Chapter 12

V iolins strummed in Avalynn's head as she waltzed into her bedchamber. She had danced with him—Mateo Vela. Her hand moved to the back of her neck, where he'd touched her. The warmth from his fingers lingered. He had noticed her. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, reliving his steely gray stare roaming her figure. Her heart thumped and ached at the same time, something she had never known or felt before.

He'd accepted her alliance. That would make her task easier. Relieved, she kicked off her satin slippers and then stared into the darkness. From the blackness, it hit her like a blinding light—Mateo would die, and she would be the cause. The thump and the ache in her heart made more sense.

"That was quite the display… You and the Sublander."

She spun and faced the High King. "Father, I did not see you there."

He sat on the white plush chair, facing the empty fireplace. The moonlight from the sitting room's window lit him halfway. His other half blended with the shadows. "Come forth, my daughter."

She linked her hands in front of her and walked toward him. Stepping into the sitting room's space, she waved her fingers, and the fire sprang to life.

His legs were crossed. He held a gold goblet and still wore his gala attire—all silver with gold accents. On his head rested the realm's most formal and luxurious crown. It was adorned with tall antlers, gold vines, pearls, and crystals. She would one day wear that crown. Her rule would exceed any Faevenly had ever known, including his.

"The evening was most splendid, Father." What was he doing here in her room? She and Lily had presented themselves at the formal toast. Other than that, she had not paid him or her mother much heed. "I do pray that you and Mother had a lovely time."

"We did…" He rose and faced the fireplace. His goblet hit the mantle with a clink. "Perhaps not as much as you did."

Oh no. He'd been watching her. She could not let him know she'd become conflicted. A laugh that sounded weaker then she intended escaped her lips. "You know how I love to dance." She would not mention her fake alliance with Mateo. The less she said, the better.

"Yesss, I do know." He held out the ‘s' for a long beat, sounding like a slithering snake. He smoothed his long coat, tilted his head, and studied her. "Which makes me wonder why we did not dance."

"Indeed." Her worries refused to go down with a swallow. "My apologies. Next time?"

"How about now?" He extended his hand. "Who knows if there will be a next time. "

A shiver shot down her spine. No next time? "Of course. Whatever pleases you, Father."

He held her with a firm grip. His muscles tensed, and he led her in a small circular pattern. The flames offered little warmth against his ice-cold touch. "Did your mother ever tell you the story of your birth?"

Her birth? "I do not think so." Her mother busied herself with formal events, gowns, and jewels. They had conversed but little throughout her life, let alone about the day of her birth.

"Allow me to share that day with you." His grip around her hand tightened. His touch at her hip pierced her like cold steel. "The High Queen prepared for your entry into this world for months. She had this very room redesigned with the most elegant fabrics, the softest rugs, and the most luxurious paints. As her belly grew, her plans followed. With Raelor's assistance, she knew the exact date you would arrive and invited all the royal maidens to meet you, the heir to House Stromm and future High Queen of Faevenly." He paused, prompting her to speak.

"That all sounds so wonderful." What happened to that lady?

His steps slowed. "It was wonderful…until it was not." His grip tightened further. "You came much earlier than expected. Neither Raelor nor the lady healer were here to assist. Thank the Sun, Moon, and Stars for Nia. She had just joined us as a maidservant and assisted the High Queen. Nia did all that she could. Still, when you entered the world, the breath of life did not follow."

Avalynn stumbled over her frozen feet. "I was not alive?" She had not been told this before.

"Correct." His chin lifted. "Now, be careful with your steps, my daughter, lest you spoil our dance." He yanked her back into movement, pressing her forward in the same circular pattern. "The High Queen could not bring herself to look upon your lifeless face. Neither could I. So, Maid Nia whisked you away. But fate had superior plans for you. Not two minutes later, your wails rang out. You were brought back to the High Queen, but she had fallen into a fretful state from the trauma of your arrival, a despair that took Lily's birth to break."

Her panic escalated with each turn of the dance. Her hand throbbed from his squeeze. "I wish to stop dancing, Father." Learning she was born dead and then revived had weakened her resolve.

"You wish?" He grabbed her forearms and squeezed with all his might. "Let me tell you what I wish." Spit flew from his mouth with each word he hurled at her, his voice reaching new heights with each one. "I wish you had come out of the womb breathing. I wish your High Queen mother had not fallen into despair. I wish for you to do as I command and make sure the Sublander finishes last in the hunt!"

His hold tightened. Avalynn's knees buckled. "Father, stop!" She sank to the floor. Her desire to strike back flared up. But her hands stayed gripped by her aggressor.

He released her with a shove, straightened the collar of his jacket, and then dusted his hands off. "Tomorrow's hunt is critical."

Rising, she rubbed the spot on her arms that he had burned. Her skin parched and reddened. She wanted to scream, throw him to the floor, and claw out his eyeballs. But she possessed no power. Only he did. "I told you. I will not fail."

He snatched the tiara from her head and flung it into the fire. "You are only what I allow, dear daughter. And you are nothing more than a mere hunter." He turned to leave but lingered at the door. He hissed over his shoulder, "You have a wish but no real claim to my throne."

The door closed behind him, and she marched to the mantle. Monster! She grabbed his goblet and hurled it into the fire. She sank into the white plush chair and watched as the flames devoured the gold cup and platinum tiara. How dare he lay hands on her!

She cupped her face with her hands. Tears spilled from her eyes. Not alive at birth! And nobody bothered to tell her. She wiped her eyes, noticing the red marks on her forearms. Staring into the flames, the goblet and flaming tiara's molten edges distorted the true treasures within.

But she came back to life. She lived for a reason. The Sun, Moon, and Stars always had a purpose. Her destiny would never be fixed by that man or any other.

Feeling lower than low, her heart needed a friend. Her mind needed answers. She dashed to the door, jerked it open, and hurried down the corridor. Approaching the stairwell to the servants' quarters, a young maidservant bowed. "Princess Avalynn. May I be of assistance?"

"Please tell Nia I need her right away."

"Of course, my lady."

Avalynn paced her bedchamber when Nia entered. "My princess, I apologize for not being here sooner to help with your dress. Your father asked that you not be disturbed."

"I do need help with the dress. But that is not why I summoned you." Avalynn turned, and Nia unsnapped her buttons. She stepped out of the frock, slipped into the robe, and hid her father's red marks along her arms.

Nia gathered the dress. "Is it the Sublander? Mateo?" She hung the used garment on a hook. "I saw you two had a lovely dance."

It was neither Mateo nor the dance. "He is not the problem." She held back the tears, but one escaped and rolled down her cheek. "It is not Mateo. It is me."

"What is it, my princess?" Nia rushed to her side. "I am here."

She wiped her face and stared into the distance at nothing. "I was not alive at birth?"

"My Stars," Nia whispered. "Your father told you."

"He did." Her chin quivered no longer. "Why was I never told?" Father hurt her. Marked her arms. He threatened her and burned her tiara. She wanted answers.

Nia took Avalynn's hands. "The High King compelled me. I was forbidden. But now that you know the truth, that spell is lifted." The maid gently stroked her cheek. "But that moment is not your story. Your story is happening here and now."

Fire logs crackled at the other end of her bedchamber. Avalynn could not see the flames from where she sat. Still, she pictured the precious metals in the fire turning into a molten mess. "Why does Father demand Mateo's death? Why does he desire the banishment of all Sublanders?" Such a bold move did not seem to her to favor the future of Faevenly. Where would balance be found?

Nia said nothing.

"Do you know?" Avalynn readied herself for whatever secrets the maid would spill as her demeanor suggested she knew plenty.

Nia dropped to her knees. She took Avalynn's hand and bowed her head. "There have been whispers of a Sublander with great powers that will usher in a new era in Faevenly." Slowly, Nia's head lifted. "Part fae, part human witch, the Only One will bring peace."

Whispers. As a child, she had heard them but never again. No doubt, they were blocked by her palace and her duty. Now they were returning to her. Even Master Kragar spoke of them when he showed her the Shadowblood foxes. He warned that someone with innate gifts and powers would change Faevenly forever.

Her heart raced. The whisperings meant Mateo. Strong, yet gentle. Graceful like royalty. "He is the one… Mateo." She was sure of it.

Nia nodded. "It is believed so. No one knows for sure. The High King and High Queen do not want that to happen. They deny it all. They fight to preserve what they have."

Darkness encroached as the weight of a thousand shadows fell on her shoulders. "And I have to make sure he comes in last. Kill the bringer of peace for all of Faevenly." Protect my family and my crown.

The maid whispered an assent. "As sure as the sun rises and falls, everything will change after the hunt."

"And I will be ready for whatever happens." She had to be. Her future depended on it.

Nia reached into her flowing white dress and withdrew a glass vial with green liquid. Avalynn recognized it right away…healing salve from the Green Falls. "Take this with you into the hunt in case you need it. Keep it hidden. The realm must preserve its princess at any cost."

Avalynn wrapped her hand around the vial and held it tight. She hugged Nia, then said a silent prayer to the Sun, Moon, and Stars that the hunt would not see her needing the salve. Though something inside of her said she would.