Lexi Monarch Read online

  Lexi hugged the bag to her chest as her eyes filled with tears. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Now put on some of your mom’s old clothes so you can try out your wings,” he encouraged, stepping out of his dressing room and shutting her in.

  Lexi lifted the ruffled shirt back out of the bag and smelled it. Musty. She pulled out each item and sniffed with the same result. With a slight grimace, she slipped out of her dress and tried some red pants that were uncomfortably small, a top that rubbed her wings, a blouse that pulled so tight it was difficult to move her arms, and a pair of pants she couldn’t get over her hips. Unfortunately, the ruffled top fit, but made her feel ridiculous. She was desperate when she drew out the last item of red clothing: a soft stretchy dress with long sleeves, a high banded neck, open back, and shorts sewn into the skirt. It fell above her knees, exposing the bruises, but it felt weightless. With an approving nod, she opened the door to see Ambly waiting for her.

  “The Queen requested an audience with your father, and he suggested a stroll in the garden. He recommended you return to your room, and dismiss Cercy for the night. As the bag is too conspicuous to wear or carry back to your room, he’ll bring it to you in one hour.”

  “Thanks Ambly,” she said, then shut the door and removed the dress. She put all the red clothing that hadn’t fit into the wall chest, and left the bag, packed with the canteen, the dress, and the ruffled shirt, in the middle of the floor. She dragged her own heavy dress back on and opened the door. Though the room appeared empty, she knew he would hear her.

  “Goodbye Ambly,” she called.

  “Good luck, Your Highness,” came the deferential voice from the other room.

  Lexi smiled as she left. Then she began to practice her yawns. Lolling her head back until her hair tickled her wings, she let out great, jaw-popping yawns as she walked through the palace. At her door, she stopped abruptly, then grinned when the natural urge to yawn came on irresistibly. She fought it a moment, then entered her room.

  “Cercy,” she called, letting the yawn interrupt and distort the name.

  “There you are. Your mother came by to make sure I got your wedding clothes right. You and Talan are to be sealed just before breakfast in the morning.”

  All pretense of sleepiness fled. Lexi blinked wide-eyed at her elaborate wedding gown laid out on the divan, then dragged her eyes back to Cercy’s face with a heavy swallow.

  “Did you talk to the King?”

  Lexi nodded dumbly.

  “Good. Because that’s where I said you were.”

  Lexi returned to her ruse with a yawn. “Could you help me get this off?” she asked, fumbling with her neck buttons as if her fingers were too weary for dexterity.

  “Well? Is your father going to rescue you?” Cercy demanded as she moved to assist her.

  Lexi gave her an artful shrug. “He’s talking to her now.”

  “I doubt that will be sufficient,” Cercy muttered as she took the dress away and then returned with a nightgown. “A wedding mania has seized her. Just look at your dressing table. She’s laid out every single pin I’m to use in your hair, and she insisted I demonstrate on her own head so she was certain I understood the style.” Cercy snorted. “Six years! Six years of being your lady’s maid and she still treats me like an apprentice.” Cercy shook her head as she pressed Lexi onto the dressing table stool.

  Lexi forced herself to yawn again as Cercy removed the jeweled clip from her hair and brushed Lexi's waist-length tresses vigorously before twisting them into their nightly bun. Cercy was too agitated to be gentle, but rather than wince, Lexi couldn't help the secretive smile that stole across her face.

  “And why are you smiling?” Cercy demanded from Lexi’s mirror image, continuing her rant. “If your father doesn’t succeed, you will spend tomorrow traveling to your new home with Lord Admiral and your new lady’s maid.”

  Lexi spun around, forcing Cercy to leap out of the way of her wings. “You're not coming with me?”

  “Your mother said Lord Admiral’s household will not require my services.”

  “But,” Lexi insisted, her eyes filling with tears, “I know my father would continue to pay your salary, so you could stay with me.”

  Cercy shook her head. “Talan told your mother that he finds your relationships with the servants here inappropriate and wishes for you to have a fresh start.”

  Lexi rose slowly from her stool, fury igniting her blood until she shook with the heat of it. Lips twitching, her voice remained deceptively steady. “Cercy, there will be no wedding in the morning— even if I have to save myself.”

  Cercy squeezed Lexi’s shoulders proudly. “Good girl. Now how can I help?”

  “Take the night off.”

  Concern puckered Cercy’s forehead. “If I happen not to see you for a time, I want you to know that I love you like my own child,” she said, her voice breaking as she gathered Lexi in a fierce hug.

  “I love you, too, Cercy.” Lexi pulled away from the hug with a serious smile. “Now, take the night off,” she said slowly, emphasizing each word.

  Cercy gave her a proud nod and wiped at her cheek as she hurried into the other room. Moments later, she reemerged holding a tan shirt. “I didn’t have time to do the finish work yet, but your riding shirt has become a flying shirt. I’ll just hide it away with the rest of your riding gear,” she said, disappearing into the dressing room.

  Lexi swallowed at the persistent lump in her throat, her eyes burning. “Thank you,” she called, climbing into bed.

  Cercy reappeared and dimmed the lights.

  “See you in the morning, Cercy.”

  “Mm-hmm. Don’t forget your prayers.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Goodnight, Your Highness.”

  “Goodnight.”

  The moment the door closed behind her, Lexi was out of bed. She ran about the room, clutching various toiletries to her chest, then dumping them in a back corner of her dressing room. Next, she dug out her riding clothes, smiling as she fingered the neat little wing panel Cercy had sewn into Tiger’s old shirt. Adding them to her pile, she attacked her wedding trousseau next, selecting a blue nightgown to join her growing pile. Thinking of her mother’s red dress, she selected some matching slippers and flung them onto the pile. Looking around the large room with its myriad of fancy dress clothes on display, she marveled at the sheer impracticality of almost everything she owned. She glanced down at her little pile. She would just have to shop. Lexi grinned at the thought. Since she and her sisters had been babies, her mother had designed and commissioned all of their clothing from the royal tailor. Never once had she been allowed to buy clothing from a store. Caught in her reverie, the soft knock at her door panicked her. Yanking down several heavy ball gowns, Lexi flung them across her pile on the floor, then hurried out to the door, realizing halfway that she was flying. She stumbled awkwardly back to her feet, then took a deep breath.

  “Who is it?” she called in a sleepy voice.

  “Talan.”

  Lexi jumped as she realized the voice came from behind her. Turning slowly, she looked out at her balcony to see him watching her from the other side of the glass doors. Heart sinking, she wiped the fear and panic from her face, and walked hesitantly towards him.

  “I can’t let you in.”

  “I’ll be your husband in nine hours. What’s the difference?”

  Lexi watched him steadily. His movements as he shifted his weight were irritable and impatient. He ran a hand over his jaw, then tried the door handle.

  “Open the door, Lexi.”

  With a trembling hand, Lexi unlocked the door. Talan pulled it open, biting at his bottom lip as if waiting for her to speak first. Lexi crossed her arms and stepped forward to block the doorway.

  “You were flying,” he accused.

  “And you were peeping through my bedroom windows,” she said evenly.

  Talan bit his lip again. “You were also packing.”


  Lexi shrugged easily. “I’m moving tomorrow.”

  “Your maid should be doing that, and you gave her the night off.”

  Lexi swallowed. How long had he been listening? “I wanted to give her the chance to say goodbye to her friends.”

  Guilty knowledge and surprise flashed across Talan’s face. “You haven’t spoken with the Queen yet?”

  “Not since we met in the library. Is there something I should know?” Lexi asked innocently.

  Talan shrugged and shook his head. “Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.” He signaled, then lifted a hand to caress her cheek, using his thumb to play with her bottom lip. “Remember your focus,” he whispered, leaning in to run his lips across hers.

  Lexi took in a jagged breath, the euphoric scent of him momentarily overcoming her anger and fear. He swept her lips again, and she mentally berated herself with his list of crimes and the near certain knowledge that he would tell her mother about this in the morning.

  “Let me in,” he pled softly, toying with the long ribbon that ran down the front of her nightgown.

  “No,” she whispered.

  “But your maid is gone for the night.”

  Lexi placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away from her firmly. “I’m still expecting visits from both my parents tonight, and you are not my husband.” Nor will you ever be, she thought, her head clearing from the haze.

  “One more kiss,” he bargained, leaning in to take it.

  Lexi turned her head abruptly, and his lips caught her ear instead, sending a little ricochet of tingles down her neck and arm.

  “Go,” she commanded, shivering involuntarily as she reached forward to grab the door handle and pull it closed.

  “Goodnight, Princess,” he called as he jumped out of the way of the shutting door.

  Lexi merely frowned and locked the door. He grinned impishly, then leapt off her balcony. His dark brown wings blended into the night; only the spots of white and streaks of orange seemed to suspend him in the air. Lexi let out a breath through her teeth, drew the filmy curtains that offered no real privacy, then shut off every light in her adjoining rooms. Bathed in protective darkness, she peeked around the curtain to ensure he had not returned.

  She let out a tiny scream when she heard the knock. It took her a moment to realize the sound was from the hallway door this time.

  “Lexi?” her father called.

  With a sigh of relief, she flew across the room, stumbled a landing, and opened the door.

  “Were you sleeping?” he asked.

  Lexi shook her head as she switched on a light. “Talan was watching me. He saw me pack, and he knows I sent Cercy away for the night,” she told him, pulling him quickly into the room and shutting the door. “He wanted to come in. I’m worried he’ll come back.”

  The King’s affable mouth pulled into a grim line. “I really don’t like that young man.”

  “Maybe you could convince Mother not to be so fond of him.”

  The King shook his head. “Because he is the only nobleman available and a pheromone match, she is disposed to think well of him. I told her he was violent with the servants, and far too free with you.”

  Lexi looked up at her father anxiously. “Oh, no.”

  The King winced. “It wasn’t a wise thing to say. She wheedled out of me that he’s kissed you, that he saw your wing birth and tore your dress. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tell her.”

  “Oh, Dad,” Lexi laughed sadly as she patted his arm, “I know you didn’t mean to.”

  “She was only mildly irritated at his dishonesty, I’m afraid.”

  “And more than ever determined that I marry him?” Lexi asked with a grimace.

  The King nodded. “She planned to bear down on you with a furious lecture, and force me to perform the ceremony tonight, but I pointed out that the decorations and food were not ready yet, and that her parting conversation with her last unmarried daughter ought not to be an angry one.”

  Lexi rubbed her forehead with both hands, covering her face. “It’s hard to believe I might actually escape.”

  “The sooner you leave, the better. Can you fly yet?”

  “Yes, but my landings aren’t good.”

  The King gave a heavy sigh. “I hate to send you alone, but anyone I ask will have to bear your mother’s wrath.” He frowned unhappily. “I don’t think they would simply lose their position...it’s more likely she would imprison whomever helped you, perhaps for a long time.”

  Lexi nodded grimly. “I can do it,” she said in a small voice.

  Her father smiled sadly. “I know that you can.” Glancing quickly out at the balcony, the King switched off the light and led her into her dressing room, shutting the door before he turned on the light there.

  Lexi lifted the heavy dresses that concealed her little pile, and her father held out her mother’s bag. Looking inside, Lexi grinned.

  “You stopped by the kitchen.”

  Her father nodded. “The canteen is full, too, though it’s rather heavy.”

  Lexi knelt beside her pile, quickly concealing the shirt Cercy had altered into the mouth of her riding boot. She knew her mother would extract every detail from her father in the morning, and she did not want Cercy to be a casualty of his confession.

  “Now I just have to change,” she said, standing.

  Her father hugged her warmly. “Oh daughter, I will miss you so much. Please be careful, and when your mother has calmed down some, come visit me with your husband.”

  Lexi giggled. “How long do you suppose that will take?”

  Her father chuckled. “Maybe you should send me a letter first. Now,” the King said, releasing his daughter, “it’s time I had ‘the talk’ with my future son-in-law.”

  He laughed at Lexi’s startled bemusement.

  “It will keep him occupied for the next hour, so I’ll know he’s not following you,” he explained. “Now, strap on the bag under that billowy nightgown, and walk down to the stables. If anyone catches you, you can claim you had to say goodbye to your horse. You can change in the tack room.”

  Lexi smiled. “I love you. Thank you for helping me do this.”

  “I just want you to be happy. Choose your mate carefully, Lexi. And when you’ve chosen, don’t forget to ask God if He approves.”

  Lexi nodded soberly.

  “Pray with me?”

  “Of course,” Lexi said, kneeling.

  The King knelt beside her. “God in Heaven, I entrust my daughter to Thee. Please watch over her. Amen,” he finished in a choked voice.

  Lexi patted her father’s arm with a teary grin. “Have fun lecturing Talan.”

  The King chuckled. “That I will,” he admitted, getting to his feet. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Love you, daughter,” he whispered, then turned and left the room.

  Lexi pulled Tiger’s shirt out of her boot and packed it into her mother’s bag, then strapped the bag beneath her nightgown and slipped into her riding boots. She laughed at her appearance in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, she turned out the lights, and stepped out into her dark room. It was odd knowing she might never come back.

  “Perhaps I’ve had my last day as a princess,” Lexi said aloud, grinning at the thought. “On to my next life,” she whispered, opening the door.

  All the palace lights had been dimmed for the evening, and Lexi slipped through the shadows, calming the nervous flutter in her stomach by pretending she was only going for an early morning ride. When she reached Raven’s stall without being seen, she was giddy with success.

  “Raven,” she whispered, drawing out an apple from her bag. “I’m running away in the night like a naughty child; what do you think of that?”

  Raven happily crunched her apple, then sniffed at the bag through Lexi’s nightgown for more.

  Lexi grinned. “One more,” she said, drawing up her nightgown, “but only because I’ll miss you so much.” She produced a second apple, and stroked Raven’s
neck as she ate it. As she swallowed, the horse pulled up to sniff at Lexi’s wings.

  “Gentle, girl, I need those,” she said, kissing her horse’s nose as she turned into the tack room to change. She was tempted to put on Tiger’s clothes and cap to disguise herself, but if she were caught, she didn’t want to be wearing something that would get Cercy in trouble. Instead, she chose her black riding pants and her mother’s frilly red top. She groaned as she looked down at the ruffles, but it was better than wearing the dress. Stuffing her nightgown back into her bag, she strapped it on and peeked out the tack room door.

  Moss, the stable apprentice, was checking on the horses, and Lexi shut the door quickly. The tack room had a row of high windows, but they were impossibly small to get through with wings. Crouching behind a row of saddles, she held her breath. The door opened and Moss came through, the heavy tread of the seventeen-year-old stopping just short of her hiding place while he straightened the hanging bridles. He brushed his hands heavily against his pants, sending little clouds of dust into the air that made Lexi want to sneeze. Then he went out again, leaving the tack room door open. Peeking around the saddles, Lexi watched his lanky form walk the long row of horse stalls, smacking his lips and receiving responding nickers from his favorites. Just before he reached the end of the row, Lexi darted out of the tack room and flew from the stables, praying that Moss would not turn around. She listened, breathless, for shouts behind her, but heard nothing but her soft wing beats as she climbed into the moonlit sky.

  She flew over the tops of the forest trees that surrounded her father’s expansive lands, part terrified and part thrilled at the height and speed. Accustomed as she was to horseback riding, it was alarming to move so fast with nothing to cling to. Her arms and legs hung superfluously as her wings worked, and she wondered if she looked as ridiculous as she felt. She tried flying with her hands clenched together on an imaginary bridle, then fisted apart as if gripping Raven’s reins, but both felt equally silly without the powerful horse beneath her. Eventually, she gave up and just let them hang. “I must look like a mosquito,” she said with a soft laugh.