“Hah!” My head fell back with mocking laughter. “You think you’re being generous by offering a mere hospital that I can visit every ‘once in a while’? What about when we have children? Are you going to forbid me from going to ‘help out’ so I can focus only on them? Like a good, obedient queen?”
“You’d do well to remember you are speaking to a future king.” Lukas shot me a glare that could melt steel. “As I said before, I’d be happy to let you continue with your hobbies, which is why I suggested we build a hospital. But this whole idea of rebuilding Corlixir is just ridiculous. You cannot expect me to let you spend all your time fighting for a dead kingdom. Drothmoredeserves a queen who is willing to give everything to our people.”
“Well then, don’t let me stop you from finding her.” Blonde ringlets swished past his face as I twisted my whole body away from him. I needed something else to focus on. Anything but him. Tears were clawing at the back of my throat and I couldn’t bear to let slip any kind of weakness.
His hand reached for my shoulder, but I shrugged him away. “Naria, please… Enough with all this foolish talk.” He sighed as his tone softened slightly. “My father has ordered for us to marry, and therefore we shall. Even if I have to force you down the aisle, you will become my wife, and then Queen.”
A laugh caught in my throat.I’d like to see him try.With one letter to Honeymeade, I could summon an army of potion-wielding Corlixins with a furious village mother at the helm. Then he’d see what would happen when someone tries to force me to do anything.
“Naria?” he said again.
Turning back slowly, I held my chin high. “Listen to me when I say, if you cannot help me rebuild my kingdom, I will find someone else who can. And if a marriage is required, I will marry him long before you get a chance to try and drag me down any wedding aisles.”
“Who? Colyn?” He scowled. “That man is a pig, you wouldn’t dare.”
I scoffed at his suggestion. “Of course not Colyn, but I will find someone. Perhaps I already have.”
The prince’s jaw tightened. “Well, you can tell your mysterious saviour that I would love to meet him,” he muttered with a glare. “It would be fascinating to hear how he’s able to fund the rebuilding of an entire kingdom while also managing the finances of his own. He must be incredibly wealthy.”
“Wealthier than you could possibly know,” I assured him in a breathy voice.
Unfortunately, he made a fair point, but I didn’t dare show it, even as he marched out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him. All that mattered was that the fae might be willing to help. How they would actually do it would be a concern for another day. And with Luminessia falling in two nights’ time, that day might come sooner than I expected. After all, just as the Faery King had declared in his throne room, ‘a marriage is certainly one kind of alliance’ – and if Prince Arenn could promise a future for Corlixir, then I would marry him in a heartbeat.
CHAPTER 27
My body felt suspended in ice as I fidgeted with my skirts outside the gates of the faery kingdom. Two days had passed since I last spoke with Lukas – two full days of exchanging silent curses as I’d catch his glare in the hallways, and two very,verylong evenings of avoiding anywhere his princely presence might be. After our heated conversation in my bedroom, he’d insisted on taking dinner each night in his chambers. That left me to either dine alone in the royal dining hall or do the same in my own tower bedchamber. Thankfully, Raena was quick to offer me company.
After I’d told her about the upcoming faery ball where Arenn would choose his bride, she’d tried everything in her power to change my mind. It was no use, though. Lukas had all but confirmed that he would never help my kingdom, so the fae were my last chance. Still, that did little to calm the unease I felt as I trembled behind the round wooden gates, waiting for Arenn to arrive.
Theo had accompanied me here, just as he did last time. He stood tall beside me, one hand on his sword as he closely monitored the remaining faery guard. Apparently, last time they’d played cards while Arenn and I visited the Crystal Caverns. I recalled him telling me on the journey back that it would’ve been a fun game, had the two faery guards not taken every opportunity to cheat. When he called them out, they claimed it was ‘in their nature’.
I didn’t have any more time to consider if I should take that as a warning sign, though, because the wooden gates swung open to reveal a familiar, tall, and darkly handsome figure.
“Good evening, Prince Arenn.” I smiled politely, curtsying in greeting.
He grinned and stalked closer. “Good evening, little human.” He was dressed more finely than usual – in a blue tunic and breeches set so dark it would match the night sky, while a long black cape with silver flecks hung from his broad shoulders. Even his circlet, which was normally a plain silver band, had been replaced by an ornate flower crown that featured weaving silver vines.
When he was mere inches away, he reached forward to plant a soft kiss on my hand. As his lips touched my skin, it felt as though butterflies had darted out from the vines and fluttered through my body.
“I trust you have come for Luminessia?” he said, rising from the kiss. “My sisters have been pestering me all week, asking about when you would arrive.”
“You have sisters?” I asked eagerly before clearing my throat and quickly regaining composure. “And oh, yes, I’m here for Luminessia.”
Arenn chuckled. “Such a funny human… But yes, I have sisters. Two, unfortunately. They’re twins.” His face twisted with annoyance. “I apologise in advance for their behaviour. They’requite… excitable. Especially today. They have requested to help you dress, though, so I’ll take you to them now and then we shall meet at the ball.”
My head tilted to one side. “Is my gown not acceptable for your party?” Raena and I had worked together to select the most ‘fae’ gown for the ball. Of course, despite her reservations about Arenn, she couldn’t resist giving me fashion advice. After an hour of back-and-forth, we’d decided on a forest green strapless gown. It would’ve been declared scandalous in the halls of the Steel Palace, but here, where the fae have no issues showing off as much multicoloured skin as they please, it would probably be considered modest.
“No, no, please do not take any offence. You, as always, look divine, Princess.” Arenn studied my gown, his gaze lingering a little too long on the low-cut bodice before returning to my face. “But Luminessia is such an extravagant event.” His lips pulled into another grin.“And you want to look your best, especially if you’d like to be chosen for a dance.”
“What happens if I am chosen for a dance?”
He drew closer, his lips brushing my ear. “Come with me now, let my sisters dress you, and you will find out soon enough.”
Our fingers were interlocked as he escorted me through the quartz-walled faery palace. Unlike last time, there were hardly any other faeries wandering the halls. The only sounds I could hear were our footsteps echoing off the white marble flooring and the occasional grunt of greeting from a servant that would scurry by. But despite the lack of fae, the palace seemed more alive than ever. All the colours seemed brighter, and a thick sweetness hung in the air. It fizzled on my tongue every time Iopened my mouth to speak, tasting like sugared fruits and sweet berries.
“Everyone is gathered in the ballroom waiting for Luminessia to start,” Arenn informed me when I brought up the quietness. Even he seemed affected by the syrupy air. His pale skin glowed under the violet orb lights, and I could feel something powerful thrumming from where his hand held mine.
Eventually, he guided me down a grand corridor, and together we halted before an oddly charming wooden door. Intricate flowers and leaves were carved into the wood, while the handle was sculpted from polished rose quartz.
