“Thanks.” Ever’s face lit up with joy. “I think they’re pretty special too. I’m Ever.”
“Nice to meet you, Ever. I’m M—” A towering set of double doors opened with a sharp crack, and it was a good thing. She’d almost blown her cover.
They were ushered through the doors into a room that Mina had been in before. It was hard to hold back her tears as she glanced around at the tall glass ceilings and the white pillars lining the room. She looked past the fountain by the windows as she searched for the golden cage she knew wouldn’t be there.
There. Right there was where her brother had been held captive. In the future. Mina froze and caused a bit of a traffic jam as the girls behind her suddenly had to stop, dresses swishing. When Mina didn’t budge, the others quickly bypassed her to gather around a large pedestal in the middle of the room. In years to come, it would hold the Fae book; right now it held a small crystal bowl filled with water.
But Mina’s mind was plagued with guilt-inducing memories and terrifying thoughts. She had messed up and was the reason that Jared ceased to exist. The self-loathing she’d been fighting to keep deep inside of her—that she’d been ignoring for weeks—roared to the surface. She started to quiver as silent tears formed.
No, that wasn’t true. It wasn’t her fault. It was Teague’s.
It was his fault Jared was gone. He was the reason her brother was kidnapped; he was the reason that her father had died. When she turned to face him like the other girls had already done, she’d see that same disarming smile. But the packaging didn’t matter. She knew what he would become. She knew the evil that was inside of him. This handsome charmer was a façade. Her hands shook in anger, and she clenched them within the feathers of her dress. She sniffed back the tears and refused to let anyone see her cry. She had a job to do, and she couldn’t be distracted by emotions. Not when so much depended on her having a level head.
She turned slowly, trying not to draw attention to herself. The Fates and their son stood behind the pedestal and bowl. Teague had a definite air of confidence about him, but she could also see the nervousness he was trying to mask. He kept shifting his weight from foot to foot. It was hard for her to equate the Teague that plotted the destruction of her family to the young man standing in front of her.
Lucian smiled and addressed the girls. “Thank you for coming. We are honored by your presence, but as you know the choosing ceremony is only just beginning. Some of you have traveled a great distance to be here for the betrothal. Your families believe you possess a beauty and qualities that make you worthy of being the future queen. But no matter the qualities for which your families praise you, we are searching for someone with very specific traits. You must meet all of our royal requirements. Your journey here will end right now unless you can prove yourself with a few tests.”
Mina wanted to scoff and roll her eyes. This sounded like that reality TV show Nan watched obsessively. She looked around, wondering where they kept the roses. But only briefly. She couldn’t afford to take any of this lightly. If she didn’t pass whatever tests the Fates had set up, she would be escorted out of the palace. She’d been given a chance at stopping Teague here, and—though this wasn’t the way she’d planned to get in—she’d be a fool to waste it. Her heart sped up and she found herself craning to see around Annalora, to get a better view of—she didn’t know what exactly.
Maeve stepped forward and held out one long finger, pointing to the crystal bowl on the pedestal. “Here is your first test. Trial by blood.”
That didn’t sound good. Mina glanced around. More than a few of the girls looked a little unsure and scared.
“On the pedestal is a knife. You must prick your finger and let a drop of your blood mingle in the water. Blood is power, and the water will sort out the weak from the strong. Also it will determine your heart and your reasons for being here.”
The room fell silent. Mina swallowed. Her anxiety had just quadrupled.
The crystal bowl of water sat ominously on the pedestal waiting to decide the future of the twelve girls.
It was Annalora who asked the question that was plaguing everyone’s mind. “How?”
“Your blood will make the crystal bowl or the water react in different ways.” Lucian stepped forward, picked up the palm-sized dagger, and pressed it against the tip of his finger. When a small drop of blood pooled there, he let it drip into the bowl. Immediately, the water within the bowl swirled and began to flash and sparkle.
After a few seconds, the flashing stopped and the water settled. King Lucian placed the knife back on the pedestal and motioned with his arm for the girls to proceed.
Mina searched Teague’s face, trying to see behind the indifferent mask he wore for everyone.
Annalora approached first—probably hoping that by being brave and showing confidence, she would make an impression on the Fates. She winced as the knife pricked her finger and quickly, without hesitating, shook a small drop into the bowl. The crystal bowl turned gold and glittered like a snow globe newly shaken. Annalora couldn’t hide the pleased smile that bloomed across her face. She looked to the Fates and waited for their verdict.
“Very good, Annalora. Follow Wilsey through the doors, and he will take you to the prepping room.” Her confidence paid off.
Annalora curtsied. Then, with her head held high, exited through the doors they had entered.
Mina would have given anything to be in her shoes at this moment. It didn’t even matter if she got to complete the quest. She just didn’t want to be caught and executed for being an imposter. Could this test prove she wasn’t Fae?
“All right. Who’s next?” Lucian called out.
Ever raised her hand, and the girls stepped out of her way as she moved to the crystal bowl. She picked up her knife and pricked her finger, eagerly moving it over the bowl. The water turned a deep blue, but—although it glittered—it wasn’t with the strength of Annalora’s blood. Ever’s face flushed red, and she looked up at Teague hopefully. He seemed pleased.
Lucian nodded his head and motioned to the door. The servant Wilsey stepped in again and beckoned for Ever to follow him out. The girls that were left gathered themselves into a line, and Mina was stuck in the middle of the pack. Would it be considered rude if she made everyone else go in front of her? Two more girls passed the test and left the room, leaving eight girls to face the blood trial. The seconds were dragging by and Mina was finding it very difficult to not stare continually at the exit door.
The next girl, the fuchsia-colored fairy, cut her finger a little too deep and dropped more than a few drops into the bowl. The water stilled. The bright red blood pooled along the top but failed to make either the bowl or the water react. The girl plunged her hand into water and swirled it around, leaving a ribbon like trail of blood. Despite her desperate efforts, there was no reaction. She waited and watched the bowl, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth. Her eyes flickered between the Fates and the bowl. It had returned to its crystalline state.
“I’m sorry, Fuchsia, but you will not be chosen.”
Her face scrunched up with unshed tears as she tried to keep from breaking down. One of the girls in line behind her gave her a quick parting hug, which set off the waterworks before she was escorted out of the room. Teague seemed annoyed with the tear-filled goodbyes happening in front of him.