When I open my eyes, I can see the sun is well and truly setting now. The sky is awash in pinks and deep oranges, I startle to my feet. My head feels clouded in a thick fog and I look down to see a pile of half eaten figs littering the floor around me.
What was I doing?There is a strong urge to eat more. My hand is moving to my mouth before I can think twice about it and I take a big bite.Ah, that’s better…
I sink back down against the tree but before my butt hits the ground Embrys is in front of me knocking the fig out of my hand and grabbing my shoulders.
“Hey, I was eating that…” The words are sluggish as they come out of my mouth. I try to shake him off and lean down to grab another fig but Embrys pulls me up and wraps my arms around his neck and before I can protest, his mouth is on mine.Oh, this is even better…
I close my eyes and feel as though I am floating through the air. The kiss starts out warm but soon the heat between our lips starts burning. I gasp as I pull away and notice that he must have been carrying me because we are now on the outskirts of the park.
What was I doing?Suddenly my awareness of what just happened dawns on me. I pull out of his embrace and slap him across his extremely hard jaw,Ouch.I pace back and forth shaking my hand.
“What do you think you are doing? Get away from me!” I bare my teeth to him.
“Nuria, you were gorging yourself on the figs, I had to intervene. The fae know to dose themselves slowly with them. They contain pure euphoria gifted from The Divine Mother herself. This tree is sacred and has been here for thousands of years. Only the zealots who have been eating the fruit for years are able to handle the amount you just consumed, and even then, they stay in trance, muttering to the tree for hours, like those you see behind you.” He gestures to the fae I had noticed earlier and upon closer look they appear to have lost the plot entirely.
“So you thought kissing me was the answer? Embrys, I want nothing to do with you! I need to go do whatyoucould not, save your sister.” I try to shake off my inner voice that is betraying me and longing for another kiss. I push past him, hurrying towards the big bridge that Fern described, praying that the Palace is not far off. The trial must have already started.
Embrys sighs and jogs up to my side.“I kissed you because I had a feeling it would irritate you enough to break you out of your stupor. I was clearly correct.” I look his way only long enough for him to see my exaggerated eye roll.
“Huh, another irritating habit you and Oleander share,” I scoff as I continue walking. Embrys falters in his steps for a second then catches up to me again.
“She did what?!” His fingertips burst into flames.
“Oh spare me. You do not get to be jealous.” I keep storming forward. He just shakes his head and lets out a frustrated sigh. The fires wink out one at a time.
“Please, Nuria, it is not safe for you at the Palace. The King wants you; you cannot fall into his net. My father’s plan could work. You are the rightful heir after all. I promise you do not have to marry me or even look at me again but stand with us and we will stand behindyou!This realm needs change and you have come on the eve of revolution. You must be the answer.” Embrys keeps pace with me but doesn’t try to get in my way. I can hear genuine worry in his voice, however misguided it might be. I spare him a glance and see his wrinkled brow. I also notice his hair is half out of its binding and he is sweating, as if he ran at top speed to find me. Again trying to play the hero no doubt.
Wait, did he say I am the rightful heir?I stop walking and step into his space, he nearly collides with me and has to put his arms up for balance.
“You knew all along who my mother was and you kept it from me?” I point a finger into his chest.It is just lie after lie with these bloody fae.“I am not who you think I am, Embrys! I do not wish to be anheir!”I give him another hard poke. “I do not trust your father any more than I trust The King. All I know is that Oleander has done more for the creatures of this realm than any of you and what I can do right here and right now is free her so she can continue on with her mission. The King won’t harm me, he needs me,”I hope,“who knows, maybe I can reason with him. Perhaps I can make him promise to free the slaves and leave the human realm alone in exchange for me and my powers.” I meet Embrys’ eye for only a moment and catch his apologetic look. He just nods, lost for words.
Finally voicing my plan out loud makes me realize how ridiculous I sound, but it is all I can do to save my friend and to hopefully save my family. If The King needs me then surely he will be amenable to a bargain, right?Oh Mother, I hope so.
I shove my self-doubt down into the darkest parts of myself and continue walking to the big bridge that stretches over a wideemerald river. Embrys is silent beside me but keeps up stride for stride and I feel a pull towards him and a yearning to reach out and grab his hand,are these my desires or his?I notice his fingers flex from the corner of my eye.
The Palace comes into view as we reach the crest of the bridge. Fern was right; I would definitelynotmiss this. The Palace looks as though it has been raised from the Earth, Herself. It has towering spires of sparkling white, uncut rock with little oval shaped windows scattered unevenly throughout. The white flowers of my mother’s burial mound carpet the surrounding ground that I notice none of the fae walk on. Moss hugs the walls and living vines spread their tendrils across the rough white stone, reaching for the sun and even crawling into some of the open windows. I can see the main entrance which consists of a huge vine arch with wisteria cascading down, creating a suspended veil of white. The scent of the succulent flowers hits me, even this far back. Embrys stops me by taking my hand in his. I almost pull away but the tender look in his eyes and the half smile I have grown to enjoy stops me, even though I am thoroughly pissed at him.
“I will not try to stop you if this is what you wish. I know you do not feel you can trust in me after what has happened. Believe me when I say nothing I have ever said or done with you was in pretense. I care for you more than you know and I will stand with you against The King if that is what you wish.” He cautiously reaches to cup my cheek in his hand, checking my face for any sign of anger but I relent and soften, allowing his touch. He lied to me multiple times and I am unsure if I can trust him ever again but I really, really want to. Only his future actions will determine that. Only his support for Oleander and the Sylvans will change my mind.
“Embrys, you must promise to leave with Oleander when The King takes me. The two of you together will be unstoppable,and he does not suspect you to be a rebel. She will need you as guardian for The King’s guard to fully release her.” He studies my face for what feels like a long time. His brows knit together and he clenches his jaw, fighting his own stubbornness. I stare into his hazel eyes.I do not need your protection. You owe me nothing but the truth moving forward. Please, can you do that?A muscle in his jaw tics but he finally nods in agreement. I let go of his hand, turning towards the castle.
Chapter Twenty-Three
There is a crowd pushing through the main arch which obstructs the view of what is beyond. If this is a public trial then I am guessing that is what they are all trying to see, making my swift entrance just a bit more challenging,great.
As if reading my thoughts, Embrys walks ahead of me with a ball of flame floating in his hand and the crowd immediately parts for us to pass through.
“Thanks.” I keep up behind him.
Startled fae glare at us but none try to get in our way. When we are through the arch we climb the white stone stairs to the main doors and push our way through the crowd. The main foyer is grand, with high dome ceilings and white marble floors housing designs of green vines mosaiced into the large tiles. The walls are covered in sprawling ivy and there is a magnificent chandelier that looks to be a golden and shimmering upside down tree floating mid-air. Lights twinkle from the tips of the branches and I can imagine the beautiful disco ball effect it must have at night.I wonder if they have balls here. That’s a fairytale thing, right?
The grand room has been transformed into a courtroom. On tiptoes I can see at the far end of the space is the dark haired manfrom Pyralis’ painting, and my nightmares, up on a dais, sitting on a throne made of a living tree resembling a miniature version of the Wishing Tree.
He wears a golden crown of ivy with what looks to be fangs pointing down all along his brow,nice touch.The balance of delicacy and fearsomeness I am guessing is a special addition, courtesy of The Wolf.
We push through the crowd far enough so we can see the backs of Oleander and Pyralis’ heads. They are seated at the base of the small platform that holds the throne with vargs on either side of them. Oleander doesn’t appear to be restrained but it is hard to tell from behind. There are three rows of seated fae directly behind them, two seats I recognize are inhabited by the thin, white haired head of Gaelheart and his black haired son, Elias. As if sensing that Embrys is here Pyralis turns to meet his eye. As he turns, Embrys shoves my head down so I am hidden behind a portly fae man that has a pig’s tail sticking out of his pants.
Stay hidden until The King calls for objections, my father will try and intercede otherwise,Embrys says. My eyes widen as I realize that we were not sharing eye contact. I wonder whether my powers have somehow grown since my stint in the crystal cave, or if it is just our connection that has grown.
