Chapter 35 #2
If I were filled with any emotion other than betrayal and anger, I may think she had a point. But all I see is burning red.
There’s a pause. Fern’s voice comes out less screech-like. Beneath the music from the performance above, I can hardly hear her. “Maddox wouldn’t do that.”
“Oh, don’t be naive, Fern. Of course she would.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s been trying to murder him this entire time.
You cannot trust mortals—especially when they have the Sight.
You of all arborfae should know that. Who do you think cut down your forestlands? Who do you think killed your family?”
Shame joins the toxic mixture of emotions swirling inside me. The image of my father’s wide smile bleeds together with the prince’s lopsided grin. Both villains, depending on who is reading the story. But Castor is mine.
“You can’t blame all mortals for one’s mistake.”
“It wasn’t just one,” Evodia growls.
“Either way. Maddox deserves to know, and I’m going to tell her.”
Evodia’s next words come out quieter, tinged in desperation. “I know you care about the girl, but you’ve only known her two weeks. I’ve known Castor since he was a sapling careening down Nightshade roads. He’s like family to me.”
“If he’s like family and he is cursed to kill those who love him, then how are you still alive?”
For once, Evodia doesn’t have a retort.
And I don’t have time to wait for one.
Like a thief, I slip back out of my window with a renewed taste for vengeance.
Never trust a fucking dryad.
Here I was thinking that I was the bitch, the liar, the con man. All the while, Castor and I were playing a game of cards. Forget the king or queen; I am the joker.
It was all a game. And everyone was in on it—everyone except Fern.
As I leave Magesté behind for the last time, a familiar sensation settles in, snuggling up beside the anger. A dark, sickening feeling the color of murky pond water.
Rejection.
It’s not the first time I’ve been abruptly and unceremoniously uprooted from my current residence. But this place—this hectic, ridiculous, incredible place—didn’t feel like just another spot to stay the night. For the briefest of moments, it felt like a home.
This magic city in the treetops wasn’t ever meant to feel this real.
In the mortal world, these same feelings would follow me as I climbed into the car of a social worker, looking out of the window to see the place I called home disappear around a corner.
In the back seat, I would curl into a ball, locking down, protecting my heart from everything outside of it.
Now it’s like that, multiplied by a thousand.
My heart—my home—is a cage of impenetrable steel.
The sound of rustling, followed by a light wind, accompanies a desperate voice. “Maddox! Maddox, wait!”
Fern touches down in front of me, forcing me to stop abruptly.
All my fury and betrayal and heartbreak are temporarily shrouded in affection and relief.
I want to thank her for sticking up for me—to wrap her in a tight hug.
But I’m too locked up and guarded to say anything other than “I forgot you could fly.”
“I— Well, yes, of course I can fly. I have wings. But, no, that doesn’t matter.
I’m so glad I found you! You can’t go meet the king—Castor, I mean.
Because he’s not the king, actually.” She says all of this on one shaky breath.
“He’s the cursed prince. And I only just learned what his curse really does; otherwise I never, ever would have let you—”
“I know.”
“—pursue him romantically or anything like that because you could actually die if you— Wait.” She blinks at me. “You know?”
“I heard you and Evodia talking just now. I was in my room.”
“You were? You did?” Her eyes widen to circles. “I went in there earlier and you were still—”
“I climbed through the window. Listen, Fern. It’s okay. I don’t blame you for anything. You didn’t know. But I can’t talk right now. I have something important I need to do.”
I start walking forward and Fern opens her wings wide enough for me not to be able to pass. “Please don’t hurt Castor,” she says tearfully. “He…Evodia loves him. Well, maybe she doesn’t love him, because she would be dead now, I guess. But she cares about him.”
“I’m not going to hurt Castor.” Yet, anyway. “I’m going to kill the king. Durian.”
“Kill him? Why—”
“Because I made a pact with the Myrtle Queen to cure a mortal disease that I can’t afford to treat, and the guards change at midnight, so I need you to let me pass.”
“Oh.” She folds her wings back down. “Why didn’t you just say that before? Do you need help?”
This startles a laugh, which trails off to contemplation. “Um. Actually, yes.”
Affixing the collar I tucked in my bag earlier around my neck, I hold the leash out to Fern. “I need you to pretend I’m your mortal pet so I can get back inside the citadel.”
She looks decidedly unenthusiastic now, but she takes the leash anyway.
“Let’s just hope we don’t meet any sadistic sirens along the way,” I mutter.
Fern’s shoulders tighten at this. “Not all sirens are sadistic, you know…There are all sorts of different forest sirens, and…and, Maddox, I should tell you—”
“Not now, Fern. I have literally zero time. Come on.”
With a sigh, Fern follows me as I dash down the path to the Crown District.
We make it back to the citadel a handful of minutes before midnight.
There’s a group of dryads with moose-like antlers being let through the gates as Fern bops up. The tallest one looks over at me, at my dazed expression, and giggles. “Oh, I do love it here. Look at this mortal pet, Frond.”
Whoever Frond is bursts into hysterical laughter. “How charming! She is a cute one. Look at those spots on her cheeks!”
“Her name is Oleander,” Fern says brightly.
The guards let each of these guests in, holding a hand up to Fern. “Invitation?”
“I’m with the Magesté orchids,” she says, lifting her chin haughtily. “You should have been notified already.”
Both guards exchange a confused look. “No one told us about—”
Fern starts to hum, and the two guards go dazed a moment. “You will let us in,” Fern whispers in a singsong voice. Without a word, the guards nod and Fern moves quickly past, pulling me along with her.
Temporarily forgetting my mission, I gape over at her. “What was that?”
“Er…so, I’m not actually an arborfae.” She shoots me a guilty look. “I’m a tree siren.”
I stumble on the curved pathway, picturing the black eyes and sharp teeth of Lorelai. “Holy shit.”
“Please don’t tell anyone.” Tears well in her eyes. “Tree sirens aren’t exactly welcome here.”
“I thought tree sirens were…like…evil.”
“The ones who live around here are. The daughters of the Erlking. But my family isn’t—wasn’t like that. Before they were killed, I mean.”
“Oh.” Right. Before my father and his team killed them.
“Just please don’t say anything to Evodia. She’s been so kind to me, and if she knew—”
“Fern,” I interrupt, “I’m about to murder a dryad king. Your secret is safe with me.”
A myriad of kingdom visitors and courtiers stroll about in lavish gowns and velvet cloaks, carrying fizzing drinks and plates piled with berries drenched in chocolate.
Music emanates from hidden instruments within trunks, and arborfae flit about, dusting the revelers in golden glitter.
No one pays us any attention. I rip off my mortal collar and Fern immediately drops it on the ground, kicking it into a rosebush.
We make it to the throne room just as the trio of guards are descending the climbing ivy.