Exchanged Read online

  When the dust and lights settled, all gazes rested back on Aubriel. Callannon nodded toward the stairs and drew her with him down the steps to the crowd below, a lake waiting to swallow them whole.

  And swallow them the crowd did. Aubriel kept her chin up and refused to wilt under the attention. This was the sort of thing Elston had loved, had thrived on. She shook the thought from her head, not allowing herself to return to what lay behind her. Focusing instead on the guests, she noticed she was the shortest person at the ball with the exception of the fairies and pixies, but even they flitted about at fey eye level. Thankfully, Callannon gave the surrounding oddly dressed nobles little chance to ask her about the Forgotten Mists and took her from guest to guest in a whirl.

  She could tell he was nervous. His face and mannerisms didn’t show it, but she could feel it as she touched him. His movement remained fluid, but it had a firmness behind it whether he turned about the room or simply stood and spoke. It was as if waiting for the kings, queens, and captain to arrive caused more stress than their actual appearance.

  The lights dimmed, and Aubriel felt the intense gaze of the crowd move off of her to stare up at the balcony. As the pressure of the crowd’s focus left her, she let out a grateful sigh and pressed herself against Callannon. He wrapped an arm around her, but she still felt his tenseness as he looked to the balcony. Following the communal gaze, she saw the caller step forward.

  “His Royal Majesty King Oberon and Her Royal Highness Queen Titania of the Summer Kingdom!”

  Small fireworks burst along the illusionary sky, the fiery explosions even more vibrant than the lights Callannon summoned. Oberon stepped to the edge of the balcony, Titania at his side, and with a wave of his hand, woven garlands dropped from the sky-ceiling. Dancers appeared on each of the garlands, sliding down them, twisting and swinging. The guests looked up, entranced by the display of magic as the lights about the room flashed and oscillated, and let out a cheer far louder than the one they had given Callannon and Aubriel.

  Oberon beamed as he waved at the crowd, their cheers growing even louder, and Titania smiled widely next to him. Her smile was just as forced as it had been when Aubriel first met the king, and though Aubriel knew first-hand Titania’s penchant for duplicity, she still felt a twinge of pity for the fey queen. The royals descended the staircase, a ripple of bows and curtsies in their wake. The lights reflected off Oberon’s gem-studded, gold and violet jerkin. Titania wore the same dress as earlier, though the rosebuds were open in full bloom and her hat was gone, allowing the queen’s blond hair to fall down to her waist in loose curls. While both outfits struck Bree as oddly revealing, they looked right at home among the rest of the nobles.

  Oberon and Titania headed directly for Callannon and Aubriel, though the crowd delayed their progress. Callannon kept close watch on the balcony and spared the occasional glance about the ballroom.

  “Were you looking for someone?” Aubriel whispered to him in the last moments before they were swept up in the crowd around the royalty.

  “Salda. It would seem she’s not here yet.”

  “Great party, Lord Thray.” Oberon gave Callannon a polite bow, but his joviality was palpable. “As always.”

  Callannon’s defenses dropped for a moment, and a genuine smile snuck onto his face. “Great entrance as usual. Showoff.”

  “I can’t let you upstage the king. Even if it is your ball.” Oberon turned to Aubriel. “I see Callannon is trying to outdo me in all regards.”

  Flustered, Aubriel’s cheeks flushed hot, and she managed little more than a small mutter in response. How was she supposed to respond to such blunt admiration? She decided to drop into a curtsy and avoid looking Titania’s direction. Did Oberon say things like that simply to irk his wife? Aubriel had no doubt the king was succeeding wildly in that regard. As she straightened, she thought that Callannon stood closer to her than before. Maybe there was more to the compliments than making the queen peeved. Oberon was the one person Callannon trusted, but Aubriel felt so wary near him.

  “King Oberon, Queen Titania, it’s so good to see you again,” she said when she finally found her voice. “The Summer Kingdom is truly magnificent.” She turned to Titania, determined to find whatever scraps of goodwill were left between them. “Your dress is lovely.”

  Titania’s smile grew predatory. “And your dress is very...you.”

  How could she show that the entirety of her interest lay in Callannon and not Oberon? Then again, the solution might lay elsewhere. Fifty years was a long time to be distrustful of your partner. That was nearly as long as Aubriel had been alive. It was going to take more than a few compliments to bring out the queen that Callannon used to know, assuming she was even still there. Or maybe the good, trusting Titania was like Aubriel the villager, an innocent woman who couldn’t un-see what she’d been shown.

  A hush came over the ballroom, and the collective attention shifted to the balcony yet again. A momentary rise of panic struck Aubriel at the sight of a human standing next to the fey caller at the top of the stairs. He was tall and thin by her standards but was easily surpassed by most of the towering fey. Unlike the spectrum of summer hues worn by the rest of the guests and staff, his unadorned doublet was viridescent. He fidgeted nervously and cleared his throat.

  “Members of the Summer Court, may I present Queen Ginette and King Jekob of the Deepwood Realm.”

  Aubriel thought that between joining Callannon, meeting Oberon and Titania, and seeing all the fey gathered at the ball in a single day, she might have become jaded to new surprises. She was mistaken. The fey that stepped onto the balcony weren’t as tall as the members of the Summer Court and had bronze skin that held a slight sheen. They gave off self-confident auras despite overlooking a crowd of uncertain nobles.

  Queen Ginette’s midnight dress revealed even more than Titania’s despite being one piece instead of two. The neckline plunged between her breasts and down to her navel. Thick, black hair fell in waves down to the queen’s waist.

  Beside the queen, King Jekob looked the consort of the royal pair, following his wife’s lead on the balcony. His hair was an intense black, and Aubriel couldn’t begin to guess his age from his immaculate face.

  Oberon, Titania, and Callannon politely clapped, drawing a weak but pleasant reception of the foreign royals from the rest of the guests, most of whom were as entranced as Aubriel. Queen Ginette and King Jekob descended the staircase, the guests once again parting to create a path. The nobles didn’t stop the pair for conversation.

  Callannon bowed, and Aubriel followed in a deep curtsy. “Queen Ginette and King Jekob, I am Lord Callannon Thray, advisor to King Oberon, and it is an honor to have you as guests in my home.” Oberon and Titania both rose from their own salutations, though neither of them as deep as Callannon or Aubriel’s. “I hope your travels went well?”

  “Very well, yes,” Ginette replied, her tone polite but cautious. “Thank you for being so gracious as to host us.”

  “And thank you,” Jekob said, looking to Oberon, “for extending the invitation.”

  “It was my pleasure, King Jekob,” Oberon said with a sweeping gesture. “Or just Jekob, if I may?” Though Titania barely shifted, Aubriel felt the displeasure aimed at the king of the Summer Kingdom.

  “Just ‘Jekob’ would be refreshing, in fact, Oberon,” the Deepwood fey said with a smile.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Queen Ginette,” Titania said with a small nod, ignoring Oberon’s wide smile.

  “And same to you, Queen Titania.” The immediate amiability between the two kings was nowhere to be found between the two queens.

  “And who might this enchanting lady be?” Aubriel nearly jumped as she realized that Jekob was looking directly at her. She curtsied again quickly to hide her surprise.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, your highnesses. I’m Aubriel of the Forgotten Mists.” As she straightened, she found Callannon’s arm around her and was comforted by his soli
d presence.

  “Miss Aubriel and I are recently exchanged,” Callannon added, pride and happiness obvious in his voice.

  Jekob bowed. “It’s a pleasure, Miss Aubriel.”

  “For myself as well,” followed Ginette with a smile.

  “Well!” Oberon said with a clap, startling the group. “Now that introductions are out of the way, Callannon, how about you and I show Jekob around a bit? There’s quite a lot that I think he might be interested in seeing.” Aubriel didn’t like the sly smirk on Oberon’s face as he made that last statement, nor did Callannon judging by his tightened grip on her.

  “I suppose that could be arranged,” Callannon replied evenly.

  “Then it’s settled!” Oberon said with exuberance.

  All too quickly, Oberon pulled Callannon and Jekob away from their partners, and the three women were left alone. Aubriel’s stomach sank as she watched the men become swallowed by the party. So much for remaining safely by his side. I hope Acorn’s alright. I could really use her help right now.

  The red fox was nowhere to be found, but then again, neither was anyone who matched the description of Captain Salda. As long as Aubriel remained aware and avoided the captain, she would be alright, but that was easier said than done when spending time with Titania. The captain was likely to seek the queen out at some point.

  Pursuing Callannon wasn’t an option, and escaping Titania’s side would keep her from crossing paths with Captain Salda, but if she left Titania to warm Ginette to the Summer Kingdom, there might instead be a new war before the ball ended. Aubriel pulled her attention back to the women before her. Two uneasy queens, their kingdoms nearly at peace after being at odds for who knew how long. If Callannon continued to play the part of advisor throughout the night, perhaps she could do something similar.

  “Queen Ginette,” Aubriel began, pushing down her fears and insecurities as the beautiful queen turned to her. “Tell us of your journey to the Summer Kingdom.”

  “It went well, even if it took ages. We were able to avoid carriages most of the way, but the Summer Kingdom is well-protected, and we couldn’t teleport directly inside.” She fanned herself with a hand and adjusted the strap of her dress with the other, showing off her voluptuous figure. “The journey became...a bit cramped and warm, but not unpleasantly so.”

  Titania’s teeth nearly cracked with how hard she clenched them. The queen could hide much, but she didn’t hide her jealousy well, and the last thing Aubriel needed was to have the peace treaty ruined over a spat that didn’t involve politics. Then again, maybe this was fey politics. Ginette’s dress was nearly the same shade as Titania’s, and she also wore her hair loose. Whatever spirit the mimicry was in, Aubriel didn’t understand it, and she knew that she couldn’t allow things to continue this way.

  “Why don’t we walk around the ballroom as we talk?” Aubriel boldly linked her arm through Ginette’s and succeeded in drawing her attention away from Titania.

  Titania’s eyes narrowed, but Aubriel gave her a fiery look. The polite Bree whom had been carefully developed over weeks of practice gave way to the experience and familiarity of the huntress. Her nerves calmed, and her senses intensified the more dire the situation became. Titania noticed that something changed and gave a curt nod.

  “Thank you for agreeing to meet here,” Titania said, finding her voice. “It’s unorthodox, but the king was determined to show off his advisor’s work.”

  Ginette admired the whole of the ballroom. “I must say, it’s a refreshing change of pace to be treated on friendlier terms. These things can so often feel like dueling rather than negotiating.” She winked at Aubriel. “Would you mind terribly if I snagged Lord Thray from you? I could use his skills in the Deepwood.”

  Aubriel was almost certain they were no longer talking about advising. “What of you and King Jekob? How long have you been together?”

  Titania stepped closer to Ginette’s side, seemingly to avoid a wobbly noblewoman from drunkenly colliding with her.

  “We’ve ruled together for nearly a century.” Ginette looked up in thought. “We were exchanged for sixty or so years before then. I had to ensure we would be a good match...that he’d be able to handle me.”

  Titania smirked. For wanting to see this treaty come to fruition, the queen was not good at delegating, and she lacked the charismatic nature of Oberon. Again, Aubriel was struck with a pang of sympathy for the queen. She might be better at what she did if she weren’t so miserable or so keen on seeing others be miserable.

  “You seem happy with your choice,” Aubriel said.

  “Yes,” Ginette said wistfully. “No other man outmatched him in competence, strength, or pleasure. He can be a bit extreme at times, but I prefer that to a man of weak will.” She looked at Titania with slightly lidded eyes. “You have quite the strong one too, as I hear it. And daring.”

  Did all topics lead back to sex? Aubriel caught a brief glimpse of the door to the kitchen as a group of nobles left the hedge that flowered drinks. A pretty staff member tried to leave the kitchens with a tray of delicacies but was blocked by Oberon and Jekob. Callannon tugged at the pair to move but with little success. At least Aubriel wasn’t the only one struggling.

  Maybe she was going about this all wrong. Rather than avoid it, perhaps she should embrace it.

  Aubriel turned to Ginette with a large smile. “Do you and the king have children?”

  It was immediately apparent that she’d said something very wrong. Ginette stopped walking. Too late, Titania motioned for Aubriel to stop talking, her look frantic. The conversations around the trio quieted, and Bree felt incredulous eyes watching her.

  “Miss Aubriel,” Ginette said, her voice deep and smooth, “would you step outside with me for a moment?”

  Refusing didn’t seem to be a choice. She glanced at Titania. The queen’s eyes were screaming at her in a “be careful and don’t ruin this” way. Aubriel nodded. Rabek, let me not have destroyed the treaty’s chances. If not for my sake, then for Callannon’s. “Of course I’ll go with you, Queen Ginette.”

  With a final look to Titania, Aubriel exited the ball with Ginette and began leading her to the hedge maze. Aubriel didn’t know the grounds well, and she didn’t want to get the pair of them lost. It was still early in the ball, so there weren’t many guests about the grounds, leaving only an intense quiet between herself and the queen. She wanted to say something to remedy the situation but didn’t want to make things worse than they already were.

  The white hedge flowers began to glow as the gloam darkened to night. It was softer than the inky blackness that permeated the forest back home. Aubriel wasn’t concerned about being pushed through a gateway this time, but she purposefully took the Deepwood queen a different route in the maze to be safe.

  “You have not been here long, have you, Miss Aubriel?” It was more a statement than a question, and Ginette didn’t sound angry. Their pace slowed as they turned a corner in the maze.

  “I have not.”

  The queen nodded, her dark hair spilling around her shoulders. “I know what it’s like to be in a new place with foreign customs. I’ve made more mistakes than I can count, and so I do not begrudge you yours. The Forgotten Mists must be a peaceful place if you can so openly discuss children.”

  “It is peaceful.” Aubriel thought back to Viget. “But I’m a craftswoman, and things were more simple for me before coming here.”

  “Yes, I suppose the issue is relevant only to the nobility. For us, children are often used by our enemies, whether for extortion or political advantage. To ask so openly if I had children would imply that you either are exceptionally bold or have nothing to lose.”

  “I have everything to lose.” The words tumbled out before she could stop them.

  Callannon warned her to trust no one, but Queen Ginette was so straightforward and open. With Elston, there had always been a question hovering in the silence, something that didn’t add up to his claims. It would have been ob
vious he was hiding something had she not been so blinded by her affection for him. This felt different, but she still needed to be careful.

  Ginette laughed softly. “I don’t think you need to worry about losing anything this eve.” She regarded Aubriel carefully. “The truth is, I would like a child, but it’s so difficult to conceive. Jekob and I have been trying for years to no avail.”

  Aubriel nodded, surprised Ginette would share such a secret so quickly. A glimmer of doubt flicked through her. Was this an elaborate trap? Did the queen want to lock her into some kind of contract as Titania tried to do? There was no strange sensation that jolted her or gave warning.

  The queen’s face was somber. There was a yearning in her dark, thickly lashed eyes. It was a yearning Aubriel had seen but never experienced.

  “I see,” Aubriel said slowly. “That is sometimes a problem in my...home. What fertility herbs are you taking?”

  Ginette’s eyebrow raised questioningly. “Fertility herbs? Do such things actually exist, or are they like all the brightly colored potions that claim to do much and actually do nothing?”

  “I’ve seen them eaten by women, and I’ve seen them work, but I never learned the dosage...”

  “You know of such things? Can you get them for me?” Ginette took Aubriel’s hands and held her gaze. “Please?”

  A desperate hope glimmered in the queen’s eyes. Aubriel had helped midwives, but her hands had simply been an extra pair. There had once been the possibility of training, but hunting always seemed to get in the way. She had much knowledge on the subjects of pregnancy and birth due to proximity, but she’d never been the one to make the decisions or help potential mothers begin the process.