Page 1102 of One More Kiss

Chapter17

The king’s herald,Farina, Helga, and several other servants hurried out to the courtyard and down the pathway in front of the castle and rounded up those who were still present to announce my and Edan’s rather rushed wedding ceremony. It was scheduled to be held in the grand ballroom at ten o’clock this evening, as that was as early as we could arrange and organize everything on such short notice.

The king’s men traveled throughout the kingdom, delivering hastily written (or magicked invitations via Renora), inviting all who could attend, fairy, human, and creature alike.

To say I was a mess of nerves would be an understatement, but I knew what I had to do. Renora had insisted on creating my dress for the wedding, as was custom for fairy godmothers, only it was custom for their charges, not fellow godmothers. However, she wouldn’t allow me to argue that point and shooed me up the stairs to my chambers.

“Renora, are you certain this is what you want to do? I’ve already brought the entire guild upon my head. I’d rather you not be included in that as well.”

She narrowed her rose-colored eyes. “Do not think for a moment you can get rid of me so easily. Do you honestly believe I give a fig what Griselda or anyone at the guild thinks of me?”

My nerves were certainly getting the best of me, and at that, I had to laugh. “No, I don’t. I’m only anxious about tonight and what may transpire. The entire kingdom will be there, and I have to ensure I can appeal to Mother’s softer nature.” I paused, staring at Renora in the mirror. “Well, I have to find it first.”

She patted my shoulder. “Dear, I’ve known your mother since long before you were born, back when your father was still alive and secretly courting her. She does indeed have a softer side.” A wistful smile spread across her face. “She used to be the kindest of fairies.”

However, at her words, my heart sank in my chest. I remembered nothing of my father because he’d died soon after I was born. The heartache my mother must have endured over the years…

“What was he like, my father?”

Renora’s brows rose in surprise. “Well, as you know, we’re not allowed to have love, but Reginald loved Beatrice, and she him. It was a secret affair. In public, they had to pretend as though they were friendly and only mating for the sake of—”

Eww. I had to stop her from elaborating. “Okay, I’ve got that part—to have me. I mean, what was he like? Was he handsome? Mother never spoke of him.”

She peered at me and pulled my hair from my shoulders. “Yes, very much so. You see this?”—She held up my blue-streaked black locks—“You inherited your hair from your father. He was tall and dashing, with a kind spirit. A fairy, like us.”

“What? A male fairy?” I opened my mouth in shock. They were rare and quite powerful, and I hadn’t seen but a handful in all my years.

Renora chuckled. “Yes. Of course, but he was from another kingdom. The guild was not fond of him, you see. Especially Griselda. I’d always wondered if perhaps it were jealousy. He was terrible at hiding his affections toward your mother. And Beatrice would get that faraway dreamy-eyed expression when he was near.”

I clenched my jaw and stilled the hand she had in my hair. “The guild. Do you believe they had anything to do with his death?”

She furrowed her brow. “His death was ruled as a carriage accident, but Beatrice… Oh, dear. I hadn’t thought about this until now. Each one of us were called before the council after you were born. And, Tatiana, I do not remember anything after that. Nothing, except that he was killed in an accident, and we were to go on about our duties.” She covered her mouth with her hands. “They could—”

“Have covered it up or magicked your memories away,” I finished. “Is it any wonder why Mother is the way she is?” I rose from my dressing table and balled my fists. “First my father and then Fredrick? We may have no proof, but it begs the question—does Mother now remember?”

Renora plopped down on the seat I’d just vacated, her eyes wide. “Tatiana, I haven’t thought about any of this in years. It’s likely, and I honestly wouldn’t put it past the council or the guild to have had our memories wiped. If they learned that Beatrice and Reginald were in love, then… Oh, my sweet goddess. What if they had him killed?”

“My thoughts exactly.” Today was supposed to be a happy day, my wedding day, but now I was learning that my father had possibly been murdered by his own kind because he’d dared fall in love. Chosen free will over that of living a life of lies and wishes. Thoughts spinning, surely a bit of darkness crept into my soul, but I attempted to keep it at bay, silently praying to Inanna for peace.

Renora clutched my shoulders. “I can see your aura flashing from a murky red to an inky black. Stop this at once. Today is a happy day, regardless of what happened in the past. Today is about living a new life, one of your own choosing. We shall get your mother back.” She shook my arms. “Look at me.” I swallowed hard and met her unwavering gaze. “You’ve come too far to allow them to ruin your happiness.”

I nodded because she was right. I would not allow the guild, Griselda in particular, to win. Pain. I had to help my mother through her pain, and that meant we could deal with it together. I could do this. “Yes, I hear you.” I inhaled a soothing breath and cleared my mind. “I’m all right. Let us prepare for my wedding.”

She wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. “That’s a good girl. There shall be no more talk of this, not until after you’ve married your prince.”

My prince. Yes, and soon-to-be King. Come what may, tonight would seal our love, bond us together—mind, body, and soul.

And I would stop my mother’s curse, regardless of the cost.

---