Maerilee
I wake up slowly, feeling a warmth that isn’t just from the morning sun filtering through the curtains. There’s a weight pressed against me, solid and comforting, and as I blink the sleep from my eyes, I realize Akin’s arm is draped across my waist, his naked body flush against mine. For a moment, I lie still, letting the contentment wash over me as I recall the events of last night. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced before, this sense of peace, of belonging to someone completely. My heart flutters, and I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I’ve found what I’ve been searching for all along.
Could it really be this simple? Could Akin be my One?
It doesn’t make sense that it’s taken so long for us to find each other, though. I’ve seen Akin nearly every single day of my life. Why have I never felt that feeling of absolute certainty that my mother always described? Why have my powers not manifested unt
MaerileeMy pulse races as I storm out of the council meeting, the heavy doors slamming behind me. I don’t bother slowing down, my steps quick and sharp as I head toward the gardens. Stifling air presses in on me, the weight of Permiton’s words echoing in my mind. Who does he think he is anyway? Even if he is a seer, he’s new to the council. He had no right to interject his thoughts so soon.The moment I reach the gardens, the cool air and scent of blossoms offer a brief, fragile reprieve. My spot among the flowers, where I’ve sought solace more times than I can count, is just ahead. I quicken my pace, eager to be enveloped in the calming silence of nature, away from politics, away from expectations, away from everything.But when I round the final bend, I freeze.There, lounging in the middle of my sanctuary, is River of all people. Of course he is. Because my morning isn’t annoying enough. He’s leaning casually near t
MaerileeI throw myself onto my bed, face-first into the pillows, and scream as loudly as I can. My voice muffles into the fabric, but it doesn’t stop the frustration, the disbelief, the absolute rage building in me. My legs kick out violently, my fists pound into the bed, and I keep screaming until my throat feels raw and my chest is burning.River. River. How could this be happening? Of all the people in the world, of all the fae, it’s him? The arrogant, smug River? No. It’s impossible.He can’t be my One, he just can’t.I flip over, grabbing another pillow and pressing it to my face, screaming again. Hot tears burn at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t cry over this. I can’t. But the anger swirling in my chest feels too big, too overwhelming.How could this happen to me?I roll over onto my back, staring up at the ceiling as if I might find answers in the intricate patt
MaerileeI yank open the wardrobe, my hands trembling slightly as I sift through the dry clothes. I’m going to kill River for this. Duchess is still hiding under the bed. I grab a simple dress and some undergarments, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric as I pull them out, my heart racing with anxiety about what this could mean.Akin is standing beside me, quietly changing out of his soaked clothes. I glance at him, my chest tightening with a mixture of emotions I can’t quite name. I know what I felt with him, the certainty that settled in my bones when I woke up wrapped in his arms. But there’s obviously something deeper going on with River. My destroyed room is proof of that.Once I’m dressed, I march to the door, pulling it open just enough to slip through and quickly close it behind me. I hear Akin moving inside, the rustle of fabric as he finishes dressing. I hope he stays put. I need a moment to confront River alone, without
MaerileeWe walk through the palace corridors in tense silence, River on one side of me and Akin on the other. The air between them is charged, both men radiating barely concealed frustration. I keep my head high, trying to focus on the task at hand. My mother will surely have the answer to this. She’ll know what to do.The weight of the situation presses down on my chest, and I can still feel the remnants of River’s kiss, the surge of power I don’t fully understand. But there’s no time to dwell on that. Not now.When we finally reach the throne room, I pause just outside the grand doors, the echo of raised voices reaching my ears. My mother’s voice, tight with anger, is unmistakable. I motion for Akin and River to stop, pressing my hand lightly against the door to listen. I can hear another voice too, one that sends a chill down my spine.Direken.He’s here, talking to my mother. No, not just talking, arguing. Heatedly.“We’ve waited long enough, Queen Kimalissa,” Direken snaps. His
MaerileeThe throne room is heavy with anticipation as we all sit before the council, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. My mother is seated beside me, her expression calm and composed, though I know her well enough to see the worry etched in the tightness around her eyes. My father has joined us, sitting on her other side and completely clueless as to why the meeting has been called. Across from us, River and his parents are seated with an air of restrained authority. Brook, as usual, trails silently along with them, his presence almost forgotten in the midst of everything. Next to me sits Akin, a steady presence in the whirlwind of uncertainty that surrounds us.The council members are gathered around the long table in the center of the room, their robes of office billowing slightly as they shift in their seats. There’s a murmur of conversation as they glance between one another, clearly unsure of how to proceed with the situa
MaerileeI leave the throne room in a daze, still processing what’s just happened. I’m destined to strengthen the barrier, but that means I likely have four Ones. And here I’ve been worried that I don’t have a One at all. It’s all so overwhelming and hard to grasp.On the one hand, I’m thrilled. The idea that I’m finally going to be able to do something to save Altinna, to protect our kingdom, is something I’ve longed for. But on the other hand, the reality of the situation is daunting.River as one of my Ones? I think of my first impression of him when I saw him at the ball, his posture confident, his eyes glinting with his usual mix of arrogance and charm. I don’t know how to feel about him in general. The connection between us is undeniable, of course. I can’t pretend I didn’t feel that surge of power when he kissed me. But the thought of being bound to him, of our lives being intertwined in su
BrookI can hardly believe what I’m hearing. For a moment, I just stand there, staring at Maerilee, waiting for the punchline. But the way she’s looking at me, with those wide, earnest eyes, makes my stomach twist. This has to be a joke. It has to be. But why would she do that? Why would she play with me like this?“You’re making fun of me,” I say, my voice hard and flat, even as my heart clenches painfully in my chest. “You’re just like the others, aren’t you? I should have known better.”The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I can’t stop them. I can’t bear the thought that she’s like everyone else who has ever dismissed me, ignored me, or used me as the butt of some cruel joke. I turn on my heel, already halfway down the hall before I even realize I’ve started walking. My pulse is pounding in my ears, a mix of anger and hurt driving me forward.How could I have been so stup
MaerileeThe dog treat trembles in my hand, faint pulses of magic swirling around it like threads of silver. I close my eyes, focusing on the barrier I’m trying to create. The energies stretch from my fingertips, encasing the treat in an invisible shield, or at least what I hope is an invisible shield. My breath slows as I concentrate, willing the magic to hold steady. A faint hum tickles the back of my mind. My magic is attempting to do what it’s supposed to but deep down, I can feel how weak it is, how flimsy the barrier must be.I open my eyes, my gaze flicking to my dog, Duchess, curled up in a ball on my bed. Her small body rises and falls softly as she sleeps, completely unaware of the challenge I’m facing.The barrier needs to be perfect. If I can’t even manage this, what hope do I have of fortifying the one protecting our kingdom?“Just focus, Maerilee,” I murmur to myself. My fingers flex, sending another ripple of energy through the shield. It looks solid enough, a faint shi
BrookI can hardly believe what I’m hearing. For a moment, I just stand there, staring at Maerilee, waiting for the punchline. But the way she’s looking at me, with those wide, earnest eyes, makes my stomach twist. This has to be a joke. It has to be. But why would she do that? Why would she play with me like this?“You’re making fun of me,” I say, my voice hard and flat, even as my heart clenches painfully in my chest. “You’re just like the others, aren’t you? I should have known better.”The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I can’t stop them. I can’t bear the thought that she’s like everyone else who has ever dismissed me, ignored me, or used me as the butt of some cruel joke. I turn on my heel, already halfway down the hall before I even realize I’ve started walking. My pulse is pounding in my ears, a mix of anger and hurt driving me forward.How could I have been so stup
MaerileeI leave the throne room in a daze, still processing what’s just happened. I’m destined to strengthen the barrier, but that means I likely have four Ones. And here I’ve been worried that I don’t have a One at all. It’s all so overwhelming and hard to grasp.On the one hand, I’m thrilled. The idea that I’m finally going to be able to do something to save Altinna, to protect our kingdom, is something I’ve longed for. But on the other hand, the reality of the situation is daunting.River as one of my Ones? I think of my first impression of him when I saw him at the ball, his posture confident, his eyes glinting with his usual mix of arrogance and charm. I don’t know how to feel about him in general. The connection between us is undeniable, of course. I can’t pretend I didn’t feel that surge of power when he kissed me. But the thought of being bound to him, of our lives being intertwined in su
MaerileeThe throne room is heavy with anticipation as we all sit before the council, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. My mother is seated beside me, her expression calm and composed, though I know her well enough to see the worry etched in the tightness around her eyes. My father has joined us, sitting on her other side and completely clueless as to why the meeting has been called. Across from us, River and his parents are seated with an air of restrained authority. Brook, as usual, trails silently along with them, his presence almost forgotten in the midst of everything. Next to me sits Akin, a steady presence in the whirlwind of uncertainty that surrounds us.The council members are gathered around the long table in the center of the room, their robes of office billowing slightly as they shift in their seats. There’s a murmur of conversation as they glance between one another, clearly unsure of how to proceed with the situa
MaerileeWe walk through the palace corridors in tense silence, River on one side of me and Akin on the other. The air between them is charged, both men radiating barely concealed frustration. I keep my head high, trying to focus on the task at hand. My mother will surely have the answer to this. She’ll know what to do.The weight of the situation presses down on my chest, and I can still feel the remnants of River’s kiss, the surge of power I don’t fully understand. But there’s no time to dwell on that. Not now.When we finally reach the throne room, I pause just outside the grand doors, the echo of raised voices reaching my ears. My mother’s voice, tight with anger, is unmistakable. I motion for Akin and River to stop, pressing my hand lightly against the door to listen. I can hear another voice too, one that sends a chill down my spine.Direken.He’s here, talking to my mother. No, not just talking, arguing. Heatedly.“We’ve waited long enough, Queen Kimalissa,” Direken snaps. His
MaerileeI yank open the wardrobe, my hands trembling slightly as I sift through the dry clothes. I’m going to kill River for this. Duchess is still hiding under the bed. I grab a simple dress and some undergarments, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric as I pull them out, my heart racing with anxiety about what this could mean.Akin is standing beside me, quietly changing out of his soaked clothes. I glance at him, my chest tightening with a mixture of emotions I can’t quite name. I know what I felt with him, the certainty that settled in my bones when I woke up wrapped in his arms. But there’s obviously something deeper going on with River. My destroyed room is proof of that.Once I’m dressed, I march to the door, pulling it open just enough to slip through and quickly close it behind me. I hear Akin moving inside, the rustle of fabric as he finishes dressing. I hope he stays put. I need a moment to confront River alone, without
MaerileeI throw myself onto my bed, face-first into the pillows, and scream as loudly as I can. My voice muffles into the fabric, but it doesn’t stop the frustration, the disbelief, the absolute rage building in me. My legs kick out violently, my fists pound into the bed, and I keep screaming until my throat feels raw and my chest is burning.River. River. How could this be happening? Of all the people in the world, of all the fae, it’s him? The arrogant, smug River? No. It’s impossible.He can’t be my One, he just can’t.I flip over, grabbing another pillow and pressing it to my face, screaming again. Hot tears burn at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t cry over this. I can’t. But the anger swirling in my chest feels too big, too overwhelming.How could this happen to me?I roll over onto my back, staring up at the ceiling as if I might find answers in the intricate patt
MaerileeMy pulse races as I storm out of the council meeting, the heavy doors slamming behind me. I don’t bother slowing down, my steps quick and sharp as I head toward the gardens. Stifling air presses in on me, the weight of Permiton’s words echoing in my mind. Who does he think he is anyway? Even if he is a seer, he’s new to the council. He had no right to interject his thoughts so soon.The moment I reach the gardens, the cool air and scent of blossoms offer a brief, fragile reprieve. My spot among the flowers, where I’ve sought solace more times than I can count, is just ahead. I quicken my pace, eager to be enveloped in the calming silence of nature, away from politics, away from expectations, away from everything.But when I round the final bend, I freeze.There, lounging in the middle of my sanctuary, is River of all people. Of course he is. Because my morning isn’t annoying enough. He’s leaning casually near t
MaerileeI wake up slowly, feeling a warmth that isn’t just from the morning sun filtering through the curtains. There’s a weight pressed against me, solid and comforting, and as I blink the sleep from my eyes, I realize Akin’s arm is draped across my waist, his naked body flush against mine. For a moment, I lie still, letting the contentment wash over me as I recall the events of last night. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced before, this sense of peace, of belonging to someone completely. My heart flutters, and I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I’ve found what I’ve been searching for all along.Could it really be this simple? Could Akin be my One?It doesn’t make sense that it’s taken so long for us to find each other, though. I’ve seen Akin nearly every single day of my life. Why have I never felt that feeling of absolute certainty that my mother always described? Why have my powers not manifested unt
MaerileeNot an hour later, I watch as the council members file into the chamber, the tension from earlier still lingering in the air. I take my place beside my mother as she stands at the head of the long table. Father is seated next to her, his expression nearly unreadable to others, though I can still see the faint humor in his eyes.My gaze sweeps over the gathered advisors, familiar faces who have been part of the council for as long as I can remember. Then, a man I don’t recognize catches my eye. He’s tall, his presence quietly commanding, though he doesn’t seem to be trying to draw attention to himself. His hair is dark, falling just past his shoulders, and even from this distance, there’s something unsettling about his eyes. Who is he?Before I can ask, my mother speaks.“Before we begin,” she addresses them, her calm voice commanding the assembly. “We have a new member of the council I’d like to introduce.”I sit up straighter, curiosity piqued. I glance at the unfamiliar man