Galen and I were taking a carriage to a manor owned by the royal family, currently unoccupied. It was a discreet location, far from civilization, used for interrogation and intimidation, according to Galen. A place where people went in, but didn’t come out.
I could tell he was nervous, continuously tapping his foot and weaving fire between his fingers, which in turn mademenervous. It didn’t help that Arnold was sharing a carriage with us, while Sylvia rode by herself. I had no doubt that her voluminous skirts filled an entire vehicle, along with her massive sense of entitlement.
Galen sat beside me, keeping his hands to himself. Isla’s father glared at him, while I tried my best to avoid eye contact and conversation, staring out the window instead. We rode past grasslands buzzing with life. Sleek antelope and shaggy buffalo grazed as glittering mountains loomed overhead. We’d be going into those mountains soon enough, if this meeting went as planned.
Galen and Rafael had both told me to play nice, to tell the Elders what they wanted to hear… as if I had another choice. We arrived too soon and Galen helped me out of the carriage. He leaned close and whispered, “My hands were tied. Whatever they say, I’m on your side.” I looked up at him, puzzled.What had he done? My heart dropped into my stomach.
The manor was ornate, bordering on gaudy. Tropical plants, marble statues, and black and white checkered tile greeted us in the entryway. We made our way to a large obsidian table that filled the entire dining room. It instantly made me feel uneasy, as if the stone itself had dark memories stored inside of it—warning me,bad things happened here. The curtains were closed, making me feel claustrophobic.
My chest began to hammer. I thought of Meli and Odin, as I was shoved into a seat, and steeled my spine. I wouldn’t let them end up here.The Elders sat on one side, while Sylvia commanded the head of the table. Galen was at the other end. I sat alone. I’d never felt more like a prisoner.
I plotted an escape route. If things went south, I’d need to get behind Galen, who sat closest to the exit. The guards that lined the room would catch me before I’d get far—unless I turned them into ice sculptures and created an indoor hurricane. I wasn’t defenseless. I’d even snuck a dagger in on a garter belt, thanks to Raf. The cold steel against my thigh was a constant reminder that this damsel could andwouldfight back.
“Welcome, world walker and Princess of Aurelius.” A bronze-haired man, whom I assumed was Radley—the head of the Elders—flashed his bright, white teeth at me.Princess? Galen had told them that I was to inherit the Aurelian throne? My chest splintered and I fumbled, caught off guard. I quickly recovered and bowed my head in greeting, avoiding Galen’s gaze.
Rafael had warned me about Radley. He loved to hear himself talk. Some found him charismatic, but his charm was reserved for those he found worthy. He had a fiery temper to match the flames he wielded. Arnold and Radley fought over leadership of the group, but Harkin was the real one to fear, according to Raf.
She was volatile and quick to use her earth and ice magic. While the other Elders preferred to distance themselves from humans, opting for blood in a cup, Harkin liked to play with her food. She apparently brought twoleashedhumans with her, wherever she went, sipping from them at her leisure. She claimed they weren’t slaves, but instead, faithful servants. I was relieved she hadn’t brought them today.
I glanced up at the group to see if I could identify her. Instead, I was hit with a crashing wave of uhras that twisted with dark, oily power. Each soul was the same deep shade of red; a burgundy so dark, it was nearly black. A massive storm cloud flickered, hovering over them all, as if their souls had been stitched together into one mighty monster. I was a minnow staring into the gaping jaws of a shark.
A high-pitched screaming rang in my ears. And then silence. They were staring. I blinked away the horror and steadied my quaking voice. “Th-thank you. My time here has been an eye-opening experience… to say the least.” I gave a polite smile; the kind women were expected to hand out like candy in Aurelius. Inside, I was trembling.
“Galen tells us you’re…remarkable. And now we finally know whotook over the Ancient Kingdom when faeries were exiled.Your ancestors!We’ve been so curious, the last two centuries. It seems we should’ve given the human rulers more credit—convincing a world walker to turn her back on her own kind. Very impressive, indeed. Did she spread her legs for the mortal King, I wonder? He must’ve had a cock made of pure gold to sway such a powerful faerie. And it seemsthatvery power trickled down toyou. I’ve been asking myself, have the Six Gods forsaken us? Why else would they bless amongrelwith such gifts?”
No one had ever talked to me with such blatant disrespect. I froze in shock as Arnold replied, “Bite your blasphemous tongue, Radley.” A cruel smile played on his lips. “The gods have sent Marigold to us. Now that she is ours, her power belongs tous. She holds value as a hostage, as well. What lengths do you think her Queen would go to, to get her back?”
My nails dug into my palms, anger replacing fear. Galen had caused this. I looked over at him to find his eyes wild with outrage, with panic. What did he think would happen? That they’d hear the wordPrincessand decide I should be hisbride? The feeling of betrayal sat like a rock in my stomach. A flush was spreading over my neck, up towards my rounded ears, while my fingers turned to ice.
Several of the others hissed and laughed. Three men and three women sat before me. Arnold, Radley, and a man so blonde, his hair almost appeared white. He looked to be the oldest of them all. His face had a waxy quality to it, like he was past his expiration date.
The women were even more intimidating. A black-haired faerie, with skin the color of bone, looked like she was in her animal form already.Spider,I wanted to hiss. Sylvia’s mother, no doubt. There was also a silver-haired female with ebony skin, and a tall female with a copper mane of hair and eyes that blazed with fury. I guessedshewas Harkin.
Intimidation and vicious words; that was all they had.They needed me. “You blame me for the mistakes of my ancestors?” I asked. “Surely, you have more intelligence… more grace than that. My Queen doesn’t respond well to bribery or threats. And neither do I.” They thought I was a direct descendent of the throne… Their ire was misplaced.I was going to kill Galen.
“Ah, we may begraceful,but you won’t find our kind asforgivingas humans. We live too long to forget past grievances; instead, we let themfester. While your people have forgotten who we are after a few generations, we’ve rememberedeverything. We have no forgiveness left in our blood—blood that calls for the magic that wasstolenfrom us.” Harkin purred her words, staringthroughme as she spoke with a smug smile on her face.
Galen cleared his throat and stood. “She’s not your hostage. She is an honored guest, under my protection. I’ll not sit by idly while you fling insults at her. Perhaps, it’s not too late to find your manners and introduce yourselves.”
Silence answered him. “No? Then I shall do it for you.” He continued, “Marigold, you’ve been introduced to Radley and Arnold. The gentleman to their left is Samael. The ladies… My grandmother, Anica, followed by Harkin, and Greta.”
The redheadwasHarkin. She hid behind no mask as the rest did. They at least appeared civilized. She looked half-wild, ready to shift into a she-wolf and tear me apart.
“Pleasure to meet you,” I said with a scowl.
“Marigold is mastering her magic with impressive speed. However, world walking is a different beast and she needs our help. How well were you acquainted with the last world walker? Did you see her open a doorway?” Galen’s jaw was ticked, his body tight, as he tried to facilitate the meeting, directing his question towards no one in particular. His mother sat back, coiled and ready to strike.
“You truly believe her lies? That she doesn’t knowhow? You’re as foolish as your father.” Harkin gave an insidious laugh and turned to me. “Remind me, how did you arrive in Nymera?”
Galen’s flames exploded. “Disrespect the late King again and I’ll rip your black heart from your chest and burn it to ash.”
Sylvia raised a brow, but it was Radley who stepped in. He lifted his hands towards Galen in a gesture of peace, before snarling at Harkin. “Speaking ill of the dead?” He clicked his tongue at her. “Do we need to muzzle you… again?”
Harkin shot him a glare, shook her head, and then all eyes fell on me. “Well, girl, answer the question,” Radley pressed. I felt their unified hatred bore into me.
I answered slowly, trying to hide how rattled I felt. “I fell asleep in Erador and woke up here. I traveled while sleeping.” My hands fidgeted in my lap, aching to throw up a shield and protect myself.
“The Mongrel Prince took her to the portal without my consent, but she failed to open a doorway,” Sylvia explained. “She would’ve tried to escape by now… if she was able to.”
