“It took your mother many years to have you. When you were finally born healthy and full of life, your parents knew it would be dangerous keeping you in the kingdom. You were too much of a target for the Fae of the Dark. They needed to keep you safe. Giving you to two humans to raise was the safest way to hide you.”
“Wait a minute. So if I was swapped for a human baby, what happened to that child?” I could already feel my gut-churning from thinking about it.
“He was raised by a loving Fae family. He knows he is human and can return to that world one day if she chooses to.”
That’s a relief. At least by swapping me it didn’t hurt an innocent baby. I can’t help but feel terrible for my human parents, though. They are going to be so worried when they can’t find me. Even more so when they hear the truth about their real child.
I’m going to have to make it right with them. I’ll have to go back to the human world and let them know that I’m okay and haven’t suddenly fallen off the edge of the planet. Maybe I will take their biological son back with me so they can meet.
Mercury continues, “Everybody was told you had been sequestered away and would return one day to rule the Fae. Nobody knew where you went and the Fae of the Dark couldn’t find you. The whole kingdom has been awaiting your safe return.”
Again, no pressure or anything.
“I guess changelings are fairly common here?”
“No, not really. The Fae don’t generally have a need for them,” the cat explains. “So rare, in fact, that many people didn’t believe the story. Rumors have been rampant in the kingdom that you had actually died as a baby and the palace were covering it up. The Dark Fae like to perpetuate that rumor whenever they can. They like to create instability wherever they can.”
“Do all cats talk in the Fae world?” I ask. I can wrap my head around the massive issues later. Right now, it’s the simple things I can process.
“Only familiars.”
“Aren’t they for witches?” I’m sure I read that somewhere once. Or maybe I saw it in a movie, I don’t know.
“Witches, Fae, Gnomes, anyone can have a familiar.”
Gnomes now? This just keeps getting harder to believe. Next thing she’ll tell me that the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny are real.
“And you’ve always been able to talk?”
“Yes. I was assigned to you by the royal family. My role was to protect you at all times and relay reports back to the king.”
“You’ve been reporting to them about me for nineteen years?”
“Yes.” She stares at me like that is no big deal. “And when your location was found by some of the Fae of the Dark, I acted immediately to keep you safe. You were due to come in at the end of the year anyway. I merely had to bring forward the date.”
“How have you been silent all this time? Wasn’t that frustrating?”
“At times, yes. When you were dating Mark, particularly so.”
“Mark was a dick,” I reply. “This is all a lot to take in. Are you sure I’m the one that was changed? I do look a bit like my dad.”
“I can assure you we are correct.”
I stare at the cat as my mind whirls with information. I guess I need to start accepting what I’m told and go with it. I guess the joke will be on me if it’s all just a big con.
“Maybe you should get some sleep,” Mercury suggests. “It’s been a long night. Things might start to feel clearer when you’re rested.”
I nod. That sounds like a good idea.
Half a dozen cushions are pushed on the floor before I can find the quilt underneath. I pull it back and crawl into bed. The mattress and pillow are supremely soft and comfortable.
My eyes close and I nod off.
Somehow, I manage to fall back into the same dream I was so rudely awoken from earlier. There are so many hot guys and no mention of the Fae or being a princess. I love it.
It’s Mercury sitting on my chest that wakes me up. It feels like I’ve barely been asleep. Her amber eyes stare at me as the end of her tail flicks back and forth.
“What?” I ask groggily.
“It’s morning. Time to get up,” she says without a hint of compassion.
“I need more sleep. A couple of hours isn’t enough.” I attempt to put a cushion over my head but she knocks it off again.
“You’ve been asleep all day and all night. That’s enough.”
I sit up. “I’ve been asleep for twenty-four hours?”
The cat nods. “Yes. Crossing from one world to another can do that to somebody not used to it. It fatigues the mind and body.”
Tell me about it. I’m still tired. I push back the bedcovers and attempt to get up. Just as someone knocks on the door.
Mercury keeps up with me as we head for the living room. There is no peephole on the door so I open it just a smidge.
Doug gives me a toothy grin. “Good morning, Your Majesty. I am here to escort you to the dining room. Breakfast is hot and waiting for you.”
How is he so perky so early in the morning? “I need a shower.”
“I can wait.”
I pull open the door. “You’d better come in. I’ll try to be quick.”
He waves at Mercury in greeting and they both sit on the sofa. I guess the cat comes in handy sometimes. I leave them to it and duck off to the bathroom.
The shower is massive with gold handles and faucet. The water is instantly hot and they haven’t scrimped on the water pressure. I could live here. The hot water invigorates me back to life.
Next on my list is getting dressed. I wrap a thick white towel around me and go searching in the walk-in closet. There are racks and racks of clothes. Drawers are full of underwear, bras, and even jewelry. There is a whole wall of shoes.
A. Whole. Wall.
I have officially found Heaven.
Everything is in my size and is more beautiful than anything else I have ever owned. I love this place. It’s literally a world away from my ordinary life and the clothes I used to have to wear until they fell apart.
I was told to have my first day to settle in, but I guess I slept through that. Going to classes gives me all kinds of anxiety but I guess that’s the price I have to pay for this closet.
Ignoring all the fabulous clothes that scream at me to try them on, I instead pick out one of the many white shirts and checked skirts and get dressed. The uniform is pretty cute, and it fits, so I’m not complaining.
There isn’t much time for makeup and hair so I brush my teeth and hair and throw on some lip gloss. I’ll explore the huge makeup stash later when I have more time. I’m sure there have to be fifty shades of everything in there.
Doug stands when I enter the room. His gaze travels over me. “You look beautiful, Your Majesty. It will be my pleasure to accompany you to breakfast today.”
“Please call me Paige.”
“Will do. Are you ready?”
“Yep.” I look at Mercury. “Are you staying here? Should I get some cat food or something?”
“I’ll sort myself out and catch up with you. I have your schedule and I know my way around here already. I went exploring while you slept,” Mercury replies. I can’t believe how quickly I have gotten used to her talking. It seems like the least weird thing now.