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Chapter2
Being single-handedly credited with saving the entire royal family came with some perks, even if I was just a human feeder.
The freedom to roam the castle as I pleased without escort being the thing I took advantage of the most.
My fingers brushed over the spines in a row of books toward the back of Noah’s personal library. The silence of the room made it seem like the books were humming as I strummed along them, searching for one that would stand out for me to read.
This was the biggest freedom, and most days found me right here, in Noah’s private library. Surrounded by books. I’d always used them as a personal escape from the hell of life, from Darryl, from foster parents and homes that felt anything but safe.
I’d explored this place so slowly, I was still finding new rows and shelves of books to explore. I turned, ready to examine another carefully stacked and dusted row of adventures, when a set of double doors caught my eye. Not nearly as ornate as the others but beautiful in their own way. Embellished with fine thin swirls of flowers, these dark wooden doors led to a place I’d never been. And the temptation to move through them was winning out.
I glanced over my shoulder, peering around as I moved in a slow circle. The library was still silent, as it was most days. Noah hadn’t wandered in, and given that he was the only one I’d be expecting in here, it wasn’t much of a surprise to still be alone.
Still, the thought of exploring something that led away from the library felt forbidden in a way.
Forbidden, and calling me. I couldn’t help the smile that tugged on my lips as I twisted one of the golden doorknobs. The door creaked slightly as I pushed it open.
My breath hitched as I caught sight of something even more beautiful than Noah’s sanctuary. It was another library, at least double the size of Noah’s. The darkened corners near where the doors opened enveloped rows of shelving, all curved along an outer wall.
I moved, entranced, toward the center of the room. Shelves curved in a circle inward. Light beamed into the center of the room, bright and inviting. As I passed the last row of shelves my hand came to my chest as I tried to hold in the vocal, “Oh my gosh,” that escaped my lips.
There, sitting displayed at the quadruple-paned window, was a large golden telescope. Books lay strewn all over a table that held parchment papers of maps.
It was an astronomy tower, minus the tower—an astronomy library.
Right here in Faerie, two of my favorite things collided together like this room was made for me.
Why hadn’t Noah mentioned the additional room? Not that he knew my love of stars to specifically point something like this out. That was a love I held close to my heart. A love manifested in the occasional astronomy book well hidden under my bed.
None of my foster parents growing up encouraged education. That coupled with my don’t-care attitude that I donned to make sure I was left alone didn’t scream, “Hey I’m interested in learning!” to any of my teachers. Meaning I was left to my own devices in school.
I had passing grades and that was about it. Learning the basics but never pushed to explore more. After watching a movie about the stars in elementary school, it was the one thing that fascinated me enough to actually check out a book from our library for the first time.
After that, I had to bring home books slowly so no one discovered my passion in my foster house. Anything that gave even the slightest bit of joy was stripped immediately. Especially at my final resting spot with Darryl, the alcoholic asshole.
Glancing down at the map on top of the pile instantly had me confused. These stars weren’t any that I recognized. I flipped another map up, seeing constellations that made no sense, ones not recorded in human books. Unless I’d missed a lot in my readings over the years.
A stack of well-worn books sat at the edge of the table that the maps were haphazardly strewn about.
I picked the second book from the top, one titled Faerie’s Galaxy of Wonder. The title alone made it sound like a fictional piece, but this place seemed more of a study lounge than a fantasy reading corner.
I slid into a plush red armchair off to the side of the telescope and brought my legs up to the cushion, tucking them to the side. I knew when I had originally made my way to Noah’s library I wasn’t needed until the evening. After the somewhat intense training yesterday, this morning’s lessons were short and to the point. Noah had excused himself, and told me to take the day since he had a laundry list of duties to attend to.
Which was completely fine by me. Especially now.
My stomach fluttered in excitement as I opened the book in my lap. To learn more about Faerie and stars at the same time was a temptation I couldn’t wait to dive into.
The only star that was the same as the human world was the North Star, the brightest star in the sky. The Unseelie and Seelie seemed just as fascinated with the stars as our world, but who wouldn’t be? The book went into hypotheses about the various constellations seen clearly over the Unseelie lands versus Seelie lands. Each constellation, though able to be spotted everywhere, seemed visible in different areas of Faerie.
My reading pace increased, as though I would never get enough of the brilliance of these stars here. Why were they different? Was this world really a different place altogether than the human world? Did anyone here even know?
The shuffle of footsteps were far too close when I finally picked up the noise. “I see you’ve discovered my curiosity has led me to a new hiding place.” I turned in my chair, tilting my head toward Noah as he stealthily crept in.
The book I was reading fell off my lap as I jumped up from the curled-up position I’d taken on the chair.
“Your Majesty!” I exclaimed.
My heart hurt in my chest as it thudded a quick rhythm and the realization that Noah was not the one coming into this new room hit me full on. Not Noah at all.
