Page 70 of Blooms of Darkness

Ian studied Kade through his theatrics, undoubtedly picking apart anything he could to give him a sense of their honesty.

“Well, then.” Corbin cleared his throat. “I must return.”

“I’ll give you the date of the next drop by sunset tomorrow,” Ian said. He clasped his hand against Leif’s arm, who followed after Corbin, leaving Ian and I with Kade and Storm.

“Not to state the obvious problem, but how are we going to get nearly three days away with the princess and two contenders?” Storm questioned.

“That’s where Kalliah will come in. We need to work out a few final details. All you need to do is wait for the sign we’re leaving.” I waved my hand in front of me, a silent gesture indicating the men should use the staircase to move along.

Shockingly, Kade obeyed without any snide remarks.

Once we ascended the balcony stairs, silence fell over the group. Ian ushered Kade and Storm out, leaving behind only myself and Kalliah, who had been patiently waiting for us to return.

We gathered back in the sitting area, when Lucien bounded in, breathing into the fireplace, and lighting a fire.

“No,” I groaned. “It’s too hot for fire.”

His eyes fell at my rejection. “Elisabeth will want one, though, she always needs your help.” With a scratch under his chin, he ran from our meeting, undoubtedly off to sneak to Elisabeth’s chambers. How the animal came and went in the palace without needing us to let him into rooms was beyond me, but I’d stopped questioning the animals of Brookmere long ago.

I refocused on Kalliah and filled her in on our plans. The tension in her face grew more taught as I finished. “Wonderful, so now we trick an entire castle about where three of the most important Fae in these trials are for two and a half days.”

“Oh, come on now.” I grinned. “What’s life without a little adventure?”

“Not a life with you, I can promise you that.” She massaged her temples. “Leave it to me.”

“I love you,” I whispered as she flung her hand over her shoulder at me and exited my chambers.

That night alone in my room, I replayed the afternoon, the words Leif had said, and the camaraderie we’d suddenly found ourselves building with others outside of our small world.

The spark inside of me flared again, but this time, I could name it.

Hope.

For the first time since things spiraled out of control with the Hidden Henchman, the dark ones, and the marriage trials starting, I felt hope again. I slept soundly for the first time in weeks. A sleep free from the nightmares so desperately trying to plague me.

Chapter 20

Hunched over with my warm, purple and gold quilt around me, I made a scene, clutching a teacup from Elisabeth as she escorted me back to the main hallway of the palace.

“Call me immediately if you begin to develop a fever,” Elisabeth said, loudly enough for all to hear. Adjusting my quilt, she patted my arm and gazed lovingly into my eyes. A moment later, she turned and disappeared down the hall.

Coughing and sniffling, I shuffled my feet slowly.

“Princess.” Fredrich’s boisterous voice echoed down the hallway, already grating on my nerves.

It took all my willpower not to flinch, but this had to be done. I knew he’d be the nosiest and would spread the word of my “sickness” the fastest.

I timed this orchestrated fake parade perfectly, with his daily walk amongst the castle halls after breakfast. A walk most other contenders tried to avoid, as they found him as insufferable as I did.

“You’re ill?” he questioned, trying to establish where Elisabeth had disappeared down the hallway. “How is your healer unable to assist you?”

I wiped an imaginary bead of sweat from my brow. “I would never waste our healer’s time with something as insignificant as a few aches and a cough. She has far more important things to tend to than a simple cold. It’s nothing a few days in bed can’t fix.”

“How noble of you, Princess,” Kade said, sauntering over from his perch atop the stairs. If I so much as glanced at him, I’d likely ruin the ruse. “May I help you back to your room?”

“There’s no need to make a fuss.” I shifted, standing taller and grasping my quilt in one hand while I balanced the tea in another. “Don’t you gentlemen have things you could attend to while waiting for the next trial? It seems like the perfect opportunity to get to know others from around Brookmere and improve our overall relations. Trade agreements would be most logical while in person, if I do say so myself.”

“Of course, Princess. What a fine idea. Even if you did get the idea from me.” Fredrich touched the tip of my nose with a finger. “I see my words have value to you.”

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