31. ZARA
ZARA
I spent the next couple of weeks fulfilling my duties as Nero’s apprentice – or in other words keeping him company – and hoping Seth would visit me again.
Even though Nero had pretty much convinced me that it had just been my own dream rather than a shared one when I’d first told him about it, a small part of me had clung to the hope that he was wrong.
I couldn’t put my entire life on hold on the basis of that hope though.
And as the days and nights ticked by without him making another appearance, I eventually had to accept that Nero had been right.
So with two-and-a-half months still to go until Seth was due to return, I knew I was going to have to find something useful to do in order to preserve my sanity.
And I couldn’t think of a more productive way of filling my days than throwing myself into learning about my siren abilities and trying to get a handle on my fae magic.
I’d been practising controlling water ever since Taryn had first shown me how, even venturing down to the lake a couple of times to see if I’d have more success with a larger body of water to work with than the bathtub.
I was definitely getting better at it, but there was so much more he’d promised to teach me.
And Gideon was keen to start training me in some defensive magic techniques.
So after getting heartily sick of rattling around the manor on my own, I asked Nero whether he thought I’d still be able to dream walk with him from the fae realm and he said he couldn’t see any reason why not.
Which is why, a few days later, I found myself stepping through one of Terrah’s portals into Fae, this time for an extended visit.
“Thanks for the ride, Terrah,” I said as she met me on the other side.
I settled the straps of my heavy backpack more comfortably on my shoulders as we set off towards the palace.
Alara had already planned a shopping trip for us to ‘buy everything you need’, but there were some things from the mortal realm I wasn’t willing to be without.
Like my books and my birthday letter from Seth.
“Maybe we could get together for a drink one evening while I’m here?
” I had a fancy to visit the little tavern near her house again, because the last time I’d been there I’d been too wrapped up in everything Alara was telling me to take much notice of it apart from the fact that it was like something out of a fairytale.
“Sure.” She shrugged. “Shoot me a text once you're settled in and we’ll sort something out.” She didn’t sound too enthusiastic, but I didn’t take offence. If she didn’t want to meet me she’d have had no hesitation in saying so.
I received a nod of recognition from the two guards stationed outside the doors when I arrived at the entrance to the palace. If they were curious about why a mortal had suddenly started visiting the royals, they didn’t give any indication of it. But then, perhaps they could tell I was fae.
There were no escorts waiting for me inside so presumably they thought I knew where I was going by now. Which I did. Kind of. Hoping I’d remember which way to turn when I reached the end of the first corridor, I was relieved when Alara came rushing around the corner and caught me up in a hug.
“This is so exciting. I’m so happy you’re going to stay for a proper visit this time.” She hooked her arm in mine, and I gave myself a mental high five when she steered me in the same direction I would have taken if I’d been on my own.
“I’ve already had some things delivered for you,” she cast a disapproving look at my backpack, “so you didn’t need to bring anything, but we’re still going shopping this afternoon.
Let’s get that dropped off in your rooms and then we’ll have lunch with your father before we go.
He’s been so looking forward to seeing you.
” That was a lot of ‘so’s, but it was nice to feel welcome.
“Oh, look, there’s a guard. You there!” The guard hurried over and executed a sharp bow. “Please take this bag,” she paused while she extricated me from my backpack, “to our guest’s rooms. The purple suite.”
“At once, Your Majesty.” He took the bag and gave me a curious look before leaving us.
“You know, we’re going to have to tell people who you are soon. And if you’re staying here for a while, this might be a good time to do it. We’ll see what your father thinks,” she continued before I could protest that I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that yet.
“And what do you think about it, Zara? Are you ready to be presented?” Alara had just finished telling Gideon that she’d decided it was time we announced my existence to the realm, which was apparently her version of seeing what he thought.
“Well, it’s up to you I guess. I mean, people are going to find out eventually, and me staying here might look a bit odd if everyone thinks I’m just some random mortal.
But I know I’m not exactly royal family material.
I have no idea how a princess is supposed to behave and I have little to no control over my magic.
So if acknowledging me is going to be too embarrassing for you, I promise I won’t be offended. ”
“Zara!” Alara sounded appalled. “As if we could ever be embarrassed by you. It’s not your fault you don’t know how to be a princess yet. It’s mine for sending you away.” Her lip trembled and Gideon reached across the table and gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
“We’ve been over this, my love. You did what you thought was best at the time. It’s not your fault you were betrayed by that traitor.” He spat out the last word like it tasted bad and I couldn’t just sit there and let him talk about my adoptive dad like that.
“If you’re going to blame anyone, maybe have a go at the Oracle, or the Fates,” I said sharply. “They’re the ones who told him to keep me from you.”
“Yes, so you could end up bonded to someone far beneath you.”
Oh gods, this wasn’t going to work. There was no way I could stay here if he was going to start insulting Seth as well. I was about to say as much when he yelped like he was in pain.
“Ow! What did you kick me for?” He looked so shocked that I burst out laughing. The mighty King of the Water Court being kicked under the table by his wife was the last thing I’d expected to see.
“I warned you what would happen if you started being mean about the people Zara cares about, Giddy. And Seth is not beneath her. He’s a guardian, for Mab’s sake, and they are in love. You do remember what that feels like, don’t you dearest?”
“I didn’t think you meant it,” he mumbled, reaching down to rub his ankle under the table, and she snorted.
“You knew perfectly well that I did, and don’t start acting like I’m some kind of spouse beater. That was barely a tickle.” He mumbled something else that sounded like ‘that’s not the point’.
“Well, I don’t have time for this now. Our carriage will be ready in ten minutes.” She turned away from him dismissively. “Have you had enough to eat, Zara?”
I’d been about to help myself to another little quiche, but I nodded and hurriedly got up. There was no way I was going to keep her waiting today if she was in the sort of mood to kick people who annoyed her.