AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Very well.” Queen Summer speaks, demanding the attention of the room. “But just to take away her magic isn’t punishment enough. Once her magic is taken away, she should be banished to live among the humans.”
My stomach sinks at the suggestion.
We all know what banishment means—she’ll be compelled. Though she won’t forget her life as a supernatural, she will be compelled to never speak about it. It would be too big of a risk otherwise. But not only will she be forced to be silent, she’ll never be allowed to talk to another supernatural again, and that includes our family.
I glance over at Poppy. Her eyes have changed from yellow to gray. She knows exactly what the council is asking for. Considering the only other option is death, there isn’t anything I can do to help her.
“Let us vote,” Father says.
I take a step back, standing beside Cypress.
As I am not twenty two yet, I don’t have a vote on the council.
Just for three more weeks.
Then what? Will I be marrying the dragon crown prince? Or will I take my place at my father’s side?
Cypress puts his arm around my middle and I lean into his side. As a fae, I’m not supposed to show emotion, but this is about my big sister. Even after everything she’s done,I love her. And if the council sees that emotion as a weakness, so be it.
“You did well,” Cypress whispers, as the council takes a couple of minutes to talk before voting. “You showed her a mercy that she wouldn’t get any other way.”
My eyes sting with unshed tears, but I blink them away. “Are you sure this was the right thing?”
“They were going to execute her.” Cypress pulls back to look me in the eyes. “And you were right. Poppy wants freedom more than anything else—a freedom she’d never be allowed to have as a fae. Taking away her magic is a gift.”
He’s right, of course, but I still feel horrible.
In the end, the council decides to honor my wishes to take away Poppy’s magic. Cypress and I aren’t even allowed to say goodbye to her as the guards whisk her from the room. All I can do is hope that she’ll be happy now—happier than she ever was as a fae.
Father dismisses Cypress and me as the rest of the council discusses what to do about the dragon fae alliance, but deep down I already know what will happen. If there truly was a way out of the alliance, the fae would’ve done it years ago.
I will be forced to fulfill the role. And Cypress will be forced to take my spot as heir. I only hope Cypress can handle it.
4
There are worse fates
Wisteria
One week later, Father and I arrive at King Basilicus’s home.
Well, home is a bit of an understatement because the king of the dragons lives on anisland. And his ‘home’ covers half the large island and it’s as big as the castle I grew up in, if not slightly larger.
“Why isn’t our castle on the beach?” I ask Father, as a driver pulls in front of the home-castle-mansion.
Father laughs. “Our castle is two thousand years old, Wisteria. So you’d have to go back in time and ask your many great grandparents that question.”
My eyes are wide as I take in the surrounding landscape. There is a lot less stone here than back home. Instead of rolling hills and tall coniferous trees, there are palm trees and sand. The castle itself sits on top of a large mountain, but the grounds extend all the way to the beach.
I’ve never seen anything like this in my life—not that I’ve done any traveling. But maybe that will change now.
The council is still trying to find a way to get me out ofthis marriage, but my father couldn’t put off this meeting any longer. The wedding is supposed to be in one week, but we have to let the dragons know that we need to put it off for another week—until my birthday. While the fae monarchs are confident they’ll find a loophole, I doubt it. The contract was written by fae and they will have thought of everything. Ten generations ago, they weren’t worried about the lessening of magic. They only wanted to make sure the alliance held. And now… Now, the strongest fae to ever exist is marrying a dragon shifter.
I swallow hard as I realize what is about to happen. I’m going to be meeting my futurehusbandtoday. And his father. Sure, I’ve met them both before, in passing. But I can’t even remember what the prince looks like—I had never paid attention before. Before, he was betrothed to my older sister. I had no reason to give him more than a passing glance. I couldn’t even remember his hair color. Dark, I think? But brown or black? And his eyes… I’m not sure I got close enough to see his eye color.
Does it matter?
If I’m being honest, maybe a little. I’m going to be married to the guy. What if I’m not attracted to him?
