Meriwether and I follow close behind the princess, careful not to bump into the shadow beasts that surround us. I don’t know if they’re there to ward off the other creatures or to make sure I obey the princess’s command. Their presence gives me goosebumps.
My stomach is in knots, hunger and dread swirling together. Coldness sinks into my skin. I desperately want to go back to my bed and bury myself under the blanket, but a tiny part of me is also curious.
Princess Maloret was gone for a long time. Maybe she brought food back this time. My stomach rumbles at the thought, loud in the silence.
The princess pauses and turns back to look at me. “Humans are so needy. So fragile,” she says with an amused laugh.
It’s something I don’t need to be reminded of. My mortality. Every day in her court is a lesson in survival, and I can’t remember a life before.
Did I have one?
My mind goes back to the dream. There has to be a reason I dream of that room and those people, but the harder I try to remember the scene, the more it fades away. Was the room blue or white? The images are blurry in my head now.
One thing I do know is that I’m cursed.
“Did you have a nice trip, Princess?” Meriwether’s melodic voice interrupts my thoughts.
Princess Maloret snorts loudly. “I was at a funeral.”
Meriwether flinches at her tone. “Oh, right. I’m sorry for your loss. Was it someone very dear to you?”
The princess laughs, a sharp, biting sound that bounces around the dark hallway and rings in my ears. The shadow creatures shake and jerk, eerie mouths open in silent laughter.
I glare at the back of Princess Maloret’s head. Someone is dead and she’s cackling like it’s the funniest thing in the world.
Crazy bi—
She turns to me, smiling as if she can hear my thoughts. I share a glance with Meriwether. The last time Princess Maloret came, she ordered me to spin yarn while she told me about her misdeeds.
Stealing. Lying. Tricking. Killing.
She’s only part fairy and not bound to honesty like the others. What the other half of her is, I don’t know. Demon, maybe?
And it isn’t just my life she toys with. She has a long rap sheet spanning years and years. I don’t know how she gets away with it. Worse, I don’t know how I will ever be rid of her.
“Here we are,” the princess announces, abruptly cutting off my thoughts.
We’re standing in front of a room I don’t recognize. A dining room. My eyes snap to Meriwether. Is it a trick? Or are we really eating?
The long, ornate table fills most of the room. Above, a giant chandelier glows, bathing everything in a bright yellow. Dark wood chairs surround the table, monstrous faces carved into them.
“Please, find a seat. You too, fairy,” Princess Maloret says with a smile.
She motions us forward, and the shadow beings spread out, blocking the doorway. My steps feel wooden as I head for a chair. My heart races.
I don’t remember if we’ve done this before—eaten together? Is that what we’re doing? I’m so hungry, but I’m also on guard.
I know better than to eat her food.
Meriwether flies to the seat beside me, a worried look on her face. Does she think it’s a trick, too? I want to ask her, but there’s no way to do that with the princess watching.
I feel her eyes on my back and her presence makes me shudder. The shadow creatures disappear with a soft hiss, the sound filling the silence.
Princess Maloret strides over to the table, boots slapping loudly on the stone floor. She ignores my questioning look and takes the seat directly across from me. Folding her hands together on top of the wooden table, she watches me.
“It was me that opened your door, Rosie. I’m sure you already know that,” she begins, turning and snapping her fingers into the air.
A fairy flies into the room and bows in mid-air. “Yes, Princess?”
“Bring us something to eat and drink,” the princess replies, eyes still on me.
The fairy spouts something off in their language, eyes flitting to me and Meriwether. I watch for Meriwether’s reaction. Her face is blank during the exchange.
Princess Maloret claps her hand, the sound loud. The fairy leaves in a hurry, wings humming as she goes. Meriwether wrings her hands together atop the table and doesn’t meet my gaze.
What is going on?
“Sooo, Rosie,” the princess catches my attention. “Don’t you want to know why I opened your door?” she continues, lips quirking into a smile.
Of course, I do. She knows that, but I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me squirm. Forcing my face into a blank stare, I shrug.
Amusement flashes across her features. “I think it’s time for you to join the others.”
Meriwether gasps beside me.
Others? Her words strike an icy fear through me.
“Princess Maloret, surely you don’t mean … the rest of the court?” Meriwether asks in a shaky voice.
The fairy princess glances at her. “I wasn’t talking to you. Keep your blubbering to yourself or leave us right now.”
Meriwether stiffens at the warning in her tone. My fingers curl against the table. The wood is cold to the touch and solid, reminding me that this is real. All of this is real.
“The others? Why? Why now?” I ask, hoping to take the attention off my fairy friend.
Princess Maloret meets my gaze. “You’ll see. I’ve given you more than enough time to get acclimated to my court. It’s time for you to become more familiar with … everything. Seeing as you’ll be here on a permanent basis.”
My throat goes dry. Permanent.
She grins. “Don’t look at me like that, Rosie. This is what you chose, after all. Isn’t it?”
Is it? I can’t remember.