Some of the male high fae call out, and the female turns to smile at them, her face transforming. My breath stutters in my chest as the beauty of the Unseelie hits me full force. She's stunning, heartbreakingly refined and every inch the embodiment of high-fae beauty, but my skin crawls to see her contrasted with the victims of immeasurable high-fae cruelty.
She leads me into a small alleyway, quiet and airy. I can imagine children running down it, or sprites playing in the draft, but there's nothing here; it’s as empty as those fae folk were. When we reach another fae door at the end, I step through it willingly—anything to get away from the marketplace.
When our feet touch solid stone once more, this time, mine are steady beneath me. I find myself staring at a large oak door carved with the Celestial family seal. There are roses painted around the edges of the frame, vines curling between each bloom, and the brushwork is exquisite. I know without a word being spoken that these are Princess Sari’s chambers.
The guards standing by the door open it without bowing, and when we step forward, the guard standing inside the chambers calls out, “Lady Loreth and the witch have arrived, Your Highness.”
Glancing down at me, he quickly adds, “Prince Soren’s Fates-blessed mate, that is, Your Highness.”
There’s murmuring and rustling from farther in the chambers, and I take stock of the room as we wait. It’s filled with the sort of opulence that only a spoiled child would choose, overbearing and gluttonous. Flowers cover every surface, silk bows and plush velvets, there’s a soft feel here despite the marble walls. The longer I look, the more riches I find, stacks of crowns with diamonds and sapphires set within, dozens of necklaces cast over the tables as if the princess was interrupted while choosing which one to wear today.
Footsteps ring out on the marble, and the Fates dance beneath my scars as the princess herself steps into the room, her eyes lighting up as they focus on me. Her dress is different, the crown swapped out with a small coronet, and she looks far more relaxed than she did in the grand hall only a few hours ago, sitting before the blood-soaked scene.
The same vacuous smile graces her lips. “Rooke! I’m so pleased to see you again, though I must apologize—I didn’t intend on sending Lady Loreth to collect you. You must forgive my tactlessness. She was simply the closest to your chambers, and I was impatient to see you. Father refuses to move you any closer to me. He’s determined to keep you in our most lavish chambers, so I suppose there’s no good to come from my demands.”
I'm not sure why sending Lady Loreth is such an insult, beyond her rude manner, but I bow my head at Sari. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Your Highness. Thank you for your kind invitation, I look forward to dining with you.”
A delighted smile stretches across her lips, and she inclines her head at me in return, the same way Soren does to those below his standing. It’s a respectful gesture, one that only stands out further as she waves a dismissive hand at Loreth without looking in her direction. The female doesn't protest asshe leaves, disappearing down another long hallway as though chased by wraiths.
As the door swings shut behind her, Sari scrunches her nose at me. “I'm so sorry, I didn’t want her to seek you out, but she insisted. She wanted to speak with you because of her sister's pregnancy, and I was caught up with errands for my father. I hope she wasn't rude to you.”
I give her a curt smile. “She wasn’t very forthcoming on why she was asking about the curse, so I’m afraid I didn’t ease any of her fears. I'm not eager to forgive people who speak unkindly of Airlie and her son in my hearing.”
The cringe grows on Sari's face as she glances away from me, putting on quite a show, though not for me. Twelve high-fae males line the walls, her father’s loyal guards, and they stare at us both, none daring to blink or glance away. I doubt there’s anything this princess does without an audience and her father’s knowledge.
Sari steps closer to me, her voice lowering as though sharing a secret despite the keen hearing of the high fae. “When Soren abruptly cut ties with Lady Loreth, she was quite heartbroken and spent much of her time imploring any of his household to aid her in regaining his attentions. No matter what she tried, he wouldn’t speak to her and explain why he no longer favored her company.”
My gut clenches violently, and I struggle to keep my reaction to her words concealed. I should’ve expected this, but after admiring the refined beauty of the female, it comes as an even greater blow. A steadying breath does nothing to stop the roiling of my gut as Soren’s cold eyes flash through my mind, the expression on his face when he first saw me at Port Asmyr and recoiled. If the refined beauty of Lady Loreth is what my Fates-blessed mate desires, then our marriage truly is cursed.Cursed.
I nod slowly to Princess Sari and force a smile of my own. “I understand it can be difficult to navigate such fraught situations, but I swore an oath to protect the Snowsong heir, and I intend on holding it, no matter the cost.”
Sari looks down at our joined hands as though she can feel the strength of an oath given by a Favored Child, but no Unseelie high fae could know the honor the prince was bestowed. “What a blessing for Airlie and Roan to have such protections that others can only dream of! Their son will surely prosper under your care.”
Her fingers squeeze mine before they slip away and she takes a step backward, toward the door Lady Loreth just disappeared through. “Shall we make our way into the dining room? With all the fuss this morning, I haven't found the time to eat and now I find myself famished!”
A flash of red splashed across the white marble floor plays in my mind, but I smile back at her, easily slipping back into playing high-fae games. “Of course, Your Highness. I'm eager to meet your friends and learn more about the beloved cousin my Fates-blessed mate dotes on so eagerly.”
Rather than thelarge and ornately decorated space that I’m expecting, Princess Sari leads me into a far more intimate dining room that feels almost homey compared to what I’ve seen of the rest of the castle so far. The table itself seats six, and while Sari places Lady Loreth at the other end of the table from the two of us, it doesn’t do much to distance me from the female’s angry gaze.
The other guests are high-fae nobles, a male and two sisters, and they arrive dressed in all their finery. Both women wear intricate diadems across their foreheads, elaborate silver filigree wrapped around precious jewels, and stacks of bracelets that chime like bells as they move, whimsical and fanciful. The careful way they all look and speak to one another, smiles full of teeth and half-truths, makes my skin crawl.
“You were right, Your Highness, she’s quite lovely. What a curious blessing for Prince Soren! To be placed on such a difficult path only to find the Fates have sweetened the journey,” the male says, his voice dripping with that same honey tone the regent uses that sets my teeth on edge.
Sari smiles at him, but her reply is far more cutting than I think even the princess may realize. “That is awfully kind of you to say, Lord Harlan, however I imagine it’s rather uncouth of you to discuss Prince Soren’s blessings outside of his company, lest someone assume you’re coveting them for yourself.”
He doesn’t heed the warning, chuckling under his breath at her as he leers down the table at me. “I mean no harm, Your Highness, only that the witch isn’t what any of us were expecting! When the court returned from its last horrifying tour of Yregar, the rumors of her sent the entirety of Yris into a frenzy, but I see now it was all baseless. It doesn't matter whose taste we’re speaking of, she's certainly not part banshee, part wraith now, is she?”
The very idea of having to sit here listening to them all discuss the way I look is unquestionably loathsome, doubly so with Lady Loreth at the table. Do they all know she’s the true image of my Fates-blessed mate’staste, a female he chose to entertain rather than submitting to the Fates demands, or am I spared that particular embarrassment? I can’t be sure, and instead of letting myself dwell on the sinking feeling in my gut, I turn to Sari with a smile as I incline my head to her respectfully.
“I appreciate your defense of my reputation, Princess Sari, but I’m not offended, nor do I begrudge any high fae their curiosity, though I’m happy to clear up any lingering confusion. Prince Soren is steadfast in his loyalty to his people, and in his efforts to ensure the safety of his kingdom, I bore the price of Kharl Balzog’s tyranny. Our shared fate has been a fraught challenge for us both, but we’ve stayed true to the Fates’ demands. I harbor no ill will toward him or any other in his household for my time in the dungeons, only relief that I’ve proved myself to be honorable.”
The lady seated beside me hums under her breath as though thinking, her smile a devious one. “What a stroke of luck for us all, a fae returned from the Northern Lands just as our beloved princess is about to embark on her own journey there! We can't help but be curious about the Seelie Court, after meeting the Ancient.”
All the focus shifts to me, too sharp and too sudden for my comfort, and the Fates begin to writhe under my scar at their scrutiny. Even Lady Loreth, who was carefully watching Princess Sari, fixes her gaze onto me with the ghost of a scowl across her brow. I lift my own glass to my lips, pushing my magic into the goblet first to ensure I’m not about to be poisoned. The regent will no doubt wait until my fate is complete, but the seething edge to Lady Loreth’s eyes isn’t quite so reassuring.
I sip my drink slowly, aware of the potency of fae elixir, and smile over the rim at the princess. “I’ve spent much time amongst the Seelie Court, and I've met many fae folk of the other kingdoms within the Golden Palace. I have many stories I'm happy to share, if it should ease the princess’s mind.”
The male at my side chuckles as the female, Lodyr, speaks, her tone simpering. “Oh, there are no concerns for Princess Sari—to be betrothed to such a male is a great honor. We've heard somuch of the Sol Army’s High Commander and his efforts in the war—the only match better would be the Sol prince himself!”
