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CHAPTER 1
I standon the balcony in my rooms in Queen Ulla’s palace, watching Prince Gerald and Lord Hugh follow Advisor Rhine through the courtyard. Grik and Foarde left Avedon yesterday. Today, it’s their turn.
It’s been three days since the betrothal contest ended. Three days since I became a prisoner in the fae realm, and I am no closer to getting out of here. My fellow champions, however, are being forced out.
Queen Ulla and her advisors publicly stated the cessation of alliance negotiations with members from the earth realm. The news had come as a shock, especially since it was accompanied by the order that all mortal contestants and ambassadors return to our realm at once. Except for me and Tony.
Despite the healer’s plan for Tony to wake up after two days, he has yet to regain consciousness after suffering Death’s Kiss during the final challenge of the betrothal contest. I wish I’d pushed the fae healers to try a different method of treatment, rather than rendering Tony unconscious. Despite their hopeful words, the healers have no idea what’s keeping Tony asleep. And they don’t know how to fix it.
The only good thing to come out of this ordeal is that Guardian Legrand gets to stay in Avedon. He wanted to take Tony back to our world to have our healers help him, but the lead healer here, Healer Giselle, thinks it is too dangerous to move Tony through the portal. So, Tony remains here with me and Guardian Legrand watching over him.
If I’m not sulking in my rooms, I’m with one of those two men. I avoid everyone else. Especially Thalore. That avoidance, unfortunately, ends today.
Because today, I am moving to Thalore’s rooms. At the queen’s orders.
Right now, Julley and a handful of her fellow maids pack up the meager belongings I brought with me to Avedon and the fae wardrobe that had been provided for me upon my arrival. I should help them, but I am a prisoner on this balcony. Watching Hugh and Gerald leave weighs heavy on my heart. My friendship with them is one I will always cherish, and one I hope to rekindle when I’m back home.
My thoughts turn to Guardian Burns, wondering what’s kept him from returning to Avedon. Is it the Shadowguard, or is it the fae who are needed to open the portal between our worlds?
I’m contemplating the likelihood of both when a delicate voice clears behind me. “Guardian Loftin,” Julley addresses me formally, something she only does when we aren’t alone. “Lord Evergreen is here to see you.”
Resentment jolts through me with strong intensity. Annoyingly, it’s accompanied by another emotion. One much more tempting. I shove it down into the dark depths of my mind, determined never to let it see the light of day.
Never again.
Thalore appears behind Julley. He steps around her to join me on the balcony.
Julley eyes the lord with a frown before turning to me with question in her eyes. I adore her loyalty. She’s selflessly acted as a buffer any time Thalore arrived at my door wanting to talk. This time, though, I give her a small nod. I can’t avoid him forever. The queen has made sure of that.
Julley disappears back inside, but not without shooting Thalore another disapproving look.
Thalore watches her departure, then says, “She doesn’t like me.”
“Does that surprise you? Or did you think every fae female would applaud the way you roped me into a mating just because you’re a handsome lord?”
Thalore turns back to me. Remorse swirls in his green eyes. “I came to see if there is anything you need for today?”
“Yes, to not move into your rooms.”
“I would grant that wish if I could, but Ulla insists...”
“I know.” I go back to staring at the courtyard. Hugh and Gerald are no longer in sight. Their absence hits me hard. Tears burn the back of my eyes, fueled by sadness and the lack of control I feel over my own life.
Queen Ulla, despite the fact she wanted Thalore to mate her daughter, has gone out of her way to publicly acknowledge and support our supposed mating every chance she gets. That includes her very vocal reprimand of the fact Thalore and I have not decided on a date for our mating ceremony. Through Julley, I’ve learned that while exchanging life’s blood marks Thal and I as mates for all intents and purposes, we won’tofficiallybe considered mates until we complete the ceremony.
I am fine with never completing the ceremony. In fact, I hope it never comes.
When the queen couldn’t get a ceremony date out of us, she took her antics to the next level and demanded I move from my rooms in the royal wing to Thalore’s family rooms. Every high-ranking noble family has rooms assigned to them at Court. Until today, Thalore has lived in his alone.
I truly don’t understand the queen’s motives. I can’t figure out what she gets by forcing us together. But she’s the queen. Now that Alora is engaged to Lord Clifton, and the dissenters in Court have grown silent, she doesn’t feel inclined to explain herself to anyone. Not even her surly advisors.
So, here I am, moving in with a guy for the first time in my life. And I’m dreading it.
“I just came from the infirmary.”
My head snaps up. “Has something happened to Tony?”
“No, his condition is unchanged.”
