The Price of Beauty: A Colorful Fairy Tale of Beauty (Grayling Prophecy Book 1) by S.R. Jaye

Author:S.R. Jaye [Jaye, S.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

A Game of Powers

Maisie

It seemed no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t keep the mood light or the talk from returning to war. “Let’s hope the balance never shifts and things stay the same as they are.”

Even now, memories of the last Great Magic War lingered in more than history, and the people of my province bore the scars of their ancestors’ warring.

Rylan studied me, looking at me as if my innocence were both a prize and a curse. “If only that were possible. If I could spare you by not speaking of it, I would. As a country girl, you could have remained ignorant and let the winds of fate toss you. But as selectress, you need to understand the situation and the danger we’re all in. Leaders in all three realms want complete control and will stop at nothing to get it.

“Jezellion has long craved the crown of the Seelie Court along with her own. Imagine the power complete control over the fae world would give her?” His brow furrowed.

I didn’t want to imagine the horror, but images of it came anyway. I saw dark, tangled autumn, not the beauty of fall here, followed by desolate, twisted winter. People bent and contorted and maimed into disability and physical pain. Death, and plenty of it.

“If only that were all,” the prince continued. “Her ultimate goal is control over the mortal realm as well. She wants it all and circumstances are aligning with her desires. With only a half human as his heir, Raiden is vulnerable.

“Despite what it looks like, and how courtly the Seelie fae are, there are powerful fae who aren’t happy I’m here and would just as soon I weren’t the heir to the throne. Jezellion knows the time to strike at Raiden is now, while there’s turmoil in his inner circle.”

He caught a falling leaf and studied its delicate veins. As he did, I saw war raging within him. His human side admired the beauty. His fae side saw ebbing power and war.

“In the human realm, my brother would love to expand his kingdom and his grip on it.” He crushed the leaf in his fist. “But there are always forces at work trying to wrest it from him. He’s a young, inexperienced king. He’s much more vulnerable than my late father, King Edmund, was and liable to make a fatal mistake. Without me there to advise and temper him, to cover up his mistakes…”

Rylan looked up at the blue sky as if longing to take flight again. “Raiden would be satisfied with his own kingdom, but he can’t let Jezellion gain control of the mortals. Or the Seelie Court. He’ll fight when he has to. He’ll do anything to protect his court. But if he’s not careful, he’ll be fighting a rebellion as well.

“It’s in the best interests of the parties seeking to enlarge their power to keep the people in the dark, catch them off guard so they won’t rebel or try to stop the war coming until it’s too late.

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