CHAPTER 11
Lynne
SEVEN MONTHS. IT HAD been seven months since I had met and fell helplessly in love with my dark prince. My lips slid up into a smile at the thought of the UnSeelie Prince being mine. Giggling, I skipped down the path and out into my soon to be mother-in-law’s garden.
After our initial meeting, it had been decided by both parties that it would be best if I spent some time in the UnSeelie Court as well. I, of course, had been delighted to finally get out from under my mother’s thumb. But the UnSeelie Court was nothing like the palace back home.
For one, the air seemed sweeter. I didn’t know why but each breath I took left a sweet taste on my tongue. It was peculiar for sure but not the only difference.
The moment I had crossed from the Seelie Court to the UnSeelie it was as if a weight had lifted off of me. I was suddenly not worried about how I acted or who saw me. I could smile and laugh without worrying what Fae might be plotting against me.
For once in my life, I felt truly free. I just hoped it would last.
“Wow,” I murmured to myself as my eyes took in the surrounding garden. I thought mine was something to behold, but this place was like a wonderland of flowers. There were some here that I didn’t even know existed.
My slippers padded against the cobblestone as I made my way around the enclosed area. The heavy scent of the foliage filled my lungs to the brim. There was no place I’d rather be than surrounded by greenery. Well, maybe my library, but the queen’s garden was a close second.
“Do you like it?”
I jumped in place at the voice. I spun on my heel to meet the gaze of the most beautiful Fae I had ever seen. Everyone said my mother was beautiful, and that I was the spitting image of her. Not that I would take that as a compliment most days, but the woman before me now redefined everything I knew about beauty.
Her black hair was so dark blue streaks glinted in the light. It fell over her shoulders and blended into her matching dress causing a waterfall of silk. My hand itched to touch it. Was it as smooth as it looked? I forced my hand to stay put. This was my soon to be mother-in-law it wouldn’t do to act out of place at the beginning.
My dark prince’s eyes were the same as his mother’s. Though his made my stomach twist in delightful knots, hers were full of mirth and a slight darkness that warned me to tread carefully. This was not a woman to trifle with.
“It’s lovely,” I finally answered back, my eyes turning from her to gaze around the garden once more. “I didn’t know you had an affinity for the earth.”
“Among other things.” The queen gave a slight chuckle and moved toward me, her long form-fitting dress sliding around the stone. While most would have looked out of place in such grand attire she seemed to fit the scene perfectly. And of course, she would it was her garden.
She stopped beside me and my body tensed. I was used to my mother. I’d only met the UnSeelie Queen once before and I’d been a baby at that time. Now I didn’t know how to act or speak. Did I call her your highness? Or Queen? This whole no name nonsense made things increasingly more complicated than it needed to be.
“I was looking for my betrothed,” I explained, not wanting her to think I was snooping around. “Have you seen him?”
“He’s in the orchard,” she replied and then to my surprise she looped her arm through mine and began to lead me down the path.
“Where are we going?” I let her guide me toward an opening in the large green hedges surrounding the garden.
“You want to find my son, do you not?”
“Yes, but I just assumed you’d tell me how to get there.” I took in every twist and turn we took in case I had to get back on my own.
She gave my arm a slight squeeze and smiled at me. “What kind of mother-in-law would I be to let you wander alone in a strange place? Besides…” her voice dropped an octave. “The UnSeelie Court is much more dangerous than it seems. I would not care to see you hurt from negligence.”
I nodded not knowing what to say to her warning. So far the UnSeelie Court was much nicer than my own. Though, I hadn’t been outside the palace walls, so my opinion was pretty much null and void.
We turned a few more times before we exited the hedge maze and stepped into a large field full of rows and rows of trees. My mouth dropped open at the sight. I’d never seen anything like it. The more I was in the UnSeelie Court the more at wonder I became.
“My son should be just over that ridge over there.” The queen pointed her finger to the right where there was a slight hill and even more trees.
When she let go of my arm to leave I called out, “Wait? You’re leaving? I thought you didn’t want me wandering alone?”
She paused and gave me a slight smile. “Do not worry, there is nothing here that can harm you. It’s one of the few places you do not have to fear but remember,” her eyes narrowed, “there is much to fear in this world and your heart. Do not let either catch you off guard.”
Chewing on my lip, apprehension filled my chest. Her words were not comforting. If anything, it made me even more anxious for her to stay. But before I could express my concerns she had reentered the hedge maze leaving me utterly alone.
My eyes searched the area expecting something to jump out at me at any moment. Even though she had said I was safe here, I still didn’t like being left alone in a strange place.
After a moment or so, I took a deep breath and forced my feet forward. Staying here wasn’t going to solve anything. I had come to find my dark prince, and that was exactly what I would do.
It didn’t take long to make my way across the orchard and to the hill the queen had pointed out. When I got to the top of the hill, I found myself slightly out of breath and my dress sticking to my skin. It was a lot steeper than it looked.
At the top of the hill was a tree, much larger than the others with giant balls of fruit decorating its branches. My gaze didn’t stay on the tree for long because below its branches stood my prince talking to a blonde woman.
Her hand touched his arm and a broad smile spread across her face as she laughed at something he said. Jealousy flared inside me as I approached the two. When I was within a few feet, the blonde’s eyes caught sight of me. Whatever she had been saying was cut off causing my prince to turn.
“My peach,” his sultry voice greeted me and he moved from the woman to my side. His arms embraced me filling me with warmth, and for a brief moment I forgot about the unknown woman and just enjoyed his closeness.
“Hello.” I held him tight. “I couldn’t find you at the palace. Your mother brought me here.”
“Of course she would.” He pulled back from the hug and brushed my hair behind my ear. “I am happy you arrived safely. I meant to be there when you arrived but something came up.”
“Something?” My eyes glanced back to the blonde woman that had yet to be introduced.
The dark prince gestured to the woman to come closer and everything inside me screamed for her to stay away. But I held my tongue. I didn’t know this woman or her relationship with my betrothed; I couldn’t hate her just because of my jealousy.
“This is Ms. Liddell. She is visiting from the human world.”
The blonde dipped down in a curtsy, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“It’s a pleasure to meet the one who has captured our dark prince’s heart.”
I didn’t understand the laughter that filled her voice.
“That’s enough out of you.” My prince scowled at her and waved an arm. “The Hatter is no doubt waiting for you.”
Ms. Liddell’s lip puffed out in a pout and she stomped her foot slightly. “Fine, but don’t blame me when you mess it all up.” She flounced away in the direction I’d come from, leaving me completely bewildered.
“What was that all about?”
His hand came to rest on my shoulders and he smiled. “Do not worry your lovely head about her. Humans are even worse than faeries at times. Always putting their nose in where it does not belong. Now,” his arm curled around me drawing me to his side, “let me show you my kingdom.”
As my prince prattled on about the orchard and whatnot something ate at me. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly. I just knew that something about that woman did not sit right. I didn’t just have the UnSeelie Court to fear but her as well.