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And if she was going to carry out her plan of killing the Wolven King, she had to start making bold moves now.
“I believe so.” Ainslee rubbed her hands together. “I’ve never tried a spell this big before, but we’ve never had so much at stake.”
“Phillipa, I forbid you—”
“Spell me, Ainslee.” It took all the courage Phillipa had to give her permission. That numb feeling rose from her legs, into her belly, and down her arms. Margaret was talking, most certainly protesting, but Phillipa couldn’t hear her. Ainslee chanted, her words weaving together in a hypnotic way. The little fae spread her hands and shimmers of light appeared.
Phillipa closed her eyes, almost losing her balance, and when she opened them, Margaret was gone.
“She won’t remember anything.” Ainslee landed on her friend’s shoulder, and her breath was labored. “Or at least, she shouldn’t.”
“We need to go now.” Phillipa had faith in her friend’s magic, but it would only be a matter of time before Mother and Father Donnelly found her and made her sign the annulment, or something even worse. “What about my bags? I can’t go into the house.”
“The elders made sure you’d have everything you needed waiting for you in the carriage house.” Ainslee laughed. “I thought they were overreacting when they anticipated trouble, but I should know by now to never question them.”
“How did they get my bags out of the house?” Phillipa quickened her pace, looking over her shoulder to see Margaret on the porch of the house. Her back was to them, and she prayed that Ainslee’s spell held long enough for her to leave the property.
Horses she’d never seen before, one black, one white, appeared from thin air, both gleaming and sparkling with energy. The fae hadn’t just spelled the carriage drivers, they’d created a whole carriage with their magic.
The carriage was beautiful, and much nicer than anything her family owned. Sometimes Mother traveled in Father Donnelly’s coach, and this rivaled its luxury. The doors and lower part of the body were painted a sophisticated mallard blue and the top was black. Ainslee opened the door and Phillipa climbed in, stealing a moment to look back at Woodhaven for possibly the last time ever. Even though things had been strained between her and her family since Wesley’s disappearance, she would miss them terribly. She swore to herself she would find a way to reconnect with Margaret. Tears pricked her eyes as she settled against the rich Corinthian leather seats. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she considered the very real possibility that she and Ainslee were the first ever travelers in this carriage. Possibly the only passengers it would ever carry.
Phillipa put her head against the back wall of the carriage and gave her heart the proper chance to break as the driver signaled for the horses to start.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
“At least I’m leaving on my terms,” she murmured, opening her eyes in time to see the garden. The flowers were more colorful than ever, in full bloom even though they weren’t in season.
Ainslee fluttered in the front of the carriage and Phillipa wondered if she was unleashing more magic. She was afraid to ask, in case it was possible to break the spell.
The fae landed beside Phillipa and put a hand on her thigh. “These horses will be able to get us there faster than regular ones. Or else we would have to leave at dawn to get there on time.”
“I can never go back.” Phillipa stifled a sob.
Ainslee put her tiny hand on Phillipa’s arm. “Maybe we can figure out a way.”
“I’m not sure I want to return.” It sobered Phillipa to realize that. “I feel like I’ve been the one who’s gone missing. I feel like a ghost in my own life. I’m ready to feel alive again.”
“Phillipa, as much as I’ll miss our time together in the garden, I want that for you. The sadness is so clear in your eyes. I hope that you’ll consider letting a monster heal your heart.”
“Wesley will come for me. Just because I’ll be somewhere new doesn’t mean I’m giving up on him.” And for the first time in a long time, she truly had hope that she will see him again. “How will you get home?”
“Magic, of course.” Ainslee fluttered in front of her. “I know this is scary for you, but you made the right decision, Phillipa.”
“I hope so.” She brightened. “What if…Her Majesty is sending me to the Ball, and Wesley will be there to surprise me?”
Ainslee’s colors darkened. “I do think it might be time to start thinking about what your life will be like without Wesley.”
“No.” Phillipa straightened her spine. “I won’t give up on him. I can’t.”
“You may meet a royal beast who’s willing to make all your dreams come true.” Ainslee did a backflip. “If I had received an invite from Her Majesty, I would let myself luxuriate in the options. The Ball lasts three days. So many chances to truly change your fortune.”
“Tell me about what I can expect.” Phillipa needed to put together a plan. Since she had received the invite, she’d been focused on one thing only—the Wolven King. She had no plans for what she would do when inevitably approached by a monster, or many monsters, if Ainslee’s assessment was true.
Or what would happen if she were able to carry out her mission. If she were to face the Wolven King, and take him down with one of those arrows, what would happen if anyone found out? Her fantasy that she wouldn’t get caught wasn’t good enough anymore. She needed a real plan.
Maybe it was time to start thinking about a monster in her future.
Beyond the prospect of killing one.
