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“The six fae kings,” she answered quietly. “We outrank them, but never think they aren’t as deadly as they are beautiful.”
I tried to remember what the ambassador told me about gold masks. Gold meant vanity. Did they have faces to be vain over, even among a world of fae such as these? The urge to peel back their masks and see for myself grew so strong in that moment, I could think of nothing else.
I tore my eyes away with difficulty. Deadly as they are beautiful.
I looked behind me, expecting to see a mirroring dais with the other Mortal Queens. There was nothing but the expanse of bodies and marble walls of the pristine castle.
“Where are the Mortal Queens?” I asked. I’d pictured them greeting us in their fold or dining at a banquet with them later. But Gaia only shook her head.
The silver fae approached with a torch in hand. The scent of burning oil wafted by as she passed it to Gaia. Gaia took the torch and crossed to the side of the stone circle, where a pole was set with cloth wrapped around the tip.
She posed by the torch. Her silver heels peeked from her dress to reveal rings on her toes that reflected the red flame. “I am honored to be your chosen Mortal Queen,” she declared. “And am delighted to share the throne with another. Together we will rule you well.” As the fae clapped, she lit the lantern.
Then she passed the torch to me with a nod over my shoulder. A second torch, unlit, stood at the opposite end. I took the flame there while its heat licked my skin.
The crowd hushed, and I panicked in search for words. “Thank you for choosing me to be your new Mortal Queen,” I said. That didn’t feel like enough, so I added, “I will devote my life to being worthy of the role.” I glanced to Gaia for her approval. If they wanted me to do or say a certain thing, they might have offered me a warning before throwing me at the mercy of the fae. If I had to scramble for more words, there was no telling what might come out, and I didn’t want to accidentally declare a war or whatever else Mortal Queens might have the authority to do.
It must have been enough. They cheered as I held the flame to the cloth until it burned in brilliant oranges. The silver fae retrieved the torch. “Well done. That is all the fae need from you right now.”
A figure broke from the crowd to hold her hands out for us. Three earrings, I noted without knowing why. A cream dress hugged her thin body, and her mask was white. If any others wore a black mask, I hadn’t seen them.
Gaia followed her, and I trailed behind through the crowd, which split for us then and turned away.
“That’s all the fae are permitted to see of you for now,” Gaia explained. “They only get one sip, but tonight they’ll feast their gazes upon you at your coronation.”
My last look at the ambassadors was of the silver fae approaching one of the torches and taking a slip of paper from her pocket. She threw it into the flames and guarded the post until the parchment was fully burned. She caught me staring and held my gaze for a moment. I swore there was a warning in her eyes.
The dark-haired one still watched me like he was waiting to see what I may do. The girl who chose the black mask.
I couldn’t ponder on their strange actions because in the next step we broke from the crowd and came directly under the dais with the six fae kings. Each masked gaze bored into me as they sat. A couple of the statuesque fae were fair-skinned and polished with chiseled jaws and icy eyes. Others were darker and cloaked in intrigue. I lowered my face before getting a satisfactory look and held my breath when passing them. At the end of the platform, a seventh throne sat empty. It was built of black iron with twisted ivory up the back, sharp spokes on the top, and curled legs designed into snakes. Lanterns cast shadows over the vacant seat.
As soon as we were far enough away, I risked speech again and leaned in to Gaia. “Where is the seventh king?”
She peeked back to the haunting throne. “He’s been missing since before I first arrived.”
The arched doorway opened and the castle welcomed us with the scent of citrus. The floors and walls were an unblemished white, but the ceiling was an array of diamonds that sparkled despite there being no sun to bring them to life.
The area split into two, with a river running through the center.
“The east and the west,” Gaia said. “I rule in the east, and you will rule the west.” At my frown, she added, “It means nothing other than which side of the palace we are on.”
“Where do the other Mortal Queens rule?”
She cleared her throat. “Carlene will take you from here.” Her shoes tapped against the floor as she withdrew to the east, leaving me with the certainty that something was amiss. As soon as the echo of her steps died, I faced Carlene.
The girl who stood before me had green eyes behind a red mask. “Are you ready for your room, my Queen? You are to be kept until your coronation tonight.”
“Where are the other Mortal Queens?”
“I’m not to say.”
Gaia had avoided the question too many times for my liking. No one ducked a question three times unless there was something worth hiding. I tightened my grip on my bag and pushed authority into my voice. “Can I order you to answer?” Unease stirred inside at pulling rank already, and the girl set her jaw. She spun on her heel, and her hair whipped behind her. Apparently, being five earrings above her in rank didn’t qualify me to receive answers.
She strode over the bridge of the river, forcing me to follow. The trickle of water sounded loud against the stillness of the castle. As we crossed the room, the walls widened, and the roof opened to a chandelier above. Behind us, the courtyard began to empty, the fae climbing aboard their chariots and gliding through the sky, while the stars winked like they held secrets.
Perhaps they held Gaia’s secrets and knew where the other Mortal Queens were.
We came to a wide stairway with banisters of ruby and emerald. At the top, Carlene paused with a huff, as if she spoke against her better judgment. “You cannot ask anyone questions. Information comes at a price, and no one will give it willingly. The only free wisdom I give you is this—the next time you ask something, be certain you are willing to trade for the answer. And be certain you know what you are trading away, my Queen.”
