21. Everly
Everly
Chapter twenty-one
Following Zaria and Nix down the dimly lit passage, I can hear the echo of our footsteps bouncing off the walls. I attempt to gather the bedsheet tightly around me, careful not to let it touch the grimy floor. This experience takes the walk of shame to a whole new level. I feel a deep sense of embarrassment as anxiety gnaws at my insides, wondering what thoughts are running through Nix and Zaria’s minds. I shouldn't care what they think but I do.
Instead of turning left toward my room, we take a right at the end of the passage. I’m amazed at how I successfully found my way through the narrow and dark passages and into Maxon’s room. I didn’t even know my new room had a secret passage until last night, and only then by accidentally bumping my desk chair into the wall, knocking a picture down. There, carved into the stone wall, was a button. Of course, I pressed it. And when the wall slid open, it felt as if an invisible force was gently guiding me forward, my every step accompanied by a faint whispering sound. Somehow, I knew I was going to Maxon, but I wasn’t sure how I knew that.
When the wall slowly slid open, my breath caught in my throat at the sight of Maxon standing there, his bare chest glistening in the soft light. In that moment, my mind went blank, overwhelmed by the sight of him. All I yearned for was to trace my fingertips along his skin, savoring every contour and relishing the sensations that awaited. My mind is so preoccupied with thoughts of Maxon that I don’t realize Zaria has stopped walking, and I accidentally bump into her, almost sending her tumbling.
“Sor–” But before I can finish, Zaria’s hand covers my mouth, her feline eyes glowing otherworldly as she stares at me, then cocks her head like she is listening for something.
“I’ll go first. Make sure the coast is clear,” Nix whispers.
Zaria nods and then looks at me, her eyes wide, as she places her finger to her lips. I nod in understanding, and she releases her grip.
The moment Nix disappears around the corner, I notice a beam of sunlight streaming through the path she just took. Five minutes later, there is a soft whistle, and Zaria sighs in relief.
“Come on.”
Hurriedly, we move forward, and Zaria pushes open a wall, peeking her head out before slipping through and waving at me to follow. I look around, but don’t recognize where we are.
“We are in the servant’s corridors,” Zaria explains, reading my confused expression.
The narrow servant corridor is plain, and its unadorned walls have low lighting in sconces that shine with a dim glow, no windows in sight. Zaria's hand tightens around mine as she sprints down the corridor, the sheet slipping from my grasp, as she pulls me along.
As we turn the corner, she swiftly opens a small wooden door, tugging me inside before shutting it firmly behind us. Looking around the small room, I notice the cramped space occupied by a small bed, wardrobe, and a night table with a desk tucked away in the corner. Zaria moves toward the wardrobe, its wooden doors creaking as she pulls them open.
She rummages through it in a hurry, muttering to herself in frustration before turning and tossing a sage dress and apron at me. “Put these on.”
I hold up the dress and arch an eyebrow in question. “Really? It has a hole for your tail.”
“That’s what the apron is for.”
“Zaria, I’m at least two sizes bigger than you. Why not just take me back to my room?”
With her lip between her teeth, she anxiously sways her tail back and forth.
“Because the queen was on her way to your room. One look at you and she would know exactly where you’d been,” Nix explains, making her presence known.
I look up and see her perched on a ceiling fan, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. Honestly, the contrasting old architecture and modern appliances really make my head spin.
“Okay . . . ”
“I will tell the guards I had you helping me today. It’s the only thing I can think of to explain why you were gone from your room so early. Kian is already aware. He’s covering for us.”
My heart skips a beat. “Does he know?”
“About you and the crown prince? I think he guessed. We knew you two were . . . ” she trails off.
Nix flies down, her wings beating in agitation. “The prince’s fondness for you and the timing of your arrival may raise suspicions, leading the people to believe that you are here to deceive him. If they desire your demise, the prince’s efforts to protect you might prove futile. Zaria has already warned you to stay away, that nothing can come of this thing you two have, but no! You still wandered into his room last night!”
Disbelief wells up inside me, and my fingers instinctively tighten around the sheet. “Do you two think that? That I’m here to cause trouble? That I could hurt Maxon?”
Zaria steps closer, her eyes softening. “No, it’s clear to me you care for him, but others won’t see that.”
I drop my head. “I don’t know why I’m drawn to him. Whenever he’s near, all I can feel is him. I don’t even know how I was able to find my way to his room last night.”
Nix tugs on my hair, and I raise my eyes to meet her fiery blue ones. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
My eyes flare, and a swarm of butterflies fills my entire body, leaving me dizzy. I glance at Zaria, noticing Asrai peeking out from her hair. I offer a weak smile before turning my attention back to Nix. It’s astonishing how such a tiny fairy can be so intimidating—I feel like a child being scolded.
“Yes,” I whisper.
Nix shakes her head sadly. “You both know this can’t work. You're human. No one will accept the two of you. All you're going to do is get your heart broken.”
My chest cracks with an overwhelming whirlwind of emotions. God, I just want to see Mia and Scarlett. I feel a tear roll down my cheek, the weight of sadness heavy in my chest as I hurriedly swipe it away.
“Can I get dressed in private, please?” The words are barely audible.
I don’t watch as they leave the room, remaining motionless until I hear the door click shut. I plunk down on the bed, tipping my head back, desperately hoping gravity will keep the tears at bay.
“Why am I here?” I whisper into the empty room.
I have never felt like I fit in anywhere, but last night with Maxon, I finally felt a sense of belonging. Am I being stupid?
With a sniffle, I stand up and slide the dress on, noticing its soft texture. The dress is a tight squeeze, barely managing to fit over my hips and my chest. I snatch up the apron and tie it around my waist, the bow at the small of my back covering the gap made for Zaria’s tail. I walk over to the desk, picking up a small mirror to take in my reflection. My eyes are glassy, reflecting the emotions hiding beneath the facade. I reach up, lightly brushing my fingers over my lips as I recall how Maxon claimed my mouth. I truly love him, and now I don’t know what to do. If only I could escape and go back to my world, leaving all of this behind. If one night with Maxon was all I could have, so be it. But I can’t be around him and watch him move on. The thought makes me sick to my stomach. I wonder if someone in the village will be willing to help me cross through the gate. There has to be a way.
A soft knock on the door has me turning to face Zaria and Nix as they enter the room again.
“Oh, good, it fits,” Zaria sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief.
I give her a small smile, running my hands over the soft material. “Just.”
Nix flies closer. “We need to get you to the kitchen. Rayna is in there.”
"Oh, thank goodness," Zaria mutters.
“Who’s Rayna?” I ask.
“Rayna is my sister.” Zaria ushers me into the hall.
Nix follows me and gracefully lands on my shoulder, her wings delicately brushing against my hair. “Rayna is loyal and trustworthy. But we need to hurry.”
“If anyone asks, you wanted to learn how to bake the bread and asked to help us this morning. Okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, struggling to keep up with Zaria's brisk pace. The tight dress restricts my movement so much it makes it difficult to breathe. Stepping into a large room with stone walls, a wave of heat immediately hits me. Looking around the kitchen, I’m left speechless as my mouth hangs open.
The sheer size of this place is staggering, and the scent of warm bread fills the air, making my stomach growl in hunger.
“This place is massive.”
“This is just the bakery. You should see the food prep kitchen,” Nix says.
Zaria walks over to a young girl who looks like her twin, only minus the tail and ears. “Rayna, this is Everly. She has been helping us this morning in the kitchen.”
Rayna and Zaria exchange a knowing look, their eyes sparkling with mutual understanding. “Of course. So good to meet you, Everly.”
Then her hand reaches for the workbench, snatching up some flour and tossing it at me. I jump in surprise, my eyes immediately darting down to find the dress covered in a light dusting of flour.
“Umm . . . nice to meet you too?”
Rayna giggles, her brown feline eyes sparkling in delight. “Well, if you’ve been in here helping Zaria and me all morning, you have to look the part.”
“That’s very true.” I smile.
Nix lifts from my shoulder, making her way over to a tray of pastries and sighing in delight.
“Come sit. I’ll get you some breakfast.” Zaria motions me over to a table.
“Shouldn’t I be working?”
A soft chuckle escapes Rayna's lips. “It is all taken care of. Sit. I want you to try my newest creation. I call it the hummingbird.”
Before I take a step toward the table, we all turn to the sound of a gentle knock on the door. Kian stands there, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. His focus is on me, but he addresses the room.
“You ladies having fun?”
“Yes, we are. Would you like to join us?” Zaria offers.
The intensity in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat. He knows . . .
Kian steps into the kitchen and walks past me. I hold my breath, my fingers twisting in the apron. I don't know what I was expecting, but a knot forms in my stomach, making me feel uneasy. Kian waves me over and pulls out a chair, signaling for me to take a seat.
“Uhh . . . I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?”
“The dress . . . ”
Suddenly, Nix starts laughing hysterically. I look over at her, powdered sugar covering her face and hands.
“Oh, no . . . ” Zaria whispers and Rayna chuckles, tugging her sister’s tail.
“You brought her here. This is your fault.”
Kian and I exchange confused looks.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
Zaria lets out a deep, exasperated sigh. “Nix has a sensitivity to sugar, which means she has to be mindful of how much she consumes. Give it a few minutes and she will be in a sugar-induced coma.”
“Oh . . . That’s understandable. Nix is tiny,” I reply, captivated by the sight of the fairy rolling around on the table. Her eyes sparkle with delight, reflecting her genuine enjoyment. A smile spreads across my face, and I cover my mouth in amusement.
It seems to take Nix a moment to register my words, because she stands and staggers in my direction, finger pointed at me. “Hey, I’m not tiny.”
“You are,” Zaria argues, giving her a flat look. Clearly, she’s unimpressed by the events of this morning.
“You look drunk,” I add, biting my lip.
Kian clears his throat, and I look over at him. He holds a baked sweet roll out to me, carefully balancing it on a napkin. The sugar icing on top sparkles under the lights, resembling glistening crystals.
“Here, you must be hungry.”
I quietly reach for it, taking it from his outstretched hand. “Thank you.”
"You’re welcome," he replies with a warm smile, thought it seems forced. “You can eat it on the way back to your room. We have training.”