Shadowborn Royals - G. Bailey
Meira
Nineteen years ago
Twirling one last strand of my silver hair into the clip, I stand back and look over my appearance just to make sure I look pretty enough to pass for a fae tonight. Silver paint is drawn in swirls around every part of my skin that my white dress or pink cloak cannot cover. The dress is tight, made for seduction, and I hope my mate loves it when he sees me.
It’s been three long months since my mate was called to King Ulric’s side to be one of his personal guards, but tonight I am invited to the castle for a royal ball. Sitting at home was never for me. I long to be near my mate and if we can have only this night, then so be it.
The whole of the fae kingdom rejoices and celebrates the Night of Life, a traditional day for love and life. The night was said to be born from Selena’s love for the sun and the bright light it shines down on the kingdom. The Light Fae King’s ball is meant to be utterly beautiful, enchanting in every possible sense. I’ve dreamed of seeing what I have only heard of.
Smiling at myself, I step through the mirror’s magic and out into the corridor of the castle. The throne room’s light music calls to me, but I turn away, sensing my mate somewhere else in the castle. My heels click against the floor as I head down the corridor and around the corner. The sense gets stronger when I get near a room. The latticed door is closed, but music seeps out. I slowly inch the door open, just in case he is with the king, but that’s not what I see.
My mate—the man I thought loved me—in bed with a fae woman, his hands buried in her fiery-red hair, his soul betraying mine. They move against each other, clearly unaware I’m watching them, and the sounds of their lovemaking sear through my heart like a hot blade. Numbly, I close the door and then my feet take off as fast as they can. I run as though trying to outrun what is now burned into the recesses of my mind.
The castle flies by in the blur. I have no idea where I am going. It’s not until I crash headfirst into a hard, muscular body do I stop, but by then we are both toppling onto the floor.
“My King!”
A male voice shrieks, and through my tear-stained eyes I look up to see King Ulric holding himself above me. He is enchantingly handsome, his long white hair held back by complicated braids on the sides of his head, which just makes every feature of his face so much more prominent and beautiful. Gold royal garments wrap around his body like a second skin. Fear and desire pound into me, but he doesn’t move.
He simply holds a hand up in the air, shushing the guards into silence.”Why are you crying at my celebration?” he softly asks, leaning closer and wiping a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “One as beautiful as you should not cry.”
“My mate has betrayed me,” I tell him, shaken by my honesty. Something about what I said seems to draw compassion out of the king. It’s almost like he understands this kind of betrayal and how it cuts deeper than any sword ever could.
“Come and dine with me. Two lost souls whom Danica has brought together this night can not simply walk away from each other.”
Lost to the desire I find in his gaze, I don’t notice the magic clouding the air around us, pushing us together to a fate we can’t avoid. As children, both fae and magics are told that the Zorya Sisters have woven a path for our lives and no matter which way we go, we always end up on the same one. Some moments are simply chosen by gods for a purpose. Sculpted by magic.
“Why are you lost, my king?” I breathlessly ask, and he smiles at me, though it looks pained.
“Because fate has given me everything but yet I have nothing I want and desire,” he whispers before leaning up and offering me a hand.
Taking Ulric’s hand is my way of sealing my fate, but I don’t care anymore. Danica has brought us together and I want to find out why.
The king stares at me as we stand in front of each other. The rising sun flickers over the sky, which