The next morning, Zoey couldn’t summon the will to get out of bed. It was too cold outside and there were too many rude Fata. She missed breakfast and lay in the sheets until her head felt foggy. After lunch, her door opened and she instantly sat up, ready for an ambush, but it was only Caynin. Would she ever let her guard down in this place?
“Is everything all right?” His tone of voice suggested he really cared.
She nodded before lying down again, momentarily closing her eyes. She opened them when she felt the mattress sink beneath Caynin’s weight. A chilly wind gusted into the room, and she pulled the blankets up to cover herself.
“What can I do to make your stay more pleasant?” Caynin asked.
“Nothing,” she said. “I’m just so cold all the time.”
Caynin seemed to think about this for a minute, before scooping her into his arms and carrying her outside. She squealed.
“This is making it worse!”
“Then why are you laughing?”
He put her down in the snow, and she instantly tossed a snowball at him. It didn’t have any effect, and she quickly began to shiver.
“I usually keep the kingdom this cold – it is, after all, the Everwhite Kingdom. But for you, I’ll make an exception.”
Caynin held his hands in front of him and closed his eyes. Zoey could feel his magic, his energy, in the air. The ice began melting from the walls, until the stones remained, and the gray sky became lighter. The snow wasn’t as dense anymore, and many of the fountains weren’t frozen. It was still winter, but now Zoey didn’t feel as if she could freeze to death.
Zoey couldn’t believe Caynin had modified the castle’s appearance just for her. This changed things between them. She didn’t have any reason to fear him when he was clearly making an effort for her.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked.
“You’re not so scary after all.”
He returned her smile.
***
The next few weeks went by quickly. Zoey spent most of her time by herself in the library as she was unsuccessful at making friends. Fleur came to clean her room daily, and she was mean every time. She made a point of telling Zoey to leave and to get far away from the kingdom as fast as she possibly could.
After a while, Zoey knew Fleur’s schedule and made sure that when she came to clean her room she was not there. Zoey also saw Kismet and Delia in the gardens, and they saw her, too. They must have been surprised that she was still alive, and that made Zoey gloat. Neither tried to attack her again. Was it because if they wanted to hurt her, they’d have to go somewhere where no one would see?
Caynin did not share information regarding the death of the second Fata. Whenever he and Rane left the castle, she assumed they were out looking for Slaerie. She thought it was stupid of them not to take her along. Since iron was not harmful to her, she could be of assistance – maybe one of them might step into a bear trap again. Once she’d asked Caynin if she could join, but he’d dismissed the idea and told her she would slow them down and be the weakest link.
He was right, but she suspected he left her behind because it pleased Rane, who had not warmed up to her at all. She joined Caynin for breakfast and dinner every day, and after a while Rane stopped showing up all together. She preferred it if he was not there. This way, Caynin was not playing the role of the peacekeeper, and they could have a normal conversation. She learnt that, despite his seriousness and intensity, he had a great sense of humor.
She used one of these dinners as an opportunity to ask Caynin about the Worthy Trials. She had lived here for weeks now and hadn’t been tested. He told her to be patient and that the first trial was well on its way. However, he did not tell her when or what it was, and she couldn’t help but be anxious.
Waiting was the worst. If only she could just do the stupid trial and get it over with. She looked forward to a day where the Fata here would at least speak to her.
Zoey hardly ever saw the queen, and after a while, she forgot that she was here. When she did see her, she headed the other way, and luckily, the queen took no interest in her.
On Zoey’s fourth week, something began to happen. It was early morning, and she opened her curtains to see the Fata carrying stone tables outside, into the gardens. Rows and rows of tables and chairs and fireplaces had been placed everywhere.
She was already dressed and almost ready to leave her room before Fleur showed up. Zoey opened her bedside cabinet’s drawer and removed the iron knife. She always kept it with her, although she hadn’t needed it. She kept its existence secret – even from Caynin – and tucked it into her pocket just before the door opened. It was Fleur. Zoey silently cursed. Fleur was earlier than usual, carried her cleaning supplies inside, and didn’t close the door behind her.
“What’s happening?” Zoey asked her.
Unlike most Fata, Fleur did not ignore her, she was just always rude. It came as a surprise when she answered Zoey’s question. “Tonight is the feast before the Red Festival.”
“What is the Red Festival?”
“You should know these things if you want to be part of our world,” Fleur sneered.
Zoey did not remind her that she was forced to be a part of their world because of her curse.
“The Red Festival is held once a year. All three princes, the ruler and queen meet in one kingdom to celebrate living on this planet and making the most of what it has to offer. This year we, the Everwhite Kingdom, are hosting the festival. It is a great honor and privilege. A month before the Red Festival we have a feast – to get everyone excited and prepared.”
“What should I wear?” Zoey asked, as if Fleur was her friend.
“Not that.” Fleur gestured to her jeans and T-shirt. “You shouldn’t be focusing on clothes. Focus on what you’re going to eat.”
Zoey wanted to ask her what she meant by that but decided to cut the conversation short and leave instead. Fleur was being, well, less horrible than usual, and she wanted to get out of there before Fleur got mean again. Zoey had been eating the Fata food for weeks now, and it had not affected her. Maybe that was because it was just regular human food and not enchanted.
She put on her coat and wandered through the gardens. Most of the snow had melted, and she heard the rushing of the fountains before she reached the hallway that led to the dining room. As always, the table had been set, and the food was already there. Caynin was late. Should she wait for him before she started eating?
He showed up after twenty minutes and gave her a smile. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”
“I decided to wait for you,” she said as he sat down at the head of the table. “Were you making arrangements for the feast?”
“You know about the feast?”
“The tables outside make it obvious.” She’d keep Fleur’s name out of the conversation.
“It’s going to be one big party.”
Zoey cringed at that idea. She was already the odd one out and was not in the mood to hang around, alone, at the festival. She was not a party animal and would be more comfortable in her room.
“Do I have to be there?”
“Of course,” he said as he popped a few berries into his mouth. “You look displeased.”
“I’m not exactly Miss Popular around here.” She put down her fork.
“After tonight you will be.” Then as if he had said something wrong, he added, “You can hang out with me.”
She was grateful for the offer but also ashamed that she needed it. “I don’t want to go.”
“Then I got you a dress for nothing.” Caynin overdramatically tilted the corners of his mouth downward, pretending to be sad.
“You got me a dress?” She gaped.
Suddenly the iron knife felt heavy in her pocket. If she wore a dress, where would she put it? Zoey would strap it to her thigh, where a dress would obscure it.
“It’s already in your room,” he told her.
“You shouldn’t have.” It was a waste. She was not attending the feast, but her heart beat faster from excitement at the romantic gesture.
He rolled his eyes. “Tell you what, if you like the dress, you have to wear it to the party.”
“And if I don’t like it?”
“Then you can stay in your room.”
“Deal,” she said quickly.
“Can I trust you to be honest?” Caynin’s eyes turned a shade darker.
“That’s for you to decide,” she replied calmly as she picked up her fork again.
She had seen plenty of too-extravagant dresses around the castle. The chances were excellent that she would not like the dress Caynin had got her and that she could stay in her room. It was only after breakfast that she started wondering why Caynin wanted her to attend. It was a Fata feast – surely there was no place for a human?
Caynin left the breakfast table first, and she returned to her room. She opened her door, thankful that Fleur was gone, and immediately saw the brown box on her bed. She made her way over to it and removed the lid. She gasped when she pulled the dress out of the box. The garment had long sleeves and reached her neck with a mermaid skirt and an open back. It was made from silver jewels and chains that shimmered in the light. She had never seen anything like it before. Caynin had won – she would attend the feast. She went to the mirror and held the dress against her body so that she could envision how it would look on her.
Only then did she notice the basket of food placed next to her mirror. Had Caynin also sent it? He never sent food to her room.
Then her thoughts went back to her conversation with Caynin: “I’m not exactly Miss Popular around here,” she had said.
“After tonight you will be,” he had said.
Zoey realized with a jolt there was only one event that could make her Miss Popular, and that was the first trial. It had to be tonight. That was why he needed her to attend. At first, Caynin had not wanted her to undergo the trials, but now he seemed eager. That meant he knew what the first trial was, and he thought she was going to pass.