Page 5 of War of Her Heart

I knew one way he could put an end to this.

Rip apart every one of those pretentious dicks, command obedience from everyone watching andtakecontrol of the realm. It’s his birthright. One show of his power would be enough to prove he was able to protect the realm without an alliance with the Night Realm.

He wouldn’t be the first to go against Queen Mother’s rule, and she did nothing to the last Sovereign that took control without being “of age.”

But Calum wouldn’t do it. He’s too good.

Again, what did I do to ever deserve him?

As I watched Calum from a respectable distance, my father walked up to stand at my side, looking ahead in his military stance with his hands behind his back. This was the only way he ever appeared when he was in public.

My father was handsome with long, light brown hair that he always kept neatly braided down his back. His brown eyes were kind, but I hadn’t seen him relaxed enough to show that since Calum’s father’s death. Now, they were always alert, looking for possible threats of danger.

Even though, as fae, he shouldn’t age, it seemed like the stress of his station had given him slight wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes. He always seemed tense now.

“Little bird,” he said as he looked ahead, “I need you to be careful while I’m gone.”

“What do you mean?” I was puzzled. I may have gotten comfortable here since I was with Calum and no one would dare to do something to me in fear of angering him, but I knew my place. I was female. I must keep my head down and do as I was told.

“I mean, I need you to avoid Celine,” he whispered so no one could hear us.

“Father, she hates me. What do you think I’m going to do? Ask her to tea?” I rolled my eyes as I questioned him. I was being nothing but a smart-ass, but his request warranted it.

My father whipped his head around, breaking his stance. I knew he was serious because I’d never seen him like this around others. “I mean it. Without Calum and me here, I fear what she may do to you.”

I just looked at him, confused, unable to muster up words. She’s horrible, yes, but would she actually hurt me?

“Stay in your room. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I worry about your safety. I’ve already spoken to the servants. They will bring your meals and anything you ask for. Please, little bird.Do not leave your room,”he said as he pleaded with his eyes.

That really was a lot to ask. Six months confined to my room? No days spent outside in the sunlight? I would go insane. But I could tell how important this was to him. “I won’t, Father.”

Then he hugged me and walked over to Calum. I couldn’t tell you the last time he hugged me. We weren’t close at all. I loved him, and I knew he loved me, but he had always seen me more as something that needed protecting than someone who needed a personal relationship with him. He held his emotions in most of the time and only let them out when I did something that made him fear for my heart or my safety.

A hug from him worried me more than it comforted me.

Calum gave me a quick glance before ducking into the carriage, a glance no one would notice if they weren’t looking for it. I watched their carriage until they were specks past the castle gates. I looked over to where Celine was standing; she was staring at me with such hate. I thought about what my father said and decided it was best if I got to my room as quickly as possible.

The worst part—I had to think about where my room was. I hadn’t been in my room in a decade. I’d slept in Calum’s bed every night since we stopped being secretive about our relationship. The servants had moved all of my things to his chambers.

I wondered if I should get my things, but no. Father said go to my room. I could send a servant to collect my things.

I walked as fast as I could, but it was a long walk. Two staircases down and six halls, I really wished I could transfer.Luckily the castle was built on a mountain, so even though my room was lower than the main floor, I still had a window. My room was right above the servants’ quarters. It was the last floor before the rooms descended underground.

I reached my room, quickly closed my door, and locked it. As I looked around my room, I acknowledged how plain it was with nothing more than the necessities: a small, wood-framed bed, a desk with a small chair, an armoire with one handle missing, old wooden floors with wood paneling covering the walls and ceiling. A door on the right wall led to a small bathroom. Even though the entire castle was made of wood, my room felt different. The rooms of the castle were large with glass doors that were kept open most of the time with huge balconies overlooking the mountains and rivers. Oversized fireplaces made of black and gray stones that always had fires burning in them were the focal point of every room. Gold chandeliers and accents brought lavishness to the castle.

My room, on the other hand, felt like a suffocating box.

I had been living a fantasy with Calum. Without him, I was nothing but a servant in the Mountain Realm.

3

Chapter 3

Violet

Three weeks. It had been three weeks without Calum. Three weeks without leaving my room. I’d cried all I could cry. I’d solved every damn riddle book the servants brought me. I’d reread all of my favorite books from the library. I’d counted every star I could see out of my window.

Three weeks down. Only twenty-three weeks to go.

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