Amid Clouds and Bones

by Ella Fields

“A dungeon is no place for a princess.” “I don’t want to be a princess anymore,” I said. It wasn’t entirely true.

my older sister was everything I wasn’t.

Dark wonders were fun to imagine until they became all too real.

I had a horrid feeling that no matter how old I was, he would still rather be anywhere that wasn’t near me.

He was as handsome as the rumors claimed. And just as cruel.

“Out of all the dangers awaiting you in my court, I’m the one you’ll need to be protected from.”

As with all faerie tales, the truth sat somewhere within the elaborately twisted dramatics.

Of course, I wanted peace to reign throughout the continent. I was only half a monster.

I cared only about carving the prince’s pretty eyeballs from his obnoxiously evil head and stomping on them while he screamed.

All I’d ever wanted was the comfort that came with love—with acceptance. What I was had only separated me from what I wanted most, and so I’d never wished to be anything like the pretty monsters visiting our ballroom.

Maybe it was fear of what he’d do if I disobeyed. Maybe it was plain stupidity. Maybe I was just too curious for my own good.

Rage, true and terrifying, shone within them. But his restraint spoke of something else. Something he wanted hidden. Something he probably loathed more than me.

As trepidation and exhilaration warred within me, certainty twined tight around my bones. Nothing else would work. The only way to survive Atakan the heartless was to play this game of hunter versus prey—even if it drew blood.

There was no fuss over my arrival. In fact, no one greeted us at all.

Surrendering was where true danger lurked. If faeries unchangeably loathed one thing, it was boredom.

Irritated, mostly with myself for obeying him, I searched his narrowed eyes.

“Your audacity might have been adorable among mortals.” He warned, “But it won’t last here. Not with me.”

For no matter how much the goddesses might love their children, they were a constant reminder of their heartbreak.

“Better be careful with those sneaky compliments. If I start to believe that not everyone has sinister intentions, I won’t last long here at all.”

“Welcome to Ethermore, dear Mildred.”

Monsters shouldn’t look like him. Shouldn’t be granted the beauty to disarm their prey with a simple, half-dimpled, portrait-worthy smile.

“I’ll never forfeit an opportunity to torture you, halfling. You should know that by now.”

“I thought you didn’t want to be seen with me.” “And I thought you valued your insignificant life.”

The trepidation caused by my betrothed had settled into a low simmer. So much so that I almost missed the heat of it boiling. Almost missed him.

It was strange to simply look without worry nor interruption. So strange that I hadn’t allowed myself to acknowledge just how enjoyable it was to study him this intently.

“I want you. I want you as much as I loathe you—so much, it feels like I can’t breathe.”

“You need to stop sneaking up on me.” “But I live to keep your heart galloping because of me.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve begun to grow a heart after all these years.”

I’d never wanted this. This treacherous life. This betrothal. The heartless prince. Yet I couldn’t deny that a part of me now did.

I sipped more tea to be sure this was truly happening. Out of all the outrageous things I’d heard and seen and even felt, this situation won by far.

After years of worrying over my survival, I’d known better than to react in such a way. I knew when to stomp and when to tread carefully. Yet, for some reason, I hadn’t any energy to care.

“I find your defiance and feline attitude amusing.”

“Show me how to win your heart, Princess Mildred, and not only will I give you whatever you need…” He straightened from the doorframe, sincerity deepening his voice. “Whatever you ask for, no matter the magnitude, will be yours.”

Fortunately for most, heartbreak was a survivable curse. And if there was one skill I had, it was making sure I lived.

“You might not want to love me, but you are loving the freedom from a particular prince’s dark obsession with you.”

It was evident this king brought out the worst in me. Maybe it was paranoia, but I couldn’t help but think that was part of his ludicrous plan. To climb under my skin and irritate.

Not my problem. A lie. Whether I liked it or not, this king had made himself my problem.

“How were you going to do it?” The pain-thickened question stilled my fingers. “Survive a court who would rather not have you among them.”

“Say I do fall in love with you and free your kingdom,” I said. “Will you truly give me anything I want?”

If I could have climbed free of my uncomfortable skin, I would have. Alas, there was no escape. Not from this carriage. Not from this realm. Not from this king.

I didn’t miss him. I couldn’t. I could never yearn for someone as vile as the Ethermore prince. But I couldn’t forget him.

“I can wait,” I said with scathing softness. His smile broadened into a blinding grin. “I will never keep you waiting, Princess.”

“The awful things I would do to look at you forevermore.”

The soft information wasn’t necessary. Even so, I was grateful for the sound of his voice as day turned to absolute night.

“He is heartless.” Which made me utterly useless to this Unseelie king.

Love wasn’t needed to feel saddened by someone’s passing.

I feared that if anything were demanded of me right now, all of my carefully secured furies might explode into uncatchable fragments.

I cannot leave you alone in this state, Mildred.” “You can.” “I won’t be able to focus on anything.” Strands of damp red hair escaped from behind his pointed ear. “Nothing but you.”

“Come with me, Princess. Return to life,” he whispered. The plea brightened his eyes. “Just for a few hours.”

It meant nothing if Atakan truly cared for me in the way these Unseelie faeries were relying on. The Seelie prince was as ruthless as his father. Worse, really.