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It’s ridiculous. I can’t believe they think I’m some stuck-up, out of touch royal fae. I’m the complete opposite. I’ve only been labeled royalty for a few days, and they’ve already pegged me as complicit in all the bad the fae are known for.
I keep going, hoping against hope I can clear this whole mess up before things get worse. “As the new queen, I’m going to make changes to benefit the humans.” If I'm being honest with myself, this is actually the first time I've thought about it, but they're right, and as their future queen I have the power to make changes and to make life better for them so that no one suffers the way that my family has suffered.
Should I accept the role. But they don't need to know that.
If I can get these people to believe me, maybe all of this can end. And, maybe, I can start to think about what being queen might actually mean. Instead of focusing on a life of lying, a life of deceit, a life surrounded by the fae I hate in so many ways, I can focus on what I can do for the humans with my power.
In another situation, I might think I was having an epiphany, but instead, I’m just trying to save my own life. Epiphanies can come when I'm safe.
Grif huffs. “That sounds just like the kind of nonsense a fae queen would utter.”
I'm almost shocked that they don't believe me, but the old me wouldn't believe me right now either. I totally understand where they're coming from, but they've got the wrong girl. A week ago, I would have been all for a plan like this–minus the kidnapping of an innocent person.
"Seriously," I tell them. "Wouldn't it benefit humanity to have a queen who was raised human? Who is human in all ways that matter?" I silently beg them to accept my logic.
“You’re a fae, or you wouldn’t have matched with the princes, and a fae is a fae no matter anything else,” Etha says, dismissing my words.
No, wait.“About that–”I can’t tell them the truth, or can I?
“Denying it only makes you look like a fucking liar,” Grif says, and his eyes flash with a threat.
Shit. I'm losing them.
"Talk to anyone in my life. You'll see!"
“Regardless of the lies you tell, you’re fae. You have no idea what it's like to be human and to suffer the way we do,” Etha tells me, as if she speaks the absolute truth. “You’re also the key to our future. You’re what's going to bring us into a different era. One where the fae must change, and we humans will have a chance, at last.”
“You don’t understand.” I’m pleading now. “You’ve got this all wrong. You don’t need to kidnap me and do whatever the hell you have planned. I’m not who you think I am.”
Etha laughs, but her laugh is cruel, and the men I can hear, but not see, laugh too. “Not to worry, fragile fae, you haven't actually done anything to us, and we follow a strict code which means we won't kill you. But we will work you. You’ll live here as our servant, taking the role we’ve had to take with your kind for so long.” Etha releases my head and snaps her fingers.
I cackle, bitterly, disbelieving of what's happening right now. “I was a maid for the fae last week. I scrubbed their floors, made their beds, and drew their baths. You really think I don't know what hard work is?”
Grif laughs. "She's probably worked hard on her back." His stupid audience roars with laughter.
These people are idiots who deserve to suffer. They could have at least done their research and learned a little bit more about me.
Idiots.
Anger courses through me. If I were a fae, I'd use every ounce of power I had to destroy each and every one of these fools.
"I was a maid! You fucking idiots! There was no lying down! Hell, you guys can affordarmor, guess who was too poor for that?"
The urge to beat them with the crappy hard bread I used to soften with water courses through me. I'd break their damn bones and laugh maniacally.
“I don't give a damn what you tell me you did. You're going to be our servant until the end of time,” Etha tells me calmly. "No matter how colorful your lies are, this is your fate, fae. Accept it, just as we accepted our fate for so long."
A heavy metal ball attached to an equally heavy-looking chain drops next to my head. I feel cool metal snap into place around my ankle, and then feel my bindings being roughly sawed away. Then, my legs and arms fall around me, burning as the blood properly courses through them once more.
I struggle to sit up, then start rubbing my limbs, glaring at the shitty room. At least a dozen men lounge around, dirty and dangerous-looking. The only light comes from a crackling fire to one side, the dancing flames casting all my kidnappers in a shifting light that makes them seem even more sinister.
The ball and chain on my ankle irritate my skin.Their techniques are barbaric. Surely they could have forced me to work without this.I grumble and look around me. As far as I can tell, there’s the front door we came out of, stairs that likely lead to bedrooms, and a small doorway leading to the rest of this floor. Basically, no easy escape, especially not with this ball and chain tied to me.
Grif pushes me toward a bucket filled with dirty water. “Get to work!”
Yeah, I can barely stand, but, sure, I’ll get to work. You dickhead.Still, I’m not exactly in a safe situation. If they don’t plan to hurt me, or kill me, I can handle a little cleaning… until I can come up with another plan to escape.
I struggle to my feet, my gaze moving over the room and the men. A few of them give me the fucking creeps. One keeps looking at me and licking his lips in a way that makes me want to cut his tongue out. No matter that the woman said I’m here to work for them, I’ve realized I can’t let my guard down at any time while I'm here.
