Chapter Three
***Colin***
Colin stood under a tree, catching his breath and looking at the arched entryway that led to the road to town. It felt like he’d been walking for miles; his feet hurt; he was out of breath and still in shock after being searched like a common thief when he left the castle. But thanks to Reese, he had a nice little bundle of goodies taped to his stomach, and once he made it past the guards at the gatehouse, they’d be his.
Now he had a choice: wait until the guards were distracted and slip though or risk walking boldly though and have them search him. The guards at the castle hadn’t been quite brave enough to search him, only the bag he carried, but he’d lost some of his confidence on the long walk through the upscale neighborhood that spread out below the castle.
Several times, he caught faces in windows and knew that word would already be spreading that he’d been banished from the castle in disgrace. Not willing to risk the humiliation or the possibility of another search, he ducked into the trees and followed the stone fence until he found the gate he remembered. Covered in vines, the gate looked like it hadn’t been opened in years, and he was tempted to give up before even trying.
But instead, he pushed up his sleeves and cleaned off the vines, then used his shoulder to push it open, inch by inch. When it finally flew open, he wasn’t ready, and he fell through and landed on his shoulder, pain shooting through his arm. He nearly cried out, but stopped himself just in time, then lay there on the ground, clenching his teeth until the pain passed.
He finally managed to get back to his feet and push the gate closed, then followed the path through the woods towards town. His shoulder ached as he walked, his clothes were dirty, and he wanted to scream with frustration until he felt the little bundle against his skin. At least he’d have money for a place to stay and a hot bath, he reminded himself. Hopefully it would be enough to last him until his parents came to their senses and let him come home.
When he came out of the woods, he found himself on the main road, but it was filled with people milling around. Confused at first, he just watched them, wondering what they were all doing, but then he remembered the parade was that day. Knowing he had no choice but to wade through the crowd, he strode forward, expecting the crowd to part for him. When no one moved, he began shoving his way forward, ignoring the dirty looks of the people he shoved or elbowed.
“Get out of my way,” he kept saying over and over. “I need to get to the front.”
He was almost to the front when he bumped into a broad muscular back that didn’t budge when he shoved at it. “I need to get through, move,” he ordered.
The man didn’t move. Instead, he turned around and looked down at Colin, his face one colossal scowl. “I don’t think so,” the man said. “I’ve been waiting here all morning.”
Colin stared him down, expecting the man to move, but he put his hands on his hips and stared right back at him. Finally, he asked, “Do you know who I am?”
The man looked him up and down. “I don’t care who you are; this is my place, and I’m not giving it up.”
“I’m the prince, and I demand that you give up your place to me,” Colin said, outraged that the man would talk to him that way.
The man looked him up and down again, then began to laugh. “Nice try, buddy, now get back there where you belong; these people have all been waiting here with me a long time too,” he said, then gave Colin a push.
Just then, the parade turned the corner and started down the street, making the crowd surge, and, already off-balance from the push, he tumbled to the ground. Feet kicked and stepped on him; all he could do was roll himself into a ball and cover his head with his arms as the punishment went on. When he was finally able to crawl out of the crowd to the side of the road, he was even dirtier than before, his clothes torn in several places, and his body throbbing with pain.
Stumbling to his feet, he made his way over to a tree and slouched against it, trying to catch his breath and make sense of what just happened. No one had ever treated him that way, no one had ever stood up to him, and just thinking about it made his blood begin to boil. He was the prince of the Seelie, a royal by blood and lineage: that should be all that mattered. Everyone in the crowd should have seen him for what he was, and paid homage to him.
Tempted to go back over and demand the respect that was his simply by birth, he started for the crowd again but saw that his family was just passing by. There were wild cheers from the spectators, but then he saw them begin to whisper and point, and he heard his name several times. It dawned on him then that the whole town would soon know about his exile, and humiliation replaced his anger.
Slipping away down the street, he changed his plans and headed for the nicest hotel in town. A hot bath and a change of clothes were what he needed now, then he’d see about setting the town straight about how he was supposed to be treated during his short stay away from the castle. Feeling much more in control, he strode down the street, the little lump next to his skin giving him confidence.
After he checked into the hotel, he’d have to find someone to buy the few trinkets he’d managed to smuggle out of his room. They weren’t much, but even on the black market, it would be enough to keep him entertained for weeks if needed, although he hoped his parents would see the light much sooner than that. When the hotel finally came into view, he was filled with relief; now he’d be treated with the respect he deserved.
***Darby***
Darby was just putting the last box of soap on the shelf when she heard the front door open and close. “Darby, where are you?” Fiona called, her footsteps echoing in the empty store.
“I’m in the stock room,” she called, rolling her eyes. “Where else would I be?”
“Getting ready for the ball,” Fiona said, poking her head through the door. “Are you ready?”
Darby sighed. “You know I’m not going,” she said. “But I want to see that dress you’ve been talking about.”
Fiona grinned at her, then stepped through the door and spun in a circle. “It was ridiculously expensive, but I decided to treat myself. What do you think?”
“I think you paid a lot of money for very little fabric,” Darby said but smiled at her friend. “Have you ever thought that a little mystery might be a good thing?”
Fiona spun around again, her sliver heels flashing in the light, and Darby was sure she got a glimpse of something she shouldn’t have. “I know it’s a bit brash, but I’m tired of not being noticed,” she said, pulling the dress down. “Don’t worry, I won’t flash anyone who doesn’t want me to.”
Darby shook her head. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re impossible?” she said, but there was laughter in her voice.
“Yeah, the same person who’s no fun,” Fiona said, then came over and hugged her. “Has it ever occurred to you that you work too hard? Maybe if you had a little fun every once and a while, you wouldn’t be such a stick in the mud.”
“Just because I don’t want to go to the ball and hook up with someone for meaningless sex doesn’t mean I’m a stick in the mud,” she said, wishing she could be like the rest of the Fae when it came to sex. “I wish I didn’t feel that way, but I do.”