Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Deirdre
There was no kiss.
I don’t know why that was the first thought that entered my head once we left the circle. Didn’t every wedding end in a kiss? Not that I wanted one.
Before I could wonder anymore, a chorus of celebration erupted around us and suddenly we were moving back toward the castle, the pixies—Olivia included—holding the train of my gown.
We’re married.
It really happened.
Tears welled in my eyes.
Not the joyous kind you would expect from a bride, but the utter heartbreak of failure. A shame that not even the warmth of my magic could heal.
Kane walked beside me, the thorny tattoo wrapping around his palms the same as mine.
Do not be afraid, child.
I stopped at the strange male voice that entered my head.
Where had I heard that before?
Looking around, I searched for any sign of who had said it.
To the west.
Glancing toward the western hills, perched on the edge of the cliff, was the black unicorn.
You?
He responded by blinking out of existence. The air shimmered with a hazy glow. The crickets, which had been so loud before, silenced their wings.
I paused, searching, wondering where the majestic beast had gone.
Had I imagined his voice?
The air before me crackled, a hole splitting the world in two. The unicorn stepped out of the strange portal like it had walked between two worlds. Black violets bloomed where it stepped. Its hooves created a dark path toward me.
Gasps rippled through the surrounding fae, some of them cowering behind trees, peeking at the creature from behind the bark.
The black unicorn stepped forward, the tip of its spiraled horn glowing a dark purple.
Is this part of the ceremony?
It is not.
He took another step. You may call me Artexious.
I don’t understand. What are you doing here?
The fae, Kane included, had all stilled around me like statues. None made any move toward the enchanting creature, not even the hag priestess or the pixies.
The trio of priests began chanting, bowing their heads in reverence at the magical creature.
“A wondrous sign!” the grey-eyed priest shouted.
The unicorn ignored the priest’s fanaticism, keeping its fiery gaze on me.
You are now queen, and I can grant you this boon.
A boon?
Artexious strode forward and lowered his horn to my hand, touching the blue rose. The colors swirled until it became more of a wine color than navy. A tingling sensation ran from the tattoo to my head.
Kane inhaled sharply next to me.
Call my name three times when you are in need, and I will answer.
Why?
I should have felt honored by such a gift, but doubt replaced all logic. Every time I tried to make sense of this whole affair, Crispin’s dying image set in my mind.
The unicorn breathed hot air onto my face, swishing its black mane.
I have existed since the breaking of the realms. A watcher to the rot and ruin. Saol is fractured. You are chosen, but not for the reasons you think. Be careful, young one. The shadows are watching.
With a gentle brush against my hand, the unicorn turned to Kane, standing taller and raking the grass with his front paw. Smoke puffed out of his nostrils. Was he speaking to Kane, too? Kane’s gaze drifted to me, and he nodded.
Then, in a blink, Artexious vanished as mysteriously as he had come.
“Let it be known that Queen Deirdre has the protection of Artexious.” Kane’s gaze landed on me as he spoke. “And anyone who shall wish the queen harm will incur his wrath.”
I wanted to ask questions, but cheers rose as if this signified something monumental. The crowd moved and we continued, my thoughts swimming with questions.
He called me queen.
Fae danced and sang, more of them appearing from the woods as curious animals. The closer we got to the castle, which wasn't far considering we were in the garden area, far from the creepy pond, the more I wasn’t sure how to feel.
I was a queen.
Married to the fae who killed my husband.
The rose on my hand shifted from blue to purple depending on which way I held it. I caught Kane staring at it, his brow pushed together as if he couldn't believe what he just experienced.
I wanted to ask what happened now, but as part of my training, I understood two things: there would be a feast and celebration for sure and then after… the wedding night.
How was I going to survive this?
A cloying panic raked across my chest. If I gave in to that fear, I would pass out or be so sick I would vomit all over the king.
I didn't care what he thought, but I didn't want to seem weak to the others.
Studying politics had been part of my lessons at the temple, and though the fae kept their courts closed from humans, I assumed whether you were fae, dwarf, or human, nobody wanted a weak queen on the throne.
Was that why the unicorn gave me a boon because he was afraid someone would kill me? Did the fae care about the prophecy? Did Artexious?
Would we go straight to the banquet hall? Would there be dancing? Would I be expected to…
Why didn’t I ask more questions?
Gideon stepped in front of us, his dimpled smile wide. “Congratulations.”
He bowed down, holding out his hand. I lifted mine. He took it and kissed my knuckles.
Kane glared at him.
“If there's anything you require, Your Majesty, please let me know. I am your humble servant.”
Kane tugged me to his side, yanking me out of Gideon’s hold. “The queen has her own servants, cousin.”
Gideon nodded a slight bow and then stepped aside as the procession continued into the banquet hall.
The dome ceiling was painted with fae and forests.
Glowing lights hovered in the sky, dashing around it.
There were tables along the sides overflowing with flowers and steaming food.
Fountains poured a red liquid, which I could only assume was wine.
Roasted meats, wildflowers, and spiced wine permeated the air, making me dizzy and hungry all at once.
Crystals hung in draping cascades, throwing rainbows across the large room.
Lifting my hands, I danced my fingers across one of those beams of light, completely swept up in the glamour.
Out of all the fantasies I had about marrying the fae king, I never could’ve pictured beauty quite like this.
The tables sat in a U shape, and the head table stood higher than the others. Two throne-like chairs covered in a velvety red sat at the head.
The pixies, who were strangely silent, flew behind me as I followed Kane to the thrones. He stepped to the one on the left and stood there waiting for me.
The pixies dropped my gown and fluttered to the side.
Olivia scowled while her sisters smiled at me.
They were beautiful fae. Even Olivia with her frown outshined most of the humans I’d ever met.
Between their wide-set eyes and sparkling skin, the pixies’ aura spoke of fairy tales and happily ever afters.
Taking my place next to Kane, I focused on the beauty of the moment and nothing else. If I wanted to claim my place as queen, here was where I needed to show strength.
Kane reached for his goblet, all of them already full, and held it up.
I reached for mine as did our one dwarf guest, Nustul, sitting left of Kane.
“Tonight begins the fulfillment of the prophecy!” he shouted.
“Let it be known that it was I, Kane, King of the Fae, immortal Dragonborn, who brought balance to the lands by fulfilling the ancient prophecy. The unicorn’s blessing has proven this alliance will strengthen the fae and it will be our people who send the Lich King and his twisted minions back into the Never! ”
His court cheered and raised their glasses in agreement.
“Let the feast begin!” the dwarf next to Kane said, holding a goblet in each hand.
Music drifted in, played by the unique spindle fae who were so different from the other fae at court.
Their thin, vine-like bodies, diamond-shaped heads, long silver hair, and iridescent skin made them glitter like spun glass.
There were four of them in matching gossamer gowns that shifted into a rainbow of colors as they moved.
Their long, thin fingers strummed the little lutes they carried.
Kane sat and I sat next to him, staring at the feast before us.
All this and he hasn't said one word to me.
Nor I to him.
And that speech? Is this just a game to him?
Ignoring my new husband, I focused on the food spread out before me. Not that I had the stomach for any of it.
“Your Majesty.” Liora appeared by my side. I reached over to her, thankful to have a friend nearby. She leaned closer, whispering in my ear, “When you are overcome and ready to retire, use our signal. I'll be watching from the shadows.”
“What about tonight?” I asked and she looked at me, the golden rings around her eyes glowing.
“You'll have time to prepare. Don't be afraid,” she said it so softly, I wondered if Kane could hear.
How could I not be afraid?
My mind drifted and even though the aroma of the lavish food displayed before me made my belly yearn, I didn't want to eat. How was I going to get through this?
I didn't want to think about Crispin. I tried hard not to think of his face in our last moments together because if I did, I would crumble right in front of the entire court.
Part of me wondered if I should just accept my fate and allow the numbness to take over.
But Crispin would never want that. He would want me to fight for my freedom.
The only way I could do that is if I played the role of the good queen. Kane said once I was queen, he wouldn't put the collar back on. How much freedom would he grant me? Would I be allowed to leave the castle?
No. I would have to prove that I accepted this new reality of mine. No matter how much it made my skin crawl.
Thankfully, Kane made no move to touch or kiss me. There was an invisible wall between us that sometimes we bumped against, the wall shifting into this malleable thing that bent, and other times it was as hard and tall as the stone around this castle.