Page 65 of Fae Trials

Helen rubbed the back of her neck. “Prince August just announced that the next trial will start after classes.”

A yawn tore from my lips, and I clapped my hand over my mouth. “Sorry… What time is it now?”

Flora placed her hands on her hips. “An hour before classes end.”

Panic jolted through my heart, and I bolted out of bed. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“We tried.” Helen spread her arms wide. “But someone put you in an enchanted sleep.”

I stared down at my long, silk nightgown. “That would be Prince Rory. He cornered me in the blacksmiths.”

“Oh.” Helen crossed the room with Flora at her heels. “He must have sent the elves who told me where to find you and arranged the carriage that brought us back to the academy.”

“He did?” I walked around to my closet and opened its door. A row of freshly laundered uniforms filled the space.

With a nod, Helen picked up a velvet pouch the size of a pillowcase and placed it on the bed. “And these. I tried opening it, but there’s iron inside.”

“My weapons.” I pulled apart the drawstring and tipped the bag’s contents on my bed. The dagger, iron knuckles, and silk-covered cock ring lay on the mattress, along with some kind of bladed frisbee. Everything was beautifully embroidered and polished.

Flora whistled. “How could you afford these without a family?”

“Gala and Aster attacked us at the wards,” said Helen. “They left behind a large quantity of iron.”

The blacksmith’s indecent proposal made my cheeks heat, and I slipped off my nightgown and pulled out a uniform. Had Prince Rory paid the blacksmith extra for the throwing weapon? I hoped he didn’t consider the blowjob as some form of payment. Shaking off those thoughts, I slipped on a shirt, which molded around my body.

“What’s this next trial, then?” I asked.

“They haven’t announced the details yet,” said Helen.

“But if you don’t turn up, you’ll fail this round,” added Flora.

“How are you feeling?” Helen asked.

I slipped on my shirt and rolled my neck. “Surprisingly energized.”

Helen raised her shoulders. “You were asleep for a long time.”

Something Lady Salix said rolled to the forefront of my mind. Her theory that blowjobs robbed male faeries of their powers. Maybe it was bullshit, but for the first time since this entire business with the glowing wings, I didn’t feel like I was going to die.

I turned to Helen. “Did you get a chance to speak to the auction houses?”

“There weren’t any human females of that age,” she said. “Because of the outsiders, people aren’t making so many bargains these days.”

“Oh.” I placed my tie around my neck and let it fasten itself. Maybe the United Nations wasn’t so bad after all. Life wasn’t so bleak with their luxuries and entertainment.

The sound of a siren broke me out of my musings. “What’s that?”

“Prince August wants the candidates to gather in the stone gardens,” said Helen.

I picked up the throwing weapon, which opened up into a torque, which I slipped around my neck. Then I walked to the mirror and arranged my perfect, blonde hair. The girl staring back looked like me but after twelve extreme makeovers.

Next, I slipped the iron knuckles on my finger and sighed. When I was human, I never thought about my looks, but now that I’d been cursed with wings and faerie beauty, I could see that I used to be drab.

“Okay.” I slipped the dagger in my pocket along with the cock ring. “Let’s go.”

* * *

We walked around the castle’s exterior toward the stone gardens, a patch of land paved with pebbles polished to a brilliant shine. The sun hung low in the horizon, illuminating the mountain tops like they were doused with liquid flame.