the center of the bathroom. Exotic scented flower petals floated in the water.
“It’s beautiful, thank you so much.” Brea folded her tattered blanket, eager to sink into the bath for a nice long, quiet soak.
“I’ll see to your clothes and bring you something to eat. Enjoy your bath, my Lady.” She smiled and backed out of the room. “It really is lovely to meet you, Lady Brea.”
Finally alone for the first time in ages, Brea heaved a deep sigh. Shedding her stained and travel-worn clothes, she sank into the deep bath trying not to feel sorry for herself.
Since the moment she escaped the palace in Gelsi, Brea had been running. Running from a bad situation into the unknown. Now that she was here—in the very place she’d once feared the most—she didn’t know what to expect next.
After her bath, Brea felt blissfully clean and exhausted beyond belief. She didn’t have the energy to contemplate another palace full of secrets and lies. Her arrival here in Eldur reminded her too much of her arrival in Fargelsi when everything was exciting and new and she had no reason to suspect anyone was lying.
Brea found a soft silken sleeping gown and crawled into bed. Thoughts of Myles drifted through her mind, wondering if she’d ever see him again. If he would ever forgive her. If she’d even live through this experience to find out one way or another if their friendship was broken beyond repair.
Tears rolled down Brea’s face as she realized she even missed Griff and his ability to make her smile.
Despite all the luxury around her. Despite knowing she was part fae and possessed magic, that her mental illness was just another lie, Brea wanted to go home to her familiar and predictable life with her best friend, Myles.
Chapter Twenty
Dried tears crusted the corner of Brea’s eyelids as she tried to pry them open. Footsteps sounded against the stone floor, and she froze. Someone was in her room. She’d never get used to servants constantly being around and having very little time on her own. For once, she wished everyone would just leave her to feel sorry for herself.
She rolled over to see a figure illuminated by the silver glow of the moon. The intruder stood looking out the big windows at the sprawling Eldur palace.
Another palace. A different queen. Still not the human world.
She cleared her throat and the woman turned, revealing the face of the Eldur queen who’d only given Brea a moment of attention when she first arrived.
Brea pushed herself up in bed and scooted back against the headboard. Queen Faolan had the windows open, letting in the warm night air. It blew dark hair away from her face, revealing blazing yellow eyes that cut through the darkness of the night.
“What do you want with me?” The whispered words were the first Brea could think of. For some reason, two queens abducted her, and a king tried to kill her. None of it made any sense. She didn’t know if she believed Griff’s words about a prophecy any longer, not after finding out they really only wanted her to give him legitimacy.
There had to be a real reason why she—normal girl Brea Robinson—was such a hot commodity to the royals of the fae world. She cringed at the thought.
The queen’s eyes swirled before settling into a more natural amber color. “You’re not Alona.”
Brea’s brow creased. “I’m Brea Robinson.”
She nodded. “Yes, yes, I know that. But I expected some… feeling that would make me believe I had my daughter back. She’s been gone for months now, and we’ve had no request for ransom. That’s why I sent Lochlan into the human realm. I had to protect my daughter no matter what. Everything has been to protect the lineage.” She carved a path across the room and back again, her footsteps heavy as she paced.
Nothing she said made any sense.
Her entire body stilled, and she turned back to face Brea. “You’re not her!”
Queen Faolan’s fiery gaze burned yellow again, and Brea could hardly breathe. Dragon queen. Dragon queen. Dragon queen. The words repeated in her mind, stirring fear in Brea’s gut. Her magic latched onto the emotion, refusing to let it go away. It built up, begging for release.
She tilted her head to the side, trying to hold it back, knowing blasting the queen with magic wouldn’t win her any favors.
The queen’s eyes widened. “Your magic… your eyes.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Yellow.”
Brea couldn’t handle her scrutiny any