Farron shakes his head, auburn hair falling across his brow. “There are some fae who transform themselves, such as from fae to unicorn. Or mermaids can have legs for a time. But there’s no magic of transformation on others, such as Queen Aurelia had.”
“No,” I say, an idea hitting me like a stroke of lightning. “The Enchantress who cursed you … changed you from fae to beast.” My chest heaves with breath. “Could she be the Queen returned?”
Farron gets a faraway look. “The thought has crossed my mind before. And she would have just cause, for we four failed her realms. Sometimes people do horrible things to protect something they love.”
“But if the Enchantress was the Queen, why would she leave after?” I continue. “Castletree is sick. Why wouldn’t she help it or any of the realms? In all the stories about her, she’s always doing good.”
“Indeed. And how does this legend aid your father’s search?”
“I don’t know,” I say, turning back to Papa’s letter. “It’s a good story, but what does it have to do with my mother? Why does Papa think the type of bird is important?”
“Perhaps she was one of the citizens who was transformed into a bird?” Farron suggests.
“Maybe.” I stare at the rubbing of the Queen. There’s a tiny spiral around her throat. Is it a rose?
My hand unconsciously drifts to my necklace. Is it possible my mother had some connection to the ancient Queen? Maybe she didn’t find this necklace.
Maybe it was a gift.
“I’ll start a reply to your father, detailing what information we’ve learned.” Farron sits down at the table and pulls out a quill and ink. “Keep that book safe, Rosalina. I’m sure there’s more to be gleaned from it. But we should get back to our other research. Figure out more about this mating frenzy of yours.”
I tuck the book back into my bag. The thought of thewilde courtshipturns my thoughts back to purple eyes and a leering smile. I smooth out invisible wrinkles in my skirt. “Farron, I need to tell you something. Something I’ve kept hidden because I’m ashamed and scared.”
Farron jumps up so fast, his quill falls and drops blotches of ink on the paper. He wraps his arms around me, and I realize I’m shaking. “It’s okay, Rosie. You can tell me anything, you know that.” He sits back in his chair, pulling me on to his lap.
“It’s about Caspian.”
Farron stiffens beneath me. “Go on.”
I touch the two bands of thorns around my wrists. “I didn’t only see Kel the night my mating frenzy took over. When I woke up, Caspian was in my room.”
Farron inhales sharply but says nothing more.
“He looked possessed, Fare, like his body wasn’t his own. He wasn’t there long, but … but it was like he was drawn to me.”
“The Prince of Thorns likes his games,” Farron says, but his voice holds little conviction.
My fingers dig into his vest. “Farron, are you able to feel him like you do Kel?”
Farron touches his neck. “If I feel anything for the Prince of Thorns, it’s only remnants of our bargain. It’s deep magic, Rosie. It clouds the soul.”
Maybe so, but there’s something more going on. Something I’ve been trying to ignore for months. The yearning for Caspian, the jealousy. And when I was searching for Farron, it was him I found instead. I jump off Farron’s lap, voice growing frantic. “He canspeakin my mind. I feel a pull to him. Farron, what if the Prince of Thorns is also my mate?”
Farron’s golden eyes widen, then he slumps forward in his chair, hands in his hair. The Prince of Thorns attacked his home, and before that, Caspian betrayed Keldarion and the entire Enchanted Vale.
I clutch at my heart. “What else could it be?”
Farron stands, then walks on shaky legs towards me. “There is so much magic in this world we don’t yet know about. It could be any one of his tricks. And if it is true, we’ll figure it out together.”
He cups my face and I lean into his touch. “You don’t hate me?”
“Of course not, Rosalina. There’s nothing you could ever do to make me hate you. Besides, if the stars have matched your light with that vile darkness, you don’t have to accept the bond.”
“That’s true,” I whisper.
“We need more information. And in the meantime, be wary of what you feel. Ask yourself if it’s truly the same as with Kel and I.”
“Why don’t you hold on to Caspian’s book for a while?” I ask. “It does technically belong to you, after all. Maybe you’ll find some clue in it I missed.”
