King of Always: Chapter 4

up before I strangle you in your sleep, and then you’ll never get to eat another triple chocolate eclair again!”

“What? Where are the eclairs?” My eyes shoot open, and I squint at the scowling faery princess crouched beside me who’s jostling my shoulder roughly. My gaze focuses, trailing over the braided red hair that glints with green and gold jewels, her incredible gown of sewn-together petals, bright green eyes, and freckled skin. She smells of roses with the barest hint of sweat. So, not a faery then—just my cousin, Lara.

A very angry Lara.

“Hi, Cuz! Do you have to yell at me like that?” I fumble to sit up, rubbing my temple. “I’ve got a shocking headache.” Mouth gaping, I look around the room. It’s small. Damp. Flames from two sconces flicker over black-stone walls. Opposite where we sit is a wooden door with a barred window across the top. This place is creepy and stinky like an actual gross dungeon or prison. “Am I in a cell—”

“Yep,” says Lara. “You’re in the old dungeons beneath the Emerald Castle. And since it was Kian who put you here, you should count yourself extremely lucky a headache is you’ve got.”

I quickly look down to make sure I’m still wearing clothes—yep, I am, thank goodness—and Lara folds me in her arms, kissing my cheeks. “What are you doing here, you stupid, stupid girl? You have no idea what you’ve done, what you’ve set in motion!” She pats my body, checking for injuries. “Are you alright?”

I nod. “How did you find me?”

She pulls back and inspects me further, her palms framing my face, squeezing too tightly. “Kian couldn’t help but gloat to Ever and Raff the first chance he got.” Her frown turns into a grin. “You’ve probably just made the dumbest mistake of your life coming here. But I’m so glad to see you!”

“You too. By the way, you make a spectacular fae princess in that freaking strange dress.”

“This old thing? It’s probably a thousand years old. Where does Aunt Clare think you are?”

“I told Mom you’re a super-amazing cousin who invited me to visit you in Brazil. But you and I both know you didn’t invite me anywhere—hence you are neither super amazing. Hey! Where’s Merri?”

Lara picks at the embroidered falcons on her dress. “Hanging with her grandmother, Queen Varenus. If you think I look cool in Faery get up—wait until you meet tonight. She looks like a goddess. So, how did you get into Faery? It’s no easy feat.”

“Through a portal that popped me into the Moonstone Cave. That’s the same cave you departed faery from, right? Did you know spirit conjurers are for real? They even have websites and answer emails these days. I had no idea.”

Her eyes narrow. “I don’t believe for a moment that one of these phony operators opened a portal for you, Isla.”

“They didn’t. A fae called Sally Salamande did. The conjurer just hooked me up with her.”

Lara’s jaw drops. “Sally Salamande! What’d she look like?”

“Oh you know, hair on fire, red eyes, demonic slitted pupils—basically, pretty terrifying.”

“Wow. That has to be Salamander, Raff’s fugitive fire mage. She’s been MIA for a while now, which basically sucks for Raff. His power is connected to hers, and with the way the curse is trashing him mind and body, he needs her ass back here like…

. Did you get any intel on what the conniving old lizard breath is up to?”

Guilt scorches my skin as I remember the deal I made with Sally about the curse and the cure I’ve sworn to keep secret if I ever do come to learn it. I hope I don’t. Who wants to hide such things from people they love? Not me.

I can’t quite meet Lara’s eyes when I say, “Nope, not really. The only thing worth mentioning is she seemed very keen to keep guarding that portal she lives on top of.”

“Oh, boy, wait until Raff hears about this.” She shoots to her feet, seizing my wrists and dragging me along with her. “From personal experience, I remember exactly how bad you’re feeling right now—human bodies aren’t optimized for crossing dimensions, so I’m sorry to rush you, but we need to get you settled in the castle and then cleaned and primped in time for tonight’s banquet.”

She pulls open the door and beckons me down a narrow hallway to a decrepit-looking spiral staircase lit by blue-flamed torches. Blue? I’ve never seen their like before, but they’re pretty awesome.

“Oh, and you need to try hard not to cuss like a chef while you’re here.”

“Why? I’m sure the fae can handle the odd expletive—”

“They don’t like it. Think of alternatives.”

I laugh. “Really? Like ? Oh, my furry fudge nuts that really hurt?”

She shakes her head. “Nope, too close to the hairy ball sack truth.”

“How about just plain old fudge nuggets, then?”

“Perfect.”

“Yeah, as long as I don’t mind sounding like a deranged clown, it’s a great alternative.”

“Listen, Gordon Ramsay, just promise me you’ll try.”

I blow a chunk of dirty hair off my face. “Fine. Anything for you, Cuz.”

Linking her arm through mine, Lara says, “I can’t wait to see your jaw hit the floor when you check out your room.”

“And I can’t wait to lie on an actual bed, so bring it on. Wait… Fae sleep on beds, right?”

She laughs and pulls me onto the first step. “Wait and see.”

“No. Scratch the bed. What I can’t wait for is a bath and something to eat besides strange fruit muffins and cheese. And, of course, to see all of those gorgeous, freaky faeries.”

“And don’t forget about all the hideously terrifying ones. You’ll see plenty of them, too.”

“Speaking of faeries, what happened to Kian?”

She giggles. “Ever has magicked him up a pair of bat wings, and he has to wear them for a whole moon turn. Kian’s not a happy boy right now. All he cares about is appearing superior to everyone else, and at the moment he looks like a dime-store Halloween costume.”

“Bit like Dracula?”

“Yeah. Half blood-sucking vampire and, with that gorgeous hair of his, half Ariel the Little Mermaid.”

“Sounds awesome.” Our laughter echoes off the walls as we climb the stairs.

Lara wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “I’m really mad at you for following us here. It’s not safe, Isla. But I have to admit I’m kind of glad I can finally share it with you—Faery in all its wondrous and terrifying glory. And I can’t wait for you to meet Raff.”

“The fire prince?

?”

She laughs, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. “Oh, you’ll see. Believe me, Isla. You will definitely see.”

“What? Tell me! What will I see exactly?”

“A magnificent cursed faery prince, among other things.”

“Well, that sounds interesting. And ominous. But what about these things? Spit it out, Lara!”

“Only two hours until the moon rises.”

“What’s going to happen when the—”

“Quick. We’d better hurry,” she says. “You need a fair bit of scrubbing and polishing before you’ll be presentable for court. It could take hours.” Then she dashes ahead of me, sprinting around a bend in the stairwell and leaving me to chase an effervescent ribbon of light trailing in her wake.

“Wait. Lara,” I yell. “Something weird is following you!”

“I know.” Her voice echoes from the darkness above. “It’s called Isla.”

“Very funny.”

“Hurry, before the dungeon troll gets you.”

“What dungeon troll?”

“The one I released before I opened your cell.”

“

I mean shivers.”

It’s a good thing I’m an experienced up-hill jogger. Being a committed foodie, I exercise a lot to stay healthy. I’m sure Lara’s lying about the troll, but even so, I race up the stairs faster than I’ve ever moved in my life.

I don’t plan on getting eaten before I get to attend my first-ever Faery feast.