Page 14 of Song of the Shadow Prince
My mouth fell open and I scoffed. Even in a fantasy world, elitism ruled. Of course. And I had to take over the life of a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Not that I was complaining, but also, like,damn. I just needed to roll my eyes for a second. “So what happened to the fae to knock them to the bottom of the social ladder?”
Maeve plopped down on a chair near the vanity and sighed. “This happened many centuries ago, but the fae attempted to enslave the humans. Since the dragons had a good working relationship with the humans, they partnered together to overthrow the fae. It’s said the fae were very cruel during their reign, so many of the other supernatural factions joined the dragon clans to further their cause.”
“Interesting,” I mused. “So what about me? What am I like?” I asked eagerly. “That beefed-up juice monkey accused me of stirring up trouble, so I’m guessing I’m not an easy person to deal with, huh?”
Maeve winced. “That was the third prince, Prince Damien. He’s been courting your sister, Lady Gianna for years, but something must have happened last night, because according to the other servants—”
I held up a hand. “I don’t care,” I sighed. “Tell me aboutme. What amIlike?”
Maeve chuckled. “Well… if you truly want to know…”
“I do.”
“You’re not the nicest person in Elaria,” she started. “You’re actually probably the meanest… and cruelest. If I hadn’t been raised by your family and already knew you were human, I would think you were fae.”
I jerked back in surprise. “Ouch… harsh,” I murmured.
“I mean, youdidtry to push your sister overboard during the storm last night, my lady. If it weren’t for Prince Damien, she could have died,” Maeve whispered.
I nodded thoughtfully and then froze. “Wait a minute… That beautiful bastard was there? Last night on the boat?”
“Yes.”
I replayed last night when I woke up in the midst of the storm, surrounded by strange people on the deck of the boat. How I was nearly pummeled by an exceedingly tall and beautiful man. Was that…?
“Was the tall guy who nearly killed me last night this so-called third prince?” I nearly shrieked.
Maeve gulped and nodded.
“Son of a bitch!” I spat, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. I should have kicked him in the balls when I had the chance.
A prince. The storm. Dragons. It felt like a fantasy gone wrong. The lilting scent of lavender from the pillows and beeswax candles grounded me in this peculiar reality. I needed to find a way back to my own place and time, but first, I had to navigate this bizarre new world where apparently I was a villain in my own story.
I haltingly pieced together what I’d learned so far. “So, this third prince is a dragon?”
Maeve twisted her mouth to the side. “Sort of.”
I furrowed my brows and tried to tamp down my frustration. “What do you mean,sort of? Either he is or he isn’t.”
Her eyes widened. “The third prince’s story is a bit complicated. He fell from grace many—”
“Good,” I interrupted with a chuckle.
“Be careful what you say, my lady,” Maeve whispered, her voice barely audible. “He’s also known as the Shadow Prince. He may have fallen from grace, but he is not one to be trifled with.”
I grunted and shook my head. “Not surprised,” I mumbled under my breath. “Anyway, why did I want to push Gianna overboard? Why do I hate my own sister? She seems fine.” I shrugged, the confusion evident in my tone.
Maeve scrunched her little button nose as a look of discomfort crossed her face. “Gianna is the lord’s firstborn, but she’s illegitimate. She was born from an affair with a servant. The servant was sent away a long time ago by your mother, and due to her status, everyone barely tolerates Lady Gianna. But Lord Zacharia thought it was only fair to give her a title. On the outside, she seems fine. She’s quiet, demure, helps the less fortunate; she’s always feeding the hungry in the Southern District during her free time. But as you often like to point out, my lady, no one can bethatperfect.”
I climbed out of bed and began to pace, my bare feet chilled by the cool wooden floor. “Maybe I’m not diabolical enough, butI don’t see anything wrong. The girl seems fine,” I muttered, feeling the smooth texture of the silk nightgown brush against my skin with every step.
“She’s fine for now,” Maeve said, her voice steady, “but I’ve been by your side since I was a child, my lady, and your gut is never wrong.”
I paused by the window, the bright daylight streaming in to cast a warm glow across the room and illuminate the intricate patterns of the lace curtains. The sky was a clear, vibrant blue. Outside, the garden burst with riotous colors of flowers in full bloom. Chirping birds and the soft drone of bees flitting from blossom to blossom filled the air with a sense of serene vitality.
Turning back to Maeve, I studied her closely, the sunlight highlighting the delicate features of her face. Her earnest expression, the way her eyes sparkled with concern, and the sincerity in her voice suggested that she genuinely believed the words she spoke.
My companion was a petite young woman who stood around five-feet-two inches. Her skin was fair and flawless, with a hint of a rosy blush on her cheeks, and her large, expressive eyes were a striking shade of green, like emeralds glinting in the sunlight. Long, dark lashes accentuated their vivid color.
