Chapter 2 #2
I ate methodically, more automatically than anything, and it was only when I was on my second piece of toast that I realized I’d been so caught up in the chaos of finding the Stone and returning to Whiteolf yesterday that I’d never checked in with my best friend.
I nearly dropped the toast. Oh Gods, Ree is probably worried sick.
I hurriedly made the mental connection with her. My magic scratched against her consciousness, and since it was so easy to find her too, I knew I was still in Whiteolf.
Ree opened her mind immediately. Stars Above, Prim, are you okay? She nearly yelled.
I winced and hastily swallowed my bite of food. Yes, I’m fine. Well, sort of.
Her sigh of relief billowed through my mind.
When I didn’t hear from you after knowing you’d planned to go into Silventine Wood, I panicked and went to your house this morning, but Gwenery told me that you’d come back to Whiteolf last night but then were apprehended.
And there was a strange male at their home with a huge ax strapped to his back.
He made me stay outside on their doorstep. What in the realm is going on?
So much, Ree. So, so much.
I filled her in as quickly as I could. I told her every detail, down to the fangs that had appeared in Timith’s mouth, how Verin was suspected of being involved in his sickness, how the king and queen of our kingdom knew of me, how my true parents were still alive and that Gwen and Timith weren’t my blood relatives, and how Kole had betrayed me and given the Stone to the Council.
I also told her of the strange, luxurious chambers that I’d been moved into last night and even reported about Betsee, who was currently arranging my clothes for the day.
When I finally finished telling her everything, Ree’s silence throbbed in my consciousness, and I knew she was processing it all.
At last, she said, So your parents are alive, Gwen and Timith aren’t your relatives, Verin isn’t who she said she was, and she’s been taken by the Imperial Council? But I don’t understand. Kole stole the Stone from you? I thought he had feelings for you.
He totally stole it, and even if he did have feelings for me, they’re not important enough for him to not do his job.
I’m the biggest fool. Kole was deceiving me the entire time we were together.
We didn’t meet by chance. It was all an act since the Imperial Council seems to think Verin was actually targeting me with her potion, not Timith, and given what she said last night, they’re probably right.
Anyway, while I was hunting the Stone, they sent Kole to monitor me, or follow me, or something like that.
Honestly, I don’t fully understand any of this.
My throat grew thick again, so I stopped eating and took another sip of tea.
Oh Gods, Prim. I’m so, so sorry. And all of that means Timith is going to . . . Her agony drifted to me.
Yes, I can’t save him anymore. Tears began to fill my eyes in earnest, and I blinked rapidly.
At the door, Kole shifted, his sword scraping against the wall.
Sniffing, I turned away from the warrior so he couldn’t see my expression and continued. The Council believes Verin’s potion made Timith sick, and apparently, I now have to test my food and drink before consuming anything. I briefly explained what Betsee had put on my food before I’d eaten today.
Truly? But I still don’t understand that. How could a potion do such a thing?
I don’t understand that part either. I’ve never heard of a potion that could fully transform a fairy into something else entirely, but Jamie said it had very, very powerful magic about it.
But why would Verin, or whoever she’s working for, want to turn you into something like that? What purpose could that possibly serve?
I don’t know, but Verin said the strangest thing last night. Her exact words were, “My liege will get to her eventually. Now that we know for certain who she is.”
I could practically feel Ree’s head rear back as she said, What in the realm does that mean?
I wish I knew. A chill ran through me, because for the first time, it hit me with startling clarity that what’d happened to Timith had been intended for me.
Just as fast, I recalled all of the times Verin had tried to feed me or make me drink something.
My eyes widened to saucers just as I remembered a key detail.
I glanced at Kole, but then Ree said, I don’t even know what to say. What can I do to help you, Prim? She sounded on the verge of tears.
I wish I knew, I said again. Stars Above, I wish I knew what either of us could do to make any of this better.
“What do you think of this ensemble, my lady?” Betsee’s joyous question cut through the mental conversation I was having with my best friend like a knife.
The lady’s attendant’s tone was in such contradiction to the absolute despair Ree and I were feeling that it took me a moment to process what she’d said.
Ree, I’m sorry, but I have to go. Apparently, I have to approve the outfit the servant just picked out for me.
Stars, what in the realm is happening?
I know, right? But I’ll connect with you soon, as soon as I’m able.
Okay, and I’ll go visit your aunt again, to see if she knows anything more, even though that warrior is trying to keep me out.
Thank you, Ree. Love you.
Love you too, Prim.
I closed our connection in a hurry since it’d been a while since Betsee had asked me for my approval. Blinking, I surveyed the gown, underthings, and accessories she held up. She twirled the gown around so I could get a better look at it.
“It’s, um, it’s all beautiful,” I finally managed.
Betsee twirled the gown more, and slits in the eggplant skirt revealed lacy crimson material beneath it that appeared every time the servant moved the material.
And at the gown’s waist was a narrow glittering yellow sash that added a pop of color.
Fitted lacy sleeves spilled down from the gown’s neckline, also in eggplant, but the gown’s bodice was made of silk, and hundreds of crimson jewels had been sewn into the dark-purple fabric.
I hadn’t been lying. It was a beautiful gown and was fabricated of Mistvale Kingdom colors. The entire ensemble screamed of wealth, privilege, and decadence. And while my aunt and uncle had never been poor, I’d also never worn something that expensive.
Betsee beamed. “I shall bring everything to the changing area.”
As the lady’s attendant began to move everything behind a privacy screen, I eyed Kole, then stood in a hurry and went to him.
His energy shifted as I approached, but I didn’t stop until I stood right in his space. Under my breath, I said, “Does the Council know yet what that potion is that Jamie found in Verin’s room?”
His eyebrows folded together. “Not yet. It’s currently being tested.”
I licked my lips. “Do you remember where we were the first day we met? That day Abel was chasing me in Whiteolf?” I only waited enough for him to nod in affirmation, then said in a rush, “There may be a capped bottle somewhere in one of the alleyways leading up to that place. Verin had given it to me that morning to drink along my journey. Do you think the Council could find it and test its contents too, to see if that potion from her room was in it?”
His eyes widened enough that I knew he understood what I was asking. Because if Verin had intended that potion truly be given to me, and not my uncle, traces of it would be in that drink. Then, the Council would know for certain if I’d been the intended victim all along.
“Yes,” he said in a clipped tone. “I’ll make sure it’s found.”
“My lady?” Betsee asked, peeking out from behind the screen. “Are you coming?”
I swirled back around to face the servant and forced a fake smile. “On my way.”
I strode toward Betsee, and behind me, Kole shifted. I wondered what was running through his head now that he knew there was a way to test if Verin had been trying to sneak that potion into my food and drink all along.
I glanced over my shoulder, but Kole looked distracted, as though he wasn’t even paying attention to what Betsee and I were discussing.
“You shall look magnificent in this, my lady!” she gushed.
With a forced smile, I stepped behind the privacy curtain.
As I was changing, I felt Kole mistphase out of my chambers, but he wasn’t gone longer than the time it took for me to dress. I figured he’d returned to the Imperial Council to report what I’d told him about the bottle Verin had packed for me, and he’d only stayed long enough to do so.
My heartbeat ticked steadily upward again. Something told me that warriors were already dispatched to that area of Whiteolf to scour neglected alleyways in search of that bottle.
Betsee finished with the final touches, then clapped her hands together. “Oh my, you look so beautiful!”
With a brittle smile, I tried to admire the elegant deep-purple gown that flowed over me like a waterfall.
Every time I moved, the material shimmered, and the gems encrusted into its bodice caught the light, making the cloth sparkle and glow.
The crimson lace beneath the silky skirts shifted and appeared every time I moved, like a flirt peeking out from behind a curtain.
The gown was fitted, the bodice rather tight, and my breasts were practically spilling over the top.
It seemed like a bit much, though, and I regretted not requesting one of the simpler day dresses, but Betsee looked so pleased with herself that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything other than how lovely it was.
When I finally stepped out from behind the screen, Kole froze.
The warrior’s focus glued to me, and his attention didn’t abate, not even when I sat at the vanity so Betsee could do my hair.
His gaze burned, and I could have sworn his aura surged with want, but just as fast magic on his wrist activated.
That same, strange magic I’d sensed before.
Kole hissed and instantly straightened, his focus shifting away from me, but all of it reminded me so much of the many looks and feelings I’d gotten off him while hunting the Stone.
But he’d still betrayed me.
A flash of pain filled me anew, but I tried not to think about him, his reactions, or his strange magic, as Betsee began to curl my hair and pin up strands in an artful style that highlighted my cheekbones and made my neck appear long and elegant.
Once finished, Betsee clasped a jeweled necklace around my throat, then adorned my ears with matching earrings. She sighed in happiness and stepped back. “There, my lady. Do you like it?”
Despite everything, I decided then and there that I truly enjoyed the servant. If I’d been my usual self, I would have grinned at her in the mirror in return, but as it was, my smile still felt forced.
I turned my head every which way, admiring her work. “You did a marvelous job. Thank you.”
Still grinning, she patted my shoulder. “It shan’t be too long now until your visitor arrives. Sit tight.”
She left the chambers in a flurry of limbs, and when the door cracked, I didn’t see my nighttime guards. Only Kole remained.
Once Betsee had left the room, I stood from the vanity and approached the warrior, but I kept my distance, only going close enough so he could hear me. “Did you tell the Council about the bottle? Are they searching for it?”
His throat bobbed in a swallow. “Yes, it’ll be found today. We’ll make sure of it.”
I nibbled on my lip, and he watched that movement, but before I could ask him more questions, a knock came at the door, tentative and soft, and Kole’s attention shifted to whoever waited outside.
“Your visitors have arrived.”
Instinctively, my magic shot out of me, penetrating the solid wood door just as two siltenite consciousnesses streamed back to me. My spine stiffened the second I registered the female’s essence. Rose buds, sparkly illusion magic, and thyme.
But how in the realm . . .
I didn’t know how that could possibly be right.