Cursed by the Phantom Prince (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 12

12

RHAN

“ H ow is the realm dying?” I asked, thinking of the information that Rea had brought back from the Sun Court. “What do you mean by ‘it started in the Moon Court’?”

“Are you aware of the sickness that has been spotted corrupting the land? Recently this realm sickness made the jump and is now infecting Fae.” My mind instantly went to Rea’s retelling of the infected soldier and what he had said.

“I’m aware,” I replied, being careful not to reveal everything. “Are you saying the black rot was created in the Moon Court?”

There were many rumors about the Moon Court and most of them weren’t good. When the court had withdrawn from the rest of the realm there was speculation on what happened. I’d heard that the court was secretly raising an army intent on invading and forcing the other courts under one banner. Other theories are that the court had contracted some sort of plague and closed their borders to prevent the spread. Some even claimed that the Moon Court had been wiped out or no longer existed.

“Not exactly,” Larek said, and I wondered if he was going to start talking in riddles or continue with being honest. “It wasn't created in the Moon Court, but that’s where it started.”

“How long has this sickness existed?” I asked, running my hands down my thighs in agitation.

‘Rhan?’ Lady’s worried voice asked.

‘I’m fine,’ I snapped, regretting it instantly but turning my focus back to calming my racing heart and getting answers.

“Decades,” Larek revealed, flinching slightly.

“Decades?” I repeated, unable to comprehend that this realm eating rot had been around for so many years. “How is that possible? How has it not been discovered before this?”

“It hasn’t been discovered before now because it’s been contained.”

“Contained?” My voice rose as anger flooded my chest. What was the Moon Court playing at?

“Until now, the sickness has been contained by the ruling family.”

“Until now?” I interrupted as my hands formed into fists and the urge to hit something made my knuckles tingle.

“The ruling family’s influence is waning.”

“They’ve lost control?”

“In a sense…yes.”

‘Rhan? Talk to me!’ Lady demanded, sounding frantic but I pushed her concern aside. This information was too valuable.

“Explain,” I snapped, closing my eyes and trying to get a handle on my roiling emotions.

“The Moon Court has contained it for years, acting as the front line to prevent it spreading to the rest of the realm.” Larek sat forward resting his elbows on the small table while his milky eyes stared into mine. I got the feeling that there was more to Larek than I had initially anticipated.

“How was it contained?” I asked, wondering if we could figure out a way to contain it again.

“The ruling family shared the burden of containing it, but the family line has dwindled. The late queen was the last to carry the burden of protecting the realm. Upon her death it then fell to her only son.”

“The prince,” I whispered, sitting back in my seat as I tried to wrap my head around what he was saying.

“Exactly,” Larek nodded, his face turning solemn. “His connection to the sickness will be his undoing and the realm will be consumed.”

“Why make a marriage proposal? Why not just ask for help?”

“Because the magic connecting the prince and the rot won’t allow it. It’ll kill him if he does anything drastic. Me telling you is toeing the line between life and death.”

“Why are you telling me this? Why not keep it a secret and proceed with the marriage?”

“The prince believes, much like I do, that manipulation will not save the realm. This isn’t a mere disease we are dealing with. It is a sentient infection that is ravenous for any sort of magic it can get and for some reason it has singled out you.”

“Me?”

“For some reason it’s deemed you as a threat and it will do whatever it takes to stop you.”

I was tempted to ask why me but what Rea told me the infected soldier had said before he died made me hold my tongue. The sentient sickness knew that I was half human but how could it have found out? Unless there was something more going on. My mother had warned me about the dangers in this world but she never mentioned this. Had she known? And if she had, why didn’t she warn me?

“To stop me,” I said, the words sounding strange when spoken aloud. “To stop me from what?”

“I don’t know, Princess. That’s why the prince has asked to marry you so he can protect you from this accursed rot.”

“Why protect me? He doesn’t even know me.”

“No he doesn’t,” Larek agreed and I felt like he was going to say more but decided against it.

I shook my head, still unsure why the Moon Court Prince would go to such lengths to protect me, a princess from a rival court? It actually sounded very human but knowing the Fae there had to be more to the story. More than what was being said.

“Rhan!” A voice shouted from the depths of the gardens. At first I thought the voice had been in my head but a loud bark followed the yell.

“Here,” I called back, kicking myself for not reassuring Lady that I was fine; it appeared that she sent in the cavalry.

Rea pushed through the flower bushes behind where I sat, a long staff in her right hand and a dagger on my left. A second later Lady pushed through the branches, hackles raised baring teeth that were tinted pink from her successful hunt.

“Rea, what…” I tried to ask but Lady growled loudly, all of her focus on the royal Fae across from me.

“Lady, calm down, I'm fine.”

“What happened?” Rea asked, walking closer to the gazebo, her shrewd gaze never leaving Larek’s face.

‘You were upset,’ Lady said, drawing closer and refusing to back down.

‘Yes but I can’t explain it right now,’ I replied, annoyed by her abrupt interruption and for alerting Rea.

“Larek was just explaining something and it upset me,” I spoke to Rea, shrugging my shoulders like it wasn’t anything to be concerned about. “Lady simply overreacted.”

“Lady doesn’t overreact,” Rea replied, her tone disbelieving and full of suspicion. Her eyes returned to mine and I did my best to silently tell her that I was fine and we’d talk later.

Lady huffed, annoyed that I was blaming her for something that she would never do. My canine companion took my safety seriously. She was connected to me and knew me better than anyone. Something was definitely wrong but I couldn’t explain it when I still had so many questions.

“Would you like to join us for tea?” Larek asked politely, his earnest tone from earlier gone.

“No thank you,” Rea replied coolly, observing the other Fae with a slight frown on her face. “I’ve come to escort the Princess to Lua. She needs updated measurements for a gown the queen has commissioned.”

“I’m in the middle of something,” I hissed, hoping for her to get the hint that I did not want to be interrupted, but apparently the Fae was just as dense as my dog.

“We can meet again another time,” Larek announced with an easy going smile. “Thank you for taking time to meet with me, Princess.”

I gritted my teeth as I tried to rein in my emotions, which was probably why Lady had come so fast. My feelings were all over the place and when that happened things could get out of hand quickly. I wasn’t annoyed with either of them, not really. They did what they’d been trained to do. I was being difficult but I needed to remember that I was a princess and needed to conduct myself like one especially around others.

“I apologize for the interruption, Your Grace,” I said, turning and bowing to Larek out of respect. “It appears I have things to attend to, would you be available to meet again?”

“Certainly, Princess.” Larek stood and returned my slight bow with one of his own.

“I thank you for your patience.”

I turned to find that Rea was already marching away and I knew that she expected me to follow her. Lady nudged my hand with her head, her way of apologizing.

I sighed, digging my fingers into her fur and allowing her to lead me away from the gazebo. My mind was buzzing with everything that I had learned and all the questions I now had. I needed to be alone so I could organize my thoughts but until then I’d do what was expected of me.

We returned to my room, where Lua was indeed waiting to take my measurements. Lady and Rea both remained suspiciously quiet but I didn’t question it. I was preoccupied with my thoughts and still didn’t know what to tell them for my near outburst.

Lady knew that I just needed space and that I’d talk when I was ready, but Rea, on the other hand, was impatient. A quality that the Fae discouraged. She hid it well but I knew her tells and when she fidgeted that meant she was holding back.

I made excuses and managed to convince everyone to leave me alone. I needed time to process, once I did that I promised to explain everything. Lady huffed but didn’t push me. When Rea opened her mouth to demand answers, Lady leaned against her legs, causing her to take a step back. Lady kept nudging her until she got the hint and left the room.

Alone at last, I walked out onto my balcony, leaning on the railing that surrounded the space. Night was approaching, the sun about to make its journey beyond the horizon to allow for the moon to rise.

The sound of nightlife echoed around me, the chirping of birds and the gentle hum of insects lulling me into a state of calm reflection. So deep in my thoughts that I didn’t immediately realize that the area had grown quiet like a predator had just entered the area, causing the world to hold its breath.

Awareness slithered over my skin in a pleasant way that made me gasp softly, my body immediately knowing who was out here with me. Slowly I turned around, my back against the railing behind me. Shadows dominated the area, making it difficult to see the black clad guard who effortlessly hid in the darkness.

I waited patiently, determined not to be the one to break the silence. I knew more than I had but he didn’t know that, I was sure of it.

“I just had a conversation with Prince Larek,” Lir said, pausing to observe my reaction but I gave him nothing. “Would I be right to assume that you have questions?”