“You will.” Fessyk’s words were the coldest she’d ever heard, lacking any empathy or care. This was a far stretch from his jolly good morning.
“You will go. You will marry, and you will never come back here—ever. You will do this because it is in the best interest of Keles. Because it is in the best interest of this family.”
Her eyes widened. Her mind was spiraling. She felt weak, like she might faint right then and there. This wasn’t about marriage, or producing heirs.
No, this was about getting rid of her. Finally disposing of the burden they had the displeasure of harboring all these years.
“I won’t go. You don’t have the authority to send me away. I will not be forced out of my own home!” she seethed.
Fessyk glowered as he stood to meet her. She had forgotten she was speaking to the current ruler of this kingdom.
“In case you haven’t noticed...” Fessyk began scornfully, “your parents want nothing to do with you anymore. This isn’t a punishment, Helaina, it’s a favor. We could just lock your cursed ass in the dungeons for the rest of your days.”
Helaina swallowed. Could he really do that?
“Instead, we’re sending you as far away as this realm will allow, before things get any worse.”
That comment made her buckle. She knew things were tense since the loss of her siblings... She just didn’t think they would disown her for what she had done—for what she was.
Selfish.
Murderer.
Cursed.
The voice in her head repeated the words. She shook them away, attempting to focus on the topic at hand. “I’m the only remaining heir to my father’s throne. You can’t make me go.”
Fessyk couldn’t contain his cold laugh.
“You? An heir? Even if you are the last, you could never inherit. I won’t pretend to understand why my brother hasn’t done away with you already. If you were mine, the decisions that were made long ago would have been very,verydifferent.” His words were so bitter it made her arms tremble.
“Your future husband has already agreed. This is a gift, Helaina, take it. Stop weighing on your family. Let them know peace for once and be rid of you.”
Her breathing became rigid. What could she do? If they wanted her gone, what could she possibly do or say to stop this?
Her eyes couldn’t focus over her loud, heavy breaths.
“Come sunrise, dear niece, this will no longer be your home.”
CHAPTERFOUR
EIGHTEEN YEARS BEFORE
The castle was alive with footsteps. Servants scattered throughout every corridor, cleaning and preparing for their guests.
Everything had to be pristine and perfect, a castle fit for fae.
It was a common misconception that the fae folk were immortal. The almighty gods were the only beings to possess eternal life. The fae’s lifespans were simply longer, making it near impossible to tell their actual age. They were elegant and mysterious creatures, and they were coming to Keles. For the first time in countless years, a fae king would enter human lands.
King Matthias Lavertus had reigned over Azaros for centuries, and only now had he recognized a need to meet with other kingdoms.
Disappearances had begun to plague the realm. Week after week, month after month, more and more citizens were going missing. Bodies were never found at the scenes, only pawprints, sometimes hooves. Obtaining a good description of the beasts was impossible. The rare witnesses they did have only gave variable and contradictingdescriptions of creatures that sounded completely fabricated. The one thing the witnesses did agree on was where the bodies were taken, where the trails always seemed to lead—toward the Mountains of Ash Cliff.
The enemy didn’t discriminate; even the fae lands had been breached.
The ethereal fae resided directly north of Keles, somewhere hidden within the Creekwood Forest. Men had tried seeking the entrance to their territory countless times, and failed. Deceptive cloaking magic kept their home a secret. Only one entrance existed within those trees, appearing for those who knew where to look. Yet whatever was leading these attacks had discovered the passage. Now no one in Lynor was safe.
It had been her brother’s initiative that got the fae king’s attention. Sending word to their scouts that they were on the same side of a future battle and it was time to align.
