“Icannot teach you,” she said again, smiling. “But I do know someone who can.”
I folded my arms as her eyes glittered in the starlight. “Well, go on then,” I huffed. “Who?”
Her grin turned feral, the choppy ocean stilling around her. “My mother.”
CHAPTER 40
NARIA
For the seventh time that week, Prince Arenn knocked on the door to my bedchamber with a freshly prepared tray of breakfast and an eager grin across his jaw. And for some reason, just as they’d done every other time he’d knocked, my fingers lingered a little too long on the wooden edge of the door before I finally stepped aside and let him in.
He’d sought me out every morning – each day, more determined to help me remember everything about him that I’d forgotten. He’d taken me on tours of the underground villages, whisked me around bustling faery markets. At one point, he’d led me into a glowing crystal cave until we reacheda small chamber with a waterfall cascading down into a sparkling pool. There, he’d pressed me against the wall, ran his hands down my bodice and kissed me until I could hardly breathe.
But it didn’t help me remember anything. Only left me with an uneasy feeling in my belly and an odd sort of ache in my chest – an ache that had me blurting out excuses every time he’d tried to kiss me again.
“How did you sleep, dear human?” The sweet scent of honey and berries wafted in with him as he carried the tray to a small table. “The offer still stands for you to join me in my bedchamber if you think it’d help with your rest. I can’t stand the thought of you tossing and turning alone when I could by your side,” his gaze burned into mine, “holding you.”
“I’ll be fine.” Averting my eyes, I hurried over to the tray of breakfast. “Like Lyssandra said, it’s probably just from the ritual she had to do to take my memories away.” I winced as I took a bite of honey toast. Even the food tasted so unfamiliar. “I just need more time to adjust.”
Arenn nodded. “Of course.” Taking a seat opposite me, he took my hand across the table. “And I’ll be here for you the moment you’re feeling well again.”
I gave him a tight smile. “Thank you.” But the discomfort crawling at my skin left me feeling anything but grateful. Swiping my hand away from his, I tried to keep my focus on my steaming breakfast as he watched me eat.
Once I had eaten and faery servants had swept in to change my plain night clothes to a more elaborate knee-length gown, Arenn tucked my arm around his and led me back through the grand faery palace.
As we passed through a quartz-walled corridor, I stiffened at the sight of my reflection in the walls. Even with glittering blush on my cheeks and the cherry-coloured gown cinched around my waist, I looked so wrong. Out of place. And I felt it too, despite Arenn’s assurances that I’d spent the last two seasons of my life here.
“Where are we going today?” I asked, desperate for a distraction.
“We’re meeting with my family.” He led me down a staircase and towards an arched willow door. “They’ve been begging to see you since the day I brought you home. I’d hoped for your memories of our love to have returned before you saw them again, but,” he sighed as he pushed the ornate door open, “I cannot keep you apart forever.”
“Elsie, look! Arenn’s bride is back!” A woman’s loud squeal paired with the overwhelming view almost forced me to stumble back into Arenn.
Ahead of us, a sprawling lush garden had somehow grown up from the rocky cave ground. Trees with violet fruits were surrounded by silver-leafed bushes. Glowing crystals hung down from the huge stalactites above, somehow providing light to the dainty plants and their shimmering blooms. Between the greenery was a soft carpet of neatly trimmed grass, running all the way down to a sparkling amethyst cave at the foot of the palace grounds.
It was magical, and Icould’vespent hours drinking it in – had a red-haired faery girl not slammed into my chest, thrown her arms around me, and sent me actually tumbling backwards into Arenn.
“Be careful with her. She’s not one of your toys,” Arenngrowled, but I could barely hear him through the squealing in my ear.
“Oh, Naria, you’ve come back to us! I always knew you would!” The young faery pulled away from the hug for just a moment before another faery, completely identical to the first, swooped in and had her turn.
“She’s just as cute as she was at Luminessia, isn’t she? That adorable little nose,” the girl now squeezing me cooed. “Why ever did you run away from us?”
“Run away?” I mumbled. But before I could ask what she meant, another, more mature voice cut through the sweet air.
“Elsie, Elara, give the poor girl some space. You’re crushing her.”
“Sorry, Mother.” The girl hugging me stepped away to reveal an older couple, both wearing fine faery clothes and matching silver crowns.
The lady approached me first, her long auburn hair matching her daughters as she smiled warmly. “Hello, dear. It’s so lovely to see you again.”
I dipped my head, hoping the confusion on my face wasn’t too obvious.
“We’re so glad you came to your senses,” the man huffed. “I always knew that Drothmore boy would be no good for you. He’ll be just like his father, and we all know how that went for your people—”
“Father,” Arenn barked.
The Faery King blinked while I considered what he’d just said. Drothmore boy? My people? Just thinking about it sent a jolt of pain crashing against my skull. Wincing, Ifocused on a nearby silver-tinted shrub until the pain faded away.
