As far as our historical records went, the Stone Bride’s story always ended there.
While other Aralyssean princesses and princes were married off to other human royalty or high-ranking business partners, the Stone Bride Princess disappeared into legend. Sacrificed to preserve our kingdom’s fragile peace with the Stone Fae and never heard from again.
None of us Aralysseans had ever seen a Stone Fae, and thank the moons for that. The stories were enough to haunt anyone. Supposedly, they were savage creatures with monstrous wings and razor-sharp teeth that dripped with the blood of their victims. The stuff of nightmares, and the last thing you saw before they ripped out your throat and razed your city to the ground.
According to the old tales, one encounter with the creatures had been enough to cow our first ruler of Aralysse into striking a deal. He promised them not only bounties from our lands, but also the tribute of a princess every twenty-five solars in exchange for peace.
And now, it was Seraphyne’s turn. Tomorrow I’d finally be free, but she would be on her way to who knew how long a life of untold suffering.
“I’m sorry,” I told her sincerely. Not for the cake, which had the same amount of honey it always did. But for her life that would ruthlessly be cut short, so that the rest of us could continue to live ours in tranquility and peace.
Seraphyne sniffed at my apology, then burst into tears. “I know I’ve been groomed to be the Stone Bride all my life, but I can’t. I just can’t!”
I wasn’t sure what to do. Usually her temper tantrums were something to quietly wait out in a corner, making myself as small as I could. Not something born out of valid reasons.
“I’ll go fetch another piece of cake,” I offered. “Whatever you like, I’m sure Cook Lettie will make it for you special.”
“No! Don’t leave me, Thornie!”
Thornie...That was the nickname she chose for me after my father showed her the flower I’d been partially named after—and warned her about the pricks beneath its soft petals.
Princess Seraphyne grabbed onto my arm when I tried to head for the door. “Could you… could you hold me? Just until I fall asleep?”
“Hold you?” I blinked at her. “Before your bath? Wouldn’t you rather?—”
“Forget the bath!” she’d cried, cutting me off.
Then there was no more requesting. Seraphyne grabbed my arm and shoved me backwards. Suddenly, I found myself lying on top of the luxurious bed I made every day, soft as a cloud and covered in silk sheets
“Stay there!’ she commanded, taking off her silk dinner gown and tossing it to the floor as if her father hadn’t sent a boat all the way to the Capital City to purchase her wardrobe of fine dresses while the rest of us wore clothes we made ourselves from the natural fibers we grew in the fields surrounding our lesser kingdom.
“But…”
Thinking of everything I had to do to prepare for her handoff to the escort the Stone Fae King would be sending, I tried to get up, struggling to find purchase in the cloud she called a bed.
“I said,stay put.” Princess Seraphyne climbed into bed with me, and the next thing I knew, my arm was forcibly wrapped around her slender waist. “Just hold me.”
“Wouldn’t you rather…” I trailed off and glanced toward the door, thinking of the sentry I’d seen coming out of her room on a number of occasions when I came back early from errands.
“…have someone else comfort you?” was the most delicate way I could bring up her maybe wanting to enjoy one more round of horizontal fun before she got sacrificed to a savage monster who may or may not literally eat her for dinner, according to kingdom gossip.
“No, it has to be you!” She answered in the same petulant tone she used when she got out in the suns’ light and realized the hue of her slippers didn’t quite match her dress. “You’re my best friend, Thornie! It has to be you!”
I am?I thought, but didn’t dare to say out loud.
Then the door opened…and…and…
It has to be you.
Those were the last words I remember Princess Seraphyne saying before I woke up here—in this midnight-black carriage—instead of on the mat below the foot of her canopy bed, as I had every other morning I could recall.
Wearing the white gown I’d carefully steamed and hung in preparation for her departure. Princess Seraphyne’s departure to the Stone Kingdom’s mountain wastelands.
But Princess Seraphyne isn’t wearing the gown.
I am.
And outside the window, a cold black mountain range looms on the far horizon, glittering beneath the setting suns. Like a monster in waiting.
