knife poised to strike.
A sob racked her body, but she refused to release it. She swallowed it down. She refused to let this affect her. She refused to crumble in the face of this.
“Let it out,” Christian whispered into her ear. “It’s all right. I’m here.”
The next sob escaped before she had the chance to catch it. The tears followed, unbidden. Her body released everything as she clung to her mate, safe in his arms. He rubbed her arms, her back, and let her give in to the despair she felt. Rocking her as she fell apart in his arms. Whispering everything and nothing to her as she clung to him like a security blanket.
She couldn’t get the visions of the previous night out of her head. Why? How did everything get so messed up in one night? She shivered as she clung to Christian.
