Chapter 1

O n a bright spring day in the kingdom of Myst, the queen gave birth to a perfect, healthy baby girl. King Stephan was beside himself with joy as they had long wished for a child to carry on the royal line. It was many years of waiting for them until that perfect, beautiful day.

The people of Myst rejoiced when the herald announced the happy news. A week-long festival was planned followed by a tournament. The celebration ended with an extravagant ball.

But as the days passed and the princess’s christening approached, the king was restless. Stephan’s most fervent wish was to see the kingdoms of Myst and Woodhaven united under one banner in the realm of Stonebridge. His great-grandfather had tried to unite the two but that had failed and ended up with them at war. Since then, each king remained within his own borders, ignoring the other.

But Stephan understood there was great advantage to uniting the two kingdoms. It would strengthen their numbers when the time came to defend themselves from Faery, their neighbor to the east whose mischievous and meddlesome Fae, he suspected, were interested in expanding their own borders.

He was aware King Reginald, ruler of Woodhaven north of Myst, had a young son. A young son who could be betrothed to his young daughter. And so, he invited the royal family to attend the princess’s christening and to, he hoped, discuss the unification of the two kingdoms.

And, to show good faith, he also invited the royals from the Faery Courts—Empyrean, Celestial, Boreal, and Austral.

It was to be a grand affair.

But he made one grave error. He forgot the Fae queen from the Eternal Court.

The day of the christening arrived. All in the kingdom were invited to attend. The great hall crowded with those from the nobility and the gentry. King Reginald and his queen as well as his son, Phillip, arrived. After much debate, the two kings agreed their children would be betrothed. When Rosamund reached her eighteenth year, she and the prince would wed, uniting both the kingdoms.

Much to King Stephan’s surprise, even the Fae royals made an appearance.

“You invited the Fae royals?” Reginald asked, shock evident on his face.

“I did,” Stephan replied with a grin. “I had no idea they would accept much less show up.”

“Impressive,” Reginald said. “And perhaps you are right to unite our kingdoms. They look like a shifty lot.”

There were rumblings from the Fae court for years about them wanting to expand their borders. Stephan didn’t trust them one whit, but he was glad to see the arrival and hoped it would maintain peace between their realms.

Queen Titania, from the Boreal Court, arrived first in regal fashion. A stunning beauty, she was tall with perfect features that seemed to be carved by the heavens. Blonde hair shimmered under an opaque veil embossed with gold stars draping her head. The gown she wore was equally stunning and flowed around her lithe body. The dark blue material matched that of her eyes.

Next to arrive was King Draco of the Empyrean Court. As his name implied, he was stocky with thick arms and a full red beard that stopped mid-chest. He wore leather armor, as though he were ready for a war, and a gold crown with dragons carved along the edges. He sized up Titania, his beady brown eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Finally, Queen Elara of the Celestial Court and King Atlas of the Austral Court arrived within moments of each other. Each one clearly unhappy to be in the presence of the other. Elara was much like Titania, though not as regal and refined. Bright green eyes regarded the Boreal Court Queen with a look indicating she thought her counterpart was wildly overdressed for the occasion. She wore a simple gown in velvet with a gold and silver belt resting on her round hips. A matching cloak was around her shoulders. On her head, a simple silver circlet.

The four Fae rulers garnered quite the attention as they moved into the great hall heading toward the front to look upon Princess Rosamund. Stephan and his queen, Eleanor, stood at the head of the baby’s rocking crib. Stephan didn’t bother to hide the proud smile of a new father as they approached one by one.

Titania was first. She gazed down at the cooing baby with one slender brow raised. “Quite a…human little being, isn’t she?” Then she lifted her lethal gaze to Stephan. “My most heartfelt congratulations on the birth of your princess, your majesty.”

She waved her hand over the baby. A shower of glittering faery dust settled on the princess, causing her to emit a tiny sneeze.

“My gift for her is beauty and charm and grace. May she always be the most refined, perfect princess.”

“Thank you, your majesty,” Stephan muttered.

He and his wife exchanged a surprised glance. While he was glad the royals attended, he had never expected a gift such as that.

Then she dipped a low curtsy and moved away. Stephan watched as she took one of the seats near the front of the room, perching on the edge with her back ramrod straight.

Draco followed. He leaned over the crib and inhaled deeply which alarmed Queen Eleanor. She gripped Stephan’s arm, her fingers digging into him. But before Stephan said a word, the king straightened and gave them both a broad grin.

“She’s a beauty. Smells of rosewater and lilacs.” His deep voice vibrated throughout the room.

Like Titania, he held his hand over the crib and sprinkled a smattering of dust. “My gift to her is one of strength and bravery. May she always face adversity with those traits.”

Then he bowed deeply to them. Stephan muttered a thanks as he moved to take his seat near Titania. When she cut him a searing glance, he moved a few seats away and sat. His big body made the chair creak under his weight.

It was King Atlas who paused by the crib next. He peered down at the baby with a look of interest, one brow raised as he looked her over. Then he sprinkled a bit of faery dust over the child.

“My gift to her is intelligence and quick wit. May she never falter when she needs them most,” he said. Then he looked up at the king and queen. “Felicitations to you both.”

As he moved away, he eyed the seat between Titania and Draco. Though she gave him a withering look, he ignored it and placed himself between them without so much as a sideways glance.

Finally, Queen Elara moved to stand next to the baby. She placed her hands on the crib and gave it a gentle nudge, watching as it rocked slowly. Princess Rosamund gurgled her approval of the movement, waving tiny fists in the air.

“She’s lovely,” Elara breathed. “Indeed, she will be beautiful and strong and intelligent. For my gift—”

The doors to the great hall banged open, interrupting her. All turned to see a figure with the sun at her back standing in the doorway. She was nothing but a silhouetted outline as she stood there. Whispered questions hissed through the great hall.

It was Queen Elara who inhaled a sharp breath and whispered, “Rowena.” She snapped her head in the direction of King Stephan. “Did you invite the Queen of the Eternal Court?”

A sickly sensation pierced Stephan as he looked at the figure standing in the doorway. His mouth went bone dry.

“I…I think she was overlooked.”

“Oh, dear,” Titiania said as she rose to her full height. “A grave error, indeed.”

Atlas and Draco also got to their feet, turning to eye the queen at the end of the great hall.

Rowena sauntered from the doorway in slow, methodical, purposeful steps. Dark, baleful eyes alighted on the crowd as she went. She was dressed in a long-sleeved gown of shimmering midnight, a long train trailing behind her. Circling her head was an onyx crown that glittered like mirrored shafts of light. Angled cheekbones and full dark red lips gave her face a severe appearance. There was something sinister, yet beautiful about her. At the end of the aisle, she paused, her sharp gaze glancing from King Stephan and his wife to the baby nestled inside the cradle.

Silence descended on the gathering.

“Well, isn’t this a lovely affair.”

Her voice echoed throughout the great hall. Glittering black eyes paused on each of the Fae royals before resting on King Stephan.

“Pity I didn’t garner an invitation. Though I was able to find my way here after all.”

“Your majesty, my deepest apologies,” King Stephan said as he stepped around Queen Elara. He grappled with an excuse—any excuse—that would appease the dark queen. “Your kingdom is remote and—”

“Remote?” She laughed but it was without humor. “Perhaps you feel that way because it’s on the other side of the kingdom from…” she paused, gave a look of disdain and waved her hand at the other royals, “…them.”

“We want no trouble here, Rowena,” Draco said, stepping forward. He paused next to Stephan.

She flashed him a look so deadly, he pressed his lips together into a straight line. Queen Eleanor stepped forward then, placing herself between Rowena and the baby. Stephan reached for her but she waved him off.

“We meant no disrespect, your majesty,” she said, her voice even and clear. “We would be pleased if you joined us.”

“Would you?” One dark brow lifted in question.

“Of course.” Eleanor gave her a smile. Then she did the unthinkable. She held her hand out to the dark queen. “Come and meet our new princess.”

Rowena’s gaze landed on the crib. She walked forward, ignoring Eleanor’s outstretched hand. The queen dropped her hand as Rowena peered down at the tiny baby with the waving fists in the cradle. The little princess’s skin shimmered with faery dust from the other three royals bestowing their gift upon her.

“What a lovely child,” she said. “I see the others have imparted faery gifts. Allow me to bestow my gift upon the princess.”

Eleanor, still smiling, said, “We would love that.”

Rowena bent over the crib and drew her finger down the baby’s cheek. Her skin still glittered with faery dust.

“Little princess, I see you have been given gifts of beauty, strength, and charm.” She straightened, then held one of her hands down, cupped. A swirling shimmery cloud of purple magic was contained in her palm as she lifted it up. Her gaze met the king’s. “But none of those will be enough to save her, for before the sun sets on her eighteenth birthday she will prick her finger on the thorn of a rose…and die.”

As she spoke the last two words, she blew the shimmery purple faery dust. It trickled down and landed on the baby, who immediately cried out. Eleanor gasped as she reached for the baby, but it was too late. Atlas and Draco both pulled their weapons, their swords pointed at the Queen of the Eternal Court. Even Titania looked distraught at the curse that was placed upon the young princess.

“Arrest her!” Stephan ordered his guards.

But as they charged forward, Queen Rowena disappeared in puff of purple haze. Eleanor, tears in her eyes, held the wailing baby.

King Stephan turned to the assembled Fae royals. “The curse. Can it be reversed?”

Titania shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Rowena’s dark magic is powerful. But fear not, King Stephan, Queen Elara has yet to give her gift to the baby.”

Queen Elara shot Titania a surprised glance before understanding dawned. Nodding, she moved to stand next to Eleanor, placing her hand on the crown of the baby’s head. Her crying stopped.

“Dear princess,” Elara said, her voice soft and soothing. “Indeed, you will grow into a beauty with charm and grace. You will be strong and brave. Should you prick your finger on the thorn of a rose before the sun sets on your eighteenth birthday you will not die. Nay, you will fall into a deep slumber.”

Elara leaned down and whispered something, then placed a kiss on the baby’s forehead. A shimmering white light surrounded both of them. When she stood straight, she granted Queen Eleanor a reassuring smile.

With that, the four Fae royals bid King Stephan and his court farewell.

In an effort to keep his daughter safe, King Stephan ordered the removal and destruction of every rosebush in and around the castle. He hoped it would be enough.