King of the Wilds - Tasha Black Page 0,40

here - a perfect, sheltered life full of delicious meals and bright colors and every comfort Jessica could desire.

The silent queen had taken Jessica from that awful ballroom with the snickering dancers and deposited her here in the country, where she could enjoy a simple life of nature and study.

The queen had given her the pony, the house, and the time and freedom to read and relax as much as she liked.

Jessica knew she was being treated like a spoiled pet, but it was hard to mind when her life was so enjoyable.

Except that something was missing.

She just couldn’t remember what.

Usually she had this feeling only in dreams. That was the only unpleasant part of her existence here. Nearly every night she had dreams where she searched frantically for something important, but never found it.

“Never mind,” she said to herself. “Time for breakfast.”

She and the pony took a leisurely stroll around the cottage to the grove in back, where a table waited under the weeping willow.

Each morning, a meal of fruit and tea appeared here.

She was relieved to see that today was no exception. The table had been covered with a lace cloth. A platter of sliced fruit glistened beside a cup and a steaming teapot.

“See, Aerin,” she said. “It was nonsense.”

The pony whiskered at the mention of her name and Jessica laughed.

She sat and took a bite of the fruit.

Normally, the flavor hit her like a waterfall, filling her senses with sweet, tart goodness.

Today it tasted more like the the fruit she remembered from her days in the other world - sweet and wholesome, but not a revelation.

She poured tea into the cup and watched the steam rise in a delicate mist.

She added fresh milk and reached for the sugar.

But when she turned back to her cup she could see the milk curdling on its surface.

The rancid chunks roiled in malevolent patterns, and she swore she saw battles fought and storm clouds gathering in the swirls.

She stood abruptly.

Aerin snorted and spooked a little.

“Oh, I’m sorry, girl,” Jessica crooned, feeling guilty. “It’s just a strange day.”

The pony minced back to her through the dewy grass.

“Shall we go pick flowers?” Jessica asked her.

The pony flicked her ears as if she understood.

And since their days were always the same, she probably did. Though she was used to watching her mistress eat breakfast with gusto first.

Aerin held angelically still as Jessica stepped onto a picturesque stump to mount her.

The pony trotted into the meadow and Jessica began to feel better as the air lifted her hair and the rhythm of the pony’s steps lulled her into her usual frame of mind.

A gorgeous field of wild flowers grew just a short ride from her home. Jessica picked a bunch each day to bring back to the cottage with her, since the brass vase in the library was always empty each morning, no matter how many times she filled it with blooms. The scent of the wildflowers was so lovely in that peaceful space. The walls were lined with books of fairy lore and history, Jessica’s favorite subject. It was impossible to be anything but happy there.

Generally, she spent most of her late morning studying and then began the routine again in the afternoon - a light meal, a ride and a study session in the library with the afternoon light teasing the pages until they blushed pink in the dying light.

Aerin carried her on cheerfully as she thought about the peacefulness of it all.

They arrived at the wild flower meadow just as the morning sunlight went warm and yellow.

Jessica dismounted and walked through the stems, admiring the brilliant blossoms. She selected a flower here and there as she walked, enjoying her stroll and feeling no need to hurry.

Aerin busied herself grazing on the lush grass and sweet clover.

A clump of buttercups, banana-yellow and perfect caught Jessica’s eye. She bent to pick them, but felt a sharp, sweet pain on her hand.

She gasped and pulled her hand back.

“A bee sting,” she realized out loud, gazing down at the small red dot between her thumb and forefinger.

That had certainly never happened before.

She put her hand to her mouth and looked around. Things looked the same as always.

Except for the sky.

Dark storm clouds had gathered over the hills that bordered the meadow, and they were moving in her direction. A grey shadowed darkened the land beneath them as they traveled.

“Aerin,” she called out.

But the little mare was spooked. She cantered away, leaving Jessica alone to face the