Chapter 15
“We’ve reached the outskirts of the town, Sollara.
It won’t be long before we arrive at the Citrine Palace,” Thalos said matter-of-factly.
“The entire kingdom has been eagerly awaiting your return with bated breath. As far as they know, you’ve been away, gallivanting around the Crystal Isle with one of your many intimate companions, as you so commonly do. ”
Thalos raised an eyebrow in my direction, clearly hoping his words would hit their mark.
“It is the king’s belief that the Obsidian Court is responsible for your abduction, specifically the Nightfallen Demon,” Thalos explained.
“Prior to your disappearance, there had been a noticeable escalation in the number of incidents involving dark arcana. According to our sources, sympathizers and supporters of the Obsidian Court were intensifying their antics in anticipation of the Demon’s arrival.
The king did not wish to upset or scare the queen or townsfolk with his suspicions.
The king thought keeping everyone in the dark would preserve peace of mind. ”
“Who is the Nightfallen Demon, and why would they want to hurt me?” Forrest asked, concern marking his defined features.
Thalos sneered. “The Nightfallen Demon is a murderous beast of a fae. He is the brother of ruthless High Lady Dahlia, who presides over the Obsidian Court. She is the evil mastermind, while he is her sadistic weapon. We have been at war with the Obsidian Court for hundreds of years. They represent everything dark and evil in this realm, sinking to lows we could never conceive of, for the sole purpose of causing pain and sorrow. They would have targeted you for the simple fact that they knew it would destroy the king, as you are his only child and the heir to the Citrine throne—something the Obsidian Court has been coveting for years.”
Forrest paused. His eyes fixed straight ahead, and his lips slightly parted as if he was carefully considering his next question. “Why have we been at war with them for so long?”
“There had been considerable tension between the courts for years regarding various issues. Key among them were dissent—many courts wanted to govern themselves, rather than having one court preside over all—and the use of forbidden arcana, specifically dark arcana by the Obsidian Court. The Obsidian Court led the charge for this delusional revolt and inflicted indescribable horror on the other courts, only to turn around and blame it all on your family. This resulted in unrest among the courts and eventually caused them to deny our power and rule over the Crystal Isle, which they still do not fully recognize to this day.”
Thalos narrowed his stare at Forrest and me, his tone turning accusatory.
“Which leads me to a crucial question for both of you. The portals to the human realm were permanently sealed during this conflict—a security measure that was taken to prevent the Obsidian Court from enslaving humans in the neighbouring realm. No fae in any of the courts can access or use them. So I must ask, how did Prince Sterling end up in your realm, and how were you able to get back to ours?” His question was now directed at me.
I immediately thought of the golden skeleton key Magda had given me, which was currently stored in my pack.
She had said that it could be dangerous if it wound up in the wrong hands, and as much as I wanted to force myself to believe that we were among safe company, I had a gnawing sense of unease that told me Thalos could not be trusted.
“I can’t say how For—I mean, Sterling wound up in my realm in the first place.
When I found him, he was alone in a clearing, restrained with chains.
Nothing seemed unusual then, and I certainly didn’t notice a portal.
When we were fleeing my realm, we happened to return to that clearing, and a vine tunnel that had been there previously suddenly turned into a door, which we walked through to escape the mob chasing us.
I assume that because Sterling is fae, that is why the portal opened for us. ”
The imposing guardian appeared annoyed with my explanation. “If it were simply a matter of Prince Sterling being fae, then the portal would open for all of us. Are you sure that is all that happened?” Thalos inquired.
Forrest turned to me, a questioning look on his face. I was desperately hoping that he would remember what Magda had said and understand why I wasn’t being honest with Thalos.
“Is this the truth, Your Highness?” Thalos asked, turning to Forrest.
Forrest faced him. “If that’s what Aurelia says happened, then that’s what happened. She has no reason to lie to you.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t, but I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I didn’t ask.
The king and queen will demand significantly more detail, as it is quite a serious issue if the portal is now open to any who wish to pass through the realms. I recommend you both think it over and try to remember anything that seemed unusual to you. ”
A nervous laugh escaped me. “You mean more unusual than a magic door suddenly appearing in a forest clearing and taking us to another realm?”
Thalos’s face gave away nothing as he replied. “Yes. Anything more unusual than that, Miss Aurelia.”
We sat in silence as we entered Sollara.
Hundreds of low, worn stone homes surrounded us.
Their sun-stained roofs were a patchwork of mismatching tiles.
Oil lanterns hung from large metal poles, casting a soft golden glow over the dark maze of streets.
Small shops and tents lined the roadway, all bunched together, competing for what little space they could claim.
The noise was lively and loud, edged with desperation as the locals bartered their goods and services.
The aromas from the various food stalls mingled in the air, competing with the stench of dirt and filth that lay at the town’s base.
Our carriage made its way through the sad but lively settlement at a pace that seemed too fast, considering how many people were out and about—the sense of urgency to get away from these people was palpable.
More and more people stopped to watch, their boisterous voices becoming hushed whispers and their faces becoming void of emotion as the royal carriage rolled past.
“I thought you said the people would be happy to see Sterling back home. Everyone here looks rather subdued,” I said as I raised my brow in question.
“This is where the humans of our court reside. How they feel about Prince Sterling is irrelevant. It’s like asking a lion to care what insects think about them.” Thalos laughed, declining to elaborate any further on his comment.
Forrest peered out the carriage window, sadness etched all over his face. “Was I awful to these people?” he asked quietly.
Thalos huffed. “Absolutely not, Your Highness. You were the epitome of what a fae ruler should be. There is a hierarchy here, and you understood the importance of everyone knowing where their place was within it.”
Forrest turned to Thalos, his expression forlorn. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“It depends on who you ask, Your Highness. If you asked these people in the streets, they would most likely come up with some fabricated tale about how terrible you have been to them. If you asked the fae, they would tell you what kind of stand-up prince you are and how you have done so much to ensure our kind continues to thrive and prosper.”
As soon as the words left Thalos’s mouth, my stomach churned.
I leaned into the carriage wall, distancing myself from Forrest. Every time I had thought about who Forrest must have been in his previous life, it had never occurred to me that he could be someone I wouldn’t respect.
Not once had I ever thought that the man I had rescued and nurtured back to health, the one I had spent countless intimate moments with, could be problematic.
I had just assumed that he would be someone of good conscience, and now I felt like a total fool.
My face burned with the embarrassment of this sudden realization.
Forrest turned to look at me and the distance I had put between us, his face relaying how hurt he was by the small move. “Aurelia, I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“You don’t need to apologize to anyone, Your Highness, especially not to her,” Thalos interrupted.
His callous words resonated within me.
Every worry and insecurity I had felt leading to this place was being confirmed. I had travelled to another realm and still managed to find myself undervalued and barely tolerated.
Passing through the outer edges of the town, I saw what my future would look like if I stayed here.
Any grand fantasies I’d had of Forrest and me remaining together had been dashed on the pisssoaked dirt streets by the ever-looming ghost of who he had once been—Prince Sterling.
I didn’t have to meet his parents to realize our relationship would not be accepted.
I looked into the streets, trying to hide my face as angry tears started to fall.
I could hear Thalos and Sterling continuing their conversation in the distance, their words making little sense over the deafening sound of my heart breaking into millions of tiny, jagged pieces.
Several moments later, we passed through a different area of the town, separated by elegant, geometrically shaped crystal fencing that looked like a beautifully veiled threat to those who lived on the other side.
The homes here were taller and more robust, made of white stone with pristine terracotta roofs.
Cobblestone streets veined with amber crystal ran throughout, lined with floating lanterns.
Extensive lengths of ivy and wisteria hung across each lane, creating a whimsical canopy.
The scent of fresh lilac and freesia filled the air.
The streets were empty, devoid of any signs of life, except for the few carriages crossing before ours.
It felt stifled and sterile compared to the liveliness of the human quarter.
“I assume this is where the fae live,” I said, to no one in particular.
With every moment that passed, I was becoming more disillusioned and angry. I felt foolish for ever letting myself hope that the fae would be higher beings. They were just as judgmental and awful as humans.
“Yes, that would be correct,” Thalos replied. “The closer to the Citrine Palace we get, the nobler the fae families are.”
“Are humans allowed to live here?” I asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance in my voice.
“The human contingent of our court lives in the outer part of the town—that was the area we just passed through. It was created specifically for them during our war with the Obsidian Court. The Nightfallen Demon had been hunting down and enslaving humans, so our benevolent king took the poor souls in and built a separate quarter for them. Something they could call their own, as their previous homes had been destroyed.”
I turned to face Forrest and Thalos. “Will I be expected to live in that filthy, destitute place once we’re settled? Is that the thank you I’m going to receive for saving the precious prince’s life?”
Equal parts disgust and annoyance laced my words. I knew I was behaving with an undeserved level of entitlement, but it was important to me that Forrest understood what could happen to me once this carriage ride ended, if it hadn’t already become clear to him.
“I can’t speak on behalf of the king and queen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that is, in fact, where you end up,” Thalos replied with mock sincerity.
“I’m sure they will be ever so grateful for your assistance, but it would be quite unexpected if you ended up elsewhere.
The alternative would be to send you back to your realm, assuming the portal is still active—but that doesn’t sound like a pleasant option for you, given what you’ve shared with me of your escape from there. ”
“That cannot happen,” Forrest declared. “I won’t allow it. I want her to stay with me in the palace. She deserves to be cared for after everything she has done for me.”
Thalos sighed. “That is a discussion you must have with the king and queen, Your Highness.”
Forrest’s jaw tightened—a look of resolve settled over his features. “Oh, I plan on it, Captain Evergreen,” he replied, returning his gaze to the outside just as we reached the ominous, towering gates of the Citrine Palace.