Page 1 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

I

Act I

~ Denial ~

Prologue

Asher Daniox had always been told she was special.

As Mia Mounbetton, the queen of the Fae Realm, wove the five-year old’s hair into intricate braids and hummed a lovely tune, Asher felt abundantly special. The pair sat facing a golden wall bare of decorations except for the sole painting depicting the great Fae Realm. Like she often did, Asher found herself staring at the islands, attempting to decipher where she fit in.

“Mia, why do I not have a mama and dada like everyone else?” she asked, her small voice showing no signs of hurt, just simple curiosity. The queen’s fingers halted, causing Asher to wonder if she was not allowed to ask such a question.

“Well Asher, I was hoping to save this conversation for when you were older, perhaps not until you started Academy. However, I will tell you now. Your mother and father were dear friends of mine, and they had been spending a day in the gardens with you and my son, Baron—”

“You have a son?” Asher asked, cutting off Mia’s story. The queen flicked Asher in the back of the head, scolding her impolite behavior.

“Mind your manners now, we do not interrupt others. But yes, I had a son. That day, demons came. Their goal was likely to kill Baron, but your mother and father fought bravely against them. They both died, along with my sweet son. You barely survived. Guards found you with your little ears mangled, left in the cold to perish.”

Mia began braiding again, effectively ending the conversation, but Asher thought the story did not seem finished. No, to the youngling, the story seemed wrong somehow. When the queen finished, Asher reached up to her ears, which were always deliberately hidden underneath her long brown waves. Tears pricked her stormy-gray eyes upon feeling the jagged tops. She looked at the beautiful points of the queen’s ears, her heart breaking at her own inadequacy.

For the first time in her life, Asher felt true sorrow. She opened her mouth to object, but Mia shushed her, motioning for her to practice the piano forte. As she stood, indescribable pain overcame her, and she sensed something in her chest swell. She was unsure what had happened until Mia cried out. Asher turned around to see that the queen was grabbing her head, pulling on her hair and clawing at her skin as if she were on fire.

“Please, Asher, stop!” she screeched. Asher blinked and suddenly Mia’s face relaxed, her body going slack. The queen opened her eyes and looked at the youngling. Asher feared retribution for what she somehow did, staring at her shaking hands in horror. Mia merely smiled though, a joyous and triumphant lift of her lips. “It seems we have work to do, little love.”

Chapter One

The stark difference between the heat in my cheeks and the cool kiss of the wind was a welcome relief. I could still feel the anger rising from the pit of my stomach, threatening to boil over. Was I seeing red, or was that just the shade of the roses seeping into my vision?

I tried to take deep breaths, but the scarlet petals brought back the sound of his dingy, lust-filled voice.

“Your beauty rivals that of the most luscious flower.”

The thought of it made me want to eviscerate the rose bushes entirely. I looked down to see that my knuckles were gaining a white hue from gripping the balcony railing so tightly. I could not fathom how anyone could be so incredibly vapid, with nothing to offer but his own arrogance.

“That dress becomes you, Your Highness.”

Foul. Absolutely foul. After attempting to court me for over three months, Sterling Windsor had yet to mention anything other than my physical appearance. If Kafele was to be believed, then I also knew the prince had much more vulgar things to say about my body when I was not present. Nicola’s betrothed had never given me reason to doubt him before, so there was no cause to do so in regard to the annoying man.

If one could call him that. Being nearly two hundred years older than him made me reluctant to do so. Which was another rather revolting aspect of this soon-to-be union. He was practically a child in comparison to me. In fact, I was well into my eighteenth decade when he came to be.

I suddenly felt sick thinking about what I must have been doing when the boy prince learned to walk.

Perhaps if Sterling was not trying so desperately to fit into a place where he, quite honestly, did not belong, then I could see past the superficial; although, the age might still haunt me. How many more times could I sit through breakfast while he said obnoxious things like “Your eyes are especially dazzling today, Asher”? Or walk with him while he showcased one of the most jaded personalities I had ever come across? Or politely tell him once again to keep his hands to himself without smacking him across the face? Worse yet, how could I do this for a lifetime?

My spiraling was interrupted by the click of the double doors opening behind me, and then the steady tap of heels on concrete. Each step towards me echoed, the sound of pure confidence sending birds scattering. I knew who it was before her lilac perfume wafted my way, but the scent was further confirmation that the queen stood to my left.

“I was unaware that the view of the gardens was worth missing out on your own introductory ball,” she said, the edge of her lips tilting towards the stars above. Her tangerine hair was cut to her shoulders, hanging lower in the front than it did in the back. A small shake of her head sent locks waving back and forth.

Despite being well over six hundred years old, there was not a wrinkle on her face other than at the corners of her light blue eyes. She stood a few inches taller than me, towering over most females. From head to toe she was a compilation of straight, harsh lines. Gold petals made up her gown, sewn together to form a tight-fitting masterpiece that showed off her figure perfectly. The outfit was both regal and youthful, complimenting her skin, which was as pale as the moonlight.

Mia was every bit the glorious figurehead a queen should be. Her mere presence was a reminder that I was not. Many across the realm had not hesitated to share the same concern, but it was still never fun hearing it in my own head.

“I thought introductory balls were to allow a member of the royal family to meet their potential suitors, not be obsessively followed by a mortal boy.” The queen chuckled, quickly trying to muffle the sound with a gloved hand.

After a year of planning this ball, we were unable to cancel, but it was still clearly for show. Just to follow the traditions and pretend as if the eligible bachelors of the realm had a chance to win me. I was no more than a means to the crown to those dancing in the golden palace at our backs—a prized and feared creature that might offer them endless wealth and favor. Even with whispers of my engagement spreading across every isle, many fae still hoped they might be able to convince the king and queen to pick their son instead. Not that any of those sons would even speak to me.

“This was much easier back when it was I having balls thrown for me to meet my future king consort.” The vague response did nothing to settle the unrest simmering inside me. Of course it had been easier for her. She had a ballroom full of Elements, and the strongest won her favor. Just as it had always been. Far simpler than my circumstances.

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