Page 80 of The Crown of the Last Fae Queen
“Why do you think anything has changed?”
She turned to him with a frown. “Surely, you don’t think that frightened girl remained the same throughout her reign?”
“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “Or maybe she was used as a puppet.”
An unsettling, strange feeling grew in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t want to imagine that—her mother, the wicked queen, being used by other people and propped up to be the villain in the history books.
But then …
She glanced over her shoulder at Elin, who was smiling diplomatically at one of the fae speaking to her; even though she was young, she exuded the poise, the regality, of someone who was born for the position of queen. Someone who had carved herself into becoming a fearsome leader.
So, what happened? Why had Aesileif become the queen instead? She couldn’t imagine the beautiful woman—her aunt—stepping down for her sister, nor could she imagine someone defeating her. Had Aesileif done something? Had she poisoned her, perhaps?
Finally, they reached the set of doors just as Aesileif touched the gold door handle. She yanked it open and slipped outside, and Kolfinna and Blár trailed behind her. The fae princess rushed to the banister of the stone balcony and dry-heaved, her thin shoulders hunching together. Against the moonlight, her skin appeared almost silvery-gray.
“Are you all right?” a smooth, hauntingly familiar voice asked softly.
Aesileif stifled a gasp and spun to her right. Several feet away, a young man stood at the end of the balcony. Long, sharp fae ears. Red eyes that glowed in the night. Pale skin, and black, demonic wings that flared behind sinisterly; Kolfinna immediately recognized Vidar. He was much younger here, about her age too. His shoulder length white hair gleamed like starlight. His face was unscarred, and he was beautiful in a lethal kind of way.
Something sparked in his eyes—recognition.
He moved gracefully as he lowered himself to a bow. “Forgive me,” he said with a frown. “I did not mean to startle you, nor did I realize you were the princess.”
Aesileif regarded him coolly. “I know you. You’re the elf boy.”
He straightened, and a muscle on his jaw jumped.
“You bested everyone in the Black Castle last month.” She swallowed, and ran a hand over her goosebump ridden arms. There was a harshness in her voice that sounded bitter to Kolfinna’s ears. “Aren’t you supposed to be guarding this place? Why are you hiding here?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be pretending to be important in there?” he retorted sharply, his eyes narrowing as he jerked a thumb at the balcony doors she had come from.
Aesileif flinched, eyes going wide. “H-how dare you.”
“I am not a guard,” he said as if that answered something. “I have declined the king’s offer. I have no plans to stay with you fae.”
She frowned. “Youdeclined? Why would you do such an absurd thing? And you are part fae yourself.”
He scoffed and Kolfinna inched closer to them both without thinking. Vidar crossed his arms over his chest. He was dressed in dark, simple clothing. Such a contrast to everyone inside, who was garbed in the richest finery.
“Why should I socialize with haughty fae and arrogant princesses?” He stared at her pointedly, his gaze flicking over her fancy dress. His disgust was nearly palpable. “I am only here as a formality. Once this revolting display of wealth is done, I will take my leave and go far, far away from your kind.”
The two stared at each other; Vidar in barely concealed loathing, and Aesileif in shock. Blár drew closer to Kolfinna in that moment, his hand pressed on her lower back as he whispered, “These are your parents?”
Her throat tightened and she found it hard to speak, so she only bobbed her head, unable to look at him for fear of what he would find on her face. It was wild to think that these two young people, who seemed to clash on their first meeting, would one day be a force to be reckoned with.
“You … look like him.” Blár frowned, as if that admission soured his mood.
“As I’ve been told,” she said with a scowl of her own. While Vidar’s features fit his male face and expressions, they didn’t work well on her. At least, she didn’t think they did. She would have rather looked like Aesileif, who was stunningly, timelessly beautiful.
“Where will you go?” Aesileif asked.
“That is none of your concern,” he answered with a darkening scowl.
“You are rather rude.”
His eyebrows rose. “Rude?”
Aesileif opened her mouth to respond to him, but her image was fading once more. Kolfinna leaped forward, trying to grab the woman, but her fingers slipped through her body.
