12. Krynn

Ihad never seen two forms of magic fight inside a living being before—it was dismaying to behold. It was clear to me that the Nectar of Lolth was doing its best to bring forth the Fae part of the Princess—to help her rid herself of the human dross that had collected around her during her time in the Mortal Realm.

Like the cocoon a caterpillar builds around itself or the skin of a snake, this Mortal part must be shed in order for her to fully emerge as the Royal Fae she was. But the spell that had been laid on her—probably when she was no more than an infant—was fighting the power of the Nectar. Whoever had laid it on her wanted the Princess to remain human forever—to live and die the brief, sad life of a Mortal creature rather than the centuries upon centuries allotted to those of our kind.

"Please!" the Princess moaned and began tearing at the gown that I had given her to wear. "So…so hot! Can't stand…burning up!"

"What should we do? Call for the healer?" Seldarin demanded.

I shook my head.

"No—the Court Healer is in league with Mordren, you know that. If we called him, he'd probably try to poison the Princess. We can't let him anywhere near her while she's so vulnerable."

"Well, we have to fucking do something!" I could see the worry and frustration in my oldest friend's bronze eyes. Though we had known the Princess only a few hours, he felt the same possessive protectiveness of her that I felt myself. She was hurting, so of course he wanted to help her.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much help we could offer.

"There isn't a lot we can do," I told him, shaking my head. "Except try to make her comfortable during this process. The magics that are battling inside her have to fight it out."

"But that might kill her!" Seldarin, who was usually so stoic, looked more upset than I had ever seen him.

"I don't think it will," I said cautiously. "I believe that her Royal Blood and the Nectar of Lolth will defeat the spell that has been on her all these years. For now, let's try to ease her discomfort. You start removing her clothes and I'll get some water to bathe her with."

"Should we look at her while she's naked and helpless?" he objected. "She's the rightful Queen of the Midnight Court! It seems fucking disrespectful."

"Dim the trees," I told him. "That will help some."

Though to be honest, nothing obscured the vision of the Dark Fae very much—we have eyes that can see in the dark as well as the light. But at least it would offer the illusion of privacy.

As Sel began removing her robe and gown—which she had nearly pulled off already—I went to draw a flagon of cold water and to get some cloths to wash her with to ease the heat baking her from the inside-out.

I was sure—well, almost sure—that the Princess's Royal Blood would triumph in the end, but it was going to be a long night. We would just have to do our best to see her through it and pray that she survived.