21. Rosalina
21
Rosalina
A ll I can do is glare down at the delicious lunch in front of me.
Farron pushes up from his seat. “I want to start by saying… Rosalina. Uh, I mean, I want to apologize for what almost happened last night. I don’t have as good of a handle over the curse as the others.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Dayton says softly before I can respond.
“Well, thank you,” I say. “I would prefer not to be eaten by a wolf.”
“Then you should have followed the rules and stayed in your room,” Keldarion growls.
“And you should learn to control your temper!” Does this stupid fae need to have a say in everything? I grab a fluffy white roll and chuck it as hard as I can across the table.
He catches that too.
“You don’t have to fill my plate in return,” he says as he places the bread roll next to the apple.
“Sit down, Farron,” Ezryn says softly, then turns to me. “That rule wasn’t created to control you; it was to keep you safe.”
“I’d be safer at home,” I start. “If you’d only—”
Keldarion stands, palms flat on the table. “In case you’ve forgotten, you’re still a prisoner serving your father’s sentence. The others desire to give you liberties and freedom within the castle. If that is not to your satisfaction, then I’d be happy to escort you back to the dungeon.”
I sink in my seat and cross my arms. Of course he fucking would.
At my silence, Keldarion keeps his chilly gaze on me. “You will not leave your room at night. Furthermore—”
“I already know what you are! And what happens to the staff. Astrid literally showed me. Why do I have to stay put?”
Keldarion grinds his teeth. “Fine. But don’t go back to the dungeon. Farron remains locked up for the protection of everyone. Including himself.”
Farron keeps his head down, picking at his food. Dayton notices my attention and catches my gaze with a wide smirk. “And don’t stare at the animals. Makes them uncomfortable. Also, don’t try to eat them. I’ve had a few close calls before.”
“I wouldn’t—Wait, close calls?”
“You may go outside to the grounds during the day if escorted by Astrid or another member of the staff, but not beyond the bridge or the wall,” Keldarion continues his list of demands. “Also, you may take your breakfast and lunch where you will, but we will all dine together every evening.”
I open my mouth to complain but someone else beats me to it.
“Kel,” Ezryn says. “There may be times—”
“You said you wanted to bring order to this castle, Ezryn,” Keldarion says lowly. “Then take it. You can continue your little hunts after dark.”
Ezryn doesn’t reply, but his hands tighten into fists and I’m glad I positioned my throat far away from him. Ezryn may have cowed to the icy bastard easily, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of it.
“Why would I want to eat with any of you? You’re my jailers.”
“Would you rather go back to the dungeon?” Keldarion asks simply.
So, that’s going to be his kill card for everything? I take a bite of my blueberry pastry. Fuck, it’s so light and crispy. The blueberries taste like the breath of life itself. I devour it in two bites and give a little sigh of satisfaction when it’s done.
My enjoyment is short-lived, however, when I glance up and see Kel looking at me from across the table. There’s a little satisfied smirk on his face.
Smug fae bastard.
“Another rule.” Dayton leans forward, a dimple forming as he grins. “You may bathe in the hot springs with me every day if you wish.” He plops a cherry between his lips. “Naked, of course.”
My cheeks turn the color of the cherries he’s eating as I remember my hot springs encounter with him, the way the soap slid down his muscular chest…
“That is not a requirement,” Ezryn interrupts. “Astrid will ensure your complete privacy in those facilities. None of us, nor the staff, will bother you again while you bathe.”
I nod, and that should definitely be relief, not disappointment, swirling in my stomach. I’m not turning into Marigold here.
“Unless you beg for it, of course.” Dayton winks at me as if he can see right through to my molten core.
I shove my thighs shut and turn back to the table. “What else is there?”
“Astrid and the other staff will show you around the castle,” Ezryn says. “You may explore the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Wings and their facilities with an escort as you see fit. Of course, our personal chambers will be strictly off-limits.”
“Unless—” Dayton begins.
“Off-limits,” Ezryn finishes.
“And the High Tower.” Kel finally moves his icy gaze from Dayton to me. “You are not to go there under any circumstances. It is strictly forbidden.”
Something trembles in his words, something powerful, and it’s all I can do to nod.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll follow your rules if—”
Kel growls at my words. “This is not a negotiation.”
“ If you explain to me what’s going on,” I finish. My mind flashes back to what Farron said: The others are better at controlling their curse. “Tell me about this curse you’re under. I can assume no one in this castle wants to turn into demonic wolves and animals at night?”
All of them are silent for a moment, and I don’t miss the shift as they look at Keldarion.
“If you insist on her living here,” Ezryn says, “then she deserves to know the truth.”
Kel gives a dismissive wave of his hand and nods.
“Farron, tell her,” Ezryn commands.
Dayton grabs the brown-haired fae’s shoulders. “Farron’s been researching the curse. He knows the most about it.”
“Uh, okay,” Farron says. “It’s as simple as it is complex. Please do not repeat the curse to anyone. Only the residents of Castletree know the details.”
“I literally cannot leave,” I say.
“Right.” Farron drags a hand through his wavy hair. “This castle is the customary home of the High Princes of each realm and their staff.”
It seems strange to me for them all to live in a castle so far away from their realms, but I let him continue.
“Dayton was the last of us crowned. He lived here for about a month before we heard a knock on the door,” Farron continues. “Upon answering, we found a beautiful human woman. She asked to look upon each of the princes and we honored her request. But when she requested entry to Castletree, we denied her.”
I guess I wouldn’t want to let some strange woman into my home either. I take stock of all the princes as Farron tells his story. Dayton’s head is cast down, Kel’s got the grimace of a century, and Ezryn’s still as a mountain.
“That’s when everything changed,” Farron continues. “I mean, the woman changed. She transformed into an ethereal enchantress. I’ve never felt magic like that before. Her words tore into us, a spell woven in moonlight as she cursed us.”
“And the curse?”
“The residents of Castletree would transform into beasts at night. The four princes would be cursed beyond all,” Farron explains. “We are spared on the night of the full moon. Who knows for what mercy.”
“No one knows of this,” Ezryn says solemnly. “At first, we thought she may have been from the Below, or a powerful fae cursing us in an attempt to seize Castletree’s magic. But she never reappeared after that night, and my search has come up empty.”
“And there’s nothing you can do about it?” I ask. “To break the curse?”
“Not exactly. Fae curses can always be broken,” Farron says lowly. “The Enchantress told us we could only break this curse once we find our mates and before—”
“Enough,” Keldarion snarls. “You’ve told her enough.”
“Mate? What the heck is a mate?”
“The other half of your soul.” Dayton smiles poetically. “Born from the same star. Someone your whole being calls to.”
“It’s a fae thing.” Farron gives me a sympathetic smile.
My mind races. These fae princes are powerful, but they’re also desperate. Perhaps desperate enough to give me what I want.
“I’ll help you break the curse,” I say. They all turn to me like I announced I could magically transform into a fox. Actually, they might not think that’s so weird. “I’m serious. If I’m trapped here, I might as well do something useful.”
“Why do you care what happens to us?” Dayton blinks his big blue eyes. “We are your jailers after all.”
“Because when I break the curse, you’ll let me go. That’s the deal. Fae like bargains, right?”
My heart hammers in my chest. One of my father’s many ramblings: never make a bargain with the fae. But I’m already in so deep, it may be my only way out.
They’re silent for a moment before Ezryn murmurs, “It couldn’t hurt to have her assist Farron in his research.”
“You have nothing to lose by letting me try.” I turn my gaze on Keldarion. “And I have everything to gain.”
“Come here,” Keldarion says, and the command seems to work through my body as I stand immediately.
I swallow in a dry throat as I pat down my skirts like I planned to do that all along. Then I walk across the dining room, my steps echoing.
Kel pushes up from his chair as I arrive and stares down at me. Damn, I forget how tall he is until I’m quivering beneath him. He sticks out his hand. “Break the curse and you’ll be free of this castle.”
His words make the back of my neck prickle. There’s something not quite right about them. But I have no other choice.
“Deal,” I whisper, then lace my fingers with his. His large hand feels too warm for a prince of ice and snow.
“It’s a bargain,” he murmurs reverently. “Until you break the curse, or I choose to release you, you shall remain a guest of Castletree.”
A magical force courses through our joined hands. I feel a tingling sensation and watch in awe as a ribbon of blue light wraps around my wrist and his. An exquisite warmth radiates from our clasped hands and an electric spark ignites within my heart. Wind caresses my hair, and I can’t tear my gaze away from his blue fire eyes.
Finally, the spell dissipates, and I look down to see a tattooed bracelet on each of our wrists: interwoven hues of sapphire snowflakes and ruby roses. A symbol of our vow.
Something else on his wrist catches my interest. Black ink in another bracelet tattoo right above ours in the shape of—
Kel drops my hand, and I let out a gasp. Energy courses through me. “It’s a bargain,” I whisper.
“And it’s all for naught.” Kel turns and walks toward the door. “This curse will never be broken.”