Page 8 of Destined for the Fae King

His presence beckons like the symbol of his court, warm and inviting, and it’s entirely too easy to curtsy, bow my head, and recite the words I practiced over and over in my head in preparationfor this moment. “I am Mira, daughter of House Rivera, here to pledge myself as a candidate of The Choosing. May I—”

“No.”

The sudden exclamation steals the rest of my speech and pulls a loud gasp from the crowd at my back. I snap my head up just as Lysandir jumps off the last step of the dais to stand beside the king.

“What’s the meaning of this?” the king snaps at his brother.

But Lysandir isn’t look at him, only at me. Blazing shock and fury scald me where I stand. I can’t help but wobble as I right myself from my curtsy and stare in horror between the brothers.

“This woman has never been in Faery before today.” Lysandir regards me like a bug to be squashed. “Yet now she wants to try to become your bride, the Queen of Fire?”

“This is true?” the king cocks his head to the side as he appraised me.

“It is,” the prince replies. “There are other candidates here. The competition will not suffer for the lack of one more.”

My hands ball into fists. I’m not some rotten apple in the bowl to be tossed into the yard.

“Let me explain.” Uncle Mathias’s footfalls are heavy behind me, but I throw out my arm to wave him off.

“I will explain,” I say.

I’m done letting men talk about and over me. I take a step closer to the king, who stares at me with his arms crossed over his chest.

My uncle halts in my periphery. Lysandir finally yields his attention, and I stare him down in defiance before turning my focus back to the king. It’s him I have to convince. It’s his hand I’m trying to win after all. The pause gives me a moment to leash the fury wanting to spill off my tongue toward the prince. I’ll deal with that later.

“It’s true,” I start. “This is my first day in Faery. However, I have long wished to come here and be among your court. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a child and first learned that I held the gift and could see fae. But before I was of age, my father passed away unexpectedly.” Just thinking about it causes my throat to try to close up. I suck in a deep breath before continuing. “My mother did not handle it well. My younger brothers either.” Or me, if we’re being totally honest. I was lost for a long time. “They needed me. It was my duty to help my family, to care for them, and to be the best daughter I could. I put aside my desires to support them for as long as I could, but when we learned you were seeking a queen, I could not miss the opportunity to follow my dreams and prove my worth.”

In the pause where I gather the rest of the thoughts trying to force their way out, the king nods, urging me to continue, so I do.

“I am Mira, daughter of House Rivera, here to pledge myself as a candidate of The Choosing. May I bring honor to my house and the best of myself to your court and your people,” I add, finishing out the portion of the entry pledge I was unable to complete before the prince’s interruption. “I believe I have qualities that would make a strong queen. I think my time caring for my family has uniquely prepared me toward that end, as I have much experience putting others before myself as a good queen should. I ask for your permission to attempt to prove myself to you in The Choosing.”

The king’s crossed arms fall loose. He gestures to me as his expression smooths out into a smile. “Why would I reject such a pledge?”

Lysandir takes up the mirror of his brother’s former stance. “It’s still most unusual. There is nothing in ourrecords—”

“And why should there be?” the king replies. “Only the names of those who compete are recorded, not the circumstances around their entry. Much about this Choosing is unlike those of the past.”

The dowager queen rises from her chair and steps forward with the aid of her cane, waving off the fae who steps up to assist her. Both brothers turn as if they sense her movement. She folds both hands over the top of her cane and leans onto it, her heavy crimson dress swirling around the bottom of it almost like it has a life of its own.

She pins me with a gentle look at odds with her regal appearance. “Let her enter if she is so determined.”

Lysandir whirls toward me. “Mira.”

The way he says my name is a plea, but for what, I can’t say. To quit? To leave? But that makes no sense, and there’s no way I’m quitting now, especially not since the dowager gave her approval. She spoke in favor of no one else—not that anyone else had this kind of issue—but I still have to believe that’s a good thing.

“Do you find some fault in her, my brother?” The king’s boot taps on the ground as he waits for an answer. “Other than being new to court?”

The prince stares at me, and I hold my breath, waiting. The king may have asked the question, but I’m desperate for the answer.

Lysandir’s gaze locks with mine. “No.”

Breath slips from my lips in a rush. No.And he can’t lie. No fae can outright. My brows pinch together.Then why?I mouth before I can stop myself. At least I didn’t speak it aloud.

Lysandir pinches his eyes closed as if in pain and turns away, returning to the dais with heavy steps.

“Lady Mira Rivera.” The king holds out his hand to me. “I accept you into The Choosing.”

The grin on my face now is genuine as I place my hand in his. His touch is warm and softer than I imagined, yet there’s no doubting his strength as he clasps my hand in his and his advisors hurry down the stairs of the dais to surround us.

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