19. Kaelith’s Betrayal

19

KAELITH’S BETRAYAL

(RIVEN)

A s I head back to the palace, tears clog my throat because I know it may be the last time I’ll see Rowena. I’m done putting her in harm’s way; from here on, I’ll fight my battles alone. Ever since I met her, it’s been one issue or the other. She has done a lot of beautiful things for me, but all I’ve done is put her at risk.

I’m not waiting until tomorrow to see Morgath; I’m going home to grab my sword and head to the coven. I never leave home without my sword, but this morning, I was so desperate to get away from my mother that I left without it.

As I approach the palace, I contemplate my decision. It’s already late evening, and it’ll be a huge risk to go into the coven when midnight is near. Turning into a stone statue in the camp of my enemy is the quickest way to die, especially if I willingly and deliberately walk into their territory.

Should I wait until morning? Or should I risk the trip, hoping I’ll make it back before midnight?

Distracted, I walk through the front door, heading up the stairs, but a familiar voice coming from the foyer stops me in my tracks.

“I know what I saw,” the voice says firmly. “Don’t double me, King Faelor.”

It’s Kaelith.

“Nonsense,” my mom answers. “Riven will never do that.”

“He did,” Kaelith argues. “I’m certain of it.”

I pick my way to the foyer, wondering what exactly she’s accusing me of. My father is on his obnoxious throne, a dark look in his eyes. My mom is beside him, a worrisome expression on her face as she stares at Kaelith, who’s a few feet away. They all look at me when I walk in.

“Well, look who is here,” Kaelith grins. “I was just telling your father I saw you in town today.”

My breath catches as I figure out why my father looks murderous. If Kaelith saw me in town, then she saw Rowena with me. And like the scheming little rat she is, she ran to the palace to tell my father, hoping it’ll put her in his good graces. Little does she know my father never put anyone in his good graces; he only serves himself.

“Riven,” my father growls. “Who were you in town with today?”

“A friend.” I meet his gaze.

“Who is your friend?” He asks.

“When have you ever been interested in my friends?”

“Riven.” My mom shakes her head. “Don’t.”

“I saw you with the witch,” Kaelith says. “You were walking hand in hand.”

“And you came right here to tell on me,” I laugh. “What were you hoping to achieve? I’m not afraid of my father.”

“Well, you should be!” She yells at me. “Your father is the Fae king, and you go about embarrassing him in town. I’m not the only one who saw you; everyone did!”

I should be furiously shaking in my boots, but surprisingly, I’m not even mad at her. All I feel is pity for how low she’s willing to go for my father —a man who will discard her as soon as she’s useless to him.

“Why are you here?” I ask her calmly. “Shouldn’t you be seeing Morgath?”

“Morgath?” My father frowns, turning to Kaelith, who flounders. “Why will you be seeing Morgath?”

“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Kaelith says sweetly. “He’s deflecting. He knows he’s in trouble, and that’s why he’s trying to paint me as the bad one.” She turns to me. “Why were you in town with the witch? Why did you bring a witch into our kingdom?”

Annoyed by her insistence, I turn to leave, but my father’s growl stops me in my tracks.

“Riven!”

I take a deep breath and face him again. Beside him, my mom is staring pointedly at me, silently communicating that I remain calm and understanding, but I’m this close to snapping at everyone. My father is a powerful man, and I’m not sure I’ll win a fight against him, but I’m not afraid of trying. I really should be on my way to the witch coven right now, but I’m spending all my precious time arguing.

“I’m only going to ask you this one time.” He slowly descends his throne, his eyes narrowed dangerously at me. “What were you doing with the witch in my kingdom?”

“Sightseeing.” I shrug. “We have beautiful views here; why don’t we let others see it?”

“Why will you bring her here?” He rages. “She’s a witch!”

“Who has no bad intentions for the fae,” I answer. “If only you take the alliance as seriously as it should be, you’ll realize that these other factions just want to be friends. The faes are not better than anyone else. The more we kill others who venture into our kingdom, the more dangerous it is for faes out there.”

My father stops directly in front of me, so close his nose almost touches mine. His eyes are burning with anger. I stay alert, ready to defend if he attacks me. Although he has never physically attacked me before, I don’t put it past him.

“Suddenly, you think you’re fit to be king?” He lets out a low laugh. “You think you know what it takes to rule because you spent a few days traipsing the wilderness? You know nothing!”

“Maybe I don’t.” I shrug. “But what I do know is that everyone hates the faes, and it’s because of you.” I hold his stare. “And I don’t even want your throne,” I announce loudly. “Not like this. You’re killing your people. I just hope that it’s not too late when you realize this.”

I start to march away, but again, my father’s voice stops me. This time, he says something that heats my blood and almost pushes me over the edge.

“It is for your good that you keep away from that girl,” he rages. “Because the next time I set my eyes on her, I promise that I’ll take her life.”

“Don’t you dare threaten her again!” I whirl to face my father. “Don't ever speak to her in such a manner again; I will protect that girl with my life!”

A shocked silence descends upon the room, but I don’t care. These people must be joking with me if they think I’ll let them threaten Rowena.

“Then maybe you should be ready to lose your life, too,” my father growls.

“You don’t scare me.” I shake my head at him. “You can do whatever you want with me; I don’t care. But if you touch Rowena, I swear, I’ll fight back. Don’t think I won’t do it.”

My mom gasps, her eyes flaring with disappointment. “Riven!”

“That girl has done more things for me than any of you ever have. She has shown me what it means to have someone.” I point a glare at Kaelith. “I love her! And yes, I will fight back if any of you tries to hurt her.”

My Father’s mouth falls open. “Are you choosing an outcast witch over your family? Over your title as Prince?”

I recognize the threat in his words, but it doesn’t scare me at all. I don’t care what is taken from me as long as Rowena stays. What has the crown ever done for me? What have my parents ever done for me?

“I choose Rowena,” I answer. “I’ll choose her a thousand times over.”

I storm away from the foyer and up the stairway, my heart thudding in my chest. I realize that my association with Rowena is dangerous, and the best step may be to leave her alone. She has existed on her own for years without trouble, and now my father is after her. He had called her an outcast witch, which means he had done his research on her. He probably knows where to find her.

I rush into my room and sit on the bed, my head in my hands. The sky is already darkening outside, and I know that venturing into the witch coven at this time is a recipe for disaster. I’ll wait until tomorrow when there’s little risk of turning into stone in their camp.

I lay flat on the bed, staring up at the interwoven vines that make up the ceiling. It’s funny how I’m living a life that most people envy.

As the Fae prince, whenever I’m out, I see how people look at me. They wish they could be like me, have my life, and be my father’s son. If only they knew that it was only glamorous on the outside; there was nothing worthy of envy inside.

I curl up in bed, feeling fresh hurt and despair. I don’t know how long I lay there, but as it gets closer to midnight, I try to fight off sleep and keep myself awake until the curse takes effect.

Shortly before midnight, my door swings open so hard that it bangs against the wall, recoiling hard. My anger flares when I sit up to see Kaelith walk in, a smirk on her face. “Get out.”

“Relax,” she says, gliding to my bed. “I’ll be out in a minute. It’s not like I want to see you turn into stone.”

Her words bounce off me, powerless to hurt me. “What do you want?”

“Would you like to hear a secret?”

“No.” I’d hate to change in Kaelith’s presence, so I’m adamant about her leaving. Besides, I’m not interested in whatever secrets she claims to have. Kaelith will never tell me anything that’ll benefit me, so whatever secret she has is likely a setup.

She stops at the foot of my bed. “We were supposed to be a powerful duo. You and I.”

“What?”

“We were supposed to be the next King and Queen of the Fae Kingdom. We could have done great things together.”

My body starts to tingle, and I know midnight is only a minute away. “Are you crazy?” I ask Kaelith, genuinely concerned for her mental health. “We were betrothed as kids! You left me because of the curse. What are you talking about?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’ve been trying to make amends, but you won’t let me.”

“How have you been trying to make amends?” I ask incredulously. “You’ve been sabotaging me everywhere I turn. You told my father I was at the fae capital, and now you told him you saw me with Rowena. How’s that making amends?”

“I’m doing what’s best for you,” she says hotly. “You know you shouldn’t be seen with a witch. You’re a prince!”

“You don’t know what’s best for me, Kaelith.”

“I do,” she argues. “And it’s not that little witch.”

My blood boils beneath my skin, and I take a deep breath to calm myself. “Kaelith, leave. Now!”

I feel my magic fizzle out and know I only have a moment left. I really don’t need Kaelith to be here right now.

“Get out, Kaelith.”

She appears unfazed by my temper. “Riven, we can still achieve our goals. We can be King and Queen. I’ll help you break free from the curse if you’ll marry me. I promise I can do it.”

Despite the discomfort my body is experiencing, I laugh. “Marry you?”

“Yes.” She inches close to me. “I love you, Riven. I swear I do.”

“Well, I don’t love you,” I answer. “You’re way too late. I love Rowena now.”

Her facade falls, and her eyes flash angrily. “You’re so foolish, Riven. Rowena can do nothing for you. She’s an outcast.”

“She has done more for me than you’ve ever done,” I answer, feeling frost cover my body as the curse takes effect. “Get out, Kaelith. You will never be half the woman Rowena is, and as long as she’s alive, you will never be my Queen.”

Kaelith laughs then, her eyes shining with amusement. “Then I guess I have nothing to worry about.” She leans closer. “Because as we speak, Morgath has her.”

“What?” Panic swirls in my belly, and I struggle to move, but my arms have solidified into stone, and the frost is quickly encroaching on the rest of my body.

“By the time you become conscious at dawn,“ Kaelith says. “Rowena will be long dead.” The wicked joy in her voice pierces my heart like daggers of ice.

I’m about to growl back in furious anger when the frost sweeps up the rest of my body, and I succumb back into the void of nothingness.