Page 88 of Fae Mates

We walked down a marble staircase with swirling, gold rails that stretched down to an even grander hallway of marble tiles with the same swirling patterns. As we reached the bottom of the staircase, the double doors at the end of the hall swung open, revealing a grand courtyard with ivory carriages.

“Your Highness?” Queen Titania stared up at Pokeweed. “Will you accommodate me in the guesthouse?”

“Not quite,” said Pokeweed.

Prince Rory leaned into my side. “I think I know where this is going.”

“Tell me,” I whispered back. “Because I don’t have a clue.”

“It’s a fitting punishment and one that she will find excruciating,” he replied.

Behind us, Prince Bradwell and Prince Caulden broke into hurried whispers. I couldn’t tell if they wanted to stop Pokeweed or help him. Since Queen Titania killed King Oberon, events had moved so quickly, the princes hadn’t had time to mourn the death of their father. I didn’t think they had been particularly close to the king, but seeing him bleed out on the floor must have hurt.

Hopefully, Pokeweed planned on drowning the murderous faerie in the moat, but he wasn’t the cruel type.

Queen Titania reached the doors and stopped walking. Pokeweed continued out of the door, forcing her to stumble behind him or get dragged. She pulled back her arm, trying to wrench her hand out of Pokeweed’s grip, but he held on tight.

“Your Majesty,” she cried. “Please release my hand. You’re hurting me!”

“My apologies,” said Pokeweed, not sounding even remotely sorry.

The carriage outside wasn’t just white. Its exterior sparkled brighter than diamonds and more radiant than the star-lit sky. A pair of winged horses stood in front of the vehicle, each wearing crystal crowns over their gorgeous, silver manes.

When Pokeweed released Queen Titania’s hand, she strode to the vehicle’s door and tapped her foot.

“What’s that?” I whispered.

Prince August’s fingers squeezed my waist. “The queen’s carriage.”

Prince Rory turned to me and smiled. “Yours.”

A palpitation raced through my heart, and my throat went dry. “It looks like Pokeweed is going to use it to transport her somewhere.”

Prince Rory snorted.

“What?” I stepped out into the starry night and into a vast courtyard of tall, white buildings.

“Wait and see,” he said.

Pokeweed turned to the driver, a bowing male with dragonfly wings dressed in white livery. “May I have your whip?”

“Of course, sire.”

My eyes bulged. “He’s going to flog her?”

“She’s going to wish he did,” said Prince August.

I exhaled a long breath, wondering if Pokeweed’s kindness would get him killed. Even with his immense magic, he was still a faerie and vulnerable to iron.

After glancing at the horses, Pokeweed channeled silver magic into the whip, which lengthened and twisted into a smaller version of their harnesses, complete with a bridle and a metal bit.

Queen Titania stepped back, her eyes bulging. “Your Maj—”

The bit appeared between her teeth, straps wrapped around her face and neck and chest. I clapped a hand over my mouth and gasped.

Pokeweed pulled on the reins attached to Queen Titania’s bridle and walked her to the driver. “Please let this mare ride in the front.”

The groom stared from the reins to the queen, who was now unrecognizable after having ingested so much Emporium. With a curt bow, he led her by the reins to the front of the carriage, where she took pride of place with the horses. He even placed a crystal crown on her head to match the others.