The Kitsune led us out of the forest and up the path toward Dragongate. We had to jog to catch up to them but slowed when they seemed to stop just before the moat.
“Thisss iss as far as we go, Your Majesssty,” said one of the Kitsune.
“Thank you very much for your help.” I bent down and held out my hand toward the leader. He was hesitant at first, but eventually, he made his way to me, and I was able to stroke his soft little head. He pushed his head into my hand, seemingly enjoying the pats like a cat. Then, as a pack, the Kitsune turned around and ran back into the forest. When I stood up to assess the front gate and to figure out how we were going to get inside, I noticed Darcy was watching me with that evil, sexy grin he did so well. Oh, it annoyed me so.
“What?” I said, laughing. “Stop it!”
“That was the most incredible thing I have ever witnessed.”
“It was nothing. We had to get to the castle one way or another.” I shrugged.
“Yes, but it could have gone in a completely different direction.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I was kinda expecting you to slaughter the little critters.”
I was kinda hurt he immediately thought of me as a killer. But decided to let it go.
“That was the old me. The new me is open to negotiation.” I slid my athame back in its sheath and walked up to the side of the moat. Darcy followed close behind and stood on the bank beside me. I looked down into the murky water and saw the splash of a fin. I didn’t remember there being creatures in the moat. My father had made a lot of changes in my absence. But now that I had returned, there were about to be a lot more.
I studied the top of the castle walls, looking out for armed soldiers. But could see no one. I took a deep breath to shout out just as the drawbridge began to descend.
After it had lowered and formed a bridge, we crossed it and entered the castle. But when we passed under the arch into the castle courtyard, I felt myself being restrained. Darcy cried out and flailed about as if stuck in an invisible spider’s web. I couldn’t move either. I looked around me, and that’s when I noticed the shimmer in the air surrounding us. Magic. We were stuck in the magical force field that surrounded the castle.
“Ahh, Emma, King Darcy. I see you have graced us with your presence at last.” We both stopped struggling and looked up at the face of my father and his armed soldiers standing before us.
“Father, let us go so we can talk,” I said, trying to remain calm. How dare he call Darcy a king when he had previously insulted him. And how dare he act like he hadn’t made my mother curse me.
“Yes, yes. Of course. Sorry about that. Dear, would you please do the honor?” He gestured at someone we couldn’t see, and then my mother stepped out of the shadows. She threw her arms out and said an incantation. And before we knew it, Darcy and I were thrown free of the magical wards. We fell to our knees on the cobbled stone. When I looked up at my father, he was smirking down at us. Oh, the bastard liked us groveling at his feet! I quickly got up and urged Darcy to stand too, before storming into the castle. Darcy didn’t acknowledge my father. He just followed me inside.
***
Later that night, we joined my parents for dinner in the main dining room. We had to pass through the ballroom to get to the dining room. I stopped and took it all in. I remembered this hall being large and spacious when I was little. I used to crawl over the dais and slide down the stair rails. In the dining room, I used to crawl under the table and steal chicken from unsuspecting victims when we had guests. Most of the time I wouldn’t get caught, but when I did, I was subjected to my father’s evil. I must have been living in my memories when a hand came down on my shoulder causing me to flinch.
“Sorry. It’s just me,” Darcy said. I turned and smiled when I saw he was wearing the attire of this world. He looked like he did the night we met. He took my breath away.
“You look…”
“Ridiculous? I’ve not missed three-piece suits and cravats,” he said, adjusting the red cravat at his throat.
“I was going to say sexy.” I swallowed and reached up to smooth the cravat down. My hands traveled further upward and snaked around his neck. Then his lips found their way down to mine, and we were kissing before we were rudely interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
“Dinner is served, your highnesses,” announced the butler. I sighed. I didn’t remember that butler. My father must have hired him after I left.
I turned back to Darcy and looked into his red velvet eyes. He was either hungry or turned on. Or both. He smiled down at me and offered me his hand before leaning into my ear and to whisper, “You look beautiful like that.”
“Seriously? I feel stupid.” Growing up, I had hated pink. But my parents had always dressed me in it. My mother must have known I was coming because when I walked into my bedroom earlier, I found this dress waiting for me. It was the puffiest, frilliest, silliest thing you could imagine. And it was pink! I hated it, but now I had to own it if I was to negotiate with my father.
“You look like a queen. Let’s go take back your throne.” He placed a kiss on my temple as we made our way into the dining room.