Page 6 of Silent Secrets

“It means that you have two weeks to learn as much as you can about Sorlphi and the Fae—about who you are and where you come from. As the next Fae Queen, we will throw a gala for your birthday so that the important members of the courts can be there to see your powers reveal.”

“A gala?”

Grace laughs. “Yes, a gala—as in food, dancing, and formal wear. Maybe we’ll make it a masquerade. People seem to enjoy those.” She taps a finger on her chin. “Then no one will know exactly what you look like. The longer we can keep them from knowing what you look like, the longer we can hold off the assassination attempts. We can place others in rooms in the palace, so no one can be sure which is yours.”

“Assassination attempts?”

She said it so casually and I am not reacting casually. I don’t want to be the Fae Queen, especially if people are going to be trying to kill me. I don’t want to die—I’m much too young for that.

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll make sure that you have guards, and no one will attempt anything until they’re sure that you are truly the Fae Queen—until you manifest all four elemental magics.”

Fucking hell. How is this my life?

Grace reaches for my hand again but stops herself. “I know that this is a lot to take in and there is still so much more that you need to know, but I think we’ll stop here for now. You’ll spend the next two weeks learning from myself and a representative from each of the minor courts so that you can learn as much as possible.”

“Representative?” I feel like all I’m doing is constantly repeating what Grace is saying, because I’m obviously in shock.

“Yes, the ruling family of the minor courts will send their eldest child—sons, all of them, you poor child—to assist in your education.” Grace makes a face. “But just keep in mind that if you don’t become the Fae Queen, it is their families that will rule.”

I frown as I take in that information. “Does that mean that I should not trust them?”

Grace shrugs. “I can’t answer that for you, as I have not seen or spoken to those boys in many years—not since they were children. Who is to say what type of men they’ve turned into, or how their families might have poisoned their minds? I recommend using caution.”

“Yeah, sure.” Her words make sense, but I’m just feeling overwhelmed. “Now what?”

“Now, I show you to your room and you get some sleep. Your lessons will begin in the morning.” Grace stands, gesturing for me to follow her as she heads for the door.

I don’t immediately move, still trying to wrap my head around everything that Grace has told me. I’m a queen? Or, I guess, a future queen? Unbelievable. And to think that I’d been worried about how I was going to pay my bills and how much I hate my major. I guess I don’t need to worry about hating becoming an accountant anymore.

“Hadley,” Grace’s voice is sharp, and it makes me wonder if she’s called me more than once while I lost myself in my thoughts.

I jump out of my seat and trail behind Grace as she leads me into the hallway. My eyes are wide as I take in the opulence that decorates the halls. I’ve never been inside anywhere as nice as this.

As we turn down different hallways, I realize I should probably pay attention to where we’re going, but I can’t seem to keep myself from gaping at the art that decorates the walls and stands that line the hallways. I can guarantee that the vase I just walked by is worth more than I make in a year.

What has my life become?

I almost run into Grace’s back when she comes to a stop, grimacing at the annoyance on her face. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Grace’s face softens. “This is all new to you. And as the future queen, you should never apologize.”

I frown because that sounds like shit advice. It doesn’t matter who someone is—if they’re in the wrong, they should apologize. But I bite my tongue, thinking that I won’t win that argument with Grace. Plus, what the hell do I know about being a queen?

Not a damn thing.

“These are your rooms.” Grace pushes open the door to reveal a room bigger than my entire apartment. “This is the sitting room, obviously. There is a bathroom and a bedroom through those doors, and a closet that connects the two.” She gestures to the doors on the far side of the room.

I nod like an idiot as I take in the sitting room that, unlike the rest of the palace, is very modern looking. I can’t help but wonder why they’d decorate these rooms differently—there’s no way that they’d know what I like, right? But even as I have the thought, I let my eye roam the room and I wonder.

A gorgeous fireplace sits against one wall between floor-to-ceiling windows, a fire lit and its warmth filling the room. Bookshelves cover two of the other walls, filled to the brim with so many books. There’s a table for six and multiple couches and chairs spread throughout the room, and a desk sits between the two doors on the fourth wall.

Honestly, I think I could live in just this single room. I can’t believe that there’s a bedroom on top of this. Once again, I wonder how is this my life?

“You should have everything you need,” Grace continues. “You can access the bathroom from the sitting room or your closet in the bedroom.”

“Thanks,” I murmur.

Grace stalks over to the desk, lifting a sheet of paper into the air and waving it in my direction. “This is the schedule for your lessons. You’ll start tomorrow morning at eight o’clock with me. I’ll be giving you a tour of the palace so that you’ll know where each of your classes is to be held. Once we’re done, you’ll begin your lessons with the court representatives. You will dine with them each evening. Dinner begins promptly at seven thirty each night, and a queen should never be late.”

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