I hiked the backpack I had prepared higher on my shoulders as Ariella and I started walking into more isolated areas, where no tourists should wander to.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I asked Ariella after we had been trekking through the area for over two hours. Here, the sun was too hot, and the air dry for my lungs.
“I think so,” she said. “I’ve heard they were hiding on this side of the canyon.”
I frowned. That wasn’t very helpful. Besides, whoever told her that could have been dreaming or drunk. I should have researched more about this before simply following her out here.
Another thirty minutes passed and the sun began setting. If we didn’t find them soon, I—
“Here.” Ariella stopped by a cliffside and pointed down.
I rushed to her side and looked down at the canyon.
And saw nothing.
“Here what?”
She glanced at me. “Oh, right, you probably can’t see it. It’s hidden with magic. But right down there—“ she pointed her finger down again “—is a small town, and I believe the people living there are the blaze fae.”
5
Farrah
I paced my room, my mind reeling.
It had been another day since I found out which poison I could brew to kill the fae prince, but so far, I had no idea how I was going to get the three herbs I needed.
My only idea so far was to sneak into the infirmary and the kitchen during the night, while most fae were probably sleeping, and try to steal it. I would have to worry only about avoiding guards stationed at strategic places and the patrols.
But it was still too risky. The chances of me actually making it to the infirmary or the kitchen without being caught were very, very low.
What other option did I have?
A soft knock came from my door and I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. A small female fae entered the room with her head low, her shoulders hunched. She closed the door and approached me, her eyes on the floor.
“I’m here to help you get dressed for dinner, your highness,” she said in a small voice.
I grunted. Since before the wedding, I had gained a servant of my own—a young wind fae who seemed to be scared of her own shadow. The fae only spoke to me about getting dressed, doing my hair, or retouching my makeup, nothing else.
I didn’t want to sit through another dinner with Lark, pretending to enjoy his company, or at least, not mind it. A surge of anger and frustration rushed through me, but I kept it hidden. I couldn’t lash out at this fae. It wasn’t her fault I was in this situation.
I had made the damn deal with Lark. I had sealed my own doom.
With another grunt, I stepped into my closet, the young fae following me. She stopped behind me and started unbuttoning my dress. Though the many buttons would have been tricky, I felt unnecessary to have a servant help me get dressed and undressed. I could very well put on my own clothes, do my hair, and apply my makeup. But I stayed quiet and just let her do it since Lark put her up to it. I didn’t want to anger him or draw more of his attention right now.
The dress fell to my feet. I stepped away from it.
The fae leaned forward and picked up. That was when I saw it—a purple bruise hiding on her back, near her shoulder blades, peeking from underneath her black uniform. I squinted, watching as she hung the dress on its place and started rummaging to find another. She lifted her arms, and her sleeve rode down a little, showing off another bruise, green this time, on her forearm.
What was going on here?
I opened my mouth to call her but realized I didn’t know her name. “Hm, what’s your name?”
The fae stilled, her hands froze over the dresses. “Hm, Jennie, your highness.”
“Jennie,” I said, taking her hands into mine and turning her to me. I lifted the sleeve of her uniform, revealing even more green and purple bruises. “What happened to you?”
She recoiled, stepping back and hiding her arms behind herself. She stared at the floor. “Nothing, your highness.”
“These don’t look like nothing.” A feeling I couldn’t explain took hold of me. “Jennie, look at me.” The young fae kept staring down. “I don’t want to order you to look at me. Please.”
With a sniffle, the young fae finally rose her head and her eyes met mine. My heart squeezed at the sight of her unshed tears and the red bruise on her temple, and the small cut on the bridge of her nose.
“I-it’s nothing, your highness,” she insisted, her voice breaking.
This was ridiculous. “Who did this to you?” The fae returned her gaze to the floor. “Jennie, tell me who did this to you.”
A sob ripped through her throat. “It was Prince Lark, your highness.”
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. It was all I could do not to go after him right now and accuse him of being worse than a monster.
“How did it happen?” I asked, my tone soft.
Jennie hesitated, but finally said, “My family and I lived in the fae realm. but we had a lot of debt. My father was caught gambling, trying to pay off the debts, but he just got drunk, buried us under more debt, and started a fight with a high ranking officer from the king’s army.” She wiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “My entire family was arrested. My father was executed and my mother, my sister, and I were sent here, to work as servants in the prince’s fortress.”
“Where are your mother and sister?”
“Dead,” she said with another sob. “Prince Lark likes to gather the servants with criminal pasts and teach them a lesson.” She gestured to her wounds. “Many of them don’t survive.”
My stomach curled at the thought. “That’s absurd.”
I hurt for Jennie, but her predicament gave me an idea. She looked young and naive, probably gullible. Maybe I could enlist her to help me find the ingredients for the poison … though, I didn’t trust being outright about it.
Instead, I plastered a fearful expression on my face. “I didn’t know about this violent side of the prince. He’s very eager to have a son, but …” I rubbed my hand over my belly. “I’m afraid it will take a long time and he’ll show his discontent about it by using his fists on me too.”
Jennie’s eyes widened, meeting mine again. “He wouldn’t beat you up, your highness. He loves you.”
I fought a grimace. I didn’t think the sick bastard loved me. I thought he was obsessed with me, in a twisted, sick way. “I don’t want to risk it.” Then I lowered my voice, as if this was a huge secret. “I’ve learned about a fertility potion that female fae should drink during the Moon Period, so they are ready to conceive when the time comes. However, I can’t prepare this surprise for Lark if he sees me picking out herbs from the fortress’ supplies.” I paused, batting my eyelashes at her with a demure smile. “Would you help me? Would you get the ingredients for me?”
Jennie frowned, but then nodded. “If it means the prince will be happy with you and won’t ever hurt you, I’ll do it.”
I sighed in relief. “Wonderful.” I turned back into the bedroom and picked up the list I had hidden inside the nightstand’s drawer. “These are the three ingredients I need.” I offered the paper to Jennie. “But remember, this is a secret, a surprise for the prince. No one should see you gathering the herbs.”