I’d never seen the wild brought indoors like this, even the art that covered the walls showcased nature’s beauty with oil paintings and murals of animals and landscapes. There were no stuffy portraits of ancestors… no dusty tapestries. Everything was full oflife.
Galen watched me as I took in my surroundings. For some odd reason, he looked captivated—almost in awe—as if I wasn’t a filthy,nervous wreck.
When we passed a mirror, I decided I must’ve been reading him wrong, because I was in rare form, indeed. There were leaves in my unkempt hair and smears of blood where there should have been cuts. Where therehadbeen cuts. How had they healed so fast?
My ankle was feeling better too, although I was milking the pain to stay close to the Prince. Did this world allow one to heal at an unnaturally fast rate? Something to ask Galen when there were less eyes on us, because currently there were guardseverywhere; they lined the hallways and trailed behind us as they stared and whispered.
“Would it be possible to freshen up before meeting the Queen?” I asked. “I wouldn’t want to offend her in my current state.”
“Ah, there will be time for that soon… Unfortunately, the Queen has been alerted to your presence and she’s waiting. It’s never a good idea to keep her waiting.” He threw me an apologetic glance before guiding me towards a set of gilded double doors.
It was all happening so fast. Shouldn’t a Prince understand the importance of appearances? It was difficult to feel prepared when I looked like a creature he’d pulled from a bog.
The heavily guarded doors swung open, and we were pushed into a tropical jungle. I tripped over a tree root that darted straight out of the marble floor and Galen didn’t miss a beat—catching me, then gripping me more firmly.
A warm mist settled over my skin, adding to my confusion, as I tried to figure out how we’d ended up back in the forest. I peered up, gawking. The ceiling was completelymade of glass. It was the onlyfeature that told me we were indoors.
A firm tug from Galen had me moving again—towards the Queen who was waiting for us on an elevated Dais. She sat in a chair that looked more like a gnarled tree stump than a throne.
An array of exotic plants framed the walk way. Some tucked themselves between exposed tree roots, others twisted up mossy trunks. Vines hung from tree branches in stringy tendrils, while water trickled down rock walls. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to feast my eyes on.
Plants that I’d seen as drawings in scientific journals exploded around us, like vibrant fireworks: Red bromeliads, banana trees bearing ripe fruit, fanned out monsteras, and birds of paradise.
Giant fig trees stretched higher than I could fathom—their trunks wider than five of me combined. They didn’t simply growup, but also webbed across the floor. Their roots looked like massive hands, reaching, clawing,slitheringtowards us, before rising up into…were those snake heads?
I fought my impulse to run as I studied the wooden snake totems that lined the aisle. Each sculpture reared up, as if ready to strike, while jewels the size of my fist sat in hollow eye sockets that sparkled with malice.
Our feet clicked on the jade marble as rushing water grew louder, sounding as tranquil as a nest of hissing serpents. I wanted to cover my ears, close my eyes, and curl into the fetal position.
What god had I pissed off to end up in this situation? All of them?
I glanced towards a line of soldiers when I heard a low growl. There were wolves and monstrous cats sitting amongst uniformed men and women. They stood perfectly still, but I had no doubt that one whistle would send them sprinting over.
“Her Majesty, Queen Sylvia. You may bow and pay her your respect,” a uniformed herald announced. I bowed as the Queen looked down on us from her platform.
I could feel Galen’s mother staring at me. I lifted my head, meeting powder-blue eyes. Her angular face was set in a pucker that negated any inner beauty, though she looked young enough to be his sister. I was taken aback, but concealed my surprise. Obsidian black hair and pale skin contrasted sharply with her son’s golden features. A dark red lipstick leeched any remaining color from her cheeks.
Dressed in a pale silver gown, in a more provocative style than I was accustomed to, she showed off ample cleavage on her otherwise thin frame. The fabric draped and twisted, reminding me of the flora that surrounded us.
Her skirts splayed out around her, extending past a throne that appeared to be weaved from dried vines and mahogany branches. Gold flecks shimmered on dark wood, shining like starlight. The chair looked alive, as if one of its vines might lash out and wrap around my neck at any moment. However, it was not the throne that scared me, but the snake that sat in it, watching me through cold, narrowed slits.
“I was informed that you found a stray puppy wandering our property,” the Queen drawled to Galen, looking bored. “And why exactly didyou find it appropriate to bring her into my home?Pleasedon’t tell me you want to keep her. You should know by now that humans don’t make good pets,Prince Galen.”
I clenched my jaw as she spoke.They really weren’t humans.I felt Galen’s hand on my lower back, steadying me, as I trembled.
I peeked over at him. He was glaring at her with thinly-veiled hostility. “This is Marigold. She’s in need of food, rest, and medical attention. Wylks found her before we did—she was almost their dinner. She injured herself during the attack and doesn’t remember how she ended up in our forest. I’d like to offer her one of our guest rooms while she recovers.”
“Marigolds… such pretty little flowers,” the Queen said as we locked eyes. “Although personally, I’ve never cared for them. They aren’t to my taste. Toocheerful,too bright… for something so short-lived. I find such obstinance,obnoxious.” She flicked her eyes down to where Galen was touching me.
I was in a foul mood. My ribs ached, my lungs burned—I wanted to light this corset onfire.And now a strange woman was slinging insults at me. Was I supposed to just roll over and take this?
“Mother—” Galen said through gritted teeth. She flashed her eyes at him and he corrected himself. “Queen Sylvia… Please,let her rest tonight. She’ll be of interest to you. Trust me.”
They exchanged a heated look.
“I must admit, Iamcurious to know how a dirty little human managed to bewitch my son.” She curled her lip at me, as if I was a mud-caked piglet that belonged in a pen.
My fists clenched, but instead of releasing my rage, I swallowed it. It went down like hot tar. I curtsied to the Queen and asked sweetly, “You find mebewitching, Your Grace?”
