“Constance, it is practically winter,” Casper said, gesturing to the window. An overnight frost left icy lacework on the glass.
“Making it all the better to attack. They won’t be expecting it.”
Casper, Constance and myself, along with Ilana and Flora, as representatives of Glavnada and Faradisia, gathered around the wide oak table in Casper’s study. A large map lay spread across the table, small figurines representing potential allies and enemies. We had been home less than a fortnight, but already tensions ran high.
“But it won’t be winter there, it is never winter in Magnomel,” I pointed out, which earned me an arched eyebrow from Constance.
“And how did you know that in an underwater prison?” she demanded.
I shot Casper a quick glance, one Constance seemed to catch. While Constance had been initially overjoyed to have her brother returned, she had become suspicious of our explanation, doubtful we were telling her the full truth. Possibly because we weren’t. Only Casper and Finn knew that I was fay, masquerading as human. I insisted it was safer that way, choosing not even to tell Devon and Jacobie. I had no intention of ever removing the glamour charm, so I decided there was no need for anyone else to know.
Instead, the story we agreed on was that both Casper and I had been held captive in the Aqueno Prison, trapped under the lake till we managed to take down one of the guards and make our escape. We told everyone that I had been poisoned, as I still needed my cane, but left out the true results of the sitano. We relied on the fact that there had been so much chaos during the battle on Casper’s coronation that no other human had heard Queen Marasina when she said I had worked with Pel.
“Because it was summer when we left the faerie prison, and then mid-autumn when we arrived in Reynallis,” Casper said, exasperated.
“Maybe it was simply an unusually warm day,” Constance argued, though she did not question us further.
I exhaled. Once or twice I had let too much slip, small things that I would not have known if I had spent all my time locked away in a prison.
“Perhaps we should take a break,” Flora cut in, gently taking Constance’s arm. She gave a meaningful glance at Casper and me before adding, “I think we are all a bit tired.”
The gaunt look was gone from Casper’s face, though the dark hollows beneath his eyes stubbornly remained. Flora was constantly asking after our health, ensuring we got rest, and almost as suffocatingly careful around us as my maid, Annabeth, now was. Though I knew it came from a place of genuine concern, I was uneasy and unused to being so attended to. And right now, I could tell that Casper’s fatigue had less to do with his time as a faerie hostage and more with the endless arguments with his sister.
Constance seemed ready to argue, but Flora gently squeezed her arm, giving her a significant look. “Yes, of course,” Constance finally conceded.
“I will need to know soon if I should send word home to muster soldiers,” Ilana said. “The winter storms make travel in and out of Glavnada very difficult. Perhaps we can finalize this tomorrow,” Ilana added before starting for the door. She paused, turning to me. “Which reminds me, Lady Elenora, I recently received a box of sugared peach toffees, a delicacy from my home, and perhaps you would enjoy some?” She smiled, and I swore there was a slight blush to her cheeks as she added, “And maybe your brothers would also like to try them? I shall have the box sent to you.” Ilana quickly turned on her heels, leaving the study.
Casper cocked an eyebrow at me. I shook my head. My former nemesis and ice queen had been far too nice to me since we had returned to court. I had a suspicion that the cause of such sweetness was her growing fondness toward my older brother.
Constance returned her focus on Casper. “You should get some rest.” She no longer sounded authoritative, but rather like that of a worried sister.
“I feel fine,” he grumbled.
She stiffened slightly. “I am not trying to insult you, but I want you to know that it is acceptable if you take the time to recover from such an ordeal. You could travel to the southern palace. Our family always spends winters in Lotanus. It would not be strange for you to do so. You would benefit from the warmer weather.”
“Those days were before we had to concern ourselves with the fay at our northern borders. I am staying in Sterling.”
“I managed not to ruin our kingdom while you were gone.”
“And now I’m back,” Casper barked, his annoyance clear.
Constance frowned, but Flora pulled her toward the door. “These two will get more rest if we are out of their hair. Let’s go.” Constance muttered something under her breath, but let Flora lead her out. When the door finally closed, leaving Casper and me alone, Casper sagged back in his chair. I breathed a sigh of relief, as deeply as my corsets would allow, which did not feel like quite enough air. As grateful as I was to be back in Reynallis, back in the Rose Palace, I had to admit that I preferred the soft, loose clothing the fay chose over human nobility. After crying in relief when Casper and I returned to the Rose Palace, Annabeth wasted no time in ensuring I had enough suitable dresses for the colder months, though all the fine wool dresses also came with heavy, thick petticoats and tight, stiff corsets.
“I thought things would be easy once we returned home,” Casper groaned, still staring at the door as though waiting for his sister to burst back in with more complaints.
I made my way to the tea and coffee service, pouring Casper a cup of coffee from the silver carafe, adding sugar and a touch of cinnamon. “I’m certain you would be terribly bored if everything was running smoothly.” I handed him the cup before pouring myself tea.
“I would say I could do with some boredom, but after spending so long in an underwater prison, I feel most qualified to say that I understand true boredom.”
I paused, the cup close enough to my face that steam tickled my lips. I frowned, studying Casper, not sure what to say. Seeing my expression, he waved his hand as though he could dismiss my worry.
“I only meant that Constance is being so difficult. I will be the first to admit that she did an admirable job governing while I was . . .” Casper paused, “away. But I am back now, and she doesn’t need to coddle me.”
I snorted. “I would hardly call the endless arguments between the two of you coddling.”
“You don’t know Constance as I do. She is trying to protect me by decimating the fay. I neither want nor need another war on my hands.”
I sipped my tea, trying to think of the right answer. The threat of faerie retribution hung over us ever since Casper and I escaped Magnomel. Each day I wondered if we would see another attack. I thought about it every time I saw the Biawood. “I have no interest in declaring war on Queen Marasina,” I tentatively said. “But what if the fay attack again?”
“We have set up more guards along the Biawood, it is watched around the clock. We will not be caught unaware again. I take no issue with building up our defenses, but I do not want humans storming into the Forest Court. There are too many secrets in Magnomel, secrets that need to stay there for your protection.” Casper had been staring out the window, but now he focused his attention on me. “I swore I would not lose you again, that I would keep you safe. And I meant it.”
I smiled, feeling both warmed and guilty by the lengths Casper was willing to go for my sake. I set my teacup on its saucer and went over to Casper.
“I think your sister might be right, you do look tired.”
Casper groaned. “Please, not you too.”
But I only gave him a sly smile, carefully taking his cup and setting it on his desk before seating myself in his lap. Casper’s look of surprise melted into a pleased expression, his eyes lingering on me as his arms wrapped around me.
“Perhaps you need something to take your mind off the tedium of being king.” I gently removed the gold circlet he wore, the one he wore as a prince and still preferred when not required to wear the heavy, ornate crown for public appearances. Putting the circlet on his desk, I ran my fingers over his hair, smoothing the black locks away from his forehead.
He silently watched me, his dark eyes hungry. When I brushed his cheek, his hand came up, imprisoning mine. He turned his head slightly, his lips on my fingers. He kissed their tips, sending goosepimples up my arms. I inhaled sharply, my stomach knotting in desire and anticipation.
I slowly pulled my fingers away, freeing his lips. It was a short-lived freedom as I leaned into him, pressing my lips to his. He tightened his arms around me, securing me on his lap, kissing my lips, my cheeks, and my neck. When I slowed to catch my breath, he whispered my name in my ear, his breath tickling my delicate skin. He smelled of his favorite soap, the expensive scent of cinnamon and cloves. It reminded me of all the other times he had kissed me.
In that moment, the world only existed for the two of us, and I wanted it to remain that way as long as possible.
Our perfect world lasted late into the night, long after the sun set and the stars came out. Long after we had even managed to tire ourselves out with kisses and eventually just sat, entwined in each other’s arms, neither of us wanting to break the spell of peace and contentment. I dozed, my head resting on Casper’s chest.
When I woke, his study was in darkness, lit only by the light of the full moon. I yawned, shifting slightly, which roused Casper.
“What time is it?” I asked, standing as I massaged a knot out of my stiff neck.
Casper pulled out a gold pocket watch and flipped it open. “It is nearing midnight.” He chuckled. “We must have looked utterly exhausted if no one was sent to interrupt us.”
I smiled. “I guess there are a few perks to being king.” My stomach growled then, loud enough for Casper to hear.
“Shall I ring for something to eat?” he asked, looking pointedly at my stomach.
“I have a better idea,” I said, helping Casper to his feet. “Let’s go to the kitchens. We can get our pick of what’s there and no need to wake anyone this late.” Casper grinned, letting me pull him to the door. Once before I had shown him how to take servant corridors to the kitchens, the great rooms filled with the smells of roast meat and baking bread. And I found getting my noble, honorable Casper to break the rules, or at least bend them was surprisingly satisfying.
I was pushing open the door when Casper suddenly fell back as he gasped in pain.
“Casper, what’s wrong?”
“Nor, I—” But another spasm went through him, his arms clutching his sides as he hunched over, his body going tight. He tripped, landing on the floor, though he barely noticed, his eyes squeezed tight. I was beside him in an instant.
“Casper, what happened?” I asked, frantic and afraid. His skin was slick with sweat and warm to the touch. My heart hammered as I tried to coax words from him, desperate to know the cause, but it seemed the pain was too intense for him, as his words became garbled the more he tried to speak.
I drenched a handkerchief in the teapot, the tea now gone cold, and pressed it to Casper’s forehead, hoping it would provide some relief. I debated calling for help versus staying with him.
“Nor, it hurts,” he cried, as he curled into himself on the floor.
“What hurts? What happened?” But he was unable to answer any of my questions. I summoned my life magic, felt the warm flicker in my heart as I sent it into his chest, but it had no effect on his pain. His skin had lost all color, going white as death except for his lips, which were darkening to black.
“I’m going to get help. To get a physician,” I said. Casper moaned, but his hand shot out and grabbed mine in a crushing grip. “Casper, I need to get help,” I pleaded, but he didn’t let go, only squeezed my hand tighter. Hating myself, I pulled at his fingers, trying to free my hand, all the while my brain ran through poisons, wondering if someone had slipped something into his food, maybe his coffee.
Casper’s head shot up and he let out a scream that transformed itself into something feral, a nasal cry that was not human, his neck lengthening as he did so. Blackness filled his eyes, and they shrank. He lost his grip on me.
Casper let out another inhuman noise, the high-pitched whine coming from the back of his throat.
His body was curled up on the floor, but his head was stretching out on a neck that was growing longer and thinner by the second, a sick parody of pulled taffy. I watched in horror as his head shrank, his lips, growing black and hard, extended outward as his nose collapsed into his face. His fingers merged together, and white stubble began to grow on all of his exposed skin, lengthening into long, white feathers that soon covered his body. He gave another scream, and this time I recognized the sound as the call of a bird.
My own cry for help died on my lips as I looked at Casper, or what had been Casper. Instead of a young man, there was a massive swan, as big as the swans that swam in the lake surrounding the Forest Court. He was pure white save for pinprick black eyes and a long black beak. He rose, short, spindly charcoal legs attached to wide, webbed feet. He stood on top of his trousers, his shirt now collapsed around his neck. He bobbed his head wildly, until he managed to free himself of his shirt.
Numbly, I got to my feet, my eyes never leaving the large swan. My mouth was bone dry, and I swallowed before carefully asking, “Casper, is that you?”
If swan-Casper recognized me or his name, he gave no indication. I tentatively stepped toward the creature, all the while trying to keep my voice soft and reassuring. “Casper, it’s me, Nor. I don’t know what happened, but we will fix this.”
When I was less than an arm’s length away, the swan raised himself up, stretching his neck as he puffed out his chest. He came up to my waist, but as he extended his wings, he suddenly seemed much bigger, even menacing. He hissed at me, a breathy, angry sound that would have been more appropriate coming from an irate cat. I backed away, trying to rationalize what I was seeing.
Casper stilled, his head swiveling on his long neck from me to the large study window. For a moment, he seemed to be studying the moon. Without warning, he honked again, making me jump. He raised his massive wings till they were nearly vertical to his body before bringing them down, bending them when he needed to raise them again. As he flapped his wings, I could feel the air rushing toward me as he lifted himself off the floor, tucking in his feet. Too late I realized what he intended. I lunged for him, but he was already above me, flying toward the window.
“No!” I cried, as he threw himself at the glass. The window had been closed, but not latched, and swung out upon impact. Casper soared out the window, flying toward the moon, over the Biawood. I rushed to the window, but it was no use. Even if my wings weren’t hidden by Alverdine’s glamour, I had never mastered the art of flying. And Casper was already becoming hard to spot as he flew further away. There was no way I could catch him on foot.
Helplessly, I watched Casper fly out of sight. It had to be faerie magic, of that I was certain. I thought we had escaped Magnomel unscathed, that we could put it all behind us, but I was wrong.
Unbidden, our last night in Magnomel came back to me, Elrik’s curse as he lay dying. I couldn’t remember all of the words, but Pel had said it sounded something like a swan’s life. I had not thought much of it at the time, too concerned with escape and convinced that all of Elrik’s terrible magic had died with him, but what if I was wrong? I had no idea why a curse directed at me, using my true name, had transformed Casper instead, but it was a place to start. I could only hope that Pel would still be willing to help me, even if it meant helping the person who killed his brother.
With no better plan, I picked up a slim knife from Casper’s desk, one he used to break the seals off incoming messages. I jabbed my thumb, a quick, sharp pain that resulted in a bead of blood on my thumb. I wiped it over my bracelet, and when the golden thread began to burn, I hoped Pel would be on his way.