He eyed her sadly. “I’ve met a few of them at formal dinners and such, but most of the eleven I’ve only heard about in stories. Over the last few days, I’ve been flooded with details about them—their attributes, beauty, and family lineage—but they’re still just names on parchment to me.”
“Eleven? You’re going to marry eleven girls?”
He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Will you walk with me?” He offered a hand, and she placed her hand in his, letting him lead her down a path, toward a downed tree. As he reached out, the tree began to glow, shifting and changing into a beautifully carved bench. Mina sat on it and he sat next to her, his hand still wrapped around hers. Part of her wanted to pull it away, and another was curious at the weight of his hand in hers. It was a reassuring feeling, yet confusing at the same time.
The warmth of him seeped through the fabric of their clothes to her shoulder. He looked at their hands intertwined, and he smiled.
“Would you like to hear a story?”
The word “story” made her gasp inadvertently.
He released her hand from his and she felt the immediate loss of both his trust and his warmth.
She bit her lip and pulled herself together. “Yes, I would.”
Teague dropped his gaze to the ground and let out a slow breath. “I have no desire to marry any of the girls my parents have tried to parade in front of me. But they’ve given me an ultimatum—pick one or they’ll strip me of my title.”
He looked so hopeful and young. Of course he was. He was a few Fae-hundred-years younger than the person she knew. Teague was sitting next to her, before he’d been corrupted, when he was still good and full of innocence. Her heart filled with sympathy because she knew what his future held. His soul was destined to grow cold with hate until he was pure evil. Unless she could stop it…but how? There was no way she could kill him when he was so uncorrupted.
“So what are you going to do?”
His smile fell. “Do? I can do nothing. I waited too long. The choice has been taken from me. The Fates have arranged a betrothal ceremony. The girls arrive tomorrow. They’ll be the most powerful, the most beautiful, and the most intelligent girls in the land. And one of them will be my future bride.” The word “bride” was filled with such distaste. He leaned forward, placed his head in his hands, and groaned.
Mina gently set her hand on his back, offering what little comfort she could.
He turned to look at her, an apologetic expression on his face. “I’m sorry. I was rude. You are not much more than a stranger either, but here I am pouring out my troubles on you.”
“No, not rude. You’re stressed and worried. I understand. Sometimes when the choice is taken from us, we feel like a victim. I get that.” It was easy to utter those words which mirrored her own feelings toward her curse.
“What would you do in my situation?” he asked. He leaned in closely, and she felt herself swallow.
What could she tell him? She couldn’t encourage him to do the wrong thing and alter more of history than she was supposed to. Repercussions could be endless. She had to be careful to only affect her own timeline. Still, it seemed like he was asking her permission for something.
“Hope for the best. Maybe you’ll find your true love over the next few days. And if not true love, then true friendship. But I do have to ask—why haven’t you married before now?”
He gave her a slow smile that rocked her to her core. “Because I never met the girl of my dreams…until now. Tell me, though I can already see it in your eyes. You know me like I know you. You’ve dreamt of me also, haven’t you?”
Heat flooded her cheeks and her heart skipped a beat. How could he know just from a look? The Prince of Fae may have been dreaming of her, but how could she explain that when he appeared in her dreams they were her worst nightmares? She shivered at his words and her stomach sank. He saw her shudder and mistook it.
“You’re cold? I’m so sorry. It’s late. I should be getting you back to your escorts.” He paused and looked around in confusion. “Where are they?”
“I seem to have lost them,” Mina lied.
“Well, that will be no problem. I’ll find them. And if not, I’ll send a coach for you, and you can come to the palace. I’ll tell my parents there’s one last addition to list.” He grinned and stood back a few feet.
“No, you can’t. I’m not here for—”
But he didn’t hear her. “Have you ever seen a Royal shift? Because only the Fae with royal blood can do it.”
Mina pursed her lips at him and laughed. “Of course.”
“No, I don’t mean earlier. That doesn’t count.” His smile lit up his face. “Name anything that flies, and I will find your entourage.”
She had no desire to ruin his fun by telling him she had seen him shift numerous times in the future. And he looked so earnest, she couldn’t help but laugh at his attempt to impress her. “Okay, how about a bald eagle?”
“What is that?” he asked, confused. She realized her mistake. He wouldn’t know all of the creatures from the human plane. Yet.