by Skye Horn
What if the Goddess knew they didn’t fully trust her and decided to retaliate? Or, what if she was angry with Thea for not being the one who showed up to let her out of the prison? If what Morrigan had told them was true, Thea was supposed to be the one taking Ainé’s place.
Not Amara.
But what choice did they have? They couldn’t stop Morrigan from seeking her revenge by themselves. Even if the Goddess of Death had been more honest with them than her sister, that didn’t change the fact that she was still the Goddess of Death. That left them with one alternative: release Ainé from her prison and pray she was really on their side this entire time.
And if not, Thea thought. Then hopefully the Goddess’ life is tied to yours so that you can get everyone out of this mess.
“Thank you for the gift,” Thea finally said, meeting Haven’s eyes. She saw Haven’s concern for her there and tried to reassure her with a smile as a knock sounded at the door.
“That would be Ethel and Iris,” Thea said, glancing toward the door. “They’re supposed to help me get ready for the coronation.”
Thea had the sudden terrifying thought about what she was supposed to wear to become Queen, but Haven was grinning as she stood to go get the door.
“What’s got you so happy?” Thea asked, letting her terror settle beneath a blanket of curiosity.
“They have a gift for you too. I just wanted to go first,” she smirked, and Thea tried to muffle her groan as Haven unlocked the bedroom door, letting Iris and Ethel in.
To Thea’s irritation, neither of them looked nearly as exhausted as she felt, but her annoyance was subdued as she saw the large trunk-like box they carried between them.
“You’re not out of bed yet!” Ethel frowned, pursing her lips together as she stared at Thea, still tucked beneath the warmth of her covers. “And you’re already here?”
Ethel looked at Haven, who shrugged and replied, “I wanted to give her my gift first.”
Iris laughed, but Ethel’s face blushed bright red as she said, “Of course you did.”
“Only because yours is so much better,” Haven said, still smiling as she went to sit at Thea’s vanity, tinkering with different bottles of perfume Thea had collected since her arrival in Faerie.
“What is that?” Thea asked, eyeing the box. There was no denying her curiosity. Whatever was in the box was heavy enough that both Iris and Ethel had to carry it in, and although it gave no indication as to what it was, Thea’s heart raced with anticipation.
“You’ll have to get out of bed to see.” Iris chuckled, setting the box on the ground with Ethel’s help.
Thea immediately tossed the blanket back and headed toward them dressed only in her nightshirt. She shivered at the sudden chill against her skin.
“See?” Haven laughed. “My gift is already forgotten.”
Thea rolled her eyes at Haven, who smiled with just as much anticipation to see what was inside the box. The look on Haven’s over-excited face was what made Thea so curious about the gift.
Dropping to her knees, Thea lifted the lid of the large container, tossing it to the side, and gasped at what she saw within.
“Told you she was going to love it.” Ethel giggled, clapping her hands together. Haven left her spot at the vanity to come peek inside the box herself and blew out a soft whistle of air.
“I am officially jealous,” she breathed, but Thea’s eyes were filling with tears as she reached a trembling hand toward her gift.
Inside was the most beautiful armor Thea had ever seen, folded neatly, with a brand-new pair of boots across the top. She took the boots out first, noticing the thickness of the material immediately.
“What is this made of?” she asked, setting the boots aside to lift the matching black pants from the box.
“Spidersilk from the forests of Gimmerwich,” Iris said, and seeing Thea’s confusion added, “Until recently, no one has been able to obtain Spidersilk. The spiders are as large as a horse, but they hide deep within the forests, far beyond the border. However, the silk offers more protection than any metal armor you can find in any of the four kingdoms, while also being more versatile for the female body.”
Thea looked up at her with wide eyes. “That sounds expensive.”
“It is!” Haven awed, staring into the box of garments. The thin bronze plating was decorated like the scales of a dragon, glimmering emerald in the candlelight alongside matching guards for her forearms. Everything about the outfit was feminine and yet, it was brutally powerful—armor fit for a queen.
“How did you even get this in time?” She traced her fingers across the silken material, imagining how soft it would feel against her skin and noticing every bit of detail that they would have paid an extravagant amount of coin for.
“We had it made weeks ago. We’ve just been waiting for the right moment to give it to you,” Iris said with a guilty smile.
“And,” Ethel’s grin spread nearly from ear to ear, “it’s not a corset!”
Thea beamed, picking up each garment and carefully laying them across her bed.
She could see that the top had been made specifically to accommodate her wings. It had no sleeves, which Iris said was the only downfall, as that would leave her arms exposed. However, to Thea’s delight, the front of the armor snapped almost completely to the neck, which meant she would never again feel embarrassed about her breasts being pillowed atop her chest by a breath-restricting corset. She would be comfortable and powerful, without needing to wear a dress to prove herself a worthy queen.
Haven pointed out that the boots, much like her favorite pair, also had a hidden compartment for daggers, and Thea was thrilled to discover a matching baldric for her weapons at the bottom of the box. She blinked back tears as she looked at the outfit beside the bow and quiver of arrows Haven had given her.
“Aren’t you going to try it on?” Haven said, elbowing Thea in the side.
“You mean I can wear it to the coronation?” Thea asked with wide, disbelieving eyes.
“That’s exactly what we mean.” Ethel grinned and Iris gave a nod of approval.
Thea only hesitated a moment longer before she began stripping out of her night clothes and pulling on the outfit of a queen.
“Things are going to be fine,” Amara said, watching Kieran across the fire. They were camped in the forests of Ivandor, centered between the village and the castle. The spot was close enough to know if there was trouble, but hidden from the High Council’s snooping gaze.
“I know,” Kieran lied, and Amara rolled her eyes. He hated that he hadn’t seen Thea since the morning they’d woken up in the garden, but Iris had told him that she was doing fine—a lie he didn’t believe—and that it was beneficial to the plan for him to stay away.
It was early in the morning. The sun had yet to grace the sky, but Kieran couldn’t have slept if he wanted to. Today was the day that would change his life forever. Either he would succeed at his mission or he would fail and the woman he loved would marry another man.
No pressure.
The thought sent a trickle of dread down his spine and he stared more intently at the fire to avoid Amara’s concerned gaze. There were a million things that could go wrong with this plan, and yet, Amara seemed more concerned about making sure he was okay. Was she really that unconcerned about her future? He wondered how she’d gotten so good at hiding the panic within her, because it wasn’t just his relationship he was worried about today. Returning to Ivandor without Amara was not something he looked forward to. But what choice did he have?
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Kieran asked, finally looking up to meet Amara’s gaze. To her credit, she showed no sign of fear. She pressed the tip of a stick against the logs of the fire, lowering her gaze to the flames and licking her smoke-dried lips. In that moment, Amara looked enough like Thea to make Kieran’s heart clench.
“I will do what is necessary,” Amara said, finally lifting her eyes to meet his once more. “I ha
ve to.”
Iris had been horrified when they’d told her Amara planned to take the place of Ainé in the prison realm. She’d spent the entire day yesterday with Amara, discussing whatever regret the past held between them. Kieran had left to give them their privacy, and Amara hadn’t said a word about it when he got back. He wondered if Amara had forgiven Iris for her absence in her life, or if Iris had admitted how difficult being away from Amara had been for her. These were things Kieran knew they both fretted over, but how could one day of discussion ever be enough to overcome such deep wounds?
“But are you ready?” Kieran asked carefully. “You aren’t just going to a jail cell, cousin. This is a realm created by a Goddess. Who knows what might await you?”
“My father,” Amara informed, tossing another log on the fire. “My father awaits me.”
“Is he really worth it?” Kieran asked, blowing out a breath at the thought of Malachi rotting away in a world of darkness. He could think of no worse fate than to lose one’s self to the Goddess’ control—but that was exactly what had happened. Malachi was completely at the mercy of Ainé now, and Kieran imagined it would not be a pleasant experience.
“No, but my sister is.” Amara’s voice was soft, and she would not meet Kieran’s eyes, but he nodded his head in agreement anyway. “I’ve watched her willingly put herself onto the frontline to protect the people she loves. All I’ve ever done is destroy lives… I just want to help save them for once. Plus, I owe her my life.”
“I don’t think she sees it that way,” Kieran said, tossing dry brush across the flames and warming his hands. He felt the same way about Thea; he always had. She had grown into a fantastic woman despite the hardships she’d faced, and remained a good person through it all. Could he say the same about himself?
“Of course she doesn’t, because she’s good, Kieran. She’s everything I wish I could have been.”
“Don’t talk like this is the end,” he said, a low growl rumbling from his chest as she gave him a sad smile. “We’re going to get you back.”
“Careful, cousin. You’re starting to sound like you care,” she said quietly, a slow blush creeping up her cheeks.
Kieran tilted his head at Amara’s show of emotion. He’d never thought of her as someone he’d be capable of caring about, but after so many months of traveling together, he’d grown used to her company. During their time together, Amara had watched his back when he was not at his best. She’d kept him focused on their mission, and even if her actions had been motivated by the self-interest of remaining alive, Kieran felt he at least owed her for keeping him moving forward each day. He wondered if he had possibly even begun to enjoy having her around. Despite their constant bickering, her smart-ass remarks and overly-annoying laughter, Kieran wasn’t sure he could deny the friendship he now felt toward his cousin. Admitting the fact that he’d grown to care wasn’t something he was prepared to do aloud, but he could admit to himself that the companionship that had developed during their time together was impacting his willingness to proceed with this mission.
He kicked at the dirt, frowning at the thought of it, wanting to think of some other way for this plan to work, but there was none. Someone had to take Ainé’s place in that prison realm.
“You are good too,” he told her, meaning it. “You may not have always been, but you’ve changed.”
Neither of them said anything more after that, but Kieran’s eyes drifted to the horizon where a soft glow of pink was just beginning to appear against the dark blue skies.
He knew he should remain by the fire, but he rose to his feet, slipping his sword into its sheath and picking up the delicately wrapped package that had sat beside him all night—a present for his princess.
She wouldn’t be his princess for much longer, though. She would be his queen. The little girl he’d carried through the night no longer existed, but the woman who’d taken her place was more than magnificent—she was everything to him.
“Don’t let anyone see you,” Amara told him, not bothering to try and convince him not to go.
Kieran pulled his hood over his head, obscuring the smirk on his lips into the shadows.
“Don’t start the fun without me,” he retorted, giving her one final nod before he launched himself into the slowly lightening sky. The coronation would begin soon, and he intended to see Thea take her throne.
Chapter 30
Thea couldn’t stop examining herself in the bedroom mirror. Haven, Ethel, and Iris stood waiting for her, but she continued to stare at the girl in the reflection. She recognized her flaming red hair falling in loose curls around her shoulders, half pinned up in the back. The freckles kissing her skin were undisputedly unchanged, and yet, everything about her reflection felt new.
The Spidersilk felt as soft against her skin as she’d imagined it would. It clung to her, accenting the feminine curve of her chest and sway of her hips as she walked. Despite the thickness of the material, she felt lighter than ever, as if she could wield any weapon or magic without difficulty.
I could definitely fight a Goddess in this, she thought smugly.
The clothing made her look and feel powerful. She never wanted to take it off, and would definitely be saving up her own coins to have more made.
Her eyes, which were lined with her favorite black coal, stared back at her with sparkling excitement, and the emerald-green hue of her bronzed top danced as she spun to face her companions.
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes again. She blinked them away quickly, not wanting to ruin all the hard work Ethel and Haven had put into her makeup.
“You deserve this, Thea,” Iris said, stepping forward to take her hand. Slowly, she knelt before Thea, tears forming in her own eyes as she looked her over. “You are the sole heiress to the Ivandor throne, and your mother would be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
It took everything in Thea not to cry, so instead, she lifted Iris from the ground and hugged her tightly. Ethel soon joined the hug, pulling Haven along with her.
“I am so thankful to have found you all,” Thea whispered into their embrace, feeling each of their arms tighten. She saw Haven avert her own eyes and wondered if she too was about to become a weeping mess when a knock came at the door.
The sun was just beginning to rise outside. Thea walked to the door, opening it to find Declan standing with a sheepish smile on his face.
“NO!” Ethel squawked, trying and failing to shut the door in his face. The only thing Ethel managed to do was smack it into Thea’s new boots. Thea frowned at the newly formed scuff. “It’s bad luck to see her before the wedding!”
She almost laughed. Thea had thought that silly tradition only existed in her own land, but apparently, it existed here too. Declan just kept smiling, looking Thea over in a way that made heat rush into her cheeks. As powerful as she felt in this outfit, she still didn’t want to be studied by him in that way.
“Ethel, I would have seen her at the coronation, and I didn’t want to wait until afterwards to give her my gift.” He chuckled, and seeing the look of surprise on her face added, “You didn’t really think you could just become queen, did you? Of course you need gifts! This is a big day!”
“She’s going to be late for her own ceremony if we don’t hurry,” Haven said, eyeing the sky beyond the window.
“I’ll be quick,” Declan said, pulling a small leather pouch from his side. He extended it toward Thea. “For you, milady.”
Thea hesitated for a moment, but the curiosity got the best of her and she reached out to take the pouch. There was a small tie around the top, which she quickly released before turning the bag upside down and emptying its contents into the palm of her hand.
With a muted thud, an acorn-sized emerald landed against her skin. The edges of the gemstone had been smoothed, shaping it into a perfect oval, and despite the coolness of its soft edge, Thea felt the thrum of power beneath its surface: magic.
“Where did you get this?” she asked in awe, curling her fingers around the gemstone. She’d felt this type of magic when Mirielle had given her the bracelet before her fight with Malachi. The magic inside this gem was clearly meant to give Thea strength. Mirielle had only been able to obtain such a powerful enchantment because of Thea’s connection to King Aragon, but somehow, Thea doubted Declan had gone to her great-godfather for this.
“It’s been in my family for many years, but I want you to have it,” he said, blushing slightly. “I meant to turn it into a necklace for you, but I wasn’t expecting your coronation to be quite so soon.”
Thea instantly tensed. She was already wearing his mother’s wedding ring. Why would he want to give her yet another family heirloom?
“It’s for your safety, Thea,” he said as her lips parted to argue. “The gemstone holds very powerful protection enchantment from our kingdom, and if things go badly today—”
“I wish people would stop saying that,” Thea groaned, tightening her fingers around the stone. She could feel the magic bubbling within her. She didn’t want to be angry at Declan for his gift—really, it was sweet and thoughtful—but the idea of things going so badly today that everyone thought she needed extra protection was driving her crazy.
“Thea is sensitive about receiving gifts,” Haven explained, coming up beside her to look at the stone. “But I agree with him. You need all the protection you can get today, and it’s not like you know how to use the bow and arrow that I gave you. At least this will actually help.”
Haven eyed her gift, which had been expertly strapped across Thea’s back so as to not interfere with her wings, and then added, “In fact, you might actually hurt yourself if you try to use that. So maybe save it as a last resort until I can teach you?”
Thea shook her head, laughing slightly as the magic within her settled. She didn’t know how Haven knew how to calm her down, but by the relief flooding her face, she could tell she’d done it on purpose. Declan appeared oblivious though as he looked at Thea shyly.
