Feathers of Fate by Laura Greenwood

Author:Laura Greenwood [Greenwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Drowlgon Press

Nine

I study the pile of hay that’s now supposed to be my bed and bite my bottom lip to keep from crying. I don’t understand what I’ve done to Melanie. I always thought I treated her well when she was my maid, and I know my parents make sure the castle servants get a good education so they can leave service if they wish to.

Either she’s punishing me for a sleight I don’t remember, which isn’t completely impossible if I’d been having a bad day, or she’s just using me as a means to an end.

A shuffling sound from deeper in the stables makes me jump. It’s going to be a long night if this is what I have to put up with the entire time. I don’t think I’ve ever slept in a space that I shared with animals before.

Not that I suspect I’m going to get much sleep at all.

“Helena?” a familiar voice asks.

I spin around to find Wilhelm standing in the entrance of the stall I’m now supposed to be calling home.

“It is you,” he says, sounding almost relieved.

“What? How? I’m sorry, will you give me a moment?” I stumble over my words, trying to work out what I can say and what I can’t. I’m not sure how stringent the potion Melanie gave me is, or if it will ever wear off, but I have to assume it covers the entirety of what she’s done until I can prove otherwise.

He steps towards me which is when it sinks in that he’s really here and he’s already said my name.

He knows I’m me.

I rush forward and throw my arms around him. His lips press against mine and we’re kissing for the first time in months. For a moment, I lose myself in the feel of his love surrounding me. This is the prince I’ve been dreaming of coming to marry for so long, and he already knows that Melanie is pretending to be me, even if he doesn’t know why.

A wave of affection floods through me. My trust in him has been well placed, and I appreciate it more than I can ever fully tell him.

We break apart, which is when it sinks in that I’m covered in all kinds of grime. I pull away from him and wave down at my dress. “I’m covered in filth,” I point out. “Your stables aren’t the cleanest of places.”

“Do you think I care? I’m just glad to see you’re safe. I was worried about you when that woman in our guest room started talking.” He gestures towards my hay bail bed for the two of us to sit down.

I smooth down my skirts, already forgetting that they aren’t as fine as I’m used to. Being around Wilhelm has made all of those thoughts flit out of my mind and disappear completely. I take a seat and wait for him to sit next to me before continuing our conversation.

“You knew she wasn’t me?”

“Almost as soon as she showed up,” he admits.

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