Marvels and Misfits (Trixie Towers #1) - Scarlett Dawn

PROLOGUE

Confession of a princess:

As much as it pains me to admit, and bless the Fae above and below, but it does truly annoy me to concede this: Father was right. My bravery deserted me in the face of injustice.

I am ashamed of my first instinct—to hide.

I vow never to feel this way again.

I will be stronger. I promise myself this.

“Trixie! Quit setting your Fae-gifted pegasus on fire!” Grandmother Isabella barked. Her silver shoulder-length hair whipped back in the wind from her fast march across the moon-brightened field, and her silver eyes flashed with humored love. Her young features pinched as she attempted to keep her amusement hidden, waving one pointed finger right at the tip of my nose as she came to a stop next to me. “You must cherish what the Fae gift you. Not torture the bloody beast.”

I rolled my eyes up to the gleaming silver orb in the star-studded dark sky, exasperated by this old argument. I didn’t let my royal firepower lessen, the flames still leaping off and around my ‘bloody beast.’

“Grandmother, look at Penelope. Does she look like she’s in pain?”

Her too-slender arms crossed over her chest, and she muttered, “That is beside the point.”

“Father said I must continue to do this, despite your complaints.” I curled my outstretched fingers, the flames burning even brighter. “If I use my power while I’m riding her, she cannot be frightened.”

Grandmother’s silver eyes narrowed. “Does she look frightened to you?”

“No.” My smirk was far too large, not humble at all.

“Exactly. You have been doing this since you were five years old. Thirteen years is more than enough time for Penelope to get over her fear.”

The smile on my face dimmed as confusion entered my gaze. “But Father said I must.”

Her heavy exhale fluttered the hair around her gaunt cheeks. “I’m sorry, Trixie, but your father has no idea that you’ve been working ever so long on this. The king only sees her acting up when you two fly your beasts together. He’s simply worried and doesn’t know all of the details.”

My hands dropped to my sides, and my power fizzled out to nothing. The slump of my shoulders was familiar when speaking about my father. I waved a frustrated hand at the small castle where my grandmother and I lived—alone. Situated behind the much larger palace where the king and my mother lived, only a long flower-covered field separated our two dwellings.

I grumbled quietly, “He’d have all the details if he would come around more.”

Grandma Isabella nodded her head in tender sympathy. “Your father is around a lot more than most rulers. I’ve explained this before, my dearheart. He does care about you and loves you fiercely. You must understand that his role in life keeps him terribly busy.”

“Hmph.”

One silver brow arched. “Trust me on this, Trixie. You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat their children. The more loving a parent, the better ruler of their people.”

My nose crinkled. She may be right.

“All right. If you need to hear this again… How long has your father ruled?” Grandmother didn’t give up. The soothsayer never did. It wasn’t in her to back down.

“A thousand years,” I muttered.

Grandmother was in full teacher mode now. Wonderful. “In the complete history of the five kingdoms, has any ruler lived without having their Fae-spark destroyed by assassins—bought and paid for by the ones they rule—for over five hundred years if they aren’t loved and well taken care of?”

“No,” I acknowledged.

Grandmother was a brilliant teacher.

And an even better parent figure.

She’s been both for me, sheltered away from the populace as I have been. She is the light to my dark…even if her power is considered on the dark side for elves, as is mine. But she is the woman I want to be when I grow older. Every ounce of fortitude, love, and respect contained in her heart and mind I wish to have in my own one day.

“Precisely. It has been noted, throughout time, that the rulers who truly adore their children are spectacular rulers.” Grandmother may have been preening with pride now—just a little. “I raised a wonderful son to be your father. One who does love you, Trixie, but he simply cannot spend all waking hours with you. He must rule.”

My sigh was heavy. “I know. I know.”

“No, you don’t. Not truly. One day you will know what I speak of, but for now, you can only speculate and learn. You will understand in time—” Her words