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If it’s the truth she wants, I’ll give her what I can and hope that it’s enough to scare her into dropping it.
“She feeds off people’s pain. The curse, or spell, requires broken hearts, and she needs your heart because it’s the purest of them all… you’re the only remaining Fairest left.”
“You do realize how ridiculous all of this sounds, right?”
“I’m just telling you what I’ve been told.”
“Why now, after all this time?”
“All this seems like overnight to you, because it was. But Adelaide, you have to understand for her, for us, it’s been years of playing hide-and-seek, looking for answers.” I lift her into the saddle before climbing on behind her and grabbing the reins. “We should go.”
“And what about Birdy?”
“What about Birdy?”
“What does s—”
“She’s innocent, and she’s staying the hell out of this. That’s what she is.”
Her silence is deafening.
“She has no magical powers that we know of… and she’s not a threat to the queen.”
“And you think that I’m… that I have… this enchanted bloodline.”
I kick my heels to pick up speed as nightfall approaches. “That’s what we are going to find out.”
I hope I’m wrong.
Chapter 16
Adelaide
“We’re here, Princess,” Riven announces after another full day of riding.
“Really?” Excitement laces my voice before the nervous butterflies take over.
Just over the break in the trees, there’s a clearing that looks like a small village. It’s made up of a larger building that contains a wooden building in the middle with smoke coming from the chimney and a semicircle of three small hut-type houses on either side. Intricate wooden walkways separate each one. The “houses” have dark wood carvings around them that look almost like gingerbread houses, except instead of candy dripping from the roof, there’s frosty snow glistening in the setting sun.
We ride deeper into the village until Riven stays on the path to one specific house. The front door opens, and someone comes out on the porch to greet us. I stare at the man, thinking my mind is playing tricks on me.
Is that Doc? But it can’t be… can it?
“What in the world? That’s my uncle Doc… but it’s not. I don’t understand.”
I blink a couple of times and pinch myself until I grimace in pain, making sure I’m awake and this isn’t a dream.
“I’ve never met your uncles before, but I’ve heard a lot about them,” Riven whispers into my ear.
Whoever this man is, he looks just like Doc. The only difference is he’s not wearing his signature glasses, and his beard is longer. His arms are crossed over his chest, resting on top of his large belly. We get closer, and I notice he is staring at me as hard as I am staring at him. A movement behind him catches my attention, and another older man walks out. He’s wearing a warm, familiar smile. All the brothers look so much alike; it’s uncanny.
Riven stops the horse right in front of them, and I continue staring at them.
“What’s he doing here?” The one wearing a scowl steps forward and spits over the railing into the snow, eyeing Riven, who shrugs at me. I jump when the happier of the two walks behind and smacks him on the back of the head.
“What’s wrong with you? Is that any way to greet your niece? Have some manners.” And before I can react, he comes barreling down the stairs. I screech as he pulls me off the horse and engulfs me in a bear hug.
He starts to swing me around, and for some reason, this feels familiar. I throw my arms around him in order to hold on and start to laugh at the silliness of it all.
