Page 3 of A Kiss From a Faerie King

To have my hero tame the ache between my legs formed by those smut-filled stories.

The thought of sharing a bed with Prince Carysen has my stomach cramping. I can’t go through with this, but what choice do I have? I can’t return home. I have no money of my own. Where would I go?

A part of me says it doesn’t matter; anywhere is better than arriving at the palace. As my eyes glance out the carriage window, my hopes of escape are dashed even further. The foliage around us is thick. Even if I managed to escape the carriage, how would I navigate this harsh terrain? Especially in a dress this restrictive.

I huff a humorless laugh. Caryssa’s eyes land on my face before quickly glancing away. Is this my life now? Uncomfortable silences and unfulfilling marriage. Is a title worth giving up on everything I ever wanted for myself?

Is it worth giving up the chance of finding true love?

“Be honest with me,” I say, finding Caryssa’s eye again. “I will find out the truth soon enough. What is your brother really like? Please, Caryssa, tell me.”

The princess bites her lip and glances through the window. Her voice is low when she speaks as if someone is just outside the carriage listening.

“He’s cruel, Laurelle. Very,verycruel. My father was thrilled when he made that deal with yours. Our money…is gone. The royal banks are empty. The people have already begun to starve, and we are surely next. Your father offered a much-needed solution. Beyond that, my brother needs to be married off…his reputation…I mean, you must’ve heard the stories.”

My palms begin to sweat.

“Are the stories true, Caryssa?” I ask. Her paling face is all the answer I need.

“They didn’t run away. My brother can be rough, and the things I’ve seen him do…”

She trails off, and my ears begin to ring. I fall back against the bench seat. The carriage tilts around me, and I can’t suck down enough air. My bones feel like metal, weighing me down.

How could my parents give me to a man like that? The answer is painfully simple. I’ve never been more than an opportunity. I’ll die for my father’s ambition. Will that make it worth it to him?

“What do I do, Caryssa?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. Moisture stings my eyes, but I refuse to cry. I will not be scared. Carysen doesn’t deserve my fear or my tears.

“I—” Caryssa begins before a loud crash rips through the carriage's interior.

The carriage jerks and twists, dumping Caryssa and me to the floor. The impact rattles my ribcage and steals my breath. Caryssa lands on top of me, our heads knocking together. We both grunt in pain. The carriage lurches again, and we are jolted once more.

“Fuck!” someone shouts from outside.

“Grab hold of it!”

“Princess, are you hurt?”

The carriage comes to a harsh stop before the door is yanked open, and two guards reach in to pull us out. I wobble on my feet, touching the tender spot where our heads smacked together. My fingers come away clean. Caryssa comes stumbling out and is a bit worse for wear.

Her palm is cut, and crimson blood seeps into the sleeve of her gown.

I blink my eyes and take in the sight of the carriage. It’s completely flipped onto its side. The cause of the accident lies still spinning a few feet away. The front right wheel has completely snapped off. The spindles are in splinters, and the axle is ripped off.

“What happened?” I ask the nearest guard. He shakes his head, his helmet obscuring his features.

“We’re not sure. It was rolling just fine until…it wasn’t. As if some unseen force just broke the wheel off.”

“It’s this place. It’s cursed,” Caryssa whispers, coming to my side. I look down at her and gently take her uninjured hand.

“Are you hurt beyond your palm?” I ask. She shakes her head.

“What about you?”

“I’m fine. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Stay close,” the guard next to me says. “We’ll work fast to fix this while we still have the light. However, we don’t know what prowls these woods, and the king will have our heads if you both aren’t returned.”

I gulp but nod as I lead Caryssa towards the back of the carriage.

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