“To commit your body and soul to someone can be difficult. I remember our parents would discuss their wedding day with
us and how our mother—Queen Helena—fought Father every step of the way. Morgana is like her in that regard, never
believing in love or marriage. But once she met Father, her mind and heart soon changed.”
It was pleasant to hear of Nicholas’s and their parents clearly had been deeply in love. A part of me wished I knew them or
had the chance to meet them. I’m sure it would explain a lot of Nichols’s behaviour and why he guarded himself with many
faces.
“Do you think they'd have accepted me as Nicholas’s consort and wife?”
Vanessa looked away as did Morgana lowering her eyes from me. Was this question too sensitive? Or would they have
demanded I be sent home?
“When I found out where Nicholas would run off to during the day, I ran and told our mother. We were just children then
and I still remember her putting a finger to her lips and telling me to be quiet and not tell a soul—to keep it secret. She always
knew where he was going and who he was seeing. She was gifted withsight, a powerful ability where she would be able to
see anyone, just by holding something of theirs.” April studied me, as if to see if I were paying attention.
“I’ve read stories of Queen Helena’s great beauty and power, even my father mentioned that when he was here, he never
wanted to anger her, for fear of what she would do to him with her wrath.”
“Funny how he thought that, and yet he was the reason she lost her sister,” Vanessa chimed in coldly.
I felt the sting in my heart at her words. I never thought of my father as someone who would hurt another, but the more I
thought about it, the more it made sense. Norok, Talia, and I were never allowed near our borders or to mix with ‘strange’ Fae.
Perhaps he was always looking over his shoulder for Helena to show up and act out her vengeance.
“Ness, we don’t know the whole story and we don’t want to put a downer on this special day,” Morgana said, taking hold
of my hand and squeezing it gently.
Clearing her throat, to bring my attention back to her, April stood from her chair and paced back and forth in front of the
fire. “Mother was also cursed with the sight that would tell of one’s death day. I believe she saw hers and Father’s death day. It
took all of us by surprise as a few nights before we had attended a banquet. Nicholas and I could tell something was wrong.
They kept talking about when he would become king, and looking back on it now, it was because they knew that week, he
wouldbecome our new king.”
Another squeeze from Morgana as she appeared to hold back tears. She looked over to Vanessa, who was also trying
desperately not to cry. They all seemed so close to each other—connected.
“Mother told me about you many times. How she would see you with Nicholas and her smile would light up watching him
laugh with you. I would like to think she always wanted to meet you, but fate had a different path in mind. Today, we will pay