Chapter Fourteen

A Few Moments Ago

Samantha stood in front of her mirror, pacing slowly, her thoughts tangled like threads in a storm. Her eyes were unfocused, her voice low but sharp as she muttered to herself.

"Why would Alex do that to Rosella?" she whispered. "And what on earth is this Tree of Blessing she mentioned? It doesn't even sound real. Ugh!" She clenched her fists. "Rosella's going to be heartbroken when she finds out her own mother was only setting her up for marriage to get what she wanted."

She turned to her dressing table, grabbed her gown, and attempted to zip it up, but the zipper refused to cooperate. It stuck halfway, and the more she pulled, the more stubborn it became. She let out a growl of frustration.

"Damn it!" she hissed. "As if everything isn't bad enough, now my dress is turning against me."

She tugged again, and then sat down abruptly on the edge of her bed, sighing. "And now I'm starting to feel sorry for Miss Grumpy Green Limbs. What is wrong with me?"

Her gaze dropped to the floor. "Maybe I should tell Rosella the truth… warn her. But no—no, this isn't the right time. She wouldn't believe me anyway. Not now."

She stood, grabbing a comb, and ran it through her hair. The teeth snagged on a tangle, and with one sharp pull—snap!—her hairband broke in two and dropped to the floor. She stared at it in disbelief.

"Oh, wonderful. Just perfect."

Five minutes later, she looked like a disaster. Her dress was only half-done, her hair was puffed up on one side, and her right shoe had mysteriously vanished under the bed.

"Ironically," she muttered, "I've ended up needing the fairies I swore I wouldn't need just to get dressed."

She clapped her hands twice, sharply. Nothing.

She rolled her eyes and clapped again, louder.

This time, a sudden gust of sparkles filled the room as three tiny fairies flew in gracefully, their wings shimmering like sunlit mist.

"My lady," they sang in unison, bowing mid-air in their squeaky chipmunk voices.

Samantha groaned. "I told you—stop calling me 'my lady.' I'm okay with just Samantha."

"As you wish, Your Highness," they replied together, hovering attentively.

In less than five minutes, the fairies had her dressed, hair styled, and face touched up with the lightest brush of glamor—all with their usual blend of skill and magic.

Ruby, the green fairy, gave a proud nod. "Now you're ready, Your Highness."

"Thanks, Ruby."

"At your service, my—" Genna, the pink fairy, caught herself mid-sentence, "Samantha."

Samantha smiled faintly, but as she turned to leave, something caught her eye. Bluey, the shy blue fairy, had a faded scar running down her arm. Samantha's heart dropped.

"Bluey," she said gently, "what happened to your arm?"

Bluey immediately tried to hide it. "It's nothing, really. Just a scratch."

Samantha stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "Tell me the truth."

Bluey hesitated, then sighed. "Queen Alexandra… she ordered the Fairy Head to punish me with the Whip of Eternal Scars. I—I didn't answer her quickly enough when she summoned me."

Samantha froze. Her blood ran hot, and her fingers curled into fists.

"She what? That's barbaric!" she snapped. "You didn't deserve that, Bluey. No one does."

Bluey looked down. "I didn't want to worry you..."

"Well, too late for that," Samantha said. She turned sharply to Ruby and Genna. "You two, take care of her. Make sure she rests and doesn't go anywhere near Alexandra. I mean it."

Bluey opened her mouth to protest, but Samantha raised her hand. "No. You're going to rest. And if Alexandra asks where you are, tell her I said she answers to me now."

The fairies nodded solemnly. For once, none of them argued.

Samantha left the room, her gown flowing behind her, and fury burning quietly in her chest.