The subtle yet burning irritation in Sabre's golden eyes had haunted me all the way back to the castle. I had no intention of making her upset or annoyed, but I still couldn't figure out why the notion of pretending to be my bride-to-be irked her so much. Was I that repulsive?

It truly wasn't a bad idea. If my mother saw that I had chosen a suitor to marry, it would keep her off my back and give me more time to choose a real one. A few months at best. The facade would just have to be with someone other than Sabre.

When she had finished her work for the day, I would go and apologise properly, visit her to get to the bottom of what caused her foul mood. I loathed there being a rift between our friendship.

Whenever arguments between Auron, Sabre, and I broke out, I would always seek to solve the issue, to keep the peace. It always worked in the end. I was certain it was why our friendships had lasted so long.

Sunlight streamed through the windows that spanned from floor to ceiling as I walked through the hallways, making my way to my chambers. Whenever I stepped into a patch of it, it warmed my body like a pleasant embrace.

As my hand reached for the doorknob of my rooms, a calling voice reverberated against the walls. "Kay! Hold up, wait for your dear mother!"

The High Fae Queen rushed over to where I was standing with a surprising amount of grace. Her cream gown consisted of several heavy layers and trailed behind her on a phantom gust of wind. It failed to catch her neatly curled, blonde hair which stayed firmly in place as she approached. A golden crown where jewels dangled down on chains was nested in it, a crown that would soon be for whoever I chose to be my queen.

My father's crown — soon to be mine — was locked up somewhere safe. Nobody knew where exactly that was, but the rusted key to its location always hung around my mother's neck.

"Mother, how lovely to see you again, but I thought I mentioned only this morning not to call me Kay." I had no idea where she had conjured the nickname from a few days ago. All that I knew was that I wanted it to be kept out of everyone's mouths.

"Nonsense." She reached out to ruffle my hair and missed as I narrowly dodged her. "It suits you very well. Have you thought any more about the suitors I've presented to you? You don't have long to make a decision."

"As you keep reminding me." I bristled, holding the folded black cloak in my arms behind my back with the hope that she hadn't noticed it. As Sabre had stormed out of The Lost and Found, I hadn't had the opportunity to return it to her. "And no, I haven't."

"How about Lady Lorella? Her father is pretty reputable and trustworthy amongst the high council. I feel like she would be a great fit for High Queen."

Lorella. The first suitor that had arrived for the small gathering we'd had earlier this morning and the only one who had appeared to not want to be there — other than me, of course. Her father was indeed one of the dependable members of the council, however, since I was a child, he had always come across to me as power-hungry. An insatiable thirst for money and strength.

"I think I'll pass on her." She was up to something, I could tell. My mother was never this persistent with visiting me when she didn't need to.

"Even though she's already familiar with how some of Racaea is ruled?" My mother's head tilted to the side in curiosity.

"She's not right for me." I could still smell the strong scent of charcoal and ashes coming from the cloak. It was what both Auron and Sabre smelled of too as the blacksmith was where they spent most of their lives.

"Then how about Lady Relle? I know she piqued your interest somewhat as you were staring at her throughout the meeting."

I had to stifle the urge to laugh. The only interesting thing about Relle was her uneven and gap-filled teeth. It was the entertainment I had decided on to get me through the hours. My mother also failed to mention how suspicious her parents acted around the Racaea royal family. A clear indication that she wasn't to be chosen as my suitor.

"I don't think she's good enough for Racaea." Which was true.

"Well, you've got to pick someone, Kay. You've been of age for quite a while now and, even though I haven't wanted to push you, time is moving quickly."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about. I still have plenty of centuries left as a fae." The fae bloodline was supposedly blessed with the ability to not age as time streamed past. I, however, thought it to be more of a curse. As the Racaea royal family were the only fae left for several kingdoms around, I would watch as the humans and other creatures around me slowly pass away. The image of seeing Auron and Sabre growing old without me tore my heart.

"That's not what I meant. In order to continue the kingdom, you need to find a partner and become king. I cannot rule forever."

I sighed. We'd had this discussion several times before and every time we always wound up at the same conclusion. "Becoming king is not on the top of my priorities."

"It's not just accepting your title as king, we need alliances."

"Alliances for what?" It wasn't like Racaea was in any war or dispute with anyone.

My mother remained silent, a tendril of her blonde hair floating down from where it had been neatly kept.

"For what?" I repeated, making my tone sterner.

"There may be some rumours of Icrodeia conspiring against us. Even though our army is strong, we need more forces just in case."

"Why haven't you told me about this?" I dropped the cloak in my hands, letting it fall to the floor behind me, as I brought my arms in front of me. "Racaea is on the verge of war and you're keeping me in the dark?"

"They're still rumours, we cannot be sure that they are true." There was a hint of shame in her emerald eyes.

"It's still a plausible threat!" My jaw tensed as possibilities of what could happen ran through my mind.

"Well, you don't seem to take your duties very seriously, so I didn't think you would care."

Her words hit me like a harsh slap to the face, one that left it stinging for quite some time. "Of course I care about our home. What cruel creature wouldn't?"

"At least now you-"

"Your highnesses," a guard rushed up from behind me and bowed deeply in our presence. Interrupting the High Fae Queen was a beheadable offence. I silently prayed for the guard's safety. "I apologise from the bottom of my heart for interrupting, but there is an emergency." He looked nervously between the two fae standing on either side of him.

"Out with it then." My mother crossed her arms, her expression becoming one of regal stature. Changing into a stone mask that nobody could guess the emotion that lay buried underneath.

"There has been an Icrodeian spy found wandering around outside the castle walls trying to find a way in. They put up a fight, but we've got them locked in the tower. They refuse to speak to anyone but people worthy of their time, and so, the guards of the tower request your presence." The guard barely took in any air between his words, leaving him breathless.

I couldn't believe it. After so long of it being empty, a prisoner had been put in the tower. It was a place built for the cruellest and most cunning people in Racaea, a prison that was impossible to escape. While it appeared to be a normal tower on the outside, the inside was composed of a maze of century-old stone. The only people who knew how to navigate it were guards who had been trained since they were young to learn the ins and outs of how it worked.

"Have they not revealed anything? Not even their name?" The queen stood stiffly, her hands clenching her gown at her sides.

"Nothing, your highness."

It seemed that the rumours that my mother had assured me of were nothing of the sort.

I smiled weakly at the guard. "We will head over to the tower soon." As soon as he hurried away, I turned to my mother with a dark glare. "Are you going to inform me of everything you know? Or do you still think this all might be a hoax?"

She exhaled in defeat. "I'll tell you what I've heard."

Surprise! This book is going to be told in both Sabre's and Kayne's POVs! Who's your favourite character so far?