you’ll understand when you meet him.”
That didn’t sound good. What, did he never leave the castle or something?
“And what if he doesn’t like me?” I asked, “I know I can be a bit… abrasive at times.”
“He’s going to love you,” Ian said, “Trust me.”
“And you’re sure he’s not really a murderer…” I said. All of my fears were coming out at once.
“He’s not,” Ian said, “Look, we’re almost there. Once we enter the castle walls, our disguises will disappear and everyone who gets a good look at you will know you’re human. Can you handle that?”
I nodded, but my stomach was twisted in knots and I was shaking. Ian took my hand.
“I need to talk to the king and queen about something first, and then I’ll present you to them,” Ian said.
Chapter 11
We entered a large room with marble floors and saw two people who could only be the king and queen sitting in matching thrones. They were royally dressed,the king in scarlet robes and the queen wearing violet, and they both had shiny crowns atop their heads. The most striking thing about them was how good their posture was. They looked like they had metal poles where there vertebrae should be. The king was tall and had a beard that was starting to grey, while the queen was a brunette wearing a perpetual frown. The royal pair were seated on their thrones and listening to the townspeople, who stood in line to complain, to praise, and to ask for advice. The line stretched across the room, but as soon as the king saw Ian, he stood up.
“My son,” he said, moving toward Ian. Ian tried to say something, but the king spoke first, “and this must be Erica, your bride-to-be?”
“You,” I said to Ian, “You’re the prince?” I had mixed feelings. I liked Ian, maybe more than liked him, but I wasn’t ready to marry him or anyone else. I felt relieved, betrayed, and hurt.
“You should have told me,” I said, my voice rising in anger, “You lied to me!”
“You wouldn’t have come with me,” Ian said.
“I’m leaving,” I said, “Take me home!”
“Erica, it’s too dangerous! Besides, you should give me a chance. I would take such good care of you. You won’t find a better husband!”
“I have to go,” I said, storming off without a plan or a rational thought in my head.
“Vanya, go with her,” I heard Ian say, “Protect her.”
A pale woman with long, silvery-blond hair appeared at my side. She wasn’t any taller than I was, and she certainly didn’t look any stronger.
“You’re the one Ian sent to protect me?” I asked, “Ian certainly has a sense of humor.”
“I’m the head of the royal guard,” she said, “Here, Ian wanted you to have this.”
I continued to walk away from the castle, but I slowed a little, “What is it?”
“It’s a vial of his blood,” Vanya said, “in case you’re in grave danger.”
“He gave me his blood? Cuz wedding rings are soo pase,” I said sarcastically.
Vanya and I wandered through the fae lands in front of the castle for about three hours before she asked me, “So, what is your plan?”
“You mean you don’t like wandering around aimlessly with me?” I asked in a mock sweet voice, but then I said, “I’m sorry. I know you’re here to help, but I’m just so angry.”
“I don’t know why you’re so upset about marrying a handsome prince,” Vanya said, “And Ian’s not a bad guy. All he ever seems to do is protect you.”
“I know,” I said, “but I never thought I would have to get married this young or under these circumstances, or to leave my family or to give up the life I’ve always known. And something else has been bothering me too. Why does some of the kingdom think that Ian’s a murderer?”
“It’s a long story,” Vanya said, “Ian’s brother was next in line to take the throne, but he had a wicked streak. A lot of people didn’t want him to be king. A few years ago, Ian went out horseback riding with his
That didn’t sound good. What, did he never leave the castle or something?
“And what if he doesn’t like me?” I asked, “I know I can be a bit… abrasive at times.”
“He’s going to love you,” Ian said, “Trust me.”
“And you’re sure he’s not really a murderer…” I said. All of my fears were coming out at once.
“He’s not,” Ian said, “Look, we’re almost there. Once we enter the castle walls, our disguises will disappear and everyone who gets a good look at you will know you’re human. Can you handle that?”
I nodded, but my stomach was twisted in knots and I was shaking. Ian took my hand.
“I need to talk to the king and queen about something first, and then I’ll present you to them,” Ian said.
Chapter 11
We entered a large room with marble floors and saw two people who could only be the king and queen sitting in matching thrones. They were royally dressed,the king in scarlet robes and the queen wearing violet, and they both had shiny crowns atop their heads. The most striking thing about them was how good their posture was. They looked like they had metal poles where there vertebrae should be. The king was tall and had a beard that was starting to grey, while the queen was a brunette wearing a perpetual frown. The royal pair were seated on their thrones and listening to the townspeople, who stood in line to complain, to praise, and to ask for advice. The line stretched across the room, but as soon as the king saw Ian, he stood up.
“My son,” he said, moving toward Ian. Ian tried to say something, but the king spoke first, “and this must be Erica, your bride-to-be?”
“You,” I said to Ian, “You’re the prince?” I had mixed feelings. I liked Ian, maybe more than liked him, but I wasn’t ready to marry him or anyone else. I felt relieved, betrayed, and hurt.
“You should have told me,” I said, my voice rising in anger, “You lied to me!”
“You wouldn’t have come with me,” Ian said.
“I’m leaving,” I said, “Take me home!”
“Erica, it’s too dangerous! Besides, you should give me a chance. I would take such good care of you. You won’t find a better husband!”
“I have to go,” I said, storming off without a plan or a rational thought in my head.
“Vanya, go with her,” I heard Ian say, “Protect her.”
A pale woman with long, silvery-blond hair appeared at my side. She wasn’t any taller than I was, and she certainly didn’t look any stronger.
“You’re the one Ian sent to protect me?” I asked, “Ian certainly has a sense of humor.”
“I’m the head of the royal guard,” she said, “Here, Ian wanted you to have this.”
I continued to walk away from the castle, but I slowed a little, “What is it?”
“It’s a vial of his blood,” Vanya said, “in case you’re in grave danger.”
“He gave me his blood? Cuz wedding rings are soo pase,” I said sarcastically.
Vanya and I wandered through the fae lands in front of the castle for about three hours before she asked me, “So, what is your plan?”
“You mean you don’t like wandering around aimlessly with me?” I asked in a mock sweet voice, but then I said, “I’m sorry. I know you’re here to help, but I’m just so angry.”
“I don’t know why you’re so upset about marrying a handsome prince,” Vanya said, “And Ian’s not a bad guy. All he ever seems to do is protect you.”
“I know,” I said, “but I never thought I would have to get married this young or under these circumstances, or to leave my family or to give up the life I’ve always known. And something else has been bothering me too. Why does some of the kingdom think that Ian’s a murderer?”
“It’s a long story,” Vanya said, “Ian’s brother was next in line to take the throne, but he had a wicked streak. A lot of people didn’t want him to be king. A few years ago, Ian went out horseback riding with his
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