Page 7 of Destined for the Fae King

“My dear mother, your Dowager Queen Elaine, wishes to see me wed to a human bride before she departs this plane.” He shifts his attention to her, and though I’m no expert, the affection shining in his eyes seems genuine, nor did I miss that he called her mother rather than stepmother or something else, though she’s not the woman who birthed him. From what I’ve learned, his own mother passed many years ago, but the king still seems to have found affection for his late father’s third bride, the mother of his brother, Lysandir.

“To honor her wish, we have invited the noblest families of our human friends to send a daughter of their house to enter The Choosing, continuing the tradition that our court has followed for generations. These women will reside here in the palace until my mother, my advisors, and I have determined which one will make the best queen.” He leans in, almost like he’s telling a joke. “And who will hopefully provide a few heirs for our great court.”

This elicits a roll of quiet laughter from the crowd and an awkward chuckle from me.Kids. Of course that would be part of the deal.I shake my head, trying to clear the sudden surge of unease making my bite my lip. But that’s what this contest is. Notjust a crown. It’s marriage, kids, a new home, and entirely new life in a new world.

I wanted that, didn’t I? Didn’t I dream of it once?

I wrap my arms around myself. But I’m no one, really, not like some of these women, who have probably been preparing for it their whole life. There’s no way I’ll win. In fact, I’ll be lucky if I’m not the first one sent home. Once the shiny newness of me wears off, I’ll be done for if I don’t find some other way to stand out and claim the king’s attention.

“However, there is one change we must make to The Choosing.” The king’s expression grows serious, earning an answering chorus of whispers. “The Unseelie have grown in power recently, endangering the Seelie courts and going so far as to kidnap the human mate of the King of Air.”

It’s news we’ve heard. Even me, on the fringes of coven society. Such a thing is a headline for the ages. A mate, a partner, especially a human one, would be one of the most beloved and protected people within the court, yet the Unseelie kidnapped her. Faery is supposed to be safe. A place where humans are treasured and given gifts and an easy life in exchange for the fact that our humanity gives power to fae magic. No human expects to be threatened or taken by boogiemen in the night. It’s simply unheard of. Or it was.

“We cannot be too careful with the safety of our human friends,” the king is saying when I focus back on his words. “Especially one who may be a future queen. As a result, any woman who enters into The Choosing shall be bonded to me until my chosen is crowned.”

Thisis new information to the crowd, eliciting a rush of replies, even a few barks of outrage.

“I know.” The king raises his hands, calling for quiet, which settles much more slowly and uneasily than before. “Such bonds on humans are an old and ill practice. Forbidden in this court.”

“Surely the wards will keep them safe,” some brave individual calls out.

Vasilius focuses his gaze on the direction of the sound. “So the Court of Air believed too, but the Unseelie have a null, a powerful one. Wards are nothing to a null. However, our guards know of this threat and will be on alert. We all will. But the bond is a further precaution to make sure none of these beautiful ladies are taken if this Unseelie threat should slip past our notice.”

He pauses, giving time for the rationale behind his words to sink in, and the weighty silence seems to have its effect as people look to one another, a few nodding in resigned acknowledgement.

A bond is…inconvenient for most. But for me, it might be a good thing. Even if I’m the king’s last pick, I get to stay here until the competition is done and the queen is selected. I can enjoy Faery, experience it like I’ve always wanted to, and no Unseelie null is going to steal me away.

“But that’s not all,” the king begins again, drawing all attention back to him. “We cannot bind all humans to me. It would be improper and require too much power. It pains me to say it, but I cannot guarantee the safety of any humans who reside here. You will be a target to the Unseelie. They need humans more than ever to revive their magic, and their new so-called king will no doubt have his subjects trying to acquire them by any means necessary. Our human friends are always welcome here, but for your own safety, I recommend you return to your world until this threat is dealt with. And deal with it swiftly we shall.”

He raises a fist in the air, fire swirling around it a brilliant display of reds and golds. Guards around the room echo the gesture,igniting the air with a flurry of sparks and color. The fire vanishes as he lowers his arm back to his side.

“The timing is far from ideal, but we do what we must for the future of the court.” He looks to Dowager Queen Elaine and gives a nod.

My chest grows tight. She must not have much time left, despite the look of health clinging to her aged form. Why would they bother to hold this competition now unless they didn’t believe they had time to delay in fulfilling her last wish?

“With that, we shall call forth the human houses and allow each great house the chance to have one daughter enter the competition to become my queen. If any wish to decline their invitation given the circumstances, we understand.” The king shares another look with Elaine before nodding to a dark-skinned fae with pale silver hair who has stepped to his side.

This fae—a top advisor, Uncle Mathias reminds me—shares more of the details about what will transpire. When a daughter of the house is formally accepted by the king, she will be bound to him on the spot, the king using his magic with that of his advisors to create a temporary bond that should release upon the choosing of his queen. I don’t miss the careful wording.Shouldrelease. Because I have a feeling they’re unsure, a sympathy that Selena shares in whispered confidence.

“I told you not to back out on me, but you totally can if you need to,” she says as the first of the houses is called upon, leaning in close enough and whispering so her father can’t hear. “We can run away together. They can’t make us enter if we both refuse.”

But I can’t. I won’t. I’ve come this far, and I won’t be seen as a coward. Not now.

“I’m doing it.” The answer is as much for myself as her. It’d be a lie to say there’s not a part of me screaming to turn andrun right now before I make a terrible mistake, but I’m nothing if not stubborn. Besides, it’s not just me I have to think about. My mom and brothers need my uncle’s support. Mom mostly. My brothers have been excelling in sports, and college scholarships look promising. But Mom? I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her in my Uncle Matias’s good graces.

No, I committed to this, and I’m going to see it through.

Houses are called forward. Young women representing the named house kneel before the king. They’re bound to him with a display of magic that resembles golden strands of light being wrapped around their wrist before winding around the king’s as well. Only one house declines the invitation, an older woman stepping up before the king and layering on an apology so thick that the king looks more exhausted than disappointed when she finally retreats.

“House Rivera.”

The pronouncement rings through the room, sounding more a condemnation than an invitation.

I swallow the sudden knot in my throat.

“That’s you.” Uncle Mathias has stepped to my other side and takes my hand firmly in his, like he planned to drag me up there if I changed my mind. Actually, he probably would.

But the last thing I need right now is to make a scene, so I paste a pleasant smile on my face and walk with him to edge of the circle of onlookers, fae and humans alike parting to let us through. There I leave him and continue alone. It’s easier now as I stare at the king, focusing on his strong jaw, his upturned lips, and the ruby dangling from one pointed ear.

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