She clicked her tongue. “Obviously! Otherwise you wouldn’t have brought her here.”
My spine stiffened and I looked down at my clothes. How would she fix this?
The dowager walked up to me slowly and touched the dress. Within her dark blue eyes, silver sparks swirled as the magic of the night cloaked me. She moved to let me look at myself in the mirror.
Within seconds and with only a touch, the plain green dress had been transformed with powerful fae glamour. The gown that adorned my body was like liquid night, low-necked with thin shoulder straps, flowing about my body, emphasizing every curve. Within the fabric, silver stars sparkled and swirled in an endless dance inside a midnight sky.
My mouth fell open. It was by far the most incredible dress I had ever seen. The dresses of the Eldorean nobility paled in comparison.
“There! Now you are dressed appropriately for the Royal Fae Court.” The dowager duchess smoothed her already perfect hair in the mirror. “And close your mouth, Aurora, you look ridiculous.”
I pressed my lips together.
Tristan came up behind me, looking at my reflection in the mirror. “I think you forgot something.”
“Oh! Yes.” The dowager frowned. “I guess I did.”
She waved her hand, and a silver circlet studded with tiny diamonds appeared on my head.
I turned to face Tristan, hoping to get some reaction other than a scowl. “What do you think?”
Tristan shrugged. “It suits our purpose.” He didn’t scowl, at least.
The High Fae
The grand hall was noisy and bustling when we arrived. Tristan offered me his arm—I took it gratefully as we stepped forward into the throng of fae nobility and my grandmother’s Royal Court. The chattering stopped when we entered, everyone turning to look at the half-fae princess on the arm of the Prince of the Night Court.
The hall was beautifully lit with floating orbs of fae light that moved about the room as if in an intricate dance. Lilting music wafted down from the first-floor gallery that ran overhead and looked out onto the gardens, where the musicians played under a starlit sky.
Whispers followed us as I walked, clutching Tristan’s arm as he escorted me to where the queen sat, surrounded by simpering fae nobility. Dressed in all their finery, the fae court glittered in varied hues of gold and silver. A myriad of luscious silks, flowing chiffon, and rich brocades lined with intricate embroidery flowed about their bodies in various styles. Graceful and elegant, the High Fae ladies were all so beautiful, their long hair sparkling in diverse shades of day and night. Stunning jewels twinkled on their necks and hands, glinting in the fae light.
My grandmother eyed me carefully as I followed Tristan’s lead and bowed my head before her. Her crown of pearls glowed in the light of the fae orbs, which hovered above her for her personal use. From the corner of my eye I spotted Brianna standing to the side, the expression on her face giving away her hatred for me. I guess she was upset her plan hadn’t worked.
I ignored her as I stood before the queen.
My grandmother did not smile but nodded once and returned to speaking to the lady seated next to her. She wore a gold diadem, and her azure eyes were piercing as she eyed me.
“Come.” Tristan steered me away from the dais. “Andromeda doesn’t like to be interrupted when she is speaking to the queen.”
“That’s Skye’s mother?” I glanced back at the dais where the grand duchess had resumed her conversation with my grandmother.
Tristan nodded. “And Aiden’s.”
The rest of the High Fae watched me from a distance and whispered in hushed tones, all the while looking straight at me so I had no illusions as to whom they were discussing.
“What did I do now?”
“Let them stare, you have nothing to fear from anyone.” Tristan went to talk to his grandmother, who had just entered the room.
Skye came over wearing an ivory gown trimmed with gold flowers. “There you are.” She gave me a broad smile. “I thought Brianna would send you something to wear. I guess she forgot.”
“She didn’t forget. She sent me something that would not have been appropriate.” I chose my words carefully.
Skye raised her eyebrows. “I see. Well, you look amazing. You’re so lucky, I never get to wear black or red. The colors of the Day Court are so dull. Everyone is talking about you wearing the colors of the Night Court. Even my mother.” She gestured to the Grand Duchess of the Day Court, Andromeda, who was still talking to my grandmother at the high table. “She’s not going to be pleased that one of our family is wearing Night Court colors to their first feast.”
“Family?”
Skye looked at me and narrowed her eyes. “We are cousins, didn’t you know?”
I shook my head—no one had told me this. “No.”
Skye’s eyes softened. “Your grandmother was married to my father’s uncle, your grandfather, and he was the Grand Duke of the Day Court before my father. When he died, there was no male heir, so my father became the next grand duke.”
This was news to me. Skye was my cousin, which meant Aiden was also family. I didn’t like the thought of that.
Cade saw us, waved, and approached. He looked me over and grinned. “Tristan is a clever fellow, I can tell you that.” He winked at me. “Dressing you in the colors of the Night Court. Brilliant move.”
“I still don’t understand what the big deal is. I know I missed something.”
Skye’s turquoise eyes grew wide. “You don’t know what he’s done for you?” She gestured to my clothes. “What all this means?”
I shook my head.
Cade chuckled again; he seemed to find the whole situation very amusing. “Everyone knows your grandmother has not yet proclaimed you as her heir, which means you don’t have her full protection. That’s why she’s having Tristan keep an eye on you, since the Royal Court is a dangerous place for
