The following weeks blur together, filled with endless expeditions to keep up my charade of scouring the kingdom. Mother imposed no limitation on the funds at my disposal, and I take full advantage of her arrogance. Rather than searching for the Cupid’s Heart—secure against my chest, hidden beneath layers of clothing—I spread the wealth as far as I can. With a steady glamour concealing my identity, I become a vigilante of sorts, distributing my mother’s fortune among the needy.
I seek those in dire circumstances, filling their hands with enough gold to ensure they will never go hungry or fear living without shelter again. I visit bakeries, lodgings, taverns, eateries, and shops, buying their wares and leaving far more in payment than necessary. Word of my actions has no doubt reached Mother’s ears by now, yet, with my glamour in place, I feel secure enough to continue my mission.
Each day, I present her with sacks of diamonds for her perusal. She examines them with a feverish intensity, her eyes darting over each one, frustration growing by the minute. I cannot determine how she knows they are not the Cupid’s Heart—perhaps she believes merely holding it will allow her to feel its power. Yet with every day that passes, her obsession deepens, her suspicion of me grows, and her patience thins.
I haven’t returned to the woodlands, and perhaps that’s a mistake. If Florance is hiding something from me, my sudden absence after years of visiting her will only make her aware of my suspicions. The uncertainty eats at me—should I confront her and demand the truth? But the thought of questioning her, of possibly uncovering something dreadful, feels like more than my heart can bear.
To make matters worse, Nix could not locate the Duchess’s sparrow, Gia, which only heightens my concern for her safety and deepens my wariness of Florence.
* * *
“Where is the Queen?” I demand of a passing housemaid, instantly regretting my harsh tone when she flinches. I lower my voice, softening my approach. “Apologies, it is urgent.”
“No apology required, Your Highness,” she replies, dropping into a curtsey. “I believe Her Majesty, the Faerie Queen Mother, is in her chambers.”
I grimace internally at the use of my mother’s full title—a title she demands all the staff address her by. I incline my head, forcing myself to maintain composure. “Thank you.”
Without further delay, I head toward Mother’s wing of the castle. I’ve just returned from yet another tedious excursion, packs of worthless jewels weighing down my shoulders. Instead of being permitted to rest, I was instructed to wait in the throne room for her arrival. A mere quarter of an hour was all it took for my patience to snap, and now I’m storming through the castle halls, searching for her myself.
My mood is as heavy as the storm clouds gathering outside. It’s partly because of the charade I must maintain, but also because of the news Nix brought upon my return. He found Gia, and what should have been good news turned out to be anything but. The bird was dead, hastily buried by the lake, without the honor or care both Gia and the Duchess deserved.
I don’t know if Gia had already passed when I last saw the Duchess, but her strange behavior now makes perfect sense. Losing a familiar is like losing half of one’s soul. Most fae are fortunate enough to live out their days alongside their familiars, passing together. But for those less fortunate, it leaves them with only a shadow of the life they once had.
“Your Highness!” Mother’s lady’s maid, Kati, intercepts me as I approach the staircase leading to Mother’s receiving room. She hastens forward, her expression one of barely concealed panic. “Her Majesty does not wish to be disturbed!”
“It will only take a moment.” I attempt to brush past her, but she moves into my path, blocking my way.
“Please, Your Highness,” she pleads, her voice shaking. “Return to the throne room and wait for her arrival there.”
I narrow my eyes at her suspiciously. “Why?”
“B... because it is the Faerie Queen Mother’s orders,” she stammers, wringing her hands anxiously.
“What is it?” I ask, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, hoping to ease her obvious distress. “What has happened?”
Kati swallows, glancing toward the staircase as if expecting Mother to appear at any moment. “Prince Dominic,” she whispers, her voice lowering, “I have served your mother since she was a new bride. I beg you—heed my warning and return downstairs.” She forces a tight, unconvincing smile. “Her Majesty will meet with you soon.”
If there is one fae in this kingdom who knows Mother’s dark secrets, it is Kati. And her insistence that I should not see Mother now only strengthens my resolve to do just that. Something is happening, something I need to witness for myself.
“Very well.” I lower the sacks of jewels onto the plush carpet beneath us. “May I rest my arms for a moment before I haul these back through the castle?”
Kati hesitates, her nervous gaze flickering over my face. “C… certainly.”
She doesn’t stop wringing her hands, and I watch her for a moment before speaking again. “Kati?” She jerks in response, startled. “May I have a drink of water?”
“Your Highness, perhaps it would be better if you went to the kitchens. Chef would be honored to assist you.”
I let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Very well. I’ve been trekking for so long; I only hope I do not die from thirst before I reach the kitchens.”
Her eyes narrow, the look one of genuine maternal suspicion, as if deciding whether it’s worth risking the crown prince collapsing from dehydration under her care.
“Very well, Your Highness.” She bustles to a corner of the room that holds a selection of drinks, quickly pouring a glass of water. “One drink,” she says, pressing it into my hands, her tone stern. “Then you must leave. I insist.”
“Of course.” As I drink, the cool water soothes my parched throat, making me realize just how thirsty I truly was. Kati’s shoulders sag in visible relief at my apparent compliance as I hand the empty vessel back to her, and a pang of guilt strikes me for what I am about to do next.
When she turns, I dart around her and up the stairwell as fast as my legs will carry me.
“Prince Dominic!” she cries, her voice tinged with panic. “Please!”
“I’m sorry, Kati,” I call back, pushing onward. I hate disobeying her. She has always been kind to me, and I can only hope my actions today will not bring Mother’s wrath down upon her.
As I ascend the last steps, I march toward Mother’s receiving room, my determination unwavering. But as I draw nearer, I hear something that brings me to an abrupt halt.
A voice.
One that freezes the blood in my veins—a voice I never expected to hear in these halls again.