Teague heard her fears and turned, his face red with fury. “By all means, leave if you cannot handle what just happened. There lies the door and your salvation. Do you think being a Royal is without its drawbacks? It is not all pastries, dresses, and parties. This is real. Ruling our kind is dangerous, and I will not ask someone to stand by my side if I cannot trust them to defend me with their life. As I would do the same for them.” His chest rose and fell with passion, and his eyes shone black with anger.
Tawny, embarrassed, was ready to cry. Her hands covered her mouth and she quivered with fear.
Mina understood Teague’s desire for a partner, someone he could trust to protect him in return. But his attitude! He needed some lessons in diplomacy.
Tawny ended up staying, though Mina didn’t expect her to last long. The room was put to right, and everyone gathered around the crystal bowl.
Everything felt rushed and less formal. The Fates stood farther back from the bowl, and Teague paced like a caged lion. He didn’t look like he would settle down anytime soon.
Thankfully, Mina ended up toward the end of the line again. Tawny came forward to continue with the test, but when she picked up the knife, a door slammed loudly.
Teague was no longer in the suddenly cold room. It seemed he didn’t care about the outcome of the remaining girls and their test results. Which meant only one thing. He didn’t think they were worthy, and he’d probably already narrowed down his choices to those in the first group.
She felt a pinch in her throat, and had to swallow back her hurt feelings. It was fine. She didn’t need his approval. She wasn’t here to become his next wife. She just needed to make it through to the next test so she could stay around. Then, hopefully, she would be the one to save the Fae plane and her own.
Tawny’s test revealed a strong red glow to complement her blushing cheeks. The others also passed with flying colors.
It was finally time for Mina to approach the crystal bowl. So much had happened in the last half hour that she wasn’t really sure how to feel about taking the test. She wasn’t as apprehensive as before, because she’d used magic. But what would it do, since she wasn’t even Fae? Would it perceive her heart—know that she was an imposter—and turn black like Ferah’s test? Would nothing happen?
She picked up the small knife and studied it. Even though it had been used on multiple girls, there wasn’t a hint of blood on the tip. More Fae magic?
Mina pressed the point into the tip of her finger on her left hand. She expected there to be a sharp pain from being pricked, but she didn’t feel a thing. The shock of not feeling even the pressure against her skin made her accidentally press it farther than necessary into her finger. A very large drop formed, and she quickly held it over the bowl, praying as it fell into the water. The surface rippled.
She held her breath and waited and watched.
Nothing happened.
She let out the breath she was holding and looked up to the King. He seemed a little disappointed in the outcome himself.
Mina waited for the verdict. For the words “imposter” or “fake” to come. For the doors to open again and another Reaper to enter, gunning for her blood. She desperately looked toward the bowl again. Please, do something.
The King opened his mouth and raised his finger to give an order, when a soft ringing noise was heard. He dropped his hand, and everyone turned to look at the crystal bowl. It didn’t change colors, sparkle, or flash—it moved. The water inside the bowl swirled in a circular motion, causing the crystal to sing. The peal grew in intensity and volume, and Mina had to cover her ears from the pain that followed.
“Ouch, make it stop!” Silene demanded from behind her.
She wished she could, but this had nothing to do with her. It was a Fae creation. Finally, the crystal’s song fell silent and the relief was almost audible.
“Never before has the crystal sung,” Queen Maeve announced, giving Mina a curious look. “You are an enigma. It will be interesting to see how you approach the other tests.” The way she said it made Mina cringe with worry. “Please follow the others out of the room.”
Mina was so relieved to be dismissed that she almost ran the first four steps. She caught herself and slowed her steps to what was expected of a princess.
She was escorted to a waiting room where the girls who passed the test were waiting. Annalora was reclining on a settee, her dress spread out around her. Ever stood by the window staring outside.
Tawny was the center of attention as she was relaying the whole story of the attack, reveling in being the one with the news. “And Ferah is to be hunted down by the Reaper and killed,” Tawny rushed out.
“Serves her right.” Annalora spoke up from her reclined spot. She didn’t seem at all unnerved with the assassination attempt. “She was about to ruin my chance of becoming future queen.”
Ever turned and spoke up a bit heatedly. “Don’t you mean ruin any of our chances of falling in love and marrying Prince Teague?”
Annalora shrugged. “That too, but it’s not what they’re hoping for. They are looking for family lines and power. If Teague knows what’s best for him, he’ll choose me.”
“You seem awfully confident about that.” Ever confronted her, hands on her hips. The wind in the room began to whip as her wings fluttered, mirroring the temper that was about to get the better of her.
The two girls bickered back and forth while Mina paced, biting her knuckle with worry. This wasn’t good. She hated waiting, knowing that at any moment, she could be sent spiraling into the future without having solved a thing.
Pretending her feet were hurting, Mina sat on a cushioned chair and slid off one of her mirrored shoes to rub her foot. She turned the shoe over and held the mini hourglass toward the light to see if her time was running out.
Annalora stomped past Mina snapping her attention back to the room full of young women. “I’m of royal gnome blood which means I do not have a pointy head,” she fumed, pointing to her perfectly coiffed hair. “Only the mining gnomes have pointed heads.”
Ever raised her chin and dripped sarcasm. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot your kingdom lies deep underground. No wonder they think you’re beautiful.”
“You insubordinate”—Annalora snatched the glass shoe out of Mina’s hand and approached Ever, threatening her with the heel—“poor, pathetic excuse for a pixie. Someone should teach you manners.”
Mina gasped and immediately jumped up and ran after the gnome to grab the shoe. Her hand grazed the smooth glass side. She almost had it when Annalora turned, abruptly yanking the shoe out of reach.
Her attention was fully on Mina, and she grinned when she realized that she had her in the palm of her hand. “What? Do you want this?” She held the slipper high in the air, just out of Mina’s reach. Mina swiped for the shoe, but with the other still on, her balance was less than stellar.
Annalora laughed at Mina’s attempt to get the shoe back. “Ah, ah, ah. If you want it back you need to get on your knees and beg.”
Mina felt hampered by her beautiful feathered dress and a single shoe. Annalora tossed the glass slipper Tawny, who threw it to Fuchsia. Then Annalora got it back and smirked at her. It was a triangle of insanity.
“Stop it, Annalora. Just give her the shoe back,” Dinah said.
