The Fae Princes (Vicious Lost Boys #4)
The Fae Princes: Chapter 13

WINNIE

I’m so focused on not tripping on the long skirt of my dress that before I know it, we’re entering fae territory. Pan gives us one more warning about the rules and staying together and then the path spills us into what feels like an entirely new land.

Snow swirls in the air, but it’s not falling as thickly here as it was at the treehouse, so I can take in the sprawling meadow and the fae palace in all its glory.

And holy shit is it glorious.

It’s like…well, straight out of a fairytale.

There are several buildings stretched over the rolling land with the main palace, the largest structure, sitting at the center like the largest tine on a crown.

The palace is white stone that I imagine must glitter and gleam in the sunlight. Several spires stretch toward the sky, reminding me instantly of some of the shells I’d find on the beach when Mom and I lived near the ocean.

“It’s like a painting.” My breath condenses on the air.

Bash readjusts his jacket on my shoulders, that he gave me pretty much the moment I started shivering on our walk over. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Kas comes up beside me and we all take in the sight. “You know what’s funny, though?”

I look up at him, at the sharp line of his jaw, the gleam of his black hair cascading over his broad shoulders. “What?”

“The palace never felt like home.”

“What did?”

He glances at his twin over top of me and Bash says, “Our nana’s cottage on the far side of the grounds.”

Kas nods. “I wonder what they’ve done with it now.”

“Better not have torn it down. Mother tried after Nana died, but Father forbade it.”

Kas’s jaw clenches and his eyes narrow.

“Come on.” Pan surges ahead with Vane not far behind. “This is no time for wistfulness.”

Kas sighs, so I slip my hand into his, threading our fingers together. I say, “Don’t listen to him. He’s grouchy today.” I give his hand a squeeze. “There is always room for nostalgia, even if it hurts.”

He bends down, planting a kiss on my forehead. “We don’t deserve you, Darling.”

We’re ushered in through the gate without any resistance from the guards who seem oddly vacant when they pull back the doors. The cobblestone road we follow into the palace interior leads us into the massive main entrance. The door cranks open and we duck inside, out of the wind and the snow.

I shake off and hand Bash his coat, the shoulders now damp with melting snow.

“Welcome!” a fairy greets us, arms spread wide, wings glittering behind her. Her skin is an ashy shade of green, her hair a brighter red.

How I’ve been on Neverland this long and not run into someone so fabulously fairytale-like I’ll never know. I guess I’ve been a little isolated at the treehouse. And the one time Pan and I ventured into town, it ended in a bloodbath.

The odd thing is, I’m used to always moving, never lingering in a place. Even when Mom and I managed to find a temporary place to call home, I’d leave the house as soon as I could, even if it was to hang at the local library. Anything to escape the depression and the madness at home.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that when I’m happy, loved, and safe, I have no need to move.

But I would love to see more of Neverland and eventually the Seven Isles, if this fairy is any indication of who else I might meet.

The woman takes Peter Pan’s hand in hers and bends at the waist in a respectful bow. “I’m so glad you could join us for our celebration, Never King.” When she straightens and steps back, she says, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Callio, a courtier and trusted advisor to the queen. She’s sent me to welcome you to the palace.”

There are so many people here, and I’m trying to take it all in at once. It’s dizzying. Fairies in glittering dresses and leafy pant suits, and men in tunics embroidered in gold, and children with wings and horns and curious eyes.

Not for the first time and definitely not the last, my heart beats a little faster in my chest as the reality of Neverland and my new life comes into sharper focus.

I’m living in a fairytale and this is only the beginning.

If only we can get through whatever this is, and Tinker Bell can fly the hell right out of our lives.

“We’re excited you’ve joined us in celebration of the return of the Mother Queen,” the fairy says.

Kas snorts. “And we don’t think it’s odd that a dead fairy has been resurrected?”

Callio clasps her hands in front of her. “No more than when a banished prince is allowed back into the fold.”

Kas bristles. I take a step, putting myself between him and the fairy. The shadow writhes inside of me and I know my eyes go black.

Callio tries to hide her startled intake of breath, but I hear it, the shadow hears it.

“Insult him again and I’ll strangle you until your eyes bleed.” My voice has turned hollow and echoey with the shadow, and the shadow is pleased to make an appearance.

Bash laughs and puts his hands on my shoulders, pulling me behind him. “She’s a little protective, Calli-who-whatever your name is. You’ll have to forgive her.”

Callio frowns, but nods and says, “We want no violence.”

Now it’s Vane’s turn to snort.

“Of course,” Bash answers. “Just here to celebrate the return of our dead mother.”

A group of girls, with glittering wings and gemstones in their ears, slow as they pass in the hall. They whisper to one another, their lingering stares on my boys as they blush and bat their eyelashes and giggle to each other.

My blood pressure boils.

The sound of my molars gritting together makes my ears ring.

Vane is suddenly beside me. “Easy, Win.”

Is this what it feels like being a soldier in the wild, knowing danger could be lurking around every corner? I mean, the danger is fairy girls and the risk is my boys.

But I trust them. I do. It’s just…the shadow doesn’t care about trust. It only cares about protecting what’s ours.

The shadow and I are on the same damn page.

“Breathe,” Vane says.

“I am breathing.”

“If you’ll follow me,” Callio says and turns with a flourish, her dress swirling around her legs.

I suck in a deep breath anyway, because filling my lungs with air is better than breathing fire.

“I’m having sensory overload, I think,” I whisper.

Vane steps in front of me. “When you feel the shadow take over…”

“It’s not taking over.”

Vane bends to my level. “When you feel the shadow fighting you, eyes on me.”

I meet his gaze, his black eye, his violet one. He’s searching me, fine lines appearing around his eyes as his concern grows.

“I’m okay,” I say, but I’m not sure that’s true. I like parties and this definitely feels like a party, but I’ve never had to attend one where I hold the hearts of four gorgeous, powerful men who everyone wants a piece of.

With a dark shadow lurking beneath my skin.

“Eyes on me,” Vane repeats.

His words are a jolt. I didn’t even realize I’d strayed away from him again to glare at the girls as they scurry away.

“Okay,” I tell him.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

“She good?” Pan is waiting for us, halfway between us and the twins. He’s unreadable, so fucking distant.

I want him to tell me he loves me still. I want him to reassure me that everything is okay, that I don’t have to worry about finding him with another girl on his lap.

I want to scream at him to give me all of those things, but I bite my tongue.

“I’m good.” I roll my shoulders, as if that will prove my point. “Let’s get this over with.”

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