Destined for the Fae King (Courts of Faery #3)

Chapter 4

A ll of the king’s candidates are presented in a line before those in attendance. Before, I was easy enough to overlook in the crowd. I’m not anymore. Every fae wants to meet and dance with a human woman who may one day be queen. Every human wants to size me up and see what threat I pose to their preferred winner. It’s a dizzying swirl of names, faces, and mindless conversation until my feet are killing me, my throat is dry, and between not eating before the presentation due to my nerves and not eating after due to the attention, I’m starving. I would seriously do some outrageous things for a cheeseburger.

If every day is going to be like tonight, I may have made a huge mistake. The other candidates I’ve seen seem to be faring better than me, a few like Cora even seem to radiate with energy from all of the attention.

For better or worse, the royals left shortly after we were presented to the crowd. It’s unfortunate I can’t work to make a better impression on the king tonight, but maybe it’s best I didn’t have to face his brother again.

I nearly weep when my family finally lead me off to the side and shoo away those who try to trail after us .

“You have everything you need?” Uncle Mathias asks.

It’s a purely routine question. There’s no going back now, and I don’t need much anyway. Technology doesn’t work here, room and board are covered, and the fae even promised to outfit us—probably because they scorn our poorly made human clothes.

“I hope so,” I say.

“Don’t forget to write to us. You have to let me know how it’s going, okay?” Selena says.

“Of course.”

At that moment, a fae guard walks up and clears his throat. “Lady Mira?”

“Yes?” I say as we turn toward him.

The crimson and gold of his uniform are a perfect complement to his umber skin and dark brown hair that is pulled back in a ponytail and hangs past his shoulders. “I’m Tharin.” He grins and bows at the waist. “I’ll be your personal guard for the duration of your stay. When you are ready, I will show you to your room.”

“Oh.” The word slips from my mouth before I can stop it. Of course it makes sense that we wouldn’t just wander around on our own, especially not with the Unseelie threat, but it still takes me off guard. “Nice to meet you.”

I begin to offer him my hand but think better of it and curtsy instead. Fae don’t seem like the handshake types.

“Looks like I’ll be just fine,” I say to my family.

Selena pulls me into a crushing hug. I receive far more formal ones from my aunt and uncle. Though they’d considered staying, with the Unseelie threat and the king’s recommendation to leave, it looks like they’ll be going directly back to Earth. With promises to write and let them know of my time in Faery, I leave and follow Tharin .

The palace is a wonder.

Halls spiral off in various directions, all bright and lit with glowing fae lights that reflect off the pale and golden marble. Large, open archways serve as windows, letting in pleasantly warm air even though it’s night. Despite the size of the place, none of it feels dark or cloistering, especially given the multiple large courtyards we pass. It’s hard to tell in the dark, but each one I’ve seen seems to have a different theme color—be it fountains and plants in shades of blue, a courtyard of mostly golden sand, or another of the same tall trees with trunks that glimmer and glow red and orange like the embers of a fire. The whole palace reminds me of a living flame—bright, sparkling, and with plenty of air to let it breathe.

A few minutes later, we reach a long, enclosed hallway spotted with tall, wooden doors along each side. Guards stand at varying intervals near some of the doors. The lights here are dimmer, as if someone has purposely turned them down for evening.

“All entrants in The Choosing have private rooms in this wing,” Tharin says. “There will be guards on watch at all times to ensure your safety.”

It should be a relief, but the idea of being so closely monitored threatens to make my skin crawl. Gifted are never truly free. I rub the bond around my wrist. Not in our choices on Earth and not really in Faery either.

Tharin stops in front of one of the doors. “This will be your room. Your things should already be inside along with some refreshment.”

He opens the door and pushes it wide with one arm while standing to the side.

Before I’m able to take in the cavernous space beyond, my attention snares on a tall, fair-skinned fae who jumps up from a chair near the back of the room. She rushes forward and drops into a deep curtsy, her even paler hair slipping over her shoulders.

Tharin enters and comes to stand at my side. “Your attendant, Fia.”

And here I thought I’d have the room to myself.

She raises her head and practically bounces on her toes. “I’m excited to meet you.”

Her eyes glitter in mirror of her statement.

“You as well,” I echo, though truthfully, I’m not sure how I feel about it. After the evening, all I crave is privacy, and the thought of having to chat with and entertain yet another person I don’t know has a headache building behind my eyes.

“Fia will see to anything you need and make sure your rooms are ready for you each day.”

“Rooms?” I echo.

“Oh yes.” Fia stretches taller, twisting her hands together in front of her. “Your bedroom here.” She gestures to the room around her. “And your attached bathing chamber. These rooms are specifically reserved for visiting guests of importance, and who could be more important that a potential queen? I’ve already set out some bathing oils and robe, some food, pitchers of water and wine, a night dress, some slippers. I even thought to get a few books spelled for humans to read.” She beams brighter than the flames the king conjured earlier in the night.

“Thank you, Fia,” I manage, still reeling from her enthusiasm in the wake of my exhaustion and uncertainty.

“If there is anything at all you need, please tell me. Or even if you wake in the middle of the night, one of the guards can alert me, and I will come right away.” She’s stepped nearer, leaning in a bit as if to inspect me more closely .

I have to fight the urge to step back or drop the tentative smile on my aching cheeks. “I’d just like to rest for now, thank you. Alone, if that’s okay.”

“Oh.” She rocks back onto her heels. “Of course. I will return in the morning to help you dress for your meeting with Her Highness the Dowager Queen Elaine.” She scurries around me and heads for the door but stops, looking back once before vanishing through the partially opened exit.

Once she’s gone, I turn back to Tharin, who whispers under his breath, “Overly enthusiastic, that one.”

Understatement. But there’s something more important I need to know. “I’m to meet with the queen in the morning?”

He nods. “Yes, all of you are to be escorted to her private sitting room for lunch. Breakfast will be provided in your rooms, as you may need rest after the excitement of this evening.”

Thank goodness for that. If they wanted me up and going at dawn, I certainly wouldn’t be at my best.

“I’ll be here when it’s time,” he adds.

“Thank you.” I’ve said it a lot today, but I do have a lot to be thankful for. Plus, being kind can only help me here, I think. “Is there anything else I should know for tomorrow?”

His amused expression softens a bit. “Your confidence in front of the king was impressive. Hold on to that.”

Confidence huh? Can’t say I’ve always had a lot of that, but maybe my spite from this evening will fuel me through the coming days. My gaze drifts away from him, jumping around the bits of the room I can see—a four-poster bed complete with thin, gossamer curtains draped down from the ceiling, a large dressing table, a wardrobe, and a massive, arching window covered with more flowing fabric. Hopefully, it doesn’t rain much or there are shutters. Otherwise, the marble floor is going to be a slick mess, to say nothing of the humidity. My suitcase has been set beside a bench at the foot of the bed, as promised.

“Unless you need anything else, I shall leave you,” Tharin says.

“Sounds good,” I say and immediately catch myself. That’s probably not how a would-be queen should talk. “I appreciate it,” I add. “Good night.”

Finally, I’m alone, and a deep sigh slips from my lips as I take in the dim room lit by more of the glowing and flickering orbs I spied on my walk through the palace. They’re fae lights of some kind, though certainly not electrical ones like we have at home.

I don’t bother unpacking my things and instead opt for the fae night dress that was laid out for me. It’s softer anyway. But I do take my time in the bathing chamber, savoring the fall of warm water that flows from the ceiling into a large, stone basin, some kind of spa-like fae shower-tub combination. The little vials of soaps are heavenly, and whenever I do write, I’m going to have to ask why no one has smuggled these back to Earth because, my gosh, they’re divine—pure scents of flowers and fruits that leave my skin clean, soft, and pleasant smelling.

It’s a peaceful experience, until I lay in the bed to try to sleep and memories of the prince’s attitude toward me leave me tossing and turning. Multiple times, I start to look for my phone, but of course it’s not here and wouldn’t work if it was. It’s the weirdest thing not to be able to distract myself with nonsense or even send a text message. Anything to not be trapped with my thoughts. But no such luck. I could read the books, but the mattress is so incredibly soft that I can’t find the will to rise.

It’s the king, Vasilius, who matters. He’s who I should be focused on. I close my eyes and focus on the king’s face, the warmth of his hand, the radiance of the court. And yet, the last thought I have before falling asleep is the memory of a certain prince’s face creased in pain after he failed to get me ejected from The Choosing.