CHAPTER 20
That night I absolutely did not dream of Lukas. Instead, I dreamt of dancing lessons, secret willows, and wicked faery guards. Enough of the green-skinned beasts waltzed through my dreams, along with Raena’s screams weaving through the music, that the second the morning sun pried my heavy eyes open, I knew exactly what I had to do.
“You wish to return to the forest?” Theo asked. His eyebrows flew up as we stood together in the dimly lit stables. The fading light of the setting sun was slowly being replaced by candlelight as busy stablehands flitted in and out. I’d been busy that day too, spending all my time planning and preparing for what might be my second and final visit to the faery kingdom. I needed to confront the prince and find out the truth. Were his parents really responsible for cursing the King? Did he choose to ignore the enchanted bracelet bound to Raena’s wrist? Every hour, I’d thought of how fragile she looked clutching that bucket in the hidden library. I couldn’t bear it any more. Valen needed to be punished.
“We’ll return to the willow, but this time not for mushrooms,” I told him calmly. “In fact, what I’m about to tell you could land both Raena and I in a whole realm of trouble. So I need to know that I can trust you.”
Theo studied me for a moment before answering in a serious tone. “Erik and I owe our lives to Lady Raena. Without her, we’d still be working in her family’s fishing yards in Ryntook.” He exhaled slowly. “You can explain everything on the way. Just tell me what I need to do.”
As we rode through the dark forest, his horse once again leading mine, I let the entire story and all its tiny details pour out of me – everything from my first awkward meeting with Lukas, to discovering the forbidden library, and then our arrival in Faelenna. Interestingly, I chose to leave out the part where I awoke to find myself tied up in a faery bedchamber. And the part where the faery prince was inches away from my flustered face in that very same bedchamber. I trusted Theo, but I couldn’t trust myself to hide the blush that would inevitably crawl up my cheeks when I shared that chapter of the story.
“I can’t believe Lady Raena pulled out a dagger!” Theo called out over his shoulder, snatching my attention away from any dangerous thoughts. “And you’re right for not asking Erik to join us. He’d throw a fit if he heard what happened.”
Originally, I’d considered having both the guards accompany me, but the fewer people who knew about my dealings with the fae, the better. Besides, of the two guards, Theo seemed so much calmer, and given how eagerly Erik had cared for Raena, I worried that he’d be the type to let anger outweigh his logic if he heard what happened in the faery dungeons.
Our horses slowed as we reached the forest clearing. This time, I helped Theo secure the horses before we ventured towards the huge willow tree together. While my hand searched against the bark for that same gnarled spot, my heart pounded against my ribs.
“I’m half expecting Erik to jump out and tell me this is all some big joke,” Theo said in a failed attempt to lighten the mood.
“This is no joke,” I muttered as the bark began to buckle and morph into a doorway. All I could hear were the faint sounds of nighttime crickets and Theo’s soft gasps as the overwhelming scent of spring blossoms hit my nose once again.
It wasn’t long before we reached the end of the spiral staircase that led down to the official entrance of Faelenna. Theo had stayed silent, closely following my steps as we descended further and further. When we finally headed through the small archway that marked the end of the steps, the two armoured faeries that guarded the gate immediately straightened. Although they appeared to be much less panicked this time, each of them bowed as though they were expecting me.
“His Royal Highness Prince Arenn has been eagerly anticipating your return, Princess,” one of the faeries announced, lifting his head. “Please, let us escort you to the palace.”
“I would much rather he comes to me,” I requested, trying hard to mask the nervousness in my voice. “Please inform the prince that I have some urgent business to discuss.”
The two faeries exchanged worried glances.
“Of course, Your Highness.” The other spoke this time. “We will alert the prince of your arrival.” Then, with a bow, he slinked off through a small tunnel that I hadn’t noticed before.
Minutes passed, but they felt more like hours as the pounding in my chest only grew stronger. I once again hoped that faeries didn’t have a secret way of sensing fear, because otherwise my plan to ‘bravely’ confront the Prince of the Fae would crumble just as quickly as my stomach dropped upon seeing the gate.
With a quiet grunt, the same guard popped out from the tunnel and wordlessly returned to his place by the entrance. Moments later, the giant round doors began to tremble and groan until, slowly, they creaked open towards the faery kingdom.
My heart fluttered when I caught sight of that familiar silver circlet resting upon a perfect heap of black waves. Just as before, the prince was finely dressed in an black- and silver-embroidered ensemble that clung tightly to his toned chest. And as I glanced up, his honey-coloured irises immediately found mine.
“Princess Naria,” the faery prince called from just beyond the doorway, a perfect smile stretching over his pale face, “I cannot even begin to express how enchanting it is to see you again.”
He bowed deeply, sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy.
“Prince Arenn,” I returned the greeting and steadied my breath. “I wish I could say the same, but I’m afraid I did not come here just to socialise.”
The prince tilted his head, and then shot an amused look at Theo, who was positioned behind me. “Who have you brought with you? Do not tell me this is your foolish prince?”
“This is Theo, a palace guard from Drothmore. He accompanied me here as my chaperone. I would have come with Raena again, except she is too terrified to even leave her room.” My fists clenched as the words came out more cutting than I anticipated. “Your friendly guard Valen gave her a gift that convinced her she was in love – an enchanted bracelet. Thankfully, there was someone at the palace who could remove it, but—”
“Well, I’m glad the problem was resolved.” Arenn grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets and sauntering closer.
“The problem has not been resolved.” My eyebrows knitted together. “Poor Lady Raena is beside herself. She has nightmares every night; I can hear her through the walls!”
“Watching you be angry like this is so… heartwarming,” he chuckled. “You’re like a little dog.” He let out a mocking, high-pitched bark that sent the two faery guards into a fit of tinkling laughter.
Rage boiled in my chest. If this prince wasn’t my only option for rebuilding Corlixir, I would’ve spun on my heels then and there, never to return. But I had to try and get through to him, not just for the sake of my people but for Raena too.
“What he did wasn’t right. I don’t care if he thought she was an assassin, you can’t just toy with people like that. I need you to promise me you will punish him.” As I spoke, something sparkled like the stars in Arenn’s devious gaze.
He paused for a moment, deep in thought. Then, another smile tugged at his sharp faery lips. “I will make sure that Valen answers for his crimes. Just for you, I will have him punished in the middle of Luminessia!” The two faery guards gasped and babbled excitedly, as if he’d just announced the opening of a fantastical new theatre show, but my focus remained on the prince as he moved closer. When he was just inches away, his slender fingers trailed down my arm, gently brushing my skin and making my toes curl in my boots. “I will have him punished in any way you so desire, if you let me take you somewhere special tonight.”
Behind me, I heard the clinking of armour as Theo stiffened.
Arenn’s gaze flew over my head and landed on my palace guard, who’d remained silent throughout the entire conversation. “You, Sir Theo, can remain here. My guards will keep you company.”
“I’m not leaving the princess,” Theo responded in a low, don’t-test-me sort of voice.
Arenn chuckled, and then in one swift motion, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and spun me to face the guard. The smell of wildflowers and cinnamon crept into my nose as his arm held me tightly against his side. “I can assure you that your precious princess is very safe with me. She doesn’t need you as her chaperone, in fact, I shall be her chaperone!”
The two faery guards giggled like schoolchildren, which only made Theo lower his brow further. “I don’t think you understand how this works.”
“It’s alright, Theo,” I reassured him. “I can handle myself. Please, just stay here for now.”
The guard looked as though he wanted to argue, but through gritted teeth, he held it back. “Very well, I will wait here, but if you’re not back by morning, I will have to alert Prince Lukas.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Arenn said, lifting a hand to let his fingers tease the side of my face. “I’ll take good care of sweet Naria here, and we’ll be back before you know it.”
Theo shot the prince a warning look, but made no move to stop us as Arenn whisked me through the open gates and deep into Faelenna.
We passed through the bustling night markets with ease, although Arenn’s long steps meant I had to occasionally skip to keep up with him. Around us, dozens of faeries picked through various exotic fruits and vegetables, and I could hear faint sounds of strange instruments playing what must’ve been faery music from a nearby tavern.
“Why is no one reacting to your presence?” I asked, noticing how the crowds of fae perusing the stalls kept to themselves and didn’t even bother bowing as we strolled by.
“I’ve glamoured us,” he answered casually.
“What does that mean?”
He tossed me a wild grin and steered me towards a shop window. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary hat shop, but as we drew closer, I noticed something strange.
“Take a look.” He gestured towards our reflection, except it wasn’t our reflection. Before us, mirroring each of our movements was a plain looking faery couple. The girl looked a bit like me, with matching blonde curls and glassy blue eyes, but her face was distinctly fae and her clothing fit right into the busy market streets. Even Arenn’s reflection looked like a much more common version of himself. His thick dark waves remained, but his face was nothing special, blending seamlessly into the market crowds.
“How?” I sighed, staring deeply at my faery self.
“It’s simple really. All faeries can do it, but most can only perform small glamours, like turning an apple into some coins. I’ve always been particularly good at it, though… I can even change your clothes.” He clicked his fingers, and my reflection shimmered. It blurred for a second and then became crystal clear. The same faery face remained, but on her body, she now wore a stunning midnight blue gown with a low neckline and a skirt that finished just above her knees. The skirt hung around her hips like dark rose petals, and as I tore my gaze away, I realised that the same dress clung tightly to my own skin.
“What?” I breathed, running my hand down the smooth fabric.
“Faery gowns suit you,” Arenn commented. “But don’t worry, I’ll change it back before I return you to your grumpy guard. I fear I might meet the end of his sword if he knew I was parading you around in this.” He cast a sweeping look over my body, leaving a lingering heat on my exposed skin.
“So, have I actually ever seen the real you?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the way my heart was beating. “Or have you been glamoured this entire time?”
“What you see before you is the real me,” he answered, taking my hand again. “Although, if you don’t like how I look, I’ll happily change.” He winked, then shifted into a completely different faery man. His once ebony hair had morphed into a golden-blonde shade, and his skin now was warm-toned, similar to Lukas’s. I gasped, but then he changed again – this time into a pale blue-skinned faery with hair that resembled ice shards. Each second thereafter, he transformed over and over again, every new appearance just as attractive as the last.
“The real you is fine!” I insisted, swinging a hand up to hide my open mouth. I couldn’t take it anymore. This conversation had done nothing to steady my racing heart.
Arenn promptly shifted back into his usual charming self, a low laugh radiating from his chest. “I must say, you look exquisite when you’re flustered.”
I blinked. There was no hiding the burning blush that crept up my cheeks now.
“Come on, we should resume our walk.” He tugged my hand, leading me away from the window. “If we don’t leave now, I fear that your foolish prince will send an army before we reach the Crystal Caverns.”
The Crystal Caverns were even grander than I ever could’ve imagined. The prince led me through the cobbled faery streets and past a heavily-guarded entrance into a massive underground chamber. Despite its dark stone walls, the cavern shone brighter than any stars in the night sky. Thousands of crystals were embedded in the walls, each one sending the light dancing into a hundred different colours. Even the air was so thick with magic I could almost taste it – like sweet flowers and sugar on my tongue.
“I’ve never seen anything so wondrous,” I sighed as my gaze caught on a huge crystal formation, almost as big as my bedchamber, hanging from the ceiling. We’d headed deeper into the caves, but despite the dazzling beauty around us, Arenn’s gaze was fixed only on me.
“These caverns are the original source of our magic. All faery blood is infused with these crystals, granting us our power,” the prince drawled. “But I didn’t come here to give you a lesson in crystallography.” He tossed me a playful smile. “Let me show you the real reason I brought you here.”
Taking my hand, he guided me towards another guarded entrance hidden within the cavern.
“Welcome to my private chamber,” he announced, gesturing for me to pass through the small doorway.
My heart stuttered when I saw what was inside. This cavern was like an oasis of pure enchantment. It wasn’t anywhere near as large as the caves behind us, but what caught my eye first was the impressive waterfall. Its shimmering waters fell gracefully against the back wall from the ceiling high above, glistening like liquid diamond as it tumbled into a pool that covered most of the chamber’s floor. And while the pool itself was clear as glass, the surrounding crystals turned it into a kaleidoscope of different ethereal colours.
Arenn strolled confidently up to the pool, kicking off his boots and slipping his feet into the water. He sighed as the water lapped around his feet. “It’s quite warm,” he called over his shoulder. “Care to join me?”
I swallowed. Dipping your feet into water was innocent enough, and besides, if he was relaxed it might be easier to confront him on the possibility of his parent’s cursing King Ikelos. With a slow breath, I stepped over to the edge of the pool and gently slipped out of my boots. The stone floor of the cave was surprisingly pleasant under my feet, and it thrummed as though it was alive and breathing softly.
“This way,” Arenn said, curling his fingers in a come-closer motion. He wasn’t lying about the water being warm. Entering the pool felt just like stepping into a bath, but somehow the water seemed smoother against my skin.
“It really is lovely.” I smiled up at him.
The prince’s gaze locked onto mine. He grinned for a moment as something dangerous flashed across his smile. Then, he began to slowly unbutton his embroidered doublet, each movement deliberate and taunting.
“What are you doing?” I drew away from him. Water splashed up my bare legs as I stumbled back a few feet.
“Do not fear me, Princess,” he teased, continuing to tug at his buttons. “I just fancy a quick swim. You are most welcome to join me, though.”
My heart raced. Part of me wanted to run – back through the woods and straight up the stairs to my tower bedroom, until I was nestled deeply under my bed covers and no one could witness the crimson blush on my face. The other part of me, the more devious part, wanted to keep watching as the faery prince unhooked the last of his buttons.
Despite my rushing thoughts, my feet remained firmly rooted to the wet stone floor. Then, without realising I was doing it, I gasped as the prince shrugged off his dark shirt and tossed it to the shore.
Ancients, save me.
I’d never seen a boy in this state of undress before. Although, in that moment, it felt wrong to call him a mere boy. His incredible height, broad shoulders, and toned abdomen suggested he was much more than that. I tried so hard to pull my gaze away, but my hungry eyes betrayed me as they continued to feast on all the exposed pale skin of his chest. There was so much skin. And I wanted nothing more than to run my fingers down each perfect line of muscle.
“Something caught your eye?” Arenn asked in a mockingly innocent tone.
I swallowed, wanting to speak, but no words would come out. It was like my throat was full of thick and sticky honey.
The prince laughed deviously. “Are all human girls this easy to torment?”
A warmth rushed through me that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water around my feet. But before I had a chance to answer for my silence, Arenn shot me a playful grin, turned his back on the deeper area of the pool, and let his body fall backwards into the water. My eyes squeezed shut as water droplets splashed high into the air, wetting my cheeks. Finally, when the water settled, I wiped my face and let my eyes fall open.
The prince was gone.
“Arenn!” I cried out, panic washing over me. The water of the pool was mostly clear, apart from near the centre, where the colour deepened to a murky blue. It was so cloudy down there I couldn’t make out anything below a few metres. Ice-cold fear gripped my thoughts. Had he sunk to the bottom? What if he’d hit a rock on the way down and was now drowning? Would I be held responsible for the death of a prince?
Chest tightening, I forced my legs through the water, racing to the deeper section. Warm water soaked through my midnight gown and onto my skin as my panicked movements sent waves splashing all around me.
“Arenn, please, I don’t know if I can save you – I can’t swim!” I yelled towards the waterfall. The water had now reached my shoulders, and I was struggling to move quickly. How long had he been under for? It’d been barely a minute, so maybe if I turned back and sprinted to the guards outside, they could help him.
Suddenly, something hidden by the depths of the pool brushed by my thigh, and I let out a piercing scream that echoed through the cavern. Then, two familiar arms hooked under my legs and back, and a short moment later, I was lifted out of the water. Droplets cascaded into the pool around us. My shaking body was swiftly pressed against a bare, hard chest – the same bare, hard chest I had so desperately wanted to run my fingers down just a few minutes ago.
Deep laughter rumbled from his body into mine as Arenn held me firmly. “Did you miss me, little human?”