“Obviously,” he says, assessing his work with smug admiration. “I am a flower fae. I know a thing or two about beauty.”
Even Lorelei looks impressed. “You’re putting me out of a job. Perhaps you should be their lady’s maid.”
Foxglove scoffs. “I think not. Anyhow, let’s not get off track. I haven’t finished explaining the agenda.”
I blush, remembering our mating conversation.
The ambassador continues. “With the mate ceremonies just ten days away, the king has decided you shouldn’t be complete strangers by then. You will spend this time getting to know King Aspen and Prince Cobalt when they are free to entertain you. Which brings us to today’s agenda. Amelie, the king will meet with you this afternoon in his study. Evelyn, during this time, Prince Cobalt will take you on a walk outside the palace.”
My pulse quickens. Amelie and I are going to be separated. My sister will be alone with the Stag King. “Can’t we get to know our fiancés within a group setting? The four of us? Perhaps you and Lorelei as well? I mean, it’s hardly proper for us to be alone with…” I trail off at Foxglove’s raised brow. Right. Human propriety doesn’t mean much in Faerwyvae.
He laughs. “Oh, don’t be frightened, my dear. Remember our chat yesterday? Don’t set traps. Don’t plot treason. Don’t go swimming. Simple!”
I cross my arms, searching for the right argument.
Amelie sighs, then bounces the side of her hip lightly into mine. “I’ll be fine, Evie.”
I face her, hoping I can convey all the warning I can with my eyes. She tugs her rowan berry necklace, then brushes her fingers over the sashes at her waist. The sashes that hide the knife I gave her.
It isn’t much, and it might not be enough. But in the end, it’s all we can do.
Chapter Fourteen
No hidden blade can comfort me as I find myself trekking through the woods a few hours later, marching up a steep incline behind Cobalt. All worry of Amelie has been swept from my mind, now that my main concern is trying to breathe properly.
Is he trying to kill me? He is. He must be.
Cobalt casts a glance behind him, winking when he meets my eyes. “Almost there, I promise.”
I grind my teeth in reply, silently cursing Foxglove for describing my outing with Cobalt as awalk outside the palace. This isn’t a walk. It’s a hike. There’s a distinct difference.
Cobalt, unwinded and unhindered by sweat and mortal lung capacities, leads the way higher and higher while I pant behind him, struggling to keep up with his long stride. He pauses and offers me his hand a few times, which I refuse. It only makes me want to hide my exertion better.
Thankfully, the incline begins to even out, the trees thinning until there’s nothing but a vast field strewn with red leaves, like a blood-red sea. The field ends in a sharp edge that opens to nothing but blue sky. Cobalt sprints forward, then stops abruptly at the cliff’s edge. When I make no move to run after him, he waves at me to hurry, face split into a wide grin. “Come on! You’ve got to see this.”
I let out an irritated sigh, then slowly make my way forward. A delightful breeze brushes over my skin, drying the sweat from my brow. I pause several feet behind him, again that question nagging at me.Is he trying to kill me? Did Cobalt bring me here just to push me off the edge of a cliff?
My eyes shift from the prince’s back to the view before us. All prior thoughts go still. A chill runs down my spine, but it isn’t from fear. It’s awe that has me in its grip. Below stretches red-orange hills rolling to the left and right, with endless ocean straight ahead. Bircharbor Palace is a tiny silhouette in the distance, perched at the edge of its cliff. Gulls soar high overhead in the clear blue sky, sunlight glinting off their feathers.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Cobalt asks.
There’s no point denying the truth. “It is.”
“I’ve impressed you!” His smile is infectious, and I find myself averting my gaze to hide the tiny spark of joy fighting for dominance over my face. Cobalt doesn’t seem to notice my struggle and turns away from the view to walk to the middle of the leaf-strewn field. There he plops down in the grass and begins unpacking the goods from the basket he brought.
I follow but hover a few steps away from where he sits.
He pats the grass next to him. “Come. I packed us a meal.”
I stay where I am, eying the spread of cheese, nuts, and unfamiliar fruits he’s laid out.
When he sees I haven’t moved, he pauses and meets my eyes with another disarming grin. “I’m not going to hurt you, Evelyn. You’re safe with me.”
He can’t lie,I remind myself. “Promise me.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you.”
I let the vow hang between us for a few moments. While I don’t believe a fae promise is a thing of magic like most people think it is, I know the fae put much stock into the word. A promise is a thing of deep reverence to them, like their inability to lie. It’s something I can use like a shield.
