My mother swayed to the music and her advisor Ryka was at her side. I let mother enjoy the party. It warmed my heart that despite her losing her mind while altering everyone else’s, she never gave up her cheerful essence.
“You look like you’re ready to bury someone in the queen’s gardens.” Tor’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“I can’t say I missed being the center of attention at these gatherings.”
Tor had cut his brown messy hair and cleaned up the stubble growing on his jaw. He looked nice in a fancy tunic, pants, and knee-high boots—like the prince of many princesses’s dreams.
“I almost didn’t recognize you dressed like a fancy prince.” Tor offered his hand for me to dance with him. I accepted, needing space from everyone else vying for my attention. Tor was safe, and he always knew when I fell deep into my thoughts.
“I didn’t recognize you, although, I remember you before your human years now. You look the same except for the weighted expression in your eyes.” I looked into his soulful brown eyes and the tension eased within.
“I don’t feel like I know who I am anymore.” I whispered low enough for only Tor to hear, and not the other Fae.
“You’re still you. Same spunky spirit, smart-ass mouth, gorgeous body, and a big destiny that you always had.”
“You always make me laugh.”
“What can I say. I’m a funny guy, and I’m glad that hasn’t changed. Although, I’d thought with you being a fancy princess, you would have access to a big bath. You’re still making my eyes water.” He grinned, and I smacked his shoulder lightly. I knew he was trying to make me forget about everything and enjoy the ball.
“I knew you’d be a good dancer.” I thought about all the times I imagined him dancing while I worked in the palace.
“I’m good at everything.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and I shook my head. A month ago, I would have tackled him to the floor and ripped his clothes off, screaming for him to prove his words. Now, remorse and shame flooded my thoughts. I wronged him and that hurt my heart.
“I think I’ve had enough for tonight. These spoiled Fae don’t really care about what I did. They stayed rich and got what they wanted over the twenty years. Tomorrow, I’ll go out to the city. They are the people that I need to grovel to.” I released my grip on his shoulder, and he took a step back.
“I still love you, Sapphira, no matter what.” He gave me a grim smile before walking off. I watched his retreated form.
“Time to go?” Nyx sauntered to my side and I nodded.
“Please stay, though. You have lost time to make up for and I bet some pent-up energy.” I prayed she took the free time I offered, and I wanted to be alone. She eyed me, searching for the real reason I wanted her to stay.
“I just want some alone time, and I know you’ll be by my side when the world falls out from under me. So I want you to have fun while you can.” I told her the truth and she understood.
“Go rest, Princess.” She pulled me into a hug, and I instantly felt calmer. Sometimes when the stress of my birthright became too much, she’d push a bit of her soothing power into me to help me fall asleep easier.
We separated and I strode over to say goodbye to Dris and Emrys, who were sipping wine without muttering a word to each other. Sooner or later, I suspected they would become close friends, given our little circle. However, until then, I enjoyed their back and forth tension.
Finally, I walked up to my mother and gave her a hug. She hugged me back and a sweet song from my childhood melodically flowed past her pink lips. Her brown hair was curled into a bun and her diamond crown twinkled in the torch lights.
“I’m going to bed. I love you.”
Even when I was human, I felt a strange pull to the queen. I wanted her happy, and I wanted her approval. My soul recognized who she was before I knew it, and love beamed at my center.
“Moon, moon, moon. Bright and round, searching for a queen who can’t be found.” She switched from humming my old nursery song to a mixture of words. Maybe a riddle? She had spoken truth in our previous conversations, only I hadn’t known to piece them together.
“Thank you.” I bowed, taking in her words to analyze later and she smiled.
The walk to my quarters was not as quiet as I’d hoped. Two guards followed me, and while their mouths were shut, the rustling of their weapons against their armor provided an annoying atmosphere. I slammed my door once inside; the frustration had risen past my control.
I looked around the room, and I found no comfort inside. Memories came and went of times spent in this room wearing fancy dresses in all colors and materials, reading books, and drawing from my window seat. While I remembered ease and freedom in this room, I also remembered memories of insanity. When I’d pieced together the mystery between Verin and King Lachlan being the same person, I’d gone mad. He knew I was his niece, not his daughter, but no one else knew except my mother. With my power of absorption and time, I would grow to be stronger than he ever could be. With my mother and real father at my side, he would be ruined.
I had locked myself in this gilded cage and obsessed over how to beat him. Hours passed without sleep, and I’d torn through every book, every scroll until I found Debaru’s experiments of removing a Fae’s essence. I knew my father’s power could protect it, but as long as Verin knew I was alive, I’d never be able to grow into my full powers. That’s when Nyx and I came up with the plan to place her in onyx with my core while my mother altered everyone’s mind to believe she was me.
My gaze shifted toward my wardrobe where I’d scribbled my insanity onto the back of it. I traded my scandalous dress for a short nightgown, then removed my makeup, and released my hair from the braids. Sleep beckoned me, and I needed to gather my strength. Tomorrow, I would go into the kingdom to ease the confusion amongst the people. Then I’d train for the perilous journey ahead.
Chapter Six
Sapphira
His long, blond hair and beard coated in blood made me tremble. His yellow-crusted teeth dripped with flesh from his previous victim.
“Don’t touch her, you prick,” Mariam cried as two other Dramens wrestled her to the ground. I looked into her brown eyes and cried.
“It’s OK, Sapphira. Don’t watch,” she whispered as the men ripped the soft material of her pants and blouse. I didn’t want to see what they were going to do, but the blond Dramen gripped my hair and pulled my head back so far I thought it would snap.
“You watch what’s coming to you, whore.” The Dramen’s guttural voice echoed inside my head, then his wet tongue flicked against my ear as Mariam’s screams filled the room.
I jolted awake, my chest heaving as I stared into the dark room. Then a large furry arm wrapped against my waist and pulled me back down. I started to scream, but then choked on the sound. Rune, in werewolf form, rested in my bed and held me. The tears that the nightmare had set loose flowed freely as I snuggled into his warmth, missing him more than I thought possible.
Although I was twenty years out of practice, I pressed fingers against his black, fur-covered torso and my magic seeped beneath his skin. The sounds of bones snapping, and his wolf’s coat melting off into thin air revealed Fae skin beneath. Once the remnants of the werewolf were gone, I dared to lift my head and meet Rune’s gaze. His handsome scarred face looked pained, both from the transformation during the moon to his human form and from being close to me.