Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

I standon the balcony in my rooms in Queen Ulla’s palace, watching Prince Gerald and Lord Hugh follow Advisor Rhine through the courtyard. Grik and Foarde left Avedon yesterday. Today, it’s their turn.

It’s been three days since the betrothal contest ended. Three days since I became a prisoner in the fae realm, and I am no closer to getting out of here. My fellow champions, however, are being forced out.

Queen Ulla and her advisors publicly stated the cessation of alliance negotiations with members from the earth realm. The news had come as a shock, especially since it was accompanied by the order that all mortal contestants and ambassadors return to our realm at once. Except for me and Tony.

Despite the healer’s plan for Tony to wake up after two days, he has yet to regain consciousness after suffering Death’s Kiss during the final challenge of the betrothal contest. I wish I’d pushed the fae healers to try a different method of treatment, rather than rendering Tony unconscious. Despite their hopeful words, the healers have no idea what’s keeping Tony asleep. And they don’t know how to fix it.

The only good thing to come out of this ordeal is that Guardian Legrand gets to stay in Avedon. He wanted to take Tony back to our world to have our healers help him, but the lead healer here, Healer Giselle, thinks it is too dangerous to move Tony through the portal. So, Tony remains here with me and Guardian Legrand watching over him.

If I’m not sulking in my rooms, I’m with one of those two men. I avoid everyone else. Especially Thalore. That avoidance, unfortunately, ends today.

Because today, I am moving to Thalore’s rooms. At the queen’s orders.

Right now, Julley and a handful of her fellow maids pack up the meager belongings I brought with me to Avedon and the fae wardrobe that had been provided for me upon my arrival. I should help them, but I am a prisoner on this balcony. Watching Hugh and Gerald leave weighs heavy on my heart. My friendship with them is one I will always cherish, and one I hope to rekindle when I’m back home.

My thoughts turn to Guardian Burns, wondering what’s kept him from returning to Avedon. Is it the Shadowguard, or is it the fae who are needed to open the portal between our worlds?

I’m contemplating the likelihood of both when a delicate voice clears behind me. “Guardian Loftin,” Julley addresses me formally, something she only does when we aren’t alone. “Lord Evergreen is here to see you.”

Resentment jolts through me with strong intensity. Annoyingly, it’s accompanied by another emotion. One much more tempting. I shove it down into the dark depths of my mind, determined never to let it see the light of day.

Never again.

Thalore appears behind Julley. He steps around her to join me on the balcony.

Julley eyes the lord with a frown before turning to me with question in her eyes. I adore her loyalty. She’s selflessly acted as a buffer any time Thalore arrived at my door wanting to talk. This time, though, I give her a small nod. I can’t avoid him forever. The queen has made sure of that.

Julley disappears back inside, but not without shooting Thalore another disapproving look.

Thalore watches her departure, then says, “She doesn’t like me.”

“Does that surprise you? Or did you think every fae female would applaud the way you roped me into a mating just because you’re a handsome lord?”

Thalore turns back to me. Remorse swirls in his green eyes. “I came to see if there is anything you need for today?”

“Yes, to not move into your rooms.”

“I would grant that wish if I could, but Ulla insists...”

“I know.” I go back to staring at the courtyard. Hugh and Gerald are no longer in sight. Their absence hits me hard. Tears burn the back of my eyes, fueled by sadness and the lack of control I feel over my own life.

Queen Ulla, despite the fact she wanted Thalore to mate her daughter, has gone out of her way to publicly acknowledge and support our supposed mating every chance she gets. That includes her very vocal reprimand of the fact Thalore and I have not decided on a date for our mating ceremony. Through Julley, I’ve learned that while exchanging life’s blood marks Thal and I as mates for all intents and purposes, we won’t officially be considered mates until we complete the ceremony.

I am fine with never completing the ceremony. In fact, I hope it never comes.

When the queen couldn’t get a ceremony date out of us, she took her antics to the next level and demanded I move from my rooms in the royal wing to Thalore’s family rooms. Every high-ranking noble family has rooms assigned to them at Court. Until today, Thalore has lived in his alone.

I truly don’t understand the queen’s motives. I can’t figure out what she gets by forcing us together. But she’s the queen. Now that Alora is engaged to Lord Clifton, and the dissenters in Court have grown silent, she doesn’t feel inclined to explain herself to anyone. Not even her surly advisors.

So, here I am, moving in with a guy for the first time in my life. And I’m dreading it.

“I just came from the infirmary.”

My head snaps up. “Has something happened to Tony?”

“No, his condition is unchanged.”

I look back at the courtyard. “Oh.”

“I ran into Guardian Legrand there,” Thalore continues. “I spoke with him about our upcoming trip to Navern. I asked if he planned to join us.”

I inhale a deep breath, watching a couple walk arm in arm across the courtyard. “Let me guess, he said no?”

“Correct.”

I’m not surprised. I’d say no if I could, too.

Navern is Lord Clifton’s home region in Saphrai. The princess’s betrothed is hosting an engagement party at his family estate in one week. All of Avedon’s high-ranking lords and ladies will be making the trip to spend the weekend there.

The last thing I want to do is attend a party celebrating the engagement between Alora and the power-hungry fae who’d left Tony alone in the Murky Mountains during the final contest. But as I’ve been reminded countless times since the end of the betrothal contest, what I want doesn’t matter. Not when Queen Ulla and the others believe I am half-fae, and therefore a citizen of Avedon.

I close my eyes and silently wish for a way to prove to Thalore, Ulla, and everyone else that they are mistaken. Other than Thal’s life’s blood saving me from Death’s Kiss, nothing about me indicates I am part-fae like they believe.

Except for the pull you feel to Thalore.

I silence the traitorous thought. Attraction to Thal means nothing. Except that I’m a horrible judge of character. I thought I could trust Thalore, but he kept secrets from me. Secrets that ultimately led to me being trapped in Avedon.

I plan to find my way back home. I will return to my former life and forget any of this ever happened. Until then, I will go along with what the queen demands of me, but I won’t ever stop planning my escape. Ever.

Thalore sighs. “How long will you punish me, Andie?”

I look over my shoulder and see the pain pulling his handsome features taunt. I hate how my stomach clenches at the sight.

He continues, “I only did what I had to do to ensure you lived.”

I turn so I’m facing him. “That’s not true, Lord Thalore, and you know it.”

He winces. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

He takes a step forward. “Call me Lord Thalore. We are beyond that.”

“Not by my choice.”

“Andie.” He runs a hand through his hair. “You are my mate. All I want is your happiness. And for you to be safe.”

“Then help me go back home.”

“You know I cannot.”

According to Thalore, he and I cannot live in separate realms. Sharing life’s blood ensured that. He knew that when he drank my blood and forced me to drink his to heal my injuries. It’s yet another reason why I don’t feel like I can trust him. No matter how much this traitorous attraction to him wants me to.

“Then I can’t breach this distance between us, Lord Thalore.” I shake my head. “I don’t care what you, or anyone else, says. I did not consent to this mating. In my mind, it does not exist. I will go along with the queen’s commands for now, but do not make the mistake of believing that means I accept this.”

Sadness overshadows Thalore’s features. “I understand.” He takes a breath. “Is there anything I can help you with regarding the move? Other than preventing it?”

“No. You’ve done enough.” I turn my back on him.

Thalore swallows. “I’ll leave you.”

I listen until I hear the sound of the front door closing. Then, I slump against the balcony railing and close my eyes.

My life has become such a mess, and my conflicting emotions about the dark-haired fae certainly don’t help. I need to be strong. I need to continue to deny the affection I feel for Thalore. It’s the only way I can think of creating enough distance between us. Once he gives up on a relationship between us, I hope he will agree to help me find my way back home.

Because, without him, I won’t be able to get there.

Or survive.

Not unless Thalore agrees to find a way to break this bond between us so we can live separately. Or he agrees to live in my realm with me.

I dismiss the thought. Thalore is a lord in Avedon. He has a life here, just like I have a life of my own. Even if Thalore agreed to move to my realm, he would need the queen’s permission.

I don’t know Queen Ulla well, but I know she’s not a female who easily forgives. My mating with Thalore ruined her plans for her daughter, and she won’t let us get away with it. I can only hope that whatever she has planned won’t be too bad. Because like it or not, I am currently at her mercy.

Until I find my way out of this mess.