“Can you believe I almost had it removed—the portrait that is,” Queen Plume begins. “There are days it was too painful to evenlook at.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, knowing those words will never be enough. “You’ve all been throughso much.”
“Yes—to mourn a king, a prince, and an engagement all at once.” The queen stares at the portrait as if it’s a portal to a lost moment in time.
“An engagement?” I croak. “Moth wasengaged?”
“Oh, ages ago, my dear.” Queen Plume waves away my obvious concern with a serene smile. I gulp, trying to force my now ridged back to relax into the seat cushion. With delicate hands, she carries on withher work.
Engaged…
“Were they in love?” I ask, taking a hard swallow of tea, ignoring the way it burns going down my throat.
“The two were betrothed since birth. Lady Ruby was his best friend, and yes, I suppose they loved each other. She mourned for years after his disappearance. Ruby always cared for my son more than the idea of taking the throne, but I dare say she would have been a more enthusiastic ruler than I. As would Moth back then—he wanted to be king more thananything.”
I shouldn’t be upset; I mean, I know he’s had relationships before me, including a few unique sounding dalliances in the mortal realm. Of course, someone like him would have suitors upon suitors here, but love is different. I’ve been bracing myself for something like this ever since we arrived, butchildhood best friends?When they see each other again, will sparks fly?
“You have other questions?” she asks, though she doesn’t raise her eyes fromher work.
Other questions? Hmm, that’s an understatement. I glance at the harp player in the corner, who gives me a nod. Oh my god, I need to stop staring at them. “I’m sorry if this is like … totally ignorant, but are there any rules for transforming?” I ask, quickly turning my attention back to my pile ofenvelopes.
“You can take whichever form you are most comfortable in,” she says, furrowing her brow. “An odd question. Have you also suffered from your memories being taken?”
“Oh no, no, I was human before … Mothsaved me.”
The music stops and so does Queen Plume’s quill.
“Oh?” She tucks her legs up on the sofa and reaches for her teacup and saucer. I thought it was obvious considering my request for human medication, and the fact we met in the mortal realm, but I guess those are details she overlooked. “Then it seems my hands are in need of a break, and my ears are in need ofa story.”
“Oh yeah, no,totally.”
So much for not thinkingabout it.
Queen Plume dismisses her attendants, leaving the two of us alone in the large sitting room. She refills both our teacups by hand and leans back against her cushioned seat.
“Moth and I met in the human realm when I fell out of a tree—and then later he fell on top of my roof. I nursed him back to health, and the two of us fell in love…” I say. “Those are the basics at least.”
“So, you … tended his woundsyourself?”
“Yeah, I mean … I had to try, right?” I grimace, remembering the sight of his wing bending backward. “It took a while for his wings to heal, but that also gave us time to get to know each other.” Warmth blooms in my chest at the thought of those early moments together; we’ve come so far. I figure that’s enough to satisfy her curiosity. But Queen Plume isn’t interested in the Cliffs Notes version, which doesn’t explain how I had been transformed.
So deeper I go, pressing on a bruise I wasn’t sure still hurt until unshed tears cause a funny lump in the back ofmy throat.
“Obviously, Moth saved me,” I say as casually as I can manage, “and when I woke up, I had wings. Pretty cool, right?”
“Cool … yes.” Queen Plume nods with a heaviness in her eyes that I try not to notice. “I caution you not to mention this to anyone.” She purses her lips together. “Though, your human nature does explain your need for this … synth-a-roid.”
“I can’t be the first chronically ill former human who got transported here.”
Queen Plume’s lips turn downward in an apologetic expression that suggests that I, infact,am.
“Our kingdom is not prone to illness, though it does exist. Perhaps not this same condition, but I will talk to our healers. Herbs and spices can dowonders—”
I cringe, suddenly transported back to millions of “Have you tried Brazil nuts?” comments in posts that so much as mentioned Hashimoto’s. It’s not that I don’t believe in natural remedies. The whole reason I’m gluten and dairy free is to try to fight inflammation. But my body needs modern,humanmedicine to deal with this very humanproblem.
Besides, Moth’s father was sick, wasn’t he? I swear Queen Plume said he had fallen ill when we spoke about him in the library. If healers, herbs, and spices couldn’t fix a fae king’s health problems, I don’t think they’ll do much for me.
“There really aren’t any other humans here?” I press. It seems unlikely that I’m truly theonly one.
