Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Deirdre
Kane held me in his arms, not in a rough hold, but wrapped around me in an embrace full of warmth that still felt dangerous to trust. We shot up into the sky, and I gripped his neck as he moved his hands to hold me closer.
My stomach dipped as we rose higher, the icy wind slicing through my damp clothes. Kane’s grip tightened around me, steady, warm, and infuriatingly careful. Each flap of his shadow wings stirred the air, sending a shiver down my spine—not entirely from the cold.
My heart raced, sending a wave of shame through me.
Shouldn’t I be disgusted? Furious?
His black shadow wings flapped in the air, gliding us through the sky. I couldn't see his face this close to him, but his scent filled my nose, smoky like fire with a hint of sandalwood and vanilla.
He smells nice.
I shook the thought from my head. This was all too much.
I'm overemotional. I'm drained. I’m clearly not in my right mind.
Excuse after excuse entered my head. Yet, I didn't need to lean into him as he carried me.
Betrayer.
I just need some distance from him, a bath, a nap, and some food. Distance will make things clear.
It had been a very long day, and I wasn't thinking straight. Anyone would be confused, and it wasn’t as if Kane was ugly, either.
In fact, when he had been sitting in the rain next to me, staring at the castle, raindrops sliding down the sharp planes of his face, he looked everything like the fae king I had dreamed of.
The castle entrance came into view. Kane slowly brought us down to the ground near the main entrance.
When we landed, he gently placed me on my feet, then stepped aside, creating much needed distance. “See that the queen is tended to and have the cook prepare anything she wants.”
“I'd like to eat in my chambers, if that's all right.”
Kane nodded and looked at the guard. “See that it's done.”
He gave me a curt nod before walking into the castle.
“Your Majesty!” Liora ran out of the front entrance. A purple bruise spread across her left cheek. “Are you all right?”
“I'm fine. What about you?”
“Just a small bruise. Where have you been?” she whispered, gently guiding me inside.
There was so much to say and yet I was too tired to explain any of it, even if I wanted to. “I'm exhausted.”
“Of course. Let me bring you to your chambers. I’ll draw a bath and you can eat.”
Renna, the Master of Hunt, spoke with Gideon. Upon seeing me, Gideon quickly rushed over. His hair was no longer in a tight ponytail, and blood splattered the front of his clothes.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
He bowed. “I'm fine, Your Majesty. And are you well?”
I nodded.
“Very good. I'm sorry. That should never have happened.” He gave me an assessing look while quietly whispering, “I’m glad we at least spoke today,” reminding me about his plans to search the queen mother’s chambers.
“Yes,” I said. “I have much to think about tonight. Thank you.”
He tried to hide the smile on his face, but I could see it in his eyes and the way they sparkled. He bowed and went back to Renna who eyed me… another fae with pointy teeth who would probably kill me if she could.
Even though I still didn’t trust Kane, it was clear he would protect me from his court and any other threat. Could it be that my life was no longer in danger? And if so, what did that mean?
By the time we had reached my chambers, every muscle ached, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
“I’ll run you a bath,” Liora said, heading to the washroom.
Rubbing my eyes, I noticed a strange vase on one of my night tables. As I got closer, the beautiful sight became clearer and I gasped.
A blue rose sat inside a dome-shaped case. The flower twinkled and levitated within the glass. Tiny glittering dust covered the flower, making it sparkle with magic.
I reached for the glass dome. It thrummed faintly beneath my fingertips, the levitating bloom inside glowing softly.
Next to the flower sat a silver tray with a napkin draped over it, a folded note on top.
Carefully, I opened the note.
Little Thorn,
You are queen now.
Try to stay out of trouble.
Kane
I traced the word queen.
Had he accepted the truth of our union? Did he finally see me as his queen?
It was difficult to tell if he was teasing, being serious, or something else.
If only I had read that before I went to the village. When did he leave this?
Grabbing the napkin, I peeked under it, finding a plate of the lavender shortbread cookies.
The water stopped running and I grabbed a cookie, heading toward the bath. “Liora, do you know when this arrived?”
Drying her hands off on a cloth, she moved closer to inspect the magical rose. “It must have been after we left. That’s an eternal rose.”
“It’s beautiful. How does it float like that?”
“Pixie dust.”
Pixies… that means he must have asked them for it.
Eating the cookie, I moved to the washroom, a strange flutter in my chest.
Liora helped me bathe and change, and I managed to take a few bites out of a savory thyme and cheese pastry before climbing under the covers and drifting off to sleep.
When I woke hours later, a sliver of moonlight cast through the open windows. I had no concept of how much time had passed, but it was still day when I had fallen asleep. Gideon never told me when he could meet me.
After this afternoon, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue this alliance with Gideon. In the short time we’d been together, Kane had shown he had no vile plans to murder me or see me hurt.
Before, I was so sure of what I wanted, what I needed to do, but now…
For most of my life, I was raised in the belief that I would serve a higher purpose.
The child of prophecy could have been born in any race, yet the All Father chose me.
After the Rift into the Shadow Realm had been closed, all of Saol sang praise, but the evil left from the hole into the Never was not gone for good.
In fact, more dead walked and the southern lands where the Lich King resided teamed with activity as if the ancient lich had plans for something nefarious, especially after his attempt to stop the magi from closing the Rift failed.
Darkthings continued to fester in the lands, and the evil that all of Saol so desperately fought to end seemed to be thriving.
Hugging the pillow to my chest, I gazed out at the moon, remembering the rest of the tale.
On the thirty-third year of the anniversary of the Rift closure, two priests had the same vision. A child would be born with a star birthmark over her right eye. This child would marry the fae king and their union would finally end the darkness in the lands.
The child of prophecy could have been anyone… yet I was born with the mark.
As a child, I would trace the mark while looking in the mirror, wondering when I would save the world. When that never happened, the mark became a curse.
My entire childhood, I believed in this moment… and now it’s happened.
What if the prophecy is true and me running away causes the whole world to fall into darkness?
It’s hard to believe that I could be that important, but what if?
There was a slight tap at my door, and I jolted.
Rushing off the bed, I grabbed the robe draped over the settee and slipped it on.
“Hello,” I whispered, leaning against the door.
“It's me,” Gideon said in a low tone.
I unlocked the door and opened it. But no one was there.
Something covered my mouth and I nearly screamed as I was dragged backward.
The door closed on its own, and then whatever held me, let go.
Gideon appeared in my room.
“Illusion,” he said, holding a finger to his lips. “My moon power can turn us invisible, but you need to be touching me.” He held out his hand.
“I still don’t understand what we’re doing?” I took his hand.
“You still want to be free, don't you?”
“Yes,” I said, though I wasn't sure if I still believed those words.
“Do you think it’s a coincidence you lost everything and then ended up in a collar? That’s not fate. That’s strategy. Kane has calculated every moment. You can be sure of that.”
Maybe Gideon was right.
After the way the fae treated me, I didn't know if they would ever truly accept me as their queen. Maybe they would be happy if I was gone.
If I didn't escape, then Crispin had died for nothing. His bloodied face flickered through my mind. He’d want me to survive, to find a way to be safe.
And was I safe?
After today, the danger had become more apparent. Prophecy or not, a portion of the fae were not happy with me as their queen.
I had to keep fighting, regardless of what transpired between Kane and me.
Even when Kane showed a gentler side, it didn’t erase his cruelty. He hadn’t hesitated to stab that young priest who’d done nothing wrong other than to be in a hallway at the wrong time.
If he could easily slay his own court, how long before I became an obstacle he needed to remove?
What about the prophecy?
You were born with a purpose.
Ignoring my inner thoughts that were starting to blur my wants and needs, I decided to at least see what Gideon needed me for.
“When we get to my aunt’s chambers, I’ll unlock it. Not a word,” he said and put a finger to his lips.
I nodded, then suddenly he was gone. But I knew he was still holding my hand. And then I looked at myself and I wasn’t there either.
“What is this?”
He squeezed my hand. “It’s all right. I created a reflection around us, making us invisible.”
He opened the door, and then we stepped out into the hallway. The two guards who normally stood outside weren’t there, and I was too terrified to ask why. Did Gideon do something to them?
With his hand grasping mine,keeping the illusion in tact, we walked down the hall to the other royal wing. Was this where Kane’s family had lived?
My bare feet barely made any noise, but every creak, every distant sound made me panic. What would happen if we got caught?