Page 39 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
“They really are kind of cute,” I mused.
“Need I remind you this realm excels at illusions. Those petals are likely venomous. Keep going.”
It was a worthy reminder, and it was easy to see how quickly this place could make you feel safe. Cute was a disarming aesthetic. I crouched again near a softly glowing bush, one hand on the thread that vibrated softly in my grip.
“We’re close,” I murmured.
“Good,” he said, eyes narrowing. “Let’s get her and get out of this candy-coated nightmare.”
Not much further. Past a fountain that burbled liquid gold. Past a building shaped like a teapot. Past a patch of glowing cabbages tended by a trio of creatures humming in harmony. Every corner looked like a cartoon dream. Every moment felt like a trap.
And then I saw her.
My heart stopped.
She was sitting on a throne-like chair made of twisted vines and silk pillows, a drink in one hand and an oversized sunhat perched on her head. Around her, the creatures bustled and preened—fanning her with big heart-shaped leaves, painting her nails, offering trays of sparkling fruit.
“Sadie?” I breathed in disbelief.
She didn’t hear me. Not yet.
But someone else did.
“Vareck?”
“Damon?” Vareck said, his voice laced with equal parts confusion and dread.
A man stepped out from behind Sadie’s chair. One that I recognized. Beside my sister he appeared taller, moreintimidating. Still beautiful in that terrifying, immortal sort of way that suggested he’d already gone through the transition. He had a glass in hand filled with something that looked like wine. His glass was half full, his frown half-formed.
The Crown Prince of Faerie gave us a slow, wicked smile. “Well, this just got interesting.”
Chapter 10
Meera
“What in the actual ...?” I said mostly to myself, stumbling toward her makeshift throne. “Sadie! Why are they fanning you? Why is the prince here?”
My sister snapped to attention, her warm brown eyes lighting up, and without a word, she dropped the glass in hand and ran toward me, knocking Damon aside. We collided in a bone-crunching hug that felt more like a lifeline than a greeting.
“Oh my god, Meera!” Her voice shook against my shoulder. “I tried to find you. I thought you were kidnapped.”
“I was,” I said into her hair. “You, on the other hand, look like you were tossed into a resort for Care Bears and have been getting the royal treatment.”
She pulled back, eyes bright and fierce. “After you vanished the night you apparently nabbed this one”—she angled her head toward Damon, who stood quietly—”I tried finding you. When I couldn’t, I tracked down Lou. Cornered him at the Witching Hour. He told me the fae king took you.”
“I heard, and he did. Kind of. It’s a long story. And after you disappeared, Mom and Dad hired Lou, and he tracked me down and tried to hire me to find you.”
Red flashed through Sadie’s eyes. “The fuck?”
“I think we should start from the beginning,” Vareck interjected, reminding us both that we were not alone. His tone was calm, collected—everything Sadie and I were not. He looked at his nephew, dipping his chin once. “Good to see you both in one piece.”
My sister pulled back, narrowing her gaze on Vareck. “Wait, who are you?”
I stepped between them before he could say something that would make her want to punch him. “He’s, um ... my fated mate.”
Sadie blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah, so apparently the curse is weakening or something because you remember that guy I was dreaming about ...” I lowered my voice and widened my eyes to give Sadie the hint.
