Page 23 of Fae Trials

My nostrils flared. Wasn’t that the name of the other faerie Elijah had said wanted to fly down to Doolish and bury me in molten shit?

Lady Gala looped her arm through mine. “I’m Gala Nevermore, the fated mate of Prince Rory.” She gestured at the other girls, who preened. “We four are fated to the princes, and we’d be delighted to help you find your mate.”

Gladiolus stepped back and beamed. “You’re making friends already!”

I twisted around and sent him my fiercest glower. Maybe DVDs hadn’t reached the upper echelons of the Prudence district, but I’d seen enough episodes of Gossip Girl to know these wenches were making fun of me.

The older faerie spun on his heel and hurried down the hallway, presumably to grab a cup of coffee or whatever these high faeries liked to drink.

“Come along, Aster,” said Lady Gala. “Let’s find this halfling her mate.”

The crimson-haired faerie grabbed onto my left arm and marched me in the opposite direction. “You’re going to love him,” she said with a giggle. “He’s another halfling like you and as strong as a satyr!”

My brows drew together. “How do you—”

“Don’t listen to her,” said Lady Gala. “We’ll walk you into the dining hall. Whoever is fated to become your mate will feel an irresistible pull toward you. His wings will sprout from his back and glow in unison with yours.”

“It’s so romantic,” drawled the flame-haired faerie with the dark skin. “At the sight of me, Prince Bradwell’s wings glowed like fire.”

Lady Gala gave her an acknowledging nod. “That’s Gazania of Southane, fated to rule the Spring court.”

“Pleased to meet you,” I said.

The green-haired faerie next to her smirked. “I’m Salix of Easterly, fated to rule the Winter Court with Prince Caulden.”

“Hello.” I hoped these rulerships would take place in a century or so after the girls had matured a bit. If they were pals with Lady Gala, I wasn’t hopeful of their willingness to be fair to their people.

We continued down the hallway, past a massive portrait of the royal family. King Oberon and Queen Titania sat on golden thrones, surrounded by their four, handsome sons. My gaze flicked to the girls, who let out collective sighs.

I stared straight ahead. Strangely, the sight of them being so pleased with having scored such powerful mates made me wonder what kind of faerie the fates had chosen for me. I hoped he would be powerful, kind, and willing to help me find Sicily.

White double doors stood at the end of the hallway, each with brass knockers shaped like the creepy woman at the door.

“Who is that?” I pointed at the door knocker.

Lady Gazania frowned. “Danu is our living goddess. Do you not know the legend?”

“Despite appearances, this is a halfling,” snapped Lady Gala. “Her father was so disgusted with her lack of magical development that he took her memories and left her out to die.”

My mouth opened to blurt out a denial, but I clamped it shut. What was the point of telling the truth and exposing myself to even more ridicule? I wasn’t here to impress anyone, least of all the pettiest being in the Isle of Fae.

“Anyway,” the flame-haired faerie said as though she hadn’t heard Lady Gala’s rebuke. “Danu is the mother goddess of both the humans and faeries on this island.”

I frowned. That implied that we were different from the humans in the outside world. Was this what the faeries told the United Nations to stop them from letting us leave? Without humans, there would be no cheap labor on the Isle of Fae and no one for the lesser fae such as Jacks of Smiles, satyrs, and centaurs to use for food, entertainment, or reproduction.

The doors swung open into a vast restaurant-like space that seated about three-hundred. Young faeries in their purple uniforms sat at tables arranged in a circle around a turquoise pool. Three-foot-tall pixies flew around on bumblebee wings holding silver platters laden with honey cakes, and half-bloods with dragonfly wings served drinks from crystal jugs.

My heart pumped excitement through my veins, and I glanced from left to right, marveling at the climbing plants that covered three of the walls, each sporting blossoms of white and pink and yellow. In place of a fourth wall was a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the mountain tops and the Snaefell Palace, which loomed in the distance like a beacon of privilege.

I exhaled a long, shaky breath. Not even the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills dined in such splendid surroundings.

“At night, the pool turns into a fire pit.” Lady Gazania flipped her flame-colored tresses over her shoulder. “Being here with my fated mate is so romantic.”

Lady Aster of Westerling giggled. “There’s your mate, approaching from the other side of the room. Look, his wings are glowing.”

For reasons I couldn’t fathom, my heart skipped a beat. Perhaps it was the reminder that Elijah worked at the academy as a supervisor, and the magic of fate would compel him to become my mate. I shook off those thoughts, my gaze skimming the tables of beautiful faeries to see who the fates had chosen for me.

Releasing her grip on my bicep, Lady Gala stepped to one side. She swept her arm into an arc, sending a swirl of tiny snowflakes over all the tables.