Page 98 of Wilds of Wonder
The frost queen started pacing, her red cloak whipping behind her, her boots sinking in the thick carpet of snow. “Maybe she doesn’t care about being outed. Maybe she has some vendetta against me, against the crown. Maybe she just wants to find a way to make me look bad, to discredit me.”
I’d never seen the queen so beside herself before. Something else was going on here. I just wished I knew what.
She whirled on me, blue eyes blazing. “You will find her. You will bring her to me. And you will reap all the rewards. I will make you the head of the Academy of Scholars & Historians.”
I stilled. I was being offered everything I’d ever wanted. Everything I’d ever thought I wanted. Until I met her.
This might just be the best way, the only way, to protect the white rabbit. So I’d do what I needed to do, and I’d find a way to make sure the queen never found her. Maybe it was best our game ended for now, as much as that thought was a dagger to the heart. I could pretend I was tracking her. Feed the queen false information. It would be risky. It could cost me everything. But if the white rabbit got caught, then none of that would matter anyway.
Mind made up, I took a step forward. “Anything for Your Majesty. If you want the white rabbit found, then I’ll find her. We’ll make sure she doesn’t discover any secrets you don’t want discovered.”
I tested out the words, hoping I hadn’t prodded too much, gone too far, but the queen just tipped her head with a knowing smile. “Good. Very good, Maverick. I know you won’t disappoint me.”
With that, she turned and disappeared behind the curtain of flurries. I stood there, staring after her, mind running through our conversation. One thing was clear: the frost queen had a secret, one she didn’t want found out, and that made me want to know it all the more.
Chapter Forty-Six
EMORY
“Watch out for staircases that don’t lead anywhere. Doors that open to odd locations,” Aron said as we crossed the glass drawbridge that stretched over a sparkling blue river, all of us staring up at the tall silver walls of the castle that shimmered and glittered under the twilight sky.
Maverick’s arm was still wrapped around Annalee, drawing her into him as if he was afraid to let her go.
Aron reached the sleek silver double doors and opened one, allowing us all through in a single-file line. We entered into the foyer, black dust covering the floor that looked like the surface of a pristine lake—or at least it would have without all the dust. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, filled with stubby candles, dried wax dripping down the sides. A hallway sat to our left, doors stood in front of us, and a bridge stretched out to our right, leading to another part of the castle.
I gasped when I saw a room beyond the foyer, the entire floor painted to resemble a huge chess board. Life-sized pieces stood on the floor, moving of their own accord.
“I do not recommend playing with them,” Aron said from besideme. “They tend to crush anyone who loses.” He shot a glance at El. “The queen of hearts plays regularly, but that’s only because she’s never lost.”
El studied her nails, flicking a piece of dust from her dress.
Long scratches dragged down the walls, fissures and cracks spread everywhere. The castle might’ve looked impeccable from the outside, but on the inside, it was a mess.
“I’m afraid the castle has fallen into disrepair,” Aron said, turning to look at our group. “We haven’t had the proper supplies to restore it.”
El made a series of signs with both hands.
“Or the interest,” Aron added, and it was clear that was El’s words. Aron cleared his throat. “Let me show you to your rooms. They’re not much, but we do have hot water, beds, and food.”
“You had me at hot water,” Driscoll said.
El disappeared through the doors in front of us, and I thought I saw a flash of water, a glimpse of white feathers, but the doors closed so quickly I couldn’t be sure. Maybe it was more of the odd creatures that populated the Wilds or the swans the star king obsessed over. Could they still be alive? Or were they warped like everything else?
I shuddered at the thought of swans with long, sharp teeth who wanted to eat me.
Aron led us to the right, over the bridge. The railings were cracked, tree roots jutting up in random spots. We picked our way across and into the other part of the castle. Stairs greeted us, spiraling upward in a narrow tower. This place must’ve been a marvel to behold before the Shadow War.
We silently made our way up as I looked at the glimmering silver stone walls. I could just imagine how much this stone would go for if Shiraeth still existed. The wealthy would pay premium gold to have it in their homes. Kings and queens would travel from the human lands to procure it for their castles. I traced a finger down the rough brick, and it came away with the black dust that I was growing so sick of. If I ever got out of here, I feared I’d find dust in various places on my body ’til the end of time.
Finally we arrived at a hallway filled with doors on the right and left sides. Worn gray rugs lay on the glassy floor.
Aron spread his arms out. “There’s only a few functioning rooms on this floor, but you can take them. Our residents reside in the floor above this one.”
Boards creaked overhead, and I thought I heard a growl. I wondered exactly what kind of residents they’d invited to live here. If Aron could shift into a wolf, what other types of creatures had been borne of this curse?
I tilted my head. “How did you choose who to invite to the castle?”
Aron frowned. “Anyone is welcome. But many do not want to come here, feeling more comfortable staying out in the Wilds, living amongst nature, in environments that better suited them. Not everyone wants to be confined to the walls of the castle. Not everyone remembers their old lives or wants to. And we do have rules. Some have been kicked out for not abiding by them.”
