Caged: Fae Fantasy Romance (A Court of Passion Book 1) E-Book

Mac Flynn

• Herausgeber: Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Elina is a fae of the Western Woods, a region filled with tall forests and green fields. She lives a life of peaceful bliss until the day her father, the king of the fae, dies. Then everything goes wrong.

Her uncle assumes the throne, and his heart is as cruel as the biting north wind. He gives her only two choices: to be sold as a bride to the dragon king of the southern region or be ‘removed’ from the line of succession. Elina chooses to cling to life and arrives at the southern capital city of the ancient dragon king, a creature tens of thousands of years old. She discovers a vibrant city with many sights and many secrets.

The worst-kept secret is the size of the king’s harem. He hosts dozens of women from all the surrounding kingdoms, and she finds herself awash in a sea of unfamiliar, and sometimes hostile, faces. Competition for the king’s affection is fierce among those seeking favors, and her pretty face is a magnet for jealousy and cruel tricks.

Now, Elina must face a new life and new dangers as she navigates a world of dark lies and even darker plots. All the while, a pair of golden dragon eyes watches her very closely.

Leseprobe

CAGED

Fae Fantasy Romance

A COURT OF PASSION

BOOK 1

MAC FLYNN

CONTENTS

Copyright

Author’s Note

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Sneak Peek: Bound

A Small Favor

When’s the Next Book?

Series by Mac Flynn

About Mac Flynn

COPYRIGHT

Caged: Fae Fantasy Romance (A Court of Passion Book 1). Copyright © 2025 by Mac Flynn.

Published by Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or artist. The only exceptions are excerpts or the cover image in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or artist.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for joining me on a journey through my imagination. If you’re looking for romance and adventure with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then you’ve come to the right place. My books contain paranormal plotting and fantastical action, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

* * *

You can keep in touch with me by joining my newsletter or checking out my website for the latest updates.

Check out my website

Sign up for my newsletter

Thank you for giving my book a chance, and Happy Reading!

- Mac Flynn

CHAPTERONE

The future was dark, but it would be lit by a flame of passion I could never have imagined.

But that was yet to come. For now, I sat in my bedroom near one of the open windows, enjoying the fresh breeze from the pleasant green fields of my people. They worked the land with their green magic, bringing forth a bounty most kingdoms could never dream of. A smile worked its way across my lips.

There came a knock on the door. I turned my attention to my bedroom. Large, thick carpets covered the stone floors, and tapestries hung from the walls, some created by my hands. The four-post bed stood not far from where I sat, and a vanity of some age stood beyond that against the wall. It was simple luxury at its best.

A portrait hung above the mantel featuring the striking bearing of the regal man. He smiled down at me, and his eyes twinkled with that familiar look of mischief.

“Come in,” I replied.

The door opened and one of the maidservants stepped inside. She clasped her hands in front of her and bowed her head to me. “Good morning, Princess Elina. Your father has summoned you to dine with him for dinner.”

My eyes lit up and I jumped to my feet. “Is it that hour already?”

She stepped aside as I swished past, my dress flapping about my running legs. The halls of my father’s castle were long and wide, and crafted to make a simple square keep that surrounded a courtyard. Two flights of stairs on either end of the square allowed people to move up and down the five levels. I hurried toward one of them, as my bedroom lay on the third level and the dining hall was on the ground floor.

I turned the corner to the stairs and crashed into a heavy-framed elf man. Their hands shot out and grabbed my arms, preventing me from falling.

“I am so sorry!” I apologized as I whipped my head up.

The swarthy man smiled down at me. “Where are you going in such a hurry, my swift-footed niece?”

I looked past him at the stairs. “To dine with Father, Uncle Manala. Are you not coming?”

The corners of his lips twitched down and he opened his hands, releasing me. “Your father has not given me that pleasure today. I hope you enjoy your meal. If you will excuse me.” He bowed his head and hurried off.

I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself before hurrying off. My steps took me downstairs and into the personal dining room adjoining the grand reception hall. The large hall was empty. There would be no entertaining until the harvest had been brought in for the season.

I stopped at the door leading to the dining room and smoothed out the creases in my dress.

“I could hear your feet pounding down the stairs,” a deep voice called from inside.

I sighed, but a smile played on my lips as I stepped inside. The quaint room was only twenty feet square with windows looking out into the courtyard. The yard had long ago been transformed into a garden where flowers bloomed and trees provided shade. Stone paths wound their way through the beauty, enhanced by the singing of many birds.

A short table could seat ten people, but only one man sat at it. His regal bearing and gold-hemmed clothes showed his royal status, but it was his kind eyes that made him the beloved ruler he was.

“I was that loud, huh?” I asked him as I strolled up to the table.

“As loud as a stampede of horses,” he replied as he gestured to the empty plate set on his right. “You had better sit and eat before your food grows cold.”

I took a seat and sampled all the delicious foods from the covered platters. “I met Uncle Manala on my way here.”

My father paused in capturing his food on his fork, and a dark cloud settled on his brow. “Did you?”

“He mentioned he hadn’t been invited to dine with us,” I commented.

My father sighed and resumed eating. “Your uncle and I have had a disagreement about the taxes, that is all.”

“Would he not come to discuss the matter with you?” I wondered.

“He refused my offer to dine with us,” my father revealed.

I blinked at him. “But he told me he had not been invited.

“That is his way of saving face,” my father mused as he took a bite of his food. “I fear my brother believes he is in the right and will not suffer the presence of anyone who thinks otherwise.”

A suggestion struck me and I perked up. “Would you like me to speak with him?”

“I would like for you to eat your meal,” he scolded me as he used his fork to point at my hardly touched plate. “The cooks do a wonderful job, and it should not be wasted.” I bowed my head and dug into my food. My father watched me for a while before he sighed and dropped his gaze to his plate. “Why do we not go for a carriage ride through the fields? I have some inspections to make and would appreciate the company.”

My head shot up and a smile spread across my face. “Really?”

He chuckled. “Truly, but only if you are a good girl and eat your food, especially your vegetables.”

I dropped my gaze to the green stuff on my plate and wrinkled my nose. “But they are so tasteless.”

He plucked a singular spice dispenser from the table and held it out to me. “Why do you not try my special seasoning?”

I grinned. “You know you are the only one who appreciates food in such a spicy manner.”

“Right you are,” he agreed as he sprinkled the spice over his food. He set the dispenser down and took in a great mouthful of food. “The cooks are excellent, but few can compete with the natural world with its delicate-”

“Delicate flavors?” I suggested as I gathered up some food on my fork.

A strangled sound made me look up. My father’s face was a ghastly red and his eyes were bulging out of his head. He grabbed his throat and violent choking came out of him.

My eyes widened and I leaped to my feet. “Father? Father! Someone, please! Help!”

Servants rushed out of the adjoining kitchen and hurried over to one. My father’s body sank into spasms and froth filled his mouth. The servants laid him on the floor and pressed him to the floor to prevent him from hurting himself. I rushed over and stood over them, fear gripping my heart.

“What has he eaten?” one of them asked me.

I shook my head. “Just his usual spice. It is over-” I pointed at the table, but the dispenser had disappeared.

“We must move His Highness to his bedroom!” someone shouted.

The men organized themselves on either side of my father and picked him up. I hurried along behind them, but one of the maidservants stopped me. She grasped my arms and met my eyes. “You should stay here.”

“But-”

“There is nothing you can do for him but pray to the gods that he will be granted a speedy recovery.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I nodded. She drew me into a hug, and a sob escaped me. “There, there, little one. Whatever happens, you will be alright.”

How I wish she had been right.

CHAPTERTWO

I sat in my bedroom near one of the open windows, enjoying the fresh breeze from the pleasant green fields of my people. They still worked the land with their green magic, bringing forth a bounty most kingdoms could never dream of.

I couldn’t bring myself to work up a smile as I had in past times. The air was somber. A heavy sorrow lay over everyone, especially me. I turned my head and my eyes fell on the portrait above the mantel.

“Oh Father. . .” I whispered. The tears came again.

There came a knock on the door. I hurriedly wiped away my sorrow with the back of my hands. “Come in.”

The door opened and one of the guards presented himself. He grasped his halberd tightly in his hand and a dark shadow lay on his brow. “Sorry for disturbing you, Princess Elina, but King Manala has summoned you.”

I furrowed my brow. “My uncle? But why?”

“I do not know. I only know I was to bring you to him.”

“Very well. I will go with you.” I pursed my lips but stood and brushed the creases from my dress. “Is there any word on locating the herb dispenser?”

“It has not been found, Princess, and I believe your uncle has called off the search.”

My face fell. “But why?”

“He believes you are mistaken, and in that terrible moment, you conjured up the dispenser being on the table.”

My mouth dropped open. “But I saw him use it!”

The guard bowed his head to me. “I’m sorry, Princess Elina. I can’t tell you any more than what I’ve been told. Perhaps you might speak with His Highness about the matter.”

I clasped my hands in front of myself and lifted my chin. “Yes, I shall.”

The guard led me through the quiet, shadowed halls. Servants stepped aside to let them pass, and their eyes were filled with pity. I clasped my hands in front of me and managed a few small smiles for them.

We reached the throne room, and the guard opened the door and stepped aside.

I cocked my head to him. “Are you not coming?”

“King Manala has requested a private audience with you.”

My hands tightened their grip on one another, but I held my chin high and nodded. “Thank you.”

I strode into the large throne room with more confidence than I felt. Black curtains hung from the windows, and the green carpet that led up to the throne had been replaced by a black one. Two thrones, one larger than the other, stood at the far end of the room. The smaller one had been unoccupied since my mother’s death some ten years earlier.

The taller one was not occupied by my Uncle Manala. He lounged in its cushioned seat as though he had always sat there. Part of me was riled by the sight, but another, more prudent half told me not to act out on such emotions. He was the king now, and I was merely an orphaned princess.

I stopped in front of the throne and bowed my head. “You wished to see me, Your Highness?”

“I did,” Manala mused as he toyed with the gold necklace that draped over his chest. “I wish to speak of your future.”

I straightened and furrowed my brow. “My future, Your Highness?”

He looked me over with an alarming glint in his eyes. “You are young and healthy. Have you never had a suitor?”

My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open. “Pardon?”

My uncle frowned and waved a hand at me. “You needn’t look at me like that, Princess Elina. I am well aware it has been only a fortnight since my brother’s unfortunate passing, but an opportunity has come up that cannot be overlooked.”

I swallowed the rising ire within me. “What opportunity?”

“That you be wed.”

My heart thumped hard in my chest. I pressed a hand over it to try to soothe my frustration. “I. . .I am grateful for your suggestion, Your Highness, but my mind and heart are too heavy to think about marriage at this time.”

Manala sat up and his eyes took on a dark hue. “This is not a suggestion, Princess Elina. This is a command, especially as I have taken the trouble of finding you a husband.”

My lips ran dry, and I found I could barely speak. “I. . .I don’t understand.”

“Then you may understand this,” Manala mused as he gestured to a bag I hadn’t noticed on my mother’s chair. He reached over and lifted the leather purse before dropping it back down. The contents loudly clinked. “A king’s ransom sits in this purse. Or rather, a princess’ dowry.” He grasped the tied top and stood. “And this only constitutes half the payment. The other half is being carried here as we speak and will be paid in full when the king’s emissary makes his final evaluation of you.”

Terror and confusion gripped my heart. “Which king?”

He lifted his chin and sneered down his nose at me. “The Dragon King, of course. Who else would pay so much for a cast-off princess?”

My eyes widened. “The ruler of the southern lands? But that is nearly half a month’s journey from here, even in the best of conditions! How will I return home?”

Manala narrowed his eyes at me, and the dark look in them made me shrink back. “Return? You will not be returning, Princess Elina. You will remain in the Dragon King’s palace and live out your days there.”

My desperation rallied my courage. “But why should I not visit?”

“Because I do not wish it, and as ruler of these lands, whatever I wish, that is law,” he growled as his hand that was wrapped around the bag shook a little. “You are a dead-end, princess. Your father’s line will end with you, one way or another.”

Fear froze my heart. “What. . .what do you mean?”

My uncle strode down the platform upon which sat the thrones and stopped by my side. He lowered his voice to such a whisper that I struggled to hear his bone-chilling words. “You will become this king’s wife, or you will be ‘removed.’ Do you understand?”

Everything froze. Fear overwhelmed my mind as I tried to make sense of this madness. My uncle. Had he just threatened my end?

Manala’s sharp voice cut through the halted time. “Do you understand?”

I couldn’t find my voice, so I just stiffly nodded. I stood dumbfounded, tears streaming down my face. Father was dead, and now I was to be exiled from my home. Or worse.

He relaxed his stance and grinned. “Good. I expect the representative of the Dragon King to be very pleased with you, so wear your best dress and smile for him when he comes. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some taxes to reorder.”

He strode past me and toward the doors. A flash of defiance slipped into my numb mind. “Your Highness?”

Manala paused halfway to the door and half-turned to me. “What is it?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned to face him. “Why have you called off the search for my father’s herb dispenser?”

A little color drained from his face, but he lifted his chin. “Of course. There is nothing to this nonsense about it being on the table. None of the servants recall serving it.”

“Has the dispenser been found?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “I would advise you not to ask too many questions, Princess Elina. I would refrain from doing so until you were well away from the kingdom.”

My uncle turned and strode from the room, the coin purse chinking in his hand.

My shock was disturbed by one of the doors opening behind me. A guard stepped inside. “Princess Elina? Are you well?”

I remembered my uncle’s words of warning about smiling, and I quickly wiped away the tears. “Yes, I am quite fine.”

“His Highness may not be pleased to find you still standing here, should he return.”

I lifted my chin, forced a smile on my face, and turned to him. “You’re quite right. I’ll leave at once.”

I hurried past him and back to my room. The view from the black curtained windows enticed me, and I eased myself into my seat. The birds sang and the people worked away at their fields.

And I wept. I wept for them under my uncle’s pitiless rule, and I wept for myself at my coming exile.

And then, slowly, I rallied my spirits. I lifted my head from my tear-soaked hands and stiffened my jaw. I was my father’s daughter, and even if I was to be taken from my ancestral home, I wouldn’t lose my pride.

And I wouldn’t be beaten down by anyone, even the Dragon King himself. Speaking of the devil, my eyes wandered over to a large bookshelf situated on the opposite side of the room. I hurried over and searched the shelves before I found an old tome. The cover and spine were worn by my many readings, but a thin layer of dust on the top showed I hadn’t touched it in some years.

I plopped myself down on the foot of my bed and studied the embossed cover. A History of the Lands. I flipped it open and froze on the interior page. My heart sank as I beheld my father’s neat handwriting.

To my little reader. Love, Father

I brushed my hand over the words, and my tears welled up again. Handle yourself, Elina! I scolded myself. Father wouldn’t want you to shed a tear on these beautiful pages!

I was right. The book had been engraved with wonderful pictures and maps. I flipped through the pages until I found the map I wanted. The chart unfolded to show my wonderful world, a huge landmass surrounded by many islands. Green forests and fields stretched across the center, and to the north were the frosty tundras of my mother’s people.

But it was the south that my gaze invariably traveled. Sunny beaches and countless coves abutted the ocean of the great world. The jagged coastline with its ship-wrecking rocks and endless deeps frightened me a little. I couldn’t swim.

I folded the map shut and flipped through the pages to one particular chapter: The Sunny Southern Shores. I scanned the contents and my eyes lit upon one particular passage.

The kingdom of Calida occupies ten times the area of our smaller but greener kingdom. It has had only one ruler, King Marcus Tullia. He is an ageless dragon and, as far as anyone can tell, the only one of his kind.

“King Tullia,” I whispered as I lifted the book and studied the name. I wrinkled my nose. “An ageless dragon. I wonder what he looks like.” I flipped through the pages, but the chapter soon ended.

A sigh escaped me and I closed the book. Perhaps it was best I didn’t know what he looked like. Somebody that old was bound to have a few more wrinkles than what I was accustomed to seeing among my elven people.

I would have to wait and see about my groom-to-be.

CHAPTERTHREE

But first, I had to pass the test. To say I was nervous would have been quite the understatement. From the first moment I awoke, I couldn’t stop fidgeting with my hands. Green threads of my fae magic flowed out and knitted together a picture of my worry.

I heard a knock on my door and nearly jumped out of my skin. “Come in!” I squeaked out.

The door opened and one of the porters stepped into the room. “Sorry to disturb you, Princess Elina, but His Highness has ordered me to change your curtains.”

I blinked at him. “Change them?”

“Back to their green color,” he explained as he nodded at the black ones. “His Highness wishes the castle to be its most colorful for the coming guest.”

My blood boiled at the thought of color so soon after my father’s passing, but there was nothing the porter could do. “Very well. The curtains are hanging in the wardrobe.”

I stood to the side watching his deft work, and the window afforded me a view of the main road down which the carriage would need to travel. My keen elven ears soon picked up the rumble of a large carriage, and an elegant four-horse vehicle soon rolled down the road, pulled by four magnificent white stallions. Their white manes blew in the breeze and their hair glistened in the late morning sun.

The porter stepped back, his work finished, and I hurriedly took his place while he exited the room. I set my hands on the sill and leaned out to inspect the carriage itself. It was an elegant machine with four large wheels and a large body. An insignia stood out from the door, but even my keen eyes couldn’t make out the shapes and lettering.

The carriage rolled into the front courtyard and stopped at the front door. Servants hurried out, but one of the men from the box, a small, swarthy man of about forty, hopped down as spry as a squirrel. He wore a long traveling overcoat and underneath was a dark vest and black pants. His short hair was hidden beneath a broad-brimmed hat that partially hid his eyes. The man’s heavy boots hit the ground, and in one swift motion, he stepped forward and opened the door before any of my people could perform the favor.

The man held out his hand and a slim, wrinkled hand stretched out from the inside of the carriage and settled on his palm. He guided the representative down from the body, and I was surprised to find it was a woman. She was no doubt of the mortal variety, as she appeared to be about eighty or so. The woman wore a simple white dress with gold lace on the cuffs, hem, and around her neck. Her shocking white hair was done up in a tight bun behind her head. A gray traveling cloak was clasped to her shoulders.

She stepped down and paused, lifting her eyes. They fell on me and I felt those bright blue eyes delve into my mind as nothing had before. The effect was both startling and frightening. I stumbled back and the connection was broken. A crooked smile slipped onto the woman’s lips and she sauntered into the palace.

I set my shaking hand over my heart and felt it pound against my chest. I’d seen much magic in the court of my father, but I had never experienced such an intense focus, especially not on me. My dread worsened after that first strange encounter, and the knock on the door sounded like a death knell.

If I failed to win this strange woman’s favor, that would very well mean that result.

“C-come in,” I answered.

The door opened and one of the guards stepped inside. “I am to take you to His Highness for an interview with his visitor.”

I lifted my chin and stiffened my jaw. “Of course. Lead the way.”

The guard led me back to the throne room, where I again found my uncle the only person in attendance, with the addition of the woman from the carriage and the man who had opened the door for her. She sat upon a plump, high-backed chair while he stood beside a small, weathered chest with a heavy, old lock. The man clasped his hands in front of himself and had his head bowed.

My uncle caught the woman’s eye and gestured to me. “Here is my niece for your viewing pleasure, Lady Verstand.”

She examined me with those strange light blue eyes of hers. “She is certainly a pleasure to behold, but My King demands more than that from his bride.”

Manala bobbed his head. “Of course, of course. She has an excellent mind and-”

“I am sure she has,” Lady Verstand interrupted him as she lifted her nose to my uncle. “I wish to have this interview with her alone.”

My uncle’s face drooped. “Alone, Lady Verstand?”

“Yes. You must leave.”

Manala narrowed his eyes slightly. “This is most unusual, Lady Verstand. I thought to better assist this transaction-”

“And you can, from a distance that requires you to leave this room,” Verstand insisted.

My uncle’s rage was expressed in the ruddy hue of his cheeks. He gripped the fronts of the chair arms before easing himself to his feet. Manala mastered the rage burning in his eyes and inclined his head to his visitor. “If you wish.”

“I do.”

“Then I will take my leave.” He stepped off the platform and down the walk, but his eyes pointedly looked at me. I didn’t miss the deadly warning in them.

The doors slammed shut behind him and I was left alone with the strange pair. Lady Verstand hopped up and down, bouncing the chair until she completely faced me. She leaned back and set her hands in her lap as she looked me over. “Now, then, why do you wish to become a bride of King Marcus Tullia? And no lies, mind you.” She tapped her temple with one finger and a faint smile danced across her lips. “I can tell if you’re lying.”

I clasped my hands in front of me and pressed my lips shut.

Verstand frowned after a long moment of silence. “Well? Speak up. Why do you not answer me?”

“You told me not to lie, but I can’t answer your question without doing so,” I countered.

Verstand stared bewildered at me for a moment before a cackle erupted from her. She slapped the arm of the chair with one hand. “Bravo! An excellent answer!”

I blinked at her. “Pardon?”

She stood and stalked around me. “His Highness prefers an honest bride, even when that honesty does her no service.” She stopped in front of me and folded one arm over her chest while the other cupped her chin. “Now then, why do you not wish to marry him?”

“I know nothing of him other than what I have read.”

“And I would wager that is very little, other than those scandalous biographies people are always bringing out,” she mused as her sharp blue eyes studied me. “But there is something in your demeanor, girl, that you have not spoken about. You’re afraid, aren’t you?” She waved her hand that had held her chin. “Don’t bother answering. I can see it in your eyes.” Her own flickered to the door. “It’s that brute of an uncle, isn’t it? He seems eager enough for the deal to force his own niece to accept such a proposal against her desires.”

I bowed my head. “That is just the situation.”

She was quiet for a moment as she examined me. “I think you would prefer to stay, but that option isn’t open to you, is it?”

“Yes.”

“Would you make a fuss by coming with us?”

“No.”

She cocked her head to one side. “You are a very obliging creature. I wonder what you’re like when you’re riled up.” She stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

Red rage blinded me and my green magic shot out of my body. The wave struck Lady Verstand and sent her flying off her feet. Her companion darted behind her and caught her against his chest, scooping his arms under hers to keep her from sliding to the floor.

I clapped my hands over my mouth to stifle the scream of terror. I’d just attacked the representative of King Tullia. Horror made me stumble back as my stomach churned.

And a laugh escaped her.

I gaped at Lady Verstand as she climbed to her feet and waved off her friend. “A good catch, Bystry. This floor is waxed enough that I would have skidded into the wall had you not caught me.”

My legs couldn’t stand the strain and buckled. I dropped to my knees on the hard floor and sat there trembling, caught between the dueling desires to scream or cry. Footsteps sounded on the stone floor, and Lady Verstand’s feet came into my view.

She nudged my knee with the tip of one shoe. “That’s enough of that now. I’m not throwing you back to your uncle because you fought back when I hit you.”

I lifted my bleary eyes to her, and she leaned down and offered me a handkerchief. “There, there. None of those tears now. I want that spirited girl who has quite a way with her magic.”

I reached up a shaking hand and took the handkerchief. “B-but why?”

“Why irritate you beyond your limits?” she mused as she smiled down at me. “Because I must test your limits. Being a bride to the king of Calida is no simple matter. Your patience will be tested quite often, and I must see what you will tolerate.”

My heart sank. “Then I failed?”

She folded her arms over her chest and sighed. “I would say that, but I believe you’re a special case.”

I blinked at her. “Is. . .is that good?”

She offered me her hand. “You are most cordially invited to be the bride of the king of Calida.”

My hand still shook as I set my palm in hers. Lady Verstand helped me to my feet and looked me over. “Now then, I believe your uncle called you Princess Elina.”

“That is my name.”

“A pretty one, but I’m afraid you’ll have to drop the title once you reach the palace. There are so many princesses in the capital that nobody bothers with that formality.”

My heart fell. “I. . .I see.”

Verstand leaned back and clucked her tongue. “What a long face! We should tell your uncle the good news! Will he not be pleased?”

My eyes flickered to the chest. “Very pleased.”

CHAPTERFOUR

Verstand leaned to one side and her voice rang out over the room. “King Manala! You may come back inside!”

The doors opened and my uncle strode into the throne room. He had a smile plastered on his face, but his eyes showed his concern as he stopped in front of us. “I trust my beloved niece has met with your approval?”

“Quite,” Verstand assured him as she looked me over. “She will do nicely for His Majesty.”

Manala rubbed his hands together. “Then I trust we need only do the, um, unsavory task of exchanging what was promised.”

Verstand turned her head and one eye caught Bystry’s attention. The man bowed and slipped over to the trunk. He grasped the entire lock in his hand and twitched his fingers. The lock popped open and he quickly removed it. Manala scooted closer, his greedy eyes on the container.

Bystry lifted the lid and revealed a king’s ransom’s worth of coin bags. They were all the same size as the one my uncle had shown me the other day. Manala’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open. Bystry removed only one of the bags before he shut the lid and returned the lock to its position.

Verstand took the bag from him and held it out to my uncle. “There. As agreed.”

He eagerly accepted the bag, but his eyes lay on the chest. “Are. . .are those other bags for other purchases?”

“Of course not,” Verstand mused as she smiled sweetly at him. “They were meant for you.”

Manala’s face drooped. “Were? Why will I not be receiving them?”

Verstand looped an arm through mine. “They are meant to compensate families who are understandably distraught at their loved one leaving them.”

His eyes lit up and he practically jumped at me, grabbing my hand in both of his in such a grip that it made me wince. “But I am distraught, Lady Verstand! Very distraught!”

Verstand narrowed her eyes at him and her lips curled down into a scowl. Manala’s eyes widened and he stumbled back, losing his grip on me. The lady’s smile returned, but there was a touch of coldness in the corners. “I am sure you are, King Manala, and you have been paid according to that distress. Now, if you would-” She reached into her traveling cloak and drew out a folded piece of paper. “You must sign this document for the marriage to be considered official.”

Manala tightened his grip on my hand. “I’m not so sure anymore, Lady Verstand. I am loath to separate myself from my dear, dear niece, especially for such a small sum-”

Verstand shrugged. “Then all the money will be revoked and the offer will be rescinded. Bystry.” The man moved to grab the bag of gold from Manala’s hand.

My uncle scooted back, losing his grip on me as he clutched the bag to his chest. “T-that is quite alright, Lady Verstand. I am an elf of my word and will not go back on the agreement.”

She unfolded the document and held it out to him. “Then sign.”

Manala swallowed hard and held out his hand. His green magic flowed from his fingers and drifted across the bottom of the document. The light etched his name into the parchment

Verstand snapped the document shut and tucked it back into her cloak. “That will do. We will now bid you a good day, and may the dowry bring you some little comfort for the loss of your beloved niece.” She looped an arm around mine and bowed her head to him. “Come, Elina. Let us see to your packing.”

Bystry picked up the trunk with ease and Verstand led us out of the throne room. I looked over my shoulder as we reached the threshold and beheld my fuming uncle, hands balled at his sides and his cheeks as red as a rose. The dangerous look in his eyes told me that I was glad to be leaving. He spelled ill for everyone around him.

It made my heart heavy as we passed through those familiar halls. Servants stepped aside and smiled at me, people I had known all my life. There was trouble brewing on the horizon. I regretted leaving them.

Then again, how could I help them if I were dead?

“You are very quiet, Elina,” Verstand mused as she studied me. “Is your heart touched by your leaving so much that you would remain?”