14. Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen

A few more hours of bouncing down rocky roads had the group arriving at a small inn on the outskirts of what Haven had been told was the city of Inglis. When they first arrived, Trevor told them to go inside and check in while he settled the horses, Binah having already sent word to book their rooms.

Haven was looking forward to learning about whatever kind of magic she used to do that. She'd had the thought that she might be able to use it to get a message to her mom. However Haven assumed it would take strong magic to send something between realms. Haven was hoping that she didn't need to be the one casting the magic. If she even had any, Haven doubted her magic could send a letter five feet, much less to her house in the human realm. She also couldn't believe she'd already gotten used to saying things like,

‘human realm'

How long would it take for her to forget about the human realm completely?

Attempting to push the unsettling thought aside, Haven hopped off the carriage, legs wobbly from hours of disuse. She had once read a quote talking about not borrowing the problems of tomorrow. Haven figured that that was particularly useful advice for this situation.

Walking through the wooden doorway, Haven spotted lots of fae in the small dining room adjacent to the inn's entrance hall. Trevor's earlier words flashed through her mind, he had warned them to keep their heads down and not to talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary. Haven hadn't understood what he had meant but he'd walked off before explaining.

After checking in with the kind lady behind the counter, Haven found the small room assigned as hers. While sitting on the twin bed, she began rifling through the pack Binah had sent with her. She hadn't realized Binah had put anything other than snacks in it.

"Wow," Haven said aloud to the empty room. Roman was currently getting settled into the room across the hall from hers. She didn't know where Trevor would be staying.

Along with a small brush, a spare shirt she was sure was called a tunic, a beautiful dagger and a leather canteen with some water, Binah had given her a necklace enclosed in a letter that read ,

Haven, this necklace belongs to you. Soon you will figure out what I mean. Until then, please keep this hidden. Do not show it to anyone.

You are so incredibly powerful, I need you to believe this, to believe in yourself. You are in for a lot in these coming weeks. I am afraid it will not be the quiet and easy adventure I told you.

For that I am so sorry.

I have no doubt you will make a wonderful Queen.

I hope they do not get to you before you are able to come into who you are. There is an old diary hidden deep in the castle library that will help explain.

Please be careful and trust no one.

-Binah

The necklace was amazing, clearly handmade and old. A small emerald pendant hung on a gold chain. It was incredibly simple but also one of the most beautiful things Haven had ever held. She just wished it hadn't come with such an eerie letter.

Clasping the necklace behind her and situating it under the clean tunic she had put on, Haven reread the letter. She had no idea what Binah was talking about. Apparently she was powerful, going to become a queen and had people after her, none of which made any sense. Granted, a magical fae realm where Haven not only happened to be royalty but also held magic didn't make any sense either.

Haven reread the letter twice before giving her eyes a break and exhaling a breath laced with confusion. She was no longer feeling that sense of calm she had found while watching the endless sky on the ride here. She was tempted to ask Roman about it and if he somehow recognized the necklace but Binah explicitly said not to show it to anyone. For now, she was going to follow those instructions because clearly the old woman knew something important. Haven could only guess at what, and even guessing was hard seeing as she knew practically nothing about the realm she was now in.

The part in the letter that was really sticking out to Haven was the line about her becoming a queen. When Binah first explained what had happened to them she said that more than likely, Haven and Roman would become a prince and a princess to their respective kingdoms because there was no chance they'd be powerful enough to take the throne from whatever fae already in power.

Haven had been more than fine with that, the idea of becoming a princess but not having to worry about the power and responsibilities that came with being queen sounded perfect to her, an actual fantasy come true.

Binah must have thought Haven was powerful enough to take the throne, not that she exactly wanted it. Her mind spun, would the throne simply be given to her because she might be slightly more powerful than whoever was currently ruling? Would she have to take it? And did she even want it?

None of what Binah wrote made any sense, nor did the fact that the older fae somehow already knew how powerful Haven would be. Haven herself didn't even know that.

A thought popped into Havens head, something that unsettled her. Was it possible she was from one of the missing bloodlines? That would make sense. That way, there would be no competition for the throne, no one to challenge her, practically guaranteeing she would end up as a queen. The only person preventing that would be the crown regent but by law he was supposed to hand over the throne once the true king or queen was able to step into place. Haven had a hard time picturing someone who had been in power for so long simply handing over the throne.

Another thing that didn't make sense was that no one had heard anything about the two missing lineages since they created this realm. Or maybe it was that Binah had been right in that someone was interfering. If Haven's crazy thoughts were right and she was actually from one of the missing bloodlines, that could explain why Binah told her to trust no one and to be careful.

Haven didn't quite believe her thoughts, she knew in her head that there was no possible way she was the daughter of long, supposedly dead fae rulers.

She may not believe her thoughts but Haven would heed Binahs words. Because if someone cared enough to make it seem as though the two fae rulers had simply disappeared and were likely dead, they sure wouldn't like that Haven was now in their realm.