Page 12 of Bride of the Fae Prince

“This is my daughter, Princess Isabelle Louise,” says Father.

Prince Trenian’s attention shifts to him, then back to me. I freeze once more. His voice rings out with command. “Lift your veil.”

I blink. Did he just address me directly? Nerves tingle down my spine to my fingertips. If I hesitate, he’ll think I’m defying him. I cannot be defiant. I lift trembling hands toward my veil.

“It is our custom,” Father says quickly, his tone arresting my movements. “It must not be removed until after the wedding.”

The wedding.

That word shoots straight to my numb brain. Prince Trenian follows my movements as I drop my hands back to my side. He studies me for such a long moment, I lower my gaze.

Then, abruptly, he chuckles. “I suppose I’ll allow the peculiarities. But please, spare me the trickery. I’m willing to make an alliance, but do not forget that I am heir to the land that encroaches on yours even now.”

The air goes quiet so suddenly, I can almost make out the faint twang of an arrow nocking against a bow string.

Father offers an icy smile. “I can assure you, such a thing is impossible to forget.”

The prince flashes a dazzling beam full of teeth that makes my feet wobble. “Excellent.”

“We have prepared a banquet for you this evening. My attendants will see you to your chambers for your refreshment after your travels.”

I step aside, leaving room for the prince’s attendants to follow, including the other tall, white-haired fae with the enormous sword. He’s even bigger than the prince, rough where the princeis elegant. I don’twantto think how easy it would be for him to flick that sword and take off my head, but it’s a little hard when he walks within a few feet of me.

These fae are terrifying.

I glance back up the steps to where the prince strides away, led by a white-faced servant. At the last second, he stops. Turns. His eyes land on me again—

And hewinks.

Then he’s gone, disappeared into the palace.

My sisters flood around me, escorting me through the door after the prince and his warrior. None of them speak a single word.

Chapter 5

The Prince

“Are you sure thisis going to work?” asks Edvear.

Prince Rahk of the Nothril Court, my only friend, meets my gaze for a second. His dark eyes are a touch too keen for my comfort, but he doesn’t speak for me. He’s more of the brooding type, standing over there silently by the wall, observing everything quietly, and generally unnerving strangers with his imposing presence.

“I suppose we shall see,” I say. This chamber is surprisingly small and dark, lit only by a dozen candles scattered about. A single lumiral globe could have this room bright as day. But lumiral globes wouldn’t work in air as stifling and magicless as this. It’s the constant death that drains away the land’s magic. How do humans manage it? My skin almost crawls from an invisible itch—the lack of power at my fingertips, the emptiness running through my blood. I tug on my sleeve, then glance over my shoulder at the short, squat bed with what looks like heavy carpets hung from each of the four posts. Interesting. “I’m more concerned about finding a bed Rahk will fit in.”

Amusement cracks through Rahk’s stern expression. “Worry about yourself.”

“I suppose that is what I’m best at,” I return, and slide into a too-small chair. The arms hug my hips and legs tightly. I hope the chair doesn’t try to come with me when I stand.

Rahk doesn’t risk one of the chairs. “Well? What do you think of her?”

“Of the princess?”

“No, the king’s bloodhound,” deadpans Rahk. “Of course I meant the princess, Ash.”

I smirk and throw my feet up on the chair Rahk won’t sit in. “It’s not as though I can have many thoughts on someone whose only visible feature was a pair of tiny hands.”

Rahk’s scrutiny sharpens, as if he knows I have more thoughts than that. I smile innocently at him. He sighs and turns to address Edvear. I tune them out as they discuss the logistics of the fae “courtiers” we’ve brought along.

I do have thoughts about the princess, but they’re primarily made of intuition and questions. The only thing I’m fairly certain of at this point is that she is ugly. She barely hesitated when I asked that she remove her veil. It was her father who prevented it, and even though human lies have no scent like a fae’s, I’m almost certain he lied straight to my face about the veil custom.

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