The Fae Bound - Juliana Haygert Page 0,6

was when I saw it—a purple bruise hiding on her back, near her shoulder blades, peeking from underneath her black uniform. I squinted, watching as she hung the dress on its place and started rummaging to find another. She lifted her arms, and her sleeve rode down a little, showing off another bruise, green this time, on her forearm.

What was going on here?

I opened my mouth to call her but realized I didn’t know her name. “Hm, what’s your name?”

The fae stilled, her hands froze over the dresses. “Hm, Jennie, your highness.”

“Jennie,” I said, taking her hands into mine and turning her to me. I lifted the sleeve of her uniform, revealing even more green and purple bruises. “What happened to you?”

She recoiled, stepping back and hiding her arms behind herself. She stared at the floor. “Nothing, your highness.”

“These don’t look like nothing.” A feeling I couldn’t explain took hold of me. “Jennie, look at me.” The young fae kept staring down. “I don’t want to order you to look at me. Please.”

With a sniffle, the young fae finally rose her head and her eyes met mine. My heart squeezed at the sight of her unshed tears and the red bruise on her temple, and the small cut on the bridge of her nose.

“I-it’s nothing, your highness,” she insisted, her voice breaking.

This was ridiculous. “Who did this to you?” The fae returned her gaze to the floor. “Jennie, tell me who did this to you.”

A sob ripped through her throat. “It was Prince Lark, your highness.”

I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. It was all I could do not to go after him right now and accuse him of being worse than a monster.

“How did it happen?” I asked, my tone soft.

Jennie hesitated, but finally said, “My family and I lived in the fae realm. but we had a lot of debt. My father was caught gambling, trying to pay off the debts, but he just got drunk, buried us under more debt, and started a fight with a high ranking officer from the king’s army.” She wiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “My entire family was arrested. My father was executed and my mother, my sister, and I were sent here, to work as servants in the prince’s fortress.”

“Where are your mother and sister?”

“Dead,” she said with another sob. “Prince Lark likes to gather the servants with criminal pasts and teach them a lesson.” She gestured to her wounds. “Many of them don’t survive.”

My stomach curled at the thought. “That’s absurd.”

I hurt for Jennie, but her predicament gave me an idea. She looked young and naive, probably gullible. Maybe I could enlist her to help me find the ingredients for the poison … though, I didn’t trust being outright about it.

Instead, I plastered a fearful expression on my face. “I didn’t know about this violent side of the prince. He’s very eager to have a son, but …” I rubbed my hand over my belly. “I’m afraid it will take a long time and he’ll show his discontent about it by using his fists on me too.”

Jennie’s eyes widened, meeting mine again. “He wouldn’t beat you up, your highness. He loves you.”

I fought a grimace. I didn’t think the sick bastard loved me. I thought he was obsessed with me, in a twisted, sick way. “I don’t want to risk it.” Then I lowered my voice, as if this was a huge secret. “I’ve learned about a fertility potion that female fae should drink during the Moon Period, so they are ready to conceive when the time comes. However, I can’t prepare this surprise for Lark if he sees me picking out herbs from the fortress’ supplies.” I paused, batting my eyelashes at her with a demure smile. “Would you help me? Would you get the ingredients for me?”

Jennie frowned, but then nodded. “If it means the prince will be happy with you and won’t ever hurt you, I’ll do it.”

I sighed in relief. “Wonderful.” I turned back into the bedroom and picked up the list I had hidden inside the nightstand’s drawer. “These are the three ingredients I need.” I offered the paper to Jennie. “But remember, this is a secret, a surprise for the prince. No one should see you gathering the herbs.”

With a small grin of her own, Jennie picked up the paper. “I can do it.” She folded the paper and slipped inside one of the pockets of her uniform.

I smiled at