home.”
The queen rose and walked around the chairs. She placed a hand on Amelie’s shoulder.
“There is no middle ground,” she said in a firm voice. “The separation was a necessary step and will be upheld. While I’ll overlook your gross disregard for that principle in your very existence…” she paused to pull a string on the wall closest to them that no doubt rang a bell somewhere in the castle. “…you will need to choose a side. There’s no teetering back and forth between the two, you see.”
Amelie nodded slowly. “I understand,” she said though she didn’t. She was here. How more solidly could she choose?
Queen Trinity beamed. “Wonderful. It’s settled then. You will remain here in the castle so to better immerse yourself in our ways. We have little time to prepare before the White Court Ball.”
“The White Court Ball,” Amelie repeated slowly, wondering if she should pretend to know what it was. It didn’t matter. The queen was observant and picked up immediately on Amelie’s ignorance.
“An annual gathering of mages at the castle,” she explained. “To pair off. To choose a mate. For marriage. Your attachment to my gatekeeper is noted, but in order to make a proper decision, I think it best you attend the event.” The queen kept a steady eye on Amelie, gaging her reaction. Amelie calmly smoothed the fabric of her riding pants to help steady her hands.
“Perhaps it's a bit soon-"
"I think a year in my kingdom is sufficient time to decide if you like our ways, our customs, our rules," Queen Trinity interrupted. "I'm a kind woman, Amelie. I will give you the chance to acclimate by adopting our way of life fully."
Amelie did not miss the venom dripping over the queen's use of the word kind. Her invitation was a threat. Amelie couldn't be certain how much she'd forfeit in rejecting it but it was painfully clear the price would be steep.
"I should be so honored to participate," Amelie lied smoothly.
The queen pasted on her broad smile once again. "I am pleased to have you join the White Court," she lied in return.
Chapter 12
Amelie
Amelie was given a room in the east wing of the White Palace. The bell Queen Trinity rang produced a sliver of a girl a head shorter than Amelie and all arms and legs strung together. She appeared meek at their first introduction but as she led Amelie through the twists and turns of the palace, she peppered the princess with questions.
“So you’ve been here a year?” Lotis was her name. The queen had assigned her as a chambermaid for Amelie.
Amelie concentrated on their path, memorizing the passages as she was trained. “Uh, yes,” she answered absently.
“And this whole time you’ve been in the human world. I’ve never been to the human world. We aren’t allowed to leave here. Is it much the same, the other realm?”
“Angels, no,” Amelie answered. “There’s no magic. Not really.” Another turn. Was there no end to this white maze?
“But you were there. You had magic.”
“I was a bit of an oddity.”
They arrived finally at another set of plain double doors. Once opened, they revealed a cavernous room with a tall-posted bed, plush rug, and silky curtains. All the fabrics were crisp white with powdered blue accents. One wall was mostly windows which let through sunlight that played with the blues in the room giving them a glittery quality. Another wall was almost entirely lined with books. Fairy tales, mage spells, and lore. The sight of it made Amelie’s curiosity water.
“Is it to your liking?” Lotis piped up.
Amelie shook herself out of her stupor, realizing the quiet that had descended as she took in her room. “Oh yes, very much,” she answered breathlessly. Too much , she thought in her mind wondering what all this finery would cost her.
Lotis beamed. “It’s my favorite room in the castle,” she admitted. “It belonged to a fire mage who moved last year to the Heather Village when she mated a
The queen rose and walked around the chairs. She placed a hand on Amelie’s shoulder.
“There is no middle ground,” she said in a firm voice. “The separation was a necessary step and will be upheld. While I’ll overlook your gross disregard for that principle in your very existence…” she paused to pull a string on the wall closest to them that no doubt rang a bell somewhere in the castle. “…you will need to choose a side. There’s no teetering back and forth between the two, you see.”
Amelie nodded slowly. “I understand,” she said though she didn’t. She was here. How more solidly could she choose?
Queen Trinity beamed. “Wonderful. It’s settled then. You will remain here in the castle so to better immerse yourself in our ways. We have little time to prepare before the White Court Ball.”
“The White Court Ball,” Amelie repeated slowly, wondering if she should pretend to know what it was. It didn’t matter. The queen was observant and picked up immediately on Amelie’s ignorance.
“An annual gathering of mages at the castle,” she explained. “To pair off. To choose a mate. For marriage. Your attachment to my gatekeeper is noted, but in order to make a proper decision, I think it best you attend the event.” The queen kept a steady eye on Amelie, gaging her reaction. Amelie calmly smoothed the fabric of her riding pants to help steady her hands.
“Perhaps it's a bit soon-"
"I think a year in my kingdom is sufficient time to decide if you like our ways, our customs, our rules," Queen Trinity interrupted. "I'm a kind woman, Amelie. I will give you the chance to acclimate by adopting our way of life fully."
Amelie did not miss the venom dripping over the queen's use of the word kind. Her invitation was a threat. Amelie couldn't be certain how much she'd forfeit in rejecting it but it was painfully clear the price would be steep.
"I should be so honored to participate," Amelie lied smoothly.
The queen pasted on her broad smile once again. "I am pleased to have you join the White Court," she lied in return.
Chapter 12
Amelie
Amelie was given a room in the east wing of the White Palace. The bell Queen Trinity rang produced a sliver of a girl a head shorter than Amelie and all arms and legs strung together. She appeared meek at their first introduction but as she led Amelie through the twists and turns of the palace, she peppered the princess with questions.
“So you’ve been here a year?” Lotis was her name. The queen had assigned her as a chambermaid for Amelie.
Amelie concentrated on their path, memorizing the passages as she was trained. “Uh, yes,” she answered absently.
“And this whole time you’ve been in the human world. I’ve never been to the human world. We aren’t allowed to leave here. Is it much the same, the other realm?”
“Angels, no,” Amelie answered. “There’s no magic. Not really.” Another turn. Was there no end to this white maze?
“But you were there. You had magic.”
“I was a bit of an oddity.”
They arrived finally at another set of plain double doors. Once opened, they revealed a cavernous room with a tall-posted bed, plush rug, and silky curtains. All the fabrics were crisp white with powdered blue accents. One wall was mostly windows which let through sunlight that played with the blues in the room giving them a glittery quality. Another wall was almost entirely lined with books. Fairy tales, mage spells, and lore. The sight of it made Amelie’s curiosity water.
“Is it to your liking?” Lotis piped up.
Amelie shook herself out of her stupor, realizing the quiet that had descended as she took in her room. “Oh yes, very much,” she answered breathlessly. Too much , she thought in her mind wondering what all this finery would cost her.
Lotis beamed. “It’s my favorite room in the castle,” she admitted. “It belonged to a fire mage who moved last year to the Heather Village when she mated a
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