Page 10 of The Crown of the Last Fae Queen
Kolfinna nearly bristled. “I’m not planning on?—”
“Save the lies for someone who’ll believe them,” Rakel cut in with an eyeroll. “Now change.”
The thought of stripping naked in front of this woman sent razors down her spine; Kolfinna already hated being vulnerable in front of anybody, much less someone who was imprisoning her. She hugged the dress to her body and glared at the elf. “I would like some privacy. I’m not going to run away in the few moments it takes to put this dress on.”
Rakel flashed a sharp smile. “You seem to be forgetting your place here, Princess Kolfinna. Although I’m attempting to be polite with you, since youarethe heir to our throne and the daughter of our monarch, please keep in mind that you are aprisoner. Do not mistake my kindness for something it isn’t.” She twirled her finger. “Now change into those clothes. Either turn around or change where you stand.”
Kolfinna focused on the dirt floor as she swiftly turned around and ducked her chin. She unbuttoned her uniform with trembling hands. Was this what Rakel wanted? To make her feel uncomfortable? She bunched her hands together over the beautiful, shimmery fabric of the dress. She didn’t want to wear it and feel even more out of place in this army.
She breathed out deeply and tried to calm her rattling nerves. It would be fine, she reasoned as she yanked off her uniform top with one hand and draped the dress over her other arm. She would find a way to escape and run back to Blár. It wasn’t like she was going to be stuck with Vidar and Rakel all day long; there were bound to be moments where she’d be alone. She would take advantage of that moment and flee. This small act of making her feel exposed was nothing; she could handle it.
The dress fit surprisingly well; the bosom was tight and stretched taut, but she almost always expected that with clothing that wasn’t fitted to her size. Her biggest complaint about the dress was that it was sleeveless, with a sweetheart neckline that showed more skin and cleavage than she was comfortable with.
Kolfinna pulled the neckline higher and glanced over at Rakel, who was picking at her nails with the sharp end of a shadowed tendril. “Is there anything else I can wear? If I move too much, I’ll expose myself,” she said with a tightlipped frown. “Unless that’s what you want? For the daughter of your commander to expose herself in front of theentirefae army. I’m sure it’ll make Vidar and his evil queen proud to know everyone has seen?—”
Rakel scoffed and waved a hand, her shadow magic disappearing. “Enough.”
Kolfinna didn’t have time to protest because Rakel marched forward, snatched her wrist, and once again dragged her out of the tent. Her wrist felt more like it would pop from its joint the harder Rakel tugged, and she had to hurry her steps as to not trip over her gossamer skirts.
The chill brushed over her bare shoulders and she gasped at the coolness. Almost immediately, her attention flicked over the fields for a familiar face, her heart leaping in her chest. But Blár wasn’t there; there were only soldiers and drekis outside. Besides, this cold was nowhere near the wintry edge Blár possessed, but any sign of frost and cold had her chest tightening hopelessly.
It was better if he wasn’t here, she reminded herself.
He was probably the only hope they had of defeating this fae army, or defeating Vidar. All he needed to do was team up with the other black ranks and formulate a plan. She truly, truly hoped he didn’t set his hopes on freeing her, and instead focused on the bigger picture—that this war was more important than her.
They kept going through crowds and crowds of stoic soldiers, most with their black helmets back on their faces so only the colors of their glowing eyes were visible. At the helm of the army was a large dreki that lounged on the ground with its tail wrapped around its body like a cat’s. Its head was tucked against its arms and it looked … peaceful, almost, if she ignored the terrifying mana dripping from it and its scaled, dangerous black body.
Vidar stood a few feet away from the vicious beast. He had pulled his helmet on too, and there was a grimness about him that made her shudder. Here, he was the lethal commander again. The energy that seeped from him was even more potent, more stomach-curdling, and more nausea-inducing. Sheswallowed down the panic rising up her throat, sending chills over her body, and rising every hair in her body.
He turned to them as they approached, his red-eyed glare fixing on Kolfinna. Rakel lowered her head in respect in front of him, and released her iron-clad grip.
“She’s dressed, as you requested.” Another head bow, and then a glance in Kolfinna’s direction. “This was the best I could find.”
She couldn’t tell if his prolonged silence was disapproval or something else. It was hard to read any emotions from just his eyes alone; and the fact that she didn’t want to stare into his gaze for longer than few seconds made it even harder.
“And her wings?” He stared at her again, and this time a discomfort trickled on her back where her wings should have been.
Rakel hesitated. “They were cut off.”
He flinched and something dark shadowed over his eyes. Almost immediately, a heavy, powerful mana radiated from him and Kolfinna stumbled back in shock at the murderous bloodlust she could feel. Goosebumps rose across her flesh and the instinct to run flared with such intensity that it became hard to breathe.
Rakel lowered her head again, but she too seemed affected by the sudden rage consuming him. But just as quickly as it had come, it disappeared.
“Cut … off? Someone sheared her wings off?” There was a sharp edge to his voice as he turned his attention to Kolfinna. “Who dared cut your wings?”
Kolfinna licked her dry lips. It was very obvious she didn’t have wings, so she didn’t understand why he was suddenly so enraged. An uncomfortable knot pitted itself in her stomach. It was normal for fae to cut their wings off in this day and age—it was one of the first things fae did when their baby was born,because wings were the most sure-fire way to pinpoint who was fae and who was human. It was easier to blend in this way.
“My parents, maybe.” Kolfinna cringed as the words came out. She wasn’t even sure who her parents were anymore.
Vidar made a throaty sound of disapproval. “It’s a great dishonor to have your wings sheared off. You will have to ride with the elves since you’re unable to use yours. Rakel, keep her close to you.”
Ride with the elves? Kolfinna found herself staring at the dreki, and then at the other drekis further in the camp. She hadn’t noticed it before, but wingless soldiers surrounded the mighty beasts, and she realized with a start why that was exactly.
“Yes, sir.” Rakel hesitated for a moment, looking between Kolfinna and Vidar. “There … There is still the matter with her ears, Commander Alfaer.”
Kolfinna stilled. “My ears? What’s wrong with my ears?” She inadvertently touched her rounded ears. Rakel and Vidar both had sharp ears, and so did Revna and the other ancient fae she had seen. But as far as she could tell, the fae of today’s age didn’t have them. Most likely, she assumed, due to mixing with humans.
But if she truly was Vidar and Queen Aesileif’s daughter, why were her ears different from them? Maybe this meant … she wasn’t really their child?
