I blew out a long, weary breath. Zalia’s eyes were wild, her lips downturned. She looked positively murderous. Her hair was the same color as the trees that broke off into knotted branches in the woods to our left, so different to my blonde strands.
She pushed me against the stone wall, knocking the air from my lungs. Her heavy breaths hit my nose. “I know it was you!” she said accusingly behind clenched teeth. On her face were angry, red pimples with whiteheads threatening to burst at any moment.
I curled my lips behind my teeth, holding back my laughter. “You look awful,” I managed to say, before letting a chuckle escape my lips.
She growled under her breath. “Father will not listen. He believes you wouldn’t turn to dark magic, but I know.” She loosened her grip on my shoulders, slumping me down the stone wall. “I know, and I swear I will reveal you for all you have done. The strange hexes and animal sacrifices… I told Father that the devil lives within these walls, but I didn’t tell him it is you.”
“It sounds like you have a lot of accusations.” I glared, tensing my arms.
Her eyes rounded the way they had when she was a child, when curiosity took her and magic was beautiful. The glimpse of innocence softened my heart, carrying me back to days lost to time. “Why do you hate me so much?” My words were clipped by short-winded gasps as I attempted to catch my breath. “I was there for you when you were a child. I loved you.”
The corner of her eye twitched, and her nose scrunched. “You know why.”
“If you mean the accident—”
“Accident?” She scoffed. “We both know what really happened.”
Finally, she’d said the words aloud. We both knew for years that she blamed me, but neither of us were willing to speak first, for the memory was too painful. “I never hurt him,” I countered. “Why would I?”
“You did.”
My stomach dipped. “He was our brother. I never hurt him. I loved him.”
“You ruin anything that loves you. You are ruin. Our brother, sweet and young, he lies as bone and skull in a mausoleum, a life ahead never lived because of you.” She pointed her finger into my chest.
Tears prickled in my eyes. “That’s why you hate me so? You believe me a murderer?”
“I know what I saw.”
“I was helping you!” I exclaimed, my eyes wide. “Your magic was out of control. I saved you.”
Tears streamed down her face. “No,” she cried, the blue in her irises scattering my shocked reflection. “Even if it were true, which it is not, then at what cost? You’ve grown darker with each day, hexing us, forcing us to suffer as you do. Our father despises you. We all do. Bless us all and leave this castle. You are nothing here.”
I parted my lips, and tears pooled between them. I watched her walk away, my defence silenced in my throat. Despite years of hatred, she still had power over me. Promises made in childhood ran the deepest. Her honesty ached my soul; it slid down my neck and lay densely in my chest. She wanted me gone, believing I was somehow responsible for the demise of our youngest brother, Charleston. He was father’s favorite. He had such big eyes—everyone who saw him commented on them—and a smile that filled me up. He was the sweetest of our brothers, although the king had seen a warrior in him. My father had envisioned strength, a ruler in Charleston, taken away only by his place in birth order. His death had ruined us all, but mostly the king.
The memory floated back to me. I tilted my chin, trailing my gaze over the stone washed by the sun and pausing at spikes reaching up into the light blue. My eyes snapped back to the ground when I recalled the sound of Charleston’s skull crunching when he hit the path. I shuddered, despite the heat. A crack in the stone stared back at me. Crimson had soaked it for the rest of the day after he fell, and although it had been cleaned since, I swore I could still see a tint of red.
Zalia was wrong to accuse me. She had been twisted and warped by guilt and fear. She’d lost control, as she often had. She and Charleston had gone to the tower to play make-believe games, and her imagination had fallen too far from reality. When I found them, he was on the ledge of the window, begging Zalia to let him down. She didn’t remember any of it, her mind blocked from the horrors of her past. I tried to grab him before he lost his footing, but I was too late. Perhaps it was why I had saved the girl in the window from falling, reenacting a time when I couldn’t save him.
I rolled my eyes up to the sun. Spots filled my vision when I refocused on the gardens. Flowerbeds sprouted the most beautiful golden sanitas and purple wildflowers. The castle was quiet, and Father had allowed me to walk the gardens while the rest ate their midday feast. It was the only time I could leave my room. A butterfly landed on my wrist, fluttering its wings to a close. Mesmerized by the beauty of its royal blue wings and yellow markings in the center, I didn’t notice him approach me.
He cleared his throat. “My lady, forgive my brazenness, but—”
“Oh my!” Jolting backward, I sent the butterfly into flight. I looked him up and down. His bright blue orbs lit up when he smiled, and his ears pointed through waves of golden hair. I thumbed my neck, and my face flooded with color. “I didn’t know anyone else would be out here.” I couldn’t believe I was talking to one of them, a faery.
He shot me a dimpled smile. I averted my gaze, looking at the daisies peppering the ground.
“I needed to get away.” He smirked. He was obviously a noble, even for a faery. “It’s not often my kind is invited to court.”
“I happen to like the fae.”
“There is no need for flattery.”
“It’s the truth,” I replied. “If the rumors are true, then you must be able to tell.”
“Your honesty is refreshing. Some of your court forget that we can tell when they’re lying.”
“Hmm.” I smiled. “I don’t share their prejudices.” Truth was, I had always admired the fae. They could whisk themselves up into the skies. They were kind, immortal, and beautiful. They cared not for money or crowns, but instead enjoyed every moment, playing games and engaging their senses. Even if they did allow their chaos to hold them back from greatness.
“I’m Evangeline.” I offered my hand, which he kissed. I’d seen other highborn girls do the same, so I figured I’d copy.
“I am Caspian, the newly appointed ambassador.” His eyes narrowed as he took in my dress, my tiara, and necklace. “Who are you? I mean, your title. A noble girl?”
I spluttered for words. He was a few inches taller than me and smelled like lavender and rain. His gaze was soft, but his eyebrows were pulled downward. I wasn’t used to the attention from anyone, let alone someone like him.
“You’re kind, but honestly, I’m no one.”
“It’s sad you believe that.”
I shook my head. “It’s complicated.”
He held out his arm. I stared at it blankly.
“Save me the embarrassment and take it.”
I ran hot all over. I wished he’d stop staring at me. Suddenly I was aware of every flaw on my face. He grinned. I wished he wouldn’t.
“Accompany me. I’ll get lost again. The castle is a maze.”
My throat was scratchy, my palms sweaty. I shifted from foot to foot. My heart skipped a beat. My entire family walked into the gardens, guards not far behind. “I should go,” I whispered, stepping backward.
Caspian looked from me to the royals. “Yes, I wouldn’t want to anger them on their after-dinner walk.”
I pressed my lips tightly. Zalia had joined them. I assumed she had encouraged their walk in the gardens as a way cut short my freedom. My bottom lip trembled, and my nostrils flared.
“Are you okay?”
I exhaled slowly. “Yes.”
The guards wore the royal crest on their uniforms with pride. My father strode ahead of the others, with only a lady-in-waiting at his side. Another of his playthings, I presumed. The ruby on his silver ring glistened in the midday sun. I cast my eyes to my sisters. They were hiding their faces. The king must had forced them to continue their royal duties, no matter their spots on the verge of bursting open.
Puss oozed from one of Zalia’s. I’d have felt bad if I weren’t alone while they indulged in royal luxuries. I rolled my eyes when I spotted a dragon’s eggshell hanging from Primrose’s yellow dress. She was petite and pale, and she hurried behind Zalia. She covered her cheeks with her small hands. Her blonde waves danced behind her when she walked.
Caspian tutted. “How decadent. Dragons’ eggs.”
“It’s vulgar,” I said in agreement. “They keep them caged up, capturing them from Ember Mountains, with difficulty. A delicacy, one the royals partake of often.”
His mouth twisted in disgust. “Tortured to provide them with lunch.” He spat, his face growing paler by the second.
I narrowed my stare. “Yes, but what can we do?”
I watched Zalia walk, an umbrella held above her head by one of her ladies to shade her from the sun. Her broad shoulders and chiseled physique made her look more masculine than the other two. Still she was beautiful and the most cunning. The last was Selena. Her thick, luscious dark-brown curls were tied into a ponytail. Her almond-shaped green eyes looked steadily ahead. She was the only one not covering the red bumps and whiteheads. She walked proudly, her gaze cool and collected. She was slim but curvy in all the right places. She had olive-colored skin. She walked with such grace that it would envy a fae. Behind them, my two brothers walked, both with their heads held high. Crowley was the shorter of the two, and his golden-brown hair glistened in the sun. He held onto the hilt of his sword, sporting a white suit with gold fastenings. Maverick was taller, stronger… a hunter. His green eyes fixed ahead, he walked with purpose.
“I’m sure you want to get back to the feast,” I offered the fae. “Instead of being out in the blistering heat with me.”
He grinned, side-eyeing me. “I’m quite enjoying the company.”
My heart thudded, and my hands were clammy. Surely he didn’t mean it. He couldn’t be flirting with me. There were far better options, even for a fae at court. Anyone but me.
I looked at my father, who smiled widely until his eyes landed on me. A steel stare pushed adrenaline through my veins.
“It’s time for me to disappear. Sorry,” I whispered, then turned and ran.
“Wait, won’t you…”
I didn’t catch his question as I rushed to put distance between me and my family. Seeing my sisters embarrassed had only given me seconds of satisfaction. The spell would wear off soon, and they’d be back to being adored. I reached the secret passageway and sighed with relief. Ducking under spikes that pointed down in warning, I climbed into it, then emerged on the other side.
Cold, narrow passageways and ancient stone steps greeted me as I made my way up toward my room, far away from the rest of my family’s chambers. The sun was gone and the shutters closed, and I was back to being alone.
“You should have killed when you had the chance. You promised a life and have not delivered.” The voice resonated in my head.
My heart fluttered. I pushed open my bedroom door and screamed.
Seven dead crows laid in a circle on the floor. Blood markings surrounded them. The smell was overpowering.
“Now you will pay.”