When morning came, I watched the light on the ceiling shift as the sun rose, exhausted and unmotivated to get out of bed. The only thing that had me sitting up and placing my feet on the floor was the thought of spending my last day with Calliope.

  When I went into Sarai’s chambers, she sat in the rounded alcove, staring out over the gardens at the back of the castle.

  “Sarai.”

  Her head, resting on the window frame, rotated to look at me. “Morning.”

  “Are you going to see Calliope soon?”

  “Yes. I just wanted to finish watching the sun rise.” She smiled.

  I sat down on the end of the bench near her feet and peered out the window. “Do you remember watching the sun rise with Mother?”

  “It was my favorite part of the day,” Sarai said, smiling, keeping her eyes on the window.

  “Have you felt any different since coming to Faylinn?”

  She turned. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know… like you can think for yourself?”

  Sarai’s brow ruffled as she thought for a moment. “Do you not always think for yourself?”

  “I’m not explaining it right.” I shook my head. “I’m just confused. I’m starting to question Father in ways I never have, and I don’t know why.”

  Sarai leaned forward anxiously. “What happened, Sakari?”

  I wanted to choose my words carefully, but there was no right way to say something without sounding accusatory. “Have you ever questioned Father’s story about Mother? Ever questioned how it really happened?”

  “Are you saying you don’t believe it happened the way it did?” she said quietly, peering toward the door as if making sure no one was listening.

  It felt disrespectful even questioning it. I exhaled, looking down at my hands tightly clasped in my lap. “What if Favner wasn’t the one who killed her?” I whispered.

  She blinked rapidly. “If not Favner, then who?”

  I licked my dry lips nervously and used the lowest tone possible, ashamed for the mere thought. “What if it was Father?”

  Sarai fell back against the wall with her mouth agape. “Father?” she breathed.

  “I know it sounds blasphemous, but what if she disagreed with his plan to invade Faylinn? What if she was warning Favner, and Father was trying to stop her?”

  Sarai shook her head, unable to speak.

  “I know it’s a horrible accusation, Sarai. I know I shouldn’t even be entertaining the thought, but he has horrible things intended for the other kingdoms that don’t conform. I can only imagine what Mother would have thought of his plan if she knew any part of it.”

  “Sakari…” Sarai said guardedly.

  “I know. I know. I know.” I stood and paced the floor. “I don’t even know if Mother knew, but if she did…” I stopped and faced Sarai once more. “What would she have said?”

  “She would have tried to stop him,” she said faintly, realizing my accusation had merit.

  That’s what I think.

  “Sarai, I…” I swallowed.

  “He caught me in the hallway last night,” she interrupted.

  “Which corridor were you in?”

  “I had just turned from Calliope’s after you left her. She told me about your hand.”

  “Did Father say anything to you?

  “He didn’t have to, Sakari. It was all in his eyes. Even when I told him I was just going for a walk, I know he didn’t believe me.”

  “Unless he mentions it again, don’t worry about it.”

  “Sakari, if he killed Mother, what’s to stop him from hurting any of us?” She jetted to the edge of the bench, trying to keep her voice down. Desperation plastered her expression.

  “I won’t let him hurt you. No matter what. Okay?” She nodded reluctantly. “Sarai. I mean it. You will always be safe.”

  …

  Calliope was sitting on the window seat on the right side of her chamber, looking out at the vast garden, the morning light streaming down her body. When I let myself into her bedroom, she didn’t say a word or look my way, though she had just called for me to enter.

  The world ceased its spinning. Everything stopped, and I knew what I had to do. For this stationary moment, though, I let my eyes trail the length of her perfect figure, her legs outstretched across the bench and crossed at the ankle. Those wild blonde curls poured down her back and over her shoulders, begging for my fingers to dive into the abyss of silk. She was so close and yet farther out of my reach than she ever felt.

  Calliope finally looked over her shoulder to see me standing just inside the closed doorway.

  “Sakari?”

  “I can’t do this to you,” I said.

  “Can’t do what?” She shifted her feet to the ground and curled her dainty fingers over the bench on either side of her.

  I moved farther into her room, unable to take my eyes off of her, my heartbeats quickening. I should be explaining what I couldn’t do, but I just wanted to look at her before this life was ripped away, the life I thought we could have. She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. “I thought I could be selfish, or at least make you fall for me, but I refuse to force you into a bond that you have absolutely no desire to be a part of.”

  “Sakari,” she sighed, looking down at her lap, her fingers tightening over the edge of the seat.

  I wanted her green eyes on me again. With them closed, I couldn’t read her. I wanted to read her, understand her, absorb her. That couldn’t happen. I understood that now. “You’re not the only one who wants love in this life, Calla.” I kneeled down in front of her, to get down to her level, and set my hands on her legs.

  “Maybe there will come a day. It might not be today or tomorrow, but… but maybe someday,” she said, obviously trying to make me feel better. When did she start to care?

  I used to have hope for someday, but it was selfish. I wanted it for all the wrong reasons. “I don’t want to hope for someday. What if someday never comes?” My voice broke. I cleared it to disguise my weakness, but it was useless. She lifted her gaze; her eyes drowned in an ocean of tears she refused to release. Her lack of response was my answer. We both knew the truth I couldn’t actually say. “I’ll speak with my father.”

  She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “And you think it’s going to be that easy? That your father will accept that we’re not going to bond just like that?”

  “I’ll talk to him. He might have another idea. I’ve been selfish. I wanted you, so I pushed for this. He was trying to make me happy. We might be able to find another way to give him what he wants that won’t include us bonding. Or at least delay the bonding until we figure all of this out.”

  The hopeful gleam in her eyes dug the broken pieces of my heart into my other organs. She laughed, but it wasn’t filled with bliss or amusement. “You’re delusional, you know that, right?”

  I chuckled quietly. “Just hopeful.”

  She leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Though, I don’t think it will work, thank you for being willing to try.”

  With a closed-lip smile, I nodded once and stood. “You don’t get it, Calla. I would do anything for you.” I bent down and kissed the corner of her mouth. I lingered, fighting with myself, wanting to kiss her again, but knowing I shouldn’t.

  I pulled back, and her eyes looked strangely disappointed. “I’m going to go speak with him. I’ll be back.”

  She nodded.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  CALLIOPE

  My stomach had confusingly fluttered when Sakari lingered, his lips just centimeters from mine. But what was even more confusing was I wanted him to linger longer.

  I watched the closed door and fell back onto the bench. Why was it that I wanted to run out that door and stop him? An unexplainable piece of me didn’t want to stop this bonding.

  There was a certain level of comfort I felt with Sakari. That was the feeling I hadn’t been able to place before. Comfort. Sakari reminded me of Cameron. He was becoming my security. I knew if I needed someone I could turn to him and he would stand by me. He would defend me until the end. Though my heart resided with Kai, Sakari would never let me want for anything. He would do everything in his power to be what I needed.

  Kai.

  When I thought about him now, bitterness leaked in. Why was I still letting my heart yearn for him? Nearly five days had come and gone, and he still wasn’t here. Not even a trace of him. He knew when the bonding was. He knew, and he still wasn’t here. I looked back out the window, letting myself imagine him traipsing through the limbs. Leisurely showing his face behind the glass with a plan, scoffing at me for thinking he wouldn’t think of something.

  But reality kicked back in. Tomorrow was bonding day, and he never came. There was no plan. Kai wasn’t darting through the trees back to Faylinn to fight for me. He’d left. He’d deserted me. This was what he did. When things became too hard to handle he ran. I didn’t even know why I was still fighting a battle within my heart for him. If he truly loved me, he would be here now. He never would have left in the first place.

  Sakari fought for me. Every step of the way. No matter how many times I’d tried to push him away, he’d never given up on me. Even if Sakari couldn’t stop this bond, there were worse men I could be forced to spend the rest of my life with. Maybe there would come a day where I could wake up and turn to Sakari and find that I was madly and deeply in love with him.

  Anything was possible.

  …

  I didn’t hear from Sakari for the rest of the day. Sarai didn’t bring me any meals either. Some Rymidonian I’d never met brought me breakfast, then lunch. I couldn’t ask where Sarai was, but I knew it could only mean one thing if she didn’t come. My heart sank. When I asked where Sakari was, she only said he was busy with his Royal Highness. That wasn’t good enough for me.

  When I attempted to leave my room, the door was locked. I banged on the door, demanding someone let me out, but no one came. Not even the slightest sound was made outside my door. I ran to the window, but it was sealed shut. What is going on? I screamed for what felt like hours with no response.

  “Let me out of here! Where’s Sakari? Take me to Sakari! Let me out now!”

  It was useless. No one acknowledged me. By nightfall I was a wreck, pacing my room back and forth. I heard a tapping on my window and raced toward it. Declan hovered, wide-eyed.

  His muffled voice traveled through the glass. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. Sakari showed up this morning to tell me he was going to try and get us out of the bond, and I haven’t heard from him since,” I raised my voice for Declan to hear me. I didn’t care if anyone else did. Maybe then they would come in or let me out. “I can’t leave my room. Everything is locked, and no one will answer me.” Declan’s expression turned my insides. “What is it?” I asked. “Tell me.”

  “The Rymidon Keepers have multiplied out here. Just when Dugal and I thought we might have a handle on the situation, our chances of holding our own in a battle have practically diminished.” Declan splayed his hands on the glass, bracing himself. “Something happened, Calliope. I don’t know what. I don’t know why, but it’s gone from bad to worse out here.”

  “The Oak? Do you think Adair did something already?”

  Declan shook his head. “I just came from there. It looked okay. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I don’t know what I’m looking for. I imagine it would look different somehow, but without knowing his plan for the Waking Oak, I have nothing. I’m sorry.” His head hung. “I failed you, My Queen.”

  I rapped on the glass. “Stop it. No, you didn’t. You’ve been doing everything in your power to save this kingdom, Declan. You haven’t failed. We can’t give up now.”

  He looked up, tears glazing over his eyes. “I don’t know what else to do, Calliope.”

  “We’ll figure something out. Adair has to let me out of here at some point. I’m supposed to get married tomorrow. I’ll think of something,” I tried to sound sure, but I couldn’t even reassure myself.

  After Declan left I finally opted to get ready for bed. As I sat in front of the vanity and removed my crown, I attempted to run my fingers through my hair to get rid of the tangles. The longer I remained in Faylinn, the more out of control my curls became. I didn’t know why I even bothered anymore.

  My door suddenly flew open, and in walked Gilad.

  “Excuse you,” I reprimanded, spinning around in my seat.

  “Adair wishes to see you,” Gilad said, standing in my doorway.

  “Where’s Sakari?” I stood swiftly. “Take me to Sakari.” He didn’t respond. “What did Adair do to him?” I demanded.

  “Enough with the questions. Adair waits for no one. I’ve been instructed to bring you to him immediately.”

  Throwing my hands up in the air, I shoved past Gilad and raced for the atrium. There were more Keepers lining the hallway than usual this evening, and when I reached the atrium I noticed that didn’t end once inside. Encircling the walls stood at least forty more Keepers.

  “Callie!” His voice was like finding an angel in Hell. My eyes darted around the atrium until they spotted the last face I expected to see, hovering in the left corner near the window seat.

  “Cameron?” I lunged forward, but Gilad took hold of my arms and pinned them behind my back, holding me in place.

  Rollin and Cage shook Cameron like a ragdoll, their arms linked under his in a hold that not even the strongest faery could get out of. And he was a human. Do they honestly think he would try to escape? That he could get away? He wiggled under their grip, wanting to get to me, but it did nothing.

  “How is he here?” I demanded, finding Adair in the center of it all. “It’s not possible. Why is he here?”

  “I suppose you didn’t learn a whole lot about Royals in the last five days,” Adair said. “Such a pity. All that time wasted.” He clicked his tongue. “Sakari informed me of your doubts, so I thought I would encourage you to make the right decision.”

  I glared at Adair, urging my rage to cripple him with my eye contact. If only I could make my eyes into lasers. “I want to know how it’s possible he’s here. Humans can’t get past the Hedge.”

  His smug smile should be slapped off his face. “Royals have the power to bring humans through the Hedge. Skye was kind enough to help us out. I knew you would not want your best friend to miss your bonding to Sakari. It will be such a grand day.”

  Peering over at Cameron, I watched him struggle under their hold. “What is he really doing here, Adair? Why did you bring him here? Why him?”

  A sly smile turned the corner of his mouth. “He is just a little leverage, my dear. You bond with Saraki, and he has nothing to worry about.”

  “Where is Sakari?” I commanded, looking for him among the many Keepers circling the atrium walls. “What did you do with him?” Finally. I saw him standing on the opposite side of the room near the window overlooking the willow. My heart lifted at the sight of him.

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Calliope. You have to believe me,” he exclaimed.

  “Silence!” Adair bellowed.

  Sakari’s eyes were pained as he mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”

  I nodded as not to draw attention. Can I honestly be mad at him? I was just grateful he was alive. All he tried to do was help me. It completely backfired, but his intentions were pure. I turned my focus back to Adair. “And if I don’t, you’ll kill Cameron?”

  “Oh, heaven’s no. I’m not completely unreasonable. He’ll get to stay here. I assume you’ll need the company if you refuse Sakari. But, keep in mind, the longer he stays, the more he’ll lose his mind. He’ll begin to forget you, his previous life, why he’s even here. He’ll eventually forget who he is. There’s a reason why we don’t bring humans here or keep them here for long. While it’s not impossible, we’re usually a little more merciful than to inflict such cruelty on their innocent minds. He’ll remain physically safe here, but I can’t say the same about his brain. Faylinn doesn’t tend to sit well with humans.”

  I looked at Cameron; though he was keeping a brave front, I knew he was dying inside. The fear in his eyes couldn’t hide from me.

  “Once again you win, Adair,” I surrendered, relaxing under Gilad’s hold. “Now let him go.”

  Adair chuckled darkly. “Oh, I’ll send him back after the bonding. You cannot think me to be a complete fool. What is to keep you from backing out tomorrow if I were to let him go now?”

  “Why are you doing this? I’ve done everything you’ve asked!” I shouted, struggling against Gilad again. Never had I wanted to harm someone more than in this moment. “I’ve already surrendered. I never planned on backing out of the bonding. Just let Cameron go.”

  Adair shook his head, falsely sympathizing. “No, no. He will remain here in Faylinn.”

  “Then I get to keep him with me. I don’t trust the rest of your kingdom.”

  Adair’s head shook once more as he laughed. “I cannot have that. How inappropriate for the Queen to have another man staying in her room the night before her bonding? That just will not do.”

  I fumed; steam nearly emanated from my ears. “So, you’re just going to let him roam around Faylinn with no protection or shelter?”

  “The Keepers will be watching. He’ll be fine. I assure you.”

  “Why can’t you just keep him in the castle? There are plenty of other rooms. You’ll be able to keep a better eye on him from inside,” I tried to appeal to his logical side.

  “It appears we are all full. Even the cells are at maximum capacity, I’m afraid. The village will have to do.” Adair gestured to Rollin and Cage. “Take him out.”

  Cameron struggled as they passed me. “Callie, do what you have to do. Don’t worry about me. This is your kingdom.”

  I shook my head. “I’m going to keep you safe, Cam. No matter what. I promise you’ll be okay.”

 

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