Rosalina
ON THE MORNING OF my third day in the castle, Marigold has me in front of the vanity and pins
my hair up in a bun with curled pieces framing my face. “Been so long since I’ve had someone’s hair
to do,” she states when I protest all the fussing. “Let a woman play!”
It’s the strangest thing. She and Astrid seem particularly interested in me. After my meeting with the
princes, they spent the day following me around, asking me what I needed every two seconds and
fighting over what area of the castle to show me next. I have to admit, the company is kind of nice.
Between Astrid’s optimistic energy and Marigold’s constant lusting over the princes, I was laughing
and smiling most of the day.
Not something I imagined doing as a prisoner. But the conversation at lunch has given me hope. I
can break this curse and earn my freedom. I’ll see Papa again and life will return to normal. It’s only
a matter of time.
I trace my fingers over the blue and red bracelet tattoo on my wrist. For a mark of a fae bargain, it
sure is beautiful.
My first enforced dinner with the princes had to go down as one of the most awkward family
dinners of all time. Keldarion didn’t say a single word, Ezryn sat there not eating, Farron seemed too
nervous to swallow, and only Dayton and I polished off our plates.
But damn. The food. Decadent mushrooms filled with nuts and garlic and a savory red vegetable
I’d never seen before. Warm bread that tore apart like clouds. The freshest salad I’d ever eaten,
Rosalina
my third day in the castle, Marigold has me in front of the vanity and pins
my hair up in a bun with curled pieces framing my face. “Been so long since I’ve had someone’s hair
It’s the strangest thing. She and Astrid seem particularly interested in me. After my meeting with the
princes, they spent the day following me around, asking me what I needed every two seconds and
fighting over what area of the castle to show me next. I have to admit, the company is kind of nice.
Between Astrid’s optimistic energy and Marigold’s constant lusting over the princes, I was laughing
Not something I imagined doing as a prisoner. But the conversation at lunch has given me hope. I
can break this curse and earn my freedom. I’ll see Papa again and life will return to normal. It’s only
I trace my fingers over the blue and red bracelet tattoo on my wrist. For a mark of a fae bargain, it
My first enforced dinner with the princes had to go down as one of the most awkward family
dinners of all time. Keldarion didn’t say a single word, Ezryn sat there not eating, Farron seemed too
. Decadent mushrooms filled with nuts and garlic and a savory red vegetable
I’d never seen before. Warm bread that tore apart like clouds. The freshest salad I’d ever eaten,
decorated with creamy cashews and pink radishes. And a lovely fizzy orange drink that almost tasted
like mango lemonade.
They don’t want to talk to me? Fine. I’ll eat their food and befriend their servants and find a way to
cure their damned curse so I can get out of here.
Now, I admire Marigold’s handiwork, bouncing a curl up and down in my palm as the morning
light dusts through my window. “Jeez, Marigold, you could have a career in film. You made me look
like an old movie star.”
Marigold grabs her chubby cheeks and coos. “Of course I did! You’d fit right in with Vivien Leigh.
Now if one of these men could be a bit more like Rhett Butler—”
“What?” I nearly leap out of the vanity chair. “Do not tell me you have your own faerie version of
Gone With the Wind.”
“Of course not, girl.” She walks to the wardrobe and rustles through a stack of dresses.
“Occasionally, humans wander into the Enchanted Vale and bring tidings of their home. Or some
faeries go for a visit. The princes used to do it many years ago before the curse. But that hasn’t
happened in a long time.” She gives a little shudder. “Though who knows? You and your father made
it through. Maybe the Vale has its own ideas.”
I shake my head in disbelief. I can hardly imagine these ancient fae beings shedding a tear over
Scarlett O’Hara.
Marigold holds out a beautiful pink gown with a lace overlay of roses and cute cap-sleeves. It’s
gorgeous. “Here you go, dear.”
I scuff a toe against the floor and fiddle with the cuff of my nightgown. “It’s beautiful, but is there
anything in there with long sleeves? I’m more comfortable with my arms covered.”
She raises a thin brow and for a second I think she’s going to fight me on it, but she returns to the
wardrobe and pulls out an orange long-sleeve dress, the skirt emblazoned with hundreds of autumn
leaves. “You’ll fill this one out like a dream. And it’s seasonal.”
As I finish changing, there’s a knock on the door. I glide across the room to answer it, expecting
Astrid.
Instead, I’m faced with six-foot-something of pure gorgeousness.
Rein it in, girlie, I tell myself. He literally tried to eat you two days ago.
Because Farron—my mysterious fae prisoner who I so desperately wanted to help, aka the rabid
wolf monster who sliced open my leg, and Prince of the Autumn Realm—is standing in my doorway.
“Hi,” I say.
decorated with creamy cashews and pink radishes. And a lovely fizzy orange drink that almost tasted
They don’t want to talk to me? Fine. I’ll eat their food and befriend their servants and find a way to
Now, I admire Marigold’s handiwork, bouncing a curl up and down in my palm as the morning
light dusts through my window. “Jeez, Marigold, you could have a career in film. You made me look
Marigold grabs her chubby cheeks and coos. “Of course I did! You’d fit right in with Vivien Leigh.
“What?” I nearly leap out of the vanity chair. “Do not tell me you have your own faerie version of
“Of course not, girl.” She walks to the wardrobe and rustles through a stack of dresses.
“Occasionally, humans wander into the Enchanted Vale and bring tidings of their home. Or some
faeries go for a visit. The princes used to do it many years ago before the curse. But that hasn’t
happened in a long time.” She gives a little shudder. “Though who knows? You and your father made
I shake my head in disbelief. I can hardly imagine these ancient fae beings shedding a tear over
Marigold holds out a beautiful pink gown with a lace overlay of roses and cute cap-sleeves. It’s
I scuff a toe against the floor and fiddle with the cuff of my nightgown. “It’s beautiful, but is there
She raises a thin brow and for a second I think she’s going to fight me on it, but she returns to the
wardrobe and pulls out an orange long-sleeve dress, the skirt emblazoned with hundreds of autumn
As I finish changing, there’s a knock on the door. I glide across the room to answer it, expecting
Because Farron—my mysterious fae prisoner who I so desperately wanted to help, aka the rabid
“Hi,” he responds, and his voice cracks. He deepens it and says, “Hi. Hello. Good morning.”
I give a little giggle and wait for him to speak. But he just stares down at me, his huge golden eyes
taking me in like I’m the answer to the crossword puzzle he’s been musing on for the last hour. He
wears golden-framed glasses, the round lenses making him look like a sexy professor. His outfit
doesn’t help dispel that idea: an autumn-brown waistcoat overtop a high-necked cream tunic and
brown slacks that hug his long legs.
A part of me wants to slam the door in his face for trying to murder me. But there’s another part—a
totally insane one—that’s happy to see him like this. I thought he was a prisoner.
And when I think about what he said, about how he can’t control his beast like the others can, I
wonder if he’s not actually free at all.
“Can I help you?” I ask when it seems like he’s totally frozen in place, staring at me.
He jerks, running a hand through his hair and mumbling, “Oh! Oh yes. Sorry. I... You look so
beautiful.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“The dress, I mean!” he stutters.
Marigold comes up behind me and slaps my ass. “Of course she looks beautiful. And this dress is
even prettier on the floor.” She cackles to herself and toddles down the hallway.
My cheeks heat and Farron rubs the bridge of his nose, muttering, “Marigold...”
We both laugh until finally Farron straightens and picks nervously at the cuff of his coat. “Ms.
Rosalina, I don’t mean to intrude, but I was wondering if you meant what you said yesterday at our
meeting.” He stares at me, those golden eyes shining beneath dark brows. “Do you actually intend to
help us break the curse?”
“Yes,” I breathe, then hold up my newly tattooed wrist as if in proof. “Of course I do.”
His smile brightens more than the morning sun. “Fabulous. Then come with me.”
I follow him through the hallways as servants nod their greetings and give little bows to the prince.
“As I’m sure you’ve gathered, we’ve been cursed for twenty-five years,” Farron says, speaking
quickly. “As with all curses, there is a way to break it. And I’ve dedicated every single day of the last
two and a half decades to trying to do so. When the obvious solutions didn’t succeed, I took to
research in an attempt to decipher deeper meanings within the curse. So, I spend a lot of time in
here.” We stop before two huge double doors with opulent handles glazed in gold leaf. He runs a hand
over his pointed ear. “I hope this won’t bore you.”
He pulls open the doors. And I enter the most enchanting library I’ve ever seen.