The Golden Prince Read online

  Pasting a half smile over my lips, I headed back to the ballroom. A pair of deep-sea divers walked into me outside the doors leading in. “Watch out,” I sniped.

  Maybe they couldn’t see through the copper helmets covering their faces, or maybe they were drunk. Muffled snickering caught my attention. I’d recognize that laughter anywhere. My twin brothers had portaled to the party.

  Sighing as only an older sibling can, I put my hands on my hips. “Reed. Ronin. What are you lugs doing here?”

  They removed their helmets and grinned. Thick black hair flattened over their heads.

  “Mom wanted us to check on you,” Ronin said.

  “Make sure you aren’t getting too puffed up by your Fae fan club,” Reed informed me.

  Ronin snickered and elbowed his irksome sidekick. “Hey, Reed. He should dress up as a pufferfish.”

  “Amusing as always,” I said with an eye roll. Brushing the twins off seemed to get their goat, so I made sure to do it as often as possible. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my adoring masses await.”

  Hopefully, the twins wouldn’t get into too much trouble. They were thirteen, old enough to take care of themselves. It was a safe bet that Kaylin or Peridot had been sent to Faerie with them just in case. They’d probably given their poor babysitter the slip.

  Entering the ballroom, I lifted my head and strode inside with deliberate steps, waiting to see who would flock to me first. Cadmi pushed away from her current dance partner—a moderately wealthy male of good social standing, though no title—and started my way. She toyed with a pearl on her bustier, smiling seductively as she approached. Groaning internally, I contemplated backtracking to the refreshments table. It was a good thing I flicked a gaze toward the fountain of bubbling wine. In a split second, I saw the male in the shark outfit pitch his harpoon at me.

  I leaped away, barely avoiding the sharp spearhead. The next guest wasn’t as lucky. A male in a squid costume shrieked as the harpoon made a sick slurping noise as it entered his gut. Screams erupted all around us. Folas appeared in an instant, wrenching the assailant’s arms behind his finned back. Our family’s most trusted guard, and friend, was all muscle—a blond boulder capable of crushing anyone who crossed our family. This shark wasn’t going anywhere now that Folas had caught him. Uncle Liri appeared next, barking commands for the male to be hauled down to the dungeons.

  Sprinting for the corridor, my heart thundered inside my chest, not easing until I saw my twin brothers scurrying off, diving helmets held in their hands. A glimmering portal opened like a whirlpool from one of the access points at the end of the hall. I sprinted to catch them before they hauled ass out.

  “Where are you going?” I yelled, even though I knew damn well where they were headed.

  Ronin looked over his shoulder. “Home.”

  “Mom’s gonna want to know about this,” Reed added.

  “Ready to take the plunge?” Ronin asked his twin.

  Reed lifted his copper helmet over his head and jumped into the portal, soon followed by Ronin.

  They were safe. That was what mattered. I spun around and jogged back to the ballroom in time to see guards escorting the shark into the hallway. When he saw me, he snarled but didn’t struggle.

  Uncle Liri led the guards and their prisoner. Dahlquist’s acting king, like me, was bare-chested. Solid gold cuffs gleamed from his wrists to his elbows, and he wore a smooth golden crown that reminded me of a starfish. He wore dark blue pants and carried a trident with sharpened prongs.

  I hurried over, only for Uncle Liri to brush me off.

  “Return to the party, Lark. I have this under control.”

  “Let me come with you. I want to know why I was attacked.”

  Long white hair flowed loosely over my uncle’s shoulders. Steely gray eyes flicked over me. “You are here to enjoy yourself, not worry over trifling dissenters.” Uncle Liri looked over my shoulder.

  I heard Aunt Sarfina say, “Come back to the party, Nephew. Let Liri handle the barbarian.” She linked her arm through mine and tugged me to the ballroom, where the music and merriment had resumed. The wounded squid was nowhere to be seen. Not everyone was sticking around to pretend all was well. Many were slipping out, feigning yawns and speaking overly loudly about retiring to their guest chambers.

  Aunt Sarfina snapped her fingers at a server carrying a shrimp platter. “Bring Prince Lark a Deep Blue Sea. Bring two.”

  The server’s extra tentacled arms flopped around as he jogged to the drink tables. He returned quickly, handing us each a blue cocktail.

  “Cheers, Nephew.”

  I toasted my aunt out of politeness and took a sip, but all I wanted to do was join Uncle Liri in the dungeon and find out what was going on.

  “Excellent maneuvering, Prince Lark,” came the polished voice of the marquis of Isotrope. He sipped from a flute of bubbling wine and wore a tailored suit patterned with multicolored starfish.

  “Wasn’t it, though?” Aunt Sarfina crowed. “Lark moves like the wind.”

  I didn’t know about wind, but my mom might consider ballet a little more badass if she’d seen the way I’d dodged the harpoon.

  Or she might reconsider allowing me to travel to and from Faerie without an escort.

  I frowned. With the twins’ tattling tongues, I was surprised she hadn’t already sent one of my fathers to order me back to Pinemist. As though summoned by my thoughts, my dad Lyklor stormed into the ballroom wearing a long-sleeved graphic tee over bleached jeans tucked into a pair of black combat boots. His laces were untied and his blond hair mussed up. Casual cool was part of my dad’s style, but tonight he looked like he’d thrown on his clothes and rushed through a portal.

  The whispers started at once. A merman looked from side to side, then bowed as Lyklor walked past. The whole three kings thing could be confusing, especially when Liri was supposed to be the one currently in charge.

  Aunt Sarfina’s eyes lit up. “Lyklor!” she exclaimed happily. “What a wonderful surprise. You must have a drink with us. Or maybe you want to change into something more appropriate first.”

  “I’m not staying.” My dad scanned me. “No wounds,” he noted.

  “I’m fine,” I said.

  “What happened?”

  Aunt Sarfina coughed and glanced sideways at the marquis of Isotrope. “Perhaps we should discuss this later. Lyklor, you really must try a Deep Blue Sea. Here, have mine.”

  “I’m not here to drink. Where’s Liri?”

  Aunt Sarfina wrinkled her nose. “Escorting our new prisoner to the dungeons.”

  “I’ll be back,” Dad said.

  “I’ll come with you,” I said.

  “No. You stay here with your aunt.” Dad clomped away before I could protest.

  Crispin

  The castle corridors were empty, save for sentries who stood still as statues next to torches lighting the flagstones.

  My sister’s footsteps were small in her mermaid skirt, forcing us to make slow progress to our guest chambers for the night.

  “I don’t see why we had to leave the party so early.” Kenzie frowned.

  “I’ve had enough of this ball, and as your chaperone, I’m afraid that means you must retire as well.”

  I was loath to pull Kenzie away from her amusements, but I couldn’t handle seeing Lark again, not after our tussle. The feel of his hands on me was too recent. I still had his glitter on my skin.

  He’d probably swoop back into the party and select a female to share his bed. I had no intention of watching him saunter off with his evening’s prize.

  “Did something happen with Pervinca?” Kenzie asked softly.

  My lip curled.

  “The two of you appeared cross with one another,” my sister pressed.

  “Pervinca is never particularly pleasant,” I said in a bored tone.

  Kenzie’s frown deepened. “Then you should not marry her, Crispin.”

  While my sister’s innocence flustered Father, it
endeared her to me more than she could possibly know.

  “We are not engaged yet,” I said, “but she is a good match. Her family’s wealth would help restore Ashcraw.”

  “But—”

  “Do not worry yourself, Kenzie. She is as acceptable a female as any. I am prepared to do my duty.”

  My sister blinked several times. “Is that how I must marry? Attach myself to a prickly male with a title or fortune?”

  “Not you, Kenzie.” I lifted my chest. “Your match will be one of mutual regard.”

  Her happiness meant more to me than my own. I’d known all along that I would not make a love claim. It wasn’t common to find that kind of marital bliss in Faerie. My attraction to males had further sealed my doom. I’d accepted that bitter fact years ago.

  Kenzie stopped and grabbed my hands. “I would wish the same for you, Brother.” Glancing at the nearest guard down the hall, my sister returned her attention to me and lowered her voice. “I am not entirely blind.”

  Ah, is this where she would reveal her knowledge that she knew me to be irrevocably gay?

  Voices echoed off the walls, startling Kenzie. She jerked back as though she might be caught doing something she oughtn’t.

  I recognized some lesser gentry headed our way, speaking at high volumes. One of the males, Leland, had a large estate with beautiful gardens near Ashcraw.

  As the group neared, Leland’s eyes lit upon me and Kenzie. “Did you see what happened?” Leland must have taken my inquisitive squint as a negative. His white eyebrows lifted into his white hair. “Someone just tried to kill Prince Lark.”

  His words formed claws that ripped across my chest.

  “Is Lark okay?” I demanded.

  “Fine. The harpoon hit someone else.” Leland’s brows twitched.

  Harpoon?

  Kenzie blanched.

  “Who tried to hurt him?” I asked.

  “No one recognized the male. King Liri took him to the dungeons.”

  “And where is Lark?”

  “I imagine he’ll return to the elven realm soon.” Leland snorted. “His father’s come for him.”

  “Which one?” I don’t know why I asked. It didn’t matter, only that I was obsessed and wanted to know everything when it came to Lark Elmray.

  “Which one do you think?” Leland returned. “His silver-tongued sire.”

  Lyklor then. He was the only Fae I knew of who had pierced his tongue with an iron ball, giving himself the ability to lie. Once done, it could never be undone. It also rendered him untrustworthy, something nobles and citizens alike spoke of incessantly. Whenever Lark’s fathers were ruling, Ryo was the king who negotiated treaties and deals. Lyklor always looked so cool and comfortable with who he was. He genuinely appeared to not give a shit what anyone thought. I envied that. I’d never felt that free, not even for a second.

  “Thank goodness Lark wasn’t harmed,” Kenzie said.

  Leland shrugged. He and his group moved ahead of us, voices booming, then fading. My heart rate steadied. Lark was fine, and he was leaving Faerie. That was that. It was for the best. Perhaps I could resign myself to Pervinca if he wasn’t constantly flitting around, tangling golden threads around my heart.

  My parents had a masquerade ball planned at Ashcraw in two weeks. They expected me to propose to Pervinca at the party. Without Lark there, I could do it. I could fall on my own sword.

  So dramatic, I admonished myself.

  My life would hardly change. Pervinca would come live with me in our private wing of Ashcraw. We would exchange brittle banter, avoid one another as much as possible, and find comfort in the arms of friends and lovers.

  Kenzie clutched my robe. “It’s a good thing we left the ball early,” she said.

  I stared at my hand, remembering Lark’s face against my palm. His cheek must have stung afterward. I’d rather that he had slapped me. I felt nothing in my hand. It was numb.

  Lark Elmray would leave Faerie. And I would marry Pervinca.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Lark

  “You are returning to Pinemist with me,” Father said.

  “No, I’m not.”

  We stood at a stalemate inside the family parlor with Uncle Liri, Aunt Sarfina, and Folas. Aunt Hensley wasn’t aware of what had happened and Uncle Liri wanted to keep it that way. His mate had retired earlier to the guest wing of the castle with her entourage—mortal friends here by choice—to play silly party games that always had them erupting into fits of giggles.

  Dad was being a real dick. After returning from the dungeon, he’d led me to the parlor and announced that I was leaving. He didn’t bother sharing anything he’d learned from my attacker. I folded my arms.

  “Elmrays don’t run from trouble,” I stated.

  Uncle Liri smiled at me approvingly. Aunt Sarfina nodded her agreement.

  According to my father Ryo, Aunt Sarfina and Uncle Liri used to hate one another. It was difficult for me to imagine when all I saw was a pair of siblings thick as thieves when it came to parties, which they loved to throw and attend, congratulating themselves after every event. They were always complimenting one another on their outfits and fussing over mine. It’s like they were sharing joint custody of me or something.

  Their favoritism was awkward enough that I made a point of visiting without the rest of my family.

  My father’s face darkened. “Trouble,” came his icy response. “That rogue tried to kill my son.”

  “Why?” I demanded. “I deserve to know.”

  Uncle Liri swept his long white hair over his shoulder and took a seat in a tall-backed chair, crossing his left leg over his right. “His intention was to harm, not kill.”

  “Well, that makes it all better, then.” My father rolled his eyes.

  “Why?” I asked.

  My uncle sighed blandly. “He said it was a warning that if I don’t lower taxes, more dissidents will come after you, your brothers, and sister.”

  I flung my arms apart as they erupted into flames. Wings of fire appeared to spread at my sides. My pupils felt like burning coals scorching my eyes. “I will burn the flesh from his bones until he tells me the names of his conspirators.” I hardly recognized my own voice. When it came to my family, I would do anything. This was the sort of task my fire magic was made for.

  “You know I admire your zest, Nephew, but your father already ended the swine.” Uncle Liri grinned.

  My mouth gaped open and flames dwindled when I turned to face my dad.

  Jaw firmly clenched, Father’s nostrils flared before he spoke. “We got all the information he had to give, and then I stabbed him through the heart. I wasn’t going to leave him down there to escape.”

  Uncle Liri shrugged at the blatant jab. “He wasn’t worthy of a place in my little menagerie.”

  “A dungeon is not a petting zoo,” Dad gritted between his teeth. He stepped toward me. “Lark, we’re going home.”

  “I am home,” I said. “I will not flee Faerie. How would that look?”

  Aunt Sarfina swooshed over to my dad and offered him a placating smile. “Lark’s right. If he left the realm after an attack, it would make him appear weak. The scoundrels already call him a halfling. Do you want them calling him a coward, as well?” The voice that had started out soft hardened with accusation by the time Aunt Sarfina reached the end.

  Uncle Liri glared at my dad.

  Father’s fingers drummed over the thigh of his bleached jeans. I recognized the signs of him thinking. Relenting. “What am I supposed to tell your mother?” He pursed his lips.

  “Luckily, you are here and not Ryo. Tell her whatever you need to.” Uncle Liri smirked.

  It was Father’s turn to glare. Before he had a chance to swing back to his earlier demand, I held open my palms, beseeching my dad.

  “Tell her the truth—that I am safe and that I’m having a good time. I don’t want to leave. I can look out for myself.”

  “As can I.” Folas stepped forward.
r />   “I don’t need a bodyguard.” I groaned.

  Father’s eyes lit up at that. He nodded once, making a decision. “I am putting Lark’s safety in your hands, Folas.”

  “I will guard him as though he were my own son.”

  I put my head in my hands. “I’m twenty years old.” I was older than my mom when she had me. I was capable of looking out for myself. My mom and Lyklor had been away from the castle when Uncle Malon escaped his cell. Uncle Liri, Aunt Hensley, and Aunt Sarfina had been gone, too. Who had saved the day? Fraya and me! Dream Team. The rest of the family seemed to gloss over that part whenever it suited them.

  “Good, it’s settled.” Aunt Sarfina smiled. “Best get our beauty sleep before breakfast. Our esteemed overnight guests will be delighted by Prince Lark’s company.”

  Father’s fingers began to twitch again. Before he could change his mind, I gave him a quick hug and started for the door.

  “Good night, everyone.”

  Folas followed me into the hallway.

  “Shouldn’t you be tucking Gayla in?” I scowled.

  At fourteen, Folas’s daughter was too young for castle parties. Something told me Folas would never think her old enough for one of my family’s fetes.

  “Lulu is with her.”

  The blond giant fell into step beside me and walked me the entire way to my chamber. Infuriating as it was to be escorted through the halls of my second home, I was grateful Father hadn’t forced me to leave.

  “How serious is this threat?” I asked.

  “No worse than any other I’ve seen over the decades.” Folas’s steady answer eased my concern. At least he spoke to me the same way he did with my parents.

  The rest of my family treated me like some kind of socialite who needn’t worry over matters of the realm. I was neither blind nor stupid. Liri’s ideals were archaic. Having spent a great deal of time in the mortal realm of late, I would have thought him more progressive by now. But no. My uncle treated the citizens of Dahlquist as though they were his subjects whose whole purpose was to serve the royal family’s needs.