I gave both the prince and his brother a confused look as I continued to relentlessly chastise myself for what I’d done.
“What’s happening?” I finally asked.
Michas grinned. “The king is going to announce Prince Norivun’s potential betrotheds. Didn’t you hear? Tonight is the beginning of the Rising Queen Trial.”
CHAPTER 26
The Rising Queen Trial? What?
I brought a hand to my forehead. No, I hadn’t known. Or . . . maybe I had. I briefly remembered Finnley and Birnee talking last month about an upcoming trial in the capital. Perhaps this had been what they’d been speaking of.
“Time to go, Nori,” Nuwin said under his breath, his words soft and full of apology.
The prince gave me one last look, a look full of heat and savage longing, before he snarled and ripped himself away from me.
Numbly, I followed, and Nuwin stayed at my side as the prince prowled back into the throne room.
But Prince Norivun kept glancing over his shoulder, kept eyeing me, then his brother, then Michas, as a permanent mask of fury painted itself on his features.
At least I had the foresight to return the crown prince’s jacket right before he came into everyone’s view, but my mind was still swimming, and my body was still throbbing by what had just happened.
And what in the realms had happened? As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I’d just kissed the prince. Worse, I’d wanted to do much more than that and probably would have if we hadn’t been interrupted.
And now he was going to meet his betrothed?
A nauseating feeling swept through me, and I barely had the wherewithal to put one foot in front of the other without tripping. Thankfully Nuwin seemed to understand my state of mind because he kept a firm grip on me and prevented me from falling.
Inside the castle, the dancing and music had stopped, and the center of the room had been cleared.
All of the attending fae formed a U-shape around the throne, the great crowd expanding all of the way to the back of the room. Lined up at the front of the group were three females.
My breath caught as I surveyed their opulent gowns, jeweled necks, and flawless makeup. Behind them stood nobles, who I guessed were their parents.
“Ah, he’s finally decided to join us,” the king called.
A tittering of laughter rose from the crowd as King Novakin beckoned Prince Norivun forward. Another sickening feeling swept through me when I beheld the three females again. He was to marry one of them?
My stomach clenched, and sweat lined my palms. Gods, what was wrong with me? What did I care who the prince married?
Another pulse of the prince’s aura shot out of him as his scowl deepened.
“I’m sorry, brother,” Nuwin whispered. “I know it’s not what you wanted.”
“It doesn’t matter what I want.” The prince nudged closer to his brother. “But by gods, Nuwin, if you pull another stunt like you did earlier and take her somewhere I can’t protect her, I’ll have your head.”
For the first time since meeting the prince’s brother, Nuwin didn’t smile cheekily or reply with a facetious quip. He nodded gravely. “I won’t. On my honor.”
Nuwin moved closer to my side as the crown prince glanced briefly at me. His gaze was weighted as fire and ice seemed to clash within his soul.
Without another word, he proceeded to the throne as the three sets of parents proudly displayed their daughters. The young females all stepped forward, smiling and curtsying prettily.
A male fairy stood in front of them and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, I have scoured the continent these past five winters, and I have returned with the most blessed females of our realm. I present them to you now.”
Dozens of the capital’s females, the ones who’d been dressed so finely and had looked so hopeful, all gave sniveling and envious looks toward the three. Nuwin had been right. None of them were in the running.
“Thank you, Sir Featherton,” the king replied. “Proceed.”
Prince Norivun grew even more rigid as Sir Featherton swept an arm in a flourishing motion, and the three sets of parents and their daughters stepped forward.
All of the females had beautiful black wings—wings I would never have.
“And their affinities?” the king asked.
“Lady Meegana Ockson, daughter of Harrivee Territory, has been blessed with three,” Sir Featherton replied.
The female in the yellow gown held her chin high as Sir Featherton gushed, “She has an elemental affinity—water—a shapeshifting affinity, and she also possesses a sensory affinity—sound.”
“What does she shift into?” the king asked shrewdly.
“A colantha, Your Majesty,” Sir Featherton replied, bowing deeply.
A murmur erupted among the crowd at hearing she could transform into a large jungle cat, and the king nodded approvingly.
“Very nice.” The king glanced at the next. “And what about her?”
The female’s father and mother ushered the second female forward. A purple gown covered her head to toe, but she moved her lithe figure with purpose and swagger. Her silver hair was pinned back with clips, which amplified her delicate features and rosebud mouth. The female looked innocent and fragile, but a sharp gleam coated her eyes as she sized up the two females beside her. I recognized that look all too well. It was a look Vorl would have before he did something hideous to me.
Sir Featherton waved toward her dramatically. “Lady Georgyanna Endalaver, daughter of Kroravee Territory, has been blessed with four affinities, Your Majesty.”
A huge eruption of whispers followed that statement. The king sat up straighter in his seat as the queen made a sound in her throat. A sharp look from the king had her quietening before he addressed Sir Featherton. “Four? Are you sure?”
“Indeed,” Sir Featherton replied. “Lady Georgyanna’s elemental affinity is fire, and she also possesses an electric affinity, a constructo affinity, and an emotional affinity—manipulation.”
“This has been tested?” the king asked.
Sir Featherton bowed again. “Yes, Your Majesty. All three have been thoroughly tested before I brought them here.”
The king tapped his chin. “A colantha shapeshifter is quite rare, which could make up for only having three affinities. But to have four . . .” He tapped his chin again and assessed the last female. “And her?”
The female’s parents shuffled nervously as Sir Featherton replied, “Lady Beatrice Leafton, daughter of Prinavee Territory. Blessed with three affinities. An elemental affinity—earth, a sensory affinity of sight, and her strongest affinity, which is telekinesis.”
An eruption of whispers broke out over that. Psychic affinities were also rare, especially telekinesis.
“Only three, but very powerful.” The king leaned back in his chair, frowning. “I had hoped to find a female with more affinities, but I suppose we must make do with what we have.”
A scattering of laughter rose from the crowd, but the females’ parents all wore affronted expressions while the queen continued to sit rigidly. I squeezed Nuwin’s arm. He placed his hand over mine, his expression resigned.
As if sensing the parents’ displeasure, the king smiled widely. “Welcome to the Court of Winter, daughters of the Solis continent. All of you are worthy mates for my son.”