Chapter 21 – Sera
Chapter Twenty-One
SERA
This transformation is different and perhaps a little less painful.
Once again, I’m aware of my surroundings, but I still sense the swan’s consciousness.
While I have some measure of control, I also feel it slipping away as the swan once again fights for dominance.
It’s terrifying, but at least I can remember my own damned name.
Back in the human realm, it was as if I completely ceased to exist for the hours the swan took over.
Alex’s door is closed so I can’t check on him, but he looked completely dead on his feet, requiring immediate sleep.
It’s not like I need him to watch me, and I left the balcony door open so I could get out.
While my grief makes it hard to breathe, it’s almost easier in this form, muted by the needs of the swan and how it’s slowly eating away at pieces of me.
Shuffling out to the balcony, I manage to hop up onto the ledge of the rail. While there’s not enough room to make a running start, I suppose I can leap off and hope for the best. I’m desperate for answers.
With any luck, the palace guards won’t ask questions about a swan flying around the palace.
There is a small pond in the gardens, or at least there used to be, so gods willing, they won’t think twice.
It’s hard not knowing how much has changed in the time I’ve been gone.
I can’t assume, but I can at least hope.
My powerful wings stretch wide, and I glide down to the ground.
This is one of the only benefits to being a swan, I guess.
Though I’d leave it behind in a heartbeat to not be bound to this curse anymore.
A pulse of displeasure courses through me from what I presume is the swan.
Using all my willpower, I shove at the consciousness, trying to lock it behind a wall in my mind. I don’t have time for this.
Trying to stay out of sight, I waddle along the hedges near the palace, heading toward the large back terrace.
My family liked to dine out there on pleasant evenings like tonight.
If I’m lucky, perhaps the new queen continued the tradition and I can garner a little information before our breakfast tomorrow.
The chatter of voices fills the air, and excitement burns through me. Something is happening on the terrace. I try to stay in the shadows, but it’s not exactly easy as a large white swan. I keep my head down, as if foraging for food, attempting to be quiet and unobtrusive.
“It’s really her?” a familiar voice lilts on the wind. Why do I recognize it? Who is she? Everything sounds a little distorted and uneven in this form.
“Yes, Majesty,” Loche’s weaselly voice chimes in.
Traitor. I thought he was going to wait until the morning to inform this new queen of my presence. I suppose I was a fool to trust him. I can’t trust anyone.
“She’s contained in the guest suite?” the queen asks.
“Yes, Majesty.”
“How ever in the godscursed realms did she return? And why now?” the queen ponders. “This could definitely pose a problem, considering her previous betrothal to the prince of the River Court.”
If a swan can roll her eyes, that’s what I do.
I’m back for less than a day, and already, my usefulness as a political pawn is up for discussion.
To be honest, I’m surprised to hear my betrothal stands after being away for a century.
Why they haven’t married him off already is quite shocking indeed. I never even met the male.
“The prince isn’t bonded yet?” Loche muses. “It’s been over three hundred years.”
Three hundred years? What in the hells?
“Better to keep him in the dark. He doesn’t need to know she’s returned,” the queen replies.
“Would you like me to dispose of her?” Loche asks. It takes everything within me not to honk angrily at his words.
“No, not yet,” the queen says. “Who else knows of her identity and arrival?”
“A few guards who were stationed out back,” Loche replies. “The maids who brought up dinner were not told her identity.”
“That’s for the best,” the queen responds. “Did you take care of them?”
“They’re waiting for you in the dungeon.”
“Perfect. I will handle that after we finish dinner.”
Does she mean to kill the guards because of me? Regret and anger burn beneath the surface of my skin. Who is this female?
I creep a little closer, trying to unobtrusively peek over in that direction.
Time seems to slow when she comes into view.
It’s her. I would never forget those silver eyes set in a heart-shaped face with hair the deepest black.
The enchantress who warned me of the pool’s power .
. . But that doesn’t make sense? How is she the queen? She’s not even fae.
“So what do you want to do with the girl?” Loche asks again.
“Bring her to me in the morning as we planned. Perhaps I can find some use for her yet.”
“Even if she challenges your rule?” Loche asks.
The enchantress queen cackles. “That girl never wanted to rule. She was more than willing to throw her life away at the pool. I barely had to make the suggestion and she couldn’t keep away.
It was almost too simple getting rid of her, and her loss made it all the easier to dispose of her parents. Their grief made them sloppy.”
Complete shock and betrayal have me frozen in place. I couldn’t have possibly heard that right.
A cunning smile pulls at her lips, and Loche reclines casually in his seat, giving an answering one.
That traitor. Sitting there, smiling at the talk of my parents’ demise, all while knowing the enchantress lured me, tricked me to get me out of the way.
Smoky heat burns up my throat. Shit. A fire-breathing swan would surely give me away.
I need to get out of here before I’m discovered.
“What about the human?” Loche asks.
I freeze.
“Nothing needs to happen tonight,” the enchantress says, “but if he causes any problems, get rid of him. Is he from Lunesai?”
“Doubtful,” Loche replies. “They showed up together, speaking the common trade tongue, but his accent and some of his word choices were odd. If she’s been lost to the realms, perhaps it’s safe to assume he traveled with her.”
“All the better,” the enchantress replies. “There’ll be no one to miss him if he disappears.”
I’ve heard enough. This enchantress basically admitted to murdering my family, and Loche doesn’t even care.
We’re not safe here. But how in the hells am I supposed to communicate that to Alex when I’m stuck in this damned form?
I take a deep breath, which is a huge mistake, I discover, when fire starts to expel out of me with my exhale. Shit shit shit!
The grass lights up like kindling, and shouts come from the terrace.
I take off as fast as my waddling legs will allow, keeping my mouth shut to prevent any more flames from escaping.
With a running leap, I’m airborne amidst a flock of birds that were disturbed from their nocturnal rest. I peek over my right wing, and thank the gods, it doesn’t appear as if anyone is clued in to the fact that the fire came from me.
I soar higher, pumping my wings with all my strength, and can’t help but circle around to see what kind of mess I made.
Half the hedges along the terrace are on fire, and the impostor queen stands with hands on hips, yelling at the fae who flock out of the palace carrying overflowing buckets.
Water elementals get to work drawing water from the pond to help snuff out my flames.
If I wanted to, I could will the fire to hold on, but I don’t need any attention pointed my way.
Almost as if she can hear my thoughts, the enchantress whips her gaze toward where I’m flying.
I dart down behind one of the swinging bridges that connects the trees, but hells, that was far too close.
I flap my wings and head back up toward the suite Alex and I share.
A breath of relief leaves me when I land safely on the balcony, and thankfully, only a puff of smoke comes out.
Turning into a fire-breathing swan was not something I’d ever thought possible, but curses have funny ways of affecting people.
The only other fire-breathing beasts in our realm are the dragons in the far north, making the Mountain Court one to be feared.
No one has dared mess with them as long as I’ve been alive.
I vaguely remember the relief I felt when Father told me he was not arranging a marriage between me and the dragon-riding prince.
I shuffle back into our suite. Alex’s door is still shut tight, so I have no way of getting in without burning the palace down. My fear for our safety gets the better of me, and I find myself pecking at the door. It almost sounds like a woodpecker, the way my beak rattles against the wood.
Finally, the door swings open and Alex stands before me, unlaced trousers barely hanging on to his hips. I look up, up, up the expanse of him, his muscles gleaming in the dim light, the shadows casting sharp edges. The man has been working out.
“Sera, is everything okay?” he asks, his brow furrowed.
Utterly frustrated at my lack of communication skills, I flap my wings in agitation and honk at him.
Alex glances around the empty suite and motions for me to come into his room. “As much as I’d love to be able to read your mind, that’s not possible. But please calm down before you light the place up.”
I grunt, flapping my wings as I waddle into his chamber. Hells, whoever said graceful as a swan surely didn’t mean it on land. I’m so short and slow and frustrated beyond belief that I can’t communicate. Spying Alex’s shirt on a chair, I grab it with my beak and toss it at him.
“You need me to get dressed, Spitfire?” Alex says cheekily. “My muscles too much for you to handle?”
My feathers ruffle, and I glare at him in what I hope is an unamused stare. I flap again, pointing a wing at one of the windows, hoping he’ll understand what I’m trying to say.
Alex palms his face. “Sera, sweetheart, I have only slept a few hours in the last couple of days. Can this wait ’til morning?” He crouches down to my eye level, holding his shirt in front of him like a shield.
I take a moment to truly take him in. I was distracted by his muscles and low-slung pants when he first opened the door, but now that I’m staring at his face, the exhaustion coming off him is clear, especially with the dark, deep circles marring the space beneath his eyes.
Tucking my wings in, I lower my head and give him a nod. First thing in the morning, we’ll get out of the palace.
Alex gently pats my head. “I’ll take that as a yes, but we’ll discuss whatever this was in the morning.”
Alex throws his shirt onto a chair and climbs back into the luxurious bed. Gods, I haven’t slept in a bed in forever, every night spent outdoors, lost to the swan within . . . well, without currently.
Minutes later, a gentle snore comes from Alex’s direction. I glance at the door he closed. I guess I’m trapped in here for the night. Tucking my long neck into the folds of my wings, I allow myself to be lulled to sleep.