Chapter 19 – Alex
Chapter Nineteen
ALEX
Going through the barrier is like wading through thick humid air that suddenly releases when we step into the most incredible garden I have ever seen. The space is filled with noise and people that weren’t there only moments ago.
Fae gardeners prune hedges, and I gasp as I take in the extravagant palace that reaches into the trees, is practically woven into them.
The palace shimmers with an almost iridescent quality.
Built out of a mixture of stone, wood, and moss, it looks like something plucked from myth and legend.
Flowers are everywhere, their vibrant blooms of violet, fuchsia, blue, and gold an explosion of color.
“What is this place?” I breathe.
Sera’s nerves seem to get the better of her as her steps slow, but she walks straight for the palace.
Is this her home? Was she a servant here?
No. She carries herself far too regally for that.
Wait. She’s the princess of this fae court, isn’t she?
I want to growl at her and the never-ending secrets.
No one pays us much heed as we make our way toward tall shimmering doors built into the trunk of the largest tree I’ve ever seen. The way the palace is woven in and around the trees is an incredible work of craftsmanship. Leave it to the fae, I guess.
A guard steps out from beside the door, and I almost jump in surprise. He blended in so completely, I didn’t notice him or his companions stationed in intervals around the walls.
He speaks in a monotonous voice, using a long, pointed spear to block our path. I pick up on words I think might mean door and royal, but I’m not certain.
“If you’d bother to look, you’d realize I am part of the royal family,” Sera says haughtily in the common trade tongue, clearly for my benefit. I catch most of the words this time, grateful for all my years studying languages.
The guard looks confused, his eyes darting between Sera and me, and he clears his throat, speaking in a heavily accented tongue. “I’ve been working for the queen for almost a hundred years. Surely I would recognize you if you were telling the truth.”
Sera stiffens all over again. “I’ve been away for more than a century. I forgive the mistake, but I must have an audience with the queen at once.”
I try to wrack my brain for anything Sera might have let slip about her family.
Unfortunately, my knowledge of the Woodland Court is slim to none, other than the brief overview Sera gave me.
Rakveren’s and Maardune’s libraries were far too sparse on the information and severely outdated due to the realms being closed for centuries.
Sera looks uneasy and quite concerned, which instantly raises my hackles.
“It’s not visiting hours, and this is not the appropriate entrance for petitioners.” The guard’s nasally voice grates on my ears, and I’d love to give him a piece of my mind, but this isn’t my home. Sera can handle herself.
“I can assure you, the queen will be most vexed if you forbid me entrance,” Sera seethes before switching back to the fae tongue and giving him a verbal lashing, if I go off the tone.
Her words flow so quickly, I haven’t a prayer of keeping up.
Stress and anxiety radiate off her, and the desire to protect and fight for her is overwhelming.
I glance over my shoulder and note the time.
We have perhaps a few hours until dusk, but that’s only my best guess.
I’m still not familiar with how the two suns function here.
The glass doors open, and a wizened fae male pokes his head out, looking irritated before rattling off in the fae language.
Sera perks up, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Loche? It’s me, Fiona Seraphine,” she says in the common tongue. “This fool doesn’t recognize me.”
Fiona Seraphine?
“Princess!” Loche gasps before turning to the guard. “Don’t you recognize the eyes? You damned fool.”
The guard fumbles for words before giving a quick bow and murmuring, “My apologies, princess.” Turning to face Loche, he simpers, “You can agree this is a most unusual situation. The former family is long dead.”
Sera gasps and sways. “Dead?”
I step up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her vertical, and she sinks into me, her entire body trembling.
“What is the meaning of this, Loche?” she asks, her voice almost breaking.
I hate this for her so much. To find out such devastating news in such a thoughtless way.
Loche shuffles nervously, his eyes darting to the guard and back to Sera. “Princess, a lot has transpired in the years since you disappeared. We believed you to be dead as well.”
“They’re all gone? Every last one?” she gasps out with a desperate air.
“Why don’t you come inside and get cleaned up. I’ll tell Her Majesty you’ve reappeared. I’m sure there will be a grand celebration for your return.”
“I would like an explanation,” Sera cries. “I have to know what happened.”
The way the male keeps avoiding her questions makes me wonder if Sera’s secrecy is less a Sera trait and more a fae one, but I wish I could shake some sense into the male.
The devastation coursing through her body is making me quite feral, though I’m confused by how well I can read and sense her right now.
Is something happening with my truth-saying gift?
Is this because of the fae realm? Either way, I’m ready to fight someone if she doesn’t get some answers soon.
Loche’s gaze moves from Sera to me, finally deigning to show me some attention. “Who might you be?”
“Alex Grey.” I leave off the Lord, considering I have zero status here. “A friend of the princess.”
Loche sniffs. “I see. I suppose we can make up a room for you as well.”
“How kind of you,” I say dryly, still angry that he’s ignoring Sera’s questions.
Loche nods at the guard, who finally pulls his spear away.
The door swings wide, and Loche ushers us into the palace.
I try not to gape as we make our way into the towering space.
I had no idea what to expect, walking into what looks like a tree, but the open airiness is the last thing.
Wooden branch-like beams crisscross the hallway’s ceiling and are draped with flowers, while towering windows suffuse light into the space.
Loche leads us up an elegant staircase that seems to never end. I keep my hand on Sera’s lower back, making sure she doesn’t falter. She appears resigned to the lack of information for now, but I know we’re running out of time.
“Might I request a room near hers?” I speak up.
Knowing what will happen to Sera in a few short hours makes me hesitant to leave her alone.
Plus, the way this Loche looked at me like I was a worm beneath his boot has me concerned about what would happen to me if they somehow found a way to blame me for Sera disappearing into her swan form.
“I suppose we can make arrangements,” Loche says, his face screwed up in a way that implies it’s a huge inconvenience for him.
Sera’s silence is worrisome, though I don’t blame her. What a horrible homecoming.
Loche finally leads us to a suite with a stunning view through the treetops. It’s light and spacious with a large balcony off the main room. Flowy violet curtains flutter in the breeze, and the suns’ light basks everything in a golden glow.
Sera finally speaks up. “Is my old room not available? Why are we in the guest suite?”
Loche’s hands are hidden behind his back, and he stands stiffly by the door. “Much has changed in the past centuries, princess, but I’m sure Her Majesty will explain it all to you over dinner this evening.”
Centuries? How differently does time flow here?
Sera gives me a panicked look, and I jump in. “If it pleases Her Majesty, might we have an audience first thing in the morning? Our travels were quite exhausting, and I’m afraid we’re not in the best place to meet with the queen this evening. We haven’t slept in a few days.”
Loche turns his nose up at me and appears to ponder my request. Thankfully, Sera adds, “Lord Grey is right. I think I’m going to pass out from exhaustion and grief any minute now and would hate to keep the queen waiting tonight or subject her to my foul disposition.
The morning would allow me to get some rest and prepare myself for the story of my family’s demise.
” She almost chokes on the last part, and to his credit, Loche does look slightly aggrieved for her.
“Your arrival was quite unexpected, and I don’t think anyone other than a few guards are aware of it just yet. Perhaps I can allow you the night before informing Her Majesty of your presence. I owe your family that much.”
The response confuses me. Why would he phrase it that way? Something about him isn’t right. There are lies being told, the slightest buzzing in the back of my head making me certain of it.
“You’re very kind, Loche. Thank you,” Sera says, dipping her head. Why she’s showing him reverence after the way he’s treated us is beyond me.
“I’ll have some food sent up for you. There are two rooms in the suite that should be sufficient.”
“That’s more than enough,” Sera says agreeably.
Loche gives us a final judgmental look and disappears out the door.
Before I can say a word, Sera runs out of the main room, her sobs coming from the direction of one of the bedrooms.
Gods. My heart is completely shattered for her. Will she let me comfort her? I have to at least try.
After shrugging Sera’s pack off my shoulders, I remove my bo staff and lean it against the wall.
While a light breeze drifts in from the open balcony doors, it is quite warm due to the direct sunlight pouring in, and sweat dots my brow.
I could really use a bath, but Sera needs me, or so I’d like to believe.
Without another thought to hold me back, I make my way to the bedroom. Sera is curled up in a ball on the ginormous bed, looking so small and broken.
“Spitfire,” I say softly, “what can I do?”
The almost silent sobs shake her body, and I seat myself on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on her trembling back.
“I’m here. You don’t need to say anything.”
When she doesn’t demand I leave, I remain. Gently stroking her back, I find myself mumbling soothing things, just telling her I’m here and would be happy to do anything she needs.
When the sobs finally subside, a quiet voice says, “I really need to bathe. I’m disgusting.”
“Oh Sera, sweetheart,” I croon. “You’re absolutely filthy.” I’m rewarded with a puffy glare, but I smile. “There she is.”
“You’re a real ass. You know that, right?”
“So you’ve said.” I gently flick her nose. “I’ll go try to get a bath ready for you.”
“You don’t—”
“Let me take care of you, Sera.”
I make my way to the adjoining bathing chamber, and a large elegant tub is set up by a floor-to-ceiling window. After careful examination, I discover the twist of a knob makes water flow directly into it. Fae magic? Must be nice.
The water is cold, but I’m not quite sure how to warm it or if there’s someone I could call for assistance.
I return to the room, where Sera is finally sitting up, working at untangling her hair from the long braid it was in.
“The water is filling the tub, but I’m afraid it’s cold.”
“That’s not a problem for me.” Sera gives a sad smile, allowing a small flicker of flame to burst from her fingertips before blinking out.
“I didn’t even think of that,” I muse.
“Sure would have come in handy when I worked in the Rakveren palace,” she quips.
“Ah yes, I wasn’t always around for you to kiss,” I tease.
She gives me an annoyed look, but I’m grateful for the tiny bit of spunk that’s returned.
“Perhaps I’ll bathe as well,” I say.
Sera nods. “In your bathing chamber, turn the left knob, and the water should be warm. At least it was magicked that way when I lived here.”
“Brilliant,” I say. “Please call if you need me.”
She nods again, and I reluctantly leave the room. We’re running out of daylight, and I’m worried about what the night will bring and how the palace staff will react to the princess turning into a swan.
Hurrying to my room, I strip out of my clothes, pleased when the tub fills with warm water as Sera said it would.
I wish we had this back in Rakveren. It would save the staff time and effort, plus it’s so much faster to do it myself than waiting for someone else to take care of it.
I can’t help but wonder what other magic fuels this realm.
After scrubbing myself clean as quickly as possible, I wrap a towel around my waist and return to my room. Gods willing, there will be something I can wear instead of my dirty travel clothes.
I open a large wardrobe, and to my delight, there are a variety of sizes of tunics and pants to choose from.
The material is thin and almost gauzy in appearance but surprisingly comfortable.
The shirt ties around the back but shows off my chest almost down to my navel, which is an interesting style.
Nothing at all like anything back home. Am I even wearing it properly?
I make my way out to the main sitting area and am greeted by a spread of food laid out on one of the tables. My stomach immediately grumbles, reminding me I’ve only eaten a few berries over the course of a night and day.
“Sera?” I call out. “There’s food.”
When she doesn’t respond, panic fills my chest. What if she’s not all right?
I run to her room and call out again. “Sera?”
Worry eats at me more than propriety, and it’s not as if I haven’t seen her naked before, so I poke my head into her bathing chamber, and when I don’t see her, I panic even more.
The tub is still full of water and suds, but where is Sera?
Shit. I rush over and catch a glimpse of silvery-blonde hair under the water, and I reach in to pull her out.
“What the hells, Alex?” Sera screeches when I lift her up, soap clinging to her body, making her slick enough that I almost drop her.
“Gods, Sera! I thought you were drowning.”
“You wish,” she grumbles. “Let me go!”
I drop her, and she splashes back into the tub.
Sucking in a deep breath, I try to calm my racing heart. For just a moment, I thought she had maybe hurt herself, but no, I am the self-destructive one between the pair of us, right? A pang of longing to lose myself in vespira burns through me, but I shove it away. I need to be strong for her.