Lexi Monarch Read online

  “Food stinks,” Celus blurted, then blushed deeply and mumbled, “Your Highness.”

  Lexi laughed. “Then perhaps I should bring some with me.”

  “I am certain Your Highness will be well fed,” Vaden insisted, giving Celus a disapproving glance. “The Governor is your brother-in-law, after all.”

  Lexi looked between the two guards with confusion. “Is the food very different for the Governor, then?”

  “Everything is different for the Governor,” Celus muttered, then blushed again as he glanced at Vaden.

  “As it should be,” Talan murmured, nodding his approval.

  Lexi ignored him and turned to Celus. “For instance?”

  Vaden shook his head slightly, but Celus was already speaking, his blush bleeding down his neck. “The Governor and the life servants get all the good food, the cleaner washing pool, and warmer bedrooms. The in-seasons get treated like dirt, and are driven away as quickly as possible.”

  Lexi turned a questioning glance to Vaden, but he only sighed and looked away.

  “Did either of you report this to my father? I am certain he does not know about this.” She frowned as both guards shook their heads. “Well, I will certainly tell him.”

  An uncomfortable silence fell over the four of them as they flew on, stopping in two small villages for food and water to break up their long journey. As the sky began to darken, Vaden pointed at the faint glow behind the northern hills.

  “We’ve made good time. That’s Oakridge. We can stop there for the night if that is acceptable, Your Highness,” Vaden suggested.

  “Yes Vaden,” Lexi panted. “I am ready to stop.”

  With a burst of speed, Talan darted ahead of the group. In a few minutes, his brown and orange wings were nothing more than a smudgy blur on the horizon.

  Odd, Lexi thought.

  Celus muttered something under his breath, then snorted at his own joke while Vaden gave him a warning glance.

  They watched Talan until he disappeared over the hill, the natural urge to increase their speed squelched by exhaustion. Lexi pulled out her canteen and drank the last of it, slowing as she did so. The guards slowed to match her speed and Vaden held out his canteen.

  “No, thank you, Vaden,” Lexi assured him. “I will be fine.”

  Just as they reached the outskirts of the city, Talan reappeared.

  “The finest accommodations are this way,” he insisted, leading the group out of the city, to the west.

  After a few moments of following him, Lexi frowned. “That looks like a private estate. I’d prefer a public inn.”

  Talan turned around with a grin. “But Anna West is already expecting us. Surely you don’t want to be rude.”

  Lexi clenched her teeth, but kept her face impassive. “Of course not.”

  As they neared the courtyard, a beautiful blonde with wide blue eyes walked out to meet them with a gaggle of servants scurrying around her.

  “Your Highness! Talan!” the blonde greeted them with a delighted grin, and took their hands as they landed next to her. “Father is away, and I’ve been so bored! You must stay with me and keep me company,” she insisted, pressing their hands warmly.

  “Of course. Thank you for your invitation,” Lexi replied, her smile frozen in place as she caught Talan and Anna exchanging a conspiratorial glance.

  “And now that you’re here, I won’t even try to keep our great secret. Van’s wing birth was a month ago, but he wickedly ran off to the Mating Mountain instead of going to the palace. Father is perfectly frantic that my foolish twin will get stuck there or come home married to a nobody. He hasn’t let me tell a soul! He just keeps hoping that Van will come home repentant, and he’ll still be able to arrange a marriage with a noblewoman,” Anna paused, glancing back and forth between the two of them.

  “So this must be your honeymoon journey! Whatever brings you so far north?” she asked, looking at Lexi expectantly.

  Slipping her hand out of Anna’s, Lexi held a tight smile. “We’re not married, Anna. I’ve decided to go to the Mating Mountain, and Talan is...escorting me.”

  Anna’s eyes widened in feigned surprise. “But surely your parents arranged a marriage for you?”

  Lexi stood taller, feeling miserably conspicuous in the sweaty red dress next to Anna’s elegant blue gown. “Perhaps Talan will tell you about that while I prepare for dinner.”

  “Oh, of course! How rude of me. Let me show you to your room, Your Highness,” Anna insisted. “Talan, you can have your usual room, of course,” she added, giving Talan an easy smile. “Dinner will be served in half an hour. You do remember where the dining room is?” Anna teased.

  Talan grinned back at her without answering.

  Anna offered her arm to Lexi and steered her into the palatial estate. “You may not have been aware that Talan and Van are the best of friends. Talan always spends at least a month every summer with us. I am certain Van will be delighted to see him on the mountain, and then perhaps Talan can talk some sense into him.”

  Lexi hid a sigh, knowing Anna neither expected nor desired any verbal response.

  “You must let me lend you a dinner gown from my wedding trousseau,” Anna insisted, giving Lexi’s dress a disapproving glance.

  Lexi repressed a laugh as she looked down at the girl, a full head shorter than she. “I don’t think it is likely to fit.”

  “Of course it will!” Anna assured her, patting her hand. “You have a tiny waist, and shorter hems and sleeves are very popular this season.”

  Lexi laughed out loud this time, partly from the image of appearing at dinner in Tiger’s clothes.

  Anna smiled patiently at her laughter. “We’ll find something that works. Here’s your room. I’ll send my maid with some dinner gowns shortly. Is there anything you need, Your Highness?”

  Lexi glanced around the large room where every piece of furniture or decoration was a shade of lavender. “No, this will be perfect. Thank you, Anna.”

  “No thank you, Your Highness. It is has been a long time since we have had a royal guest.” Anna smiled and pulled the door shut behind her.

  Lexi sucked in a huge breath and blew it out slowly. The room smelled like her mother’s, and she had to fight the claustrophobic feeling that she was imprisoned. Taking another big breath, she ventured into the adjoining lavender bathroom and began to wash. A soft knock sounded at the door just as she was finishing. Lexi started to wrap a towel around her and caught her wings. Cringing, she tried to drape it up underneath her wings and high over her chest, but it tickled her wings unpleasantly. Finally, she just clutched the towel to her chest and opened the door a crack.

  A short, brown-haired pupa girl stood outside her door, her face bowed respectfully into a pile of brightly colored finery that she toted in her arms. “Your dresses, Your Highness,” she said, her voice muffled by her load.

  Lexi let the girl through, and quickly shut the door behind her. The maid laid her load lovingly across a divan, then faced Lexi, her eyes on the floor. “Shall I help you, Your Highness?”

  Lexi glanced at the stack of elaborate finery, then put a hand up to her wet hair. “Yes, please.”

  The maid helped her try on all five of the dresses before she settled on a bright pink gown replete with a riot of bows. Lexi hated it, but it fit much better than the others and mercifully covered her bruises. Then the maid drew her hair up in an elaborate coiffure with hanging tendrils and matching pink ribbons. Finally, Lexi slipped on her jeweled red slippers, hoping the color difference would not be obvious in the dimmer evening light. The maid led her to the dining room, then backed away shyly.

  “Thank you. I really appreciate your help,” Lexi whispered sincerely.

  The short maid blushed, bowed, and mumbled something before hurrying away.

  “Princess,” Talan called, his face alight as he came out to usher her in.

  Lexi reluctantly took his proffered arm, noting the subtle scent of hickory and cloves emanating fr
om him.

  “You look lovely,” he said, guiding her to the seat next to him.

  “Who’s this?” an elderly lady demanded from the end of the table.

  “Remember, Grandmother, this is Her Royal Highness, Princess Lexi,” Anna reminded her patiently, patting her heavily jeweled hand.

  “What’s she doing here?”

  Anna blushed. “Lady Nessa isn’t well,” she whispered apologetically.

  “I can hear you!” Lady Nessa fairly shouted.

  Lexi gave her a polite smile and extended her hand. “Lady Nessa, it is a pleasure...”

  “You are in season, too? What are you doing here?” Lady Nessa interrupted.

  “She’s going to the Mating Mountain, like Van,” Anna explained.

  “She’s going after Van?” Lady Nessa demanded.

  Lexi blinked. Anna’s mouth opened, but no words came.

  “Well, good! Best news I’ve heard in a month! If a princess can’t bring him home, no one can.” Lady Nessa looked around the table in grim satisfaction. “Where is my dinner?!”

  Servants rushed around serving her while she made various critical comments. Talan frequently covered his mouth with his napkin or hand, his wings shaking with silent laughter while Anna kicked him under the table. Lexi held a pleasant smile as she ate, pretending to be elsewhere.

  “This tastes terrible!” Lady Nessa announced, flinging her dessert spoon. “I want to have my walk in the garden now,” she demanded, her faded black-tipped orange wings twitching. Two servants quickly helped her up and supported her as she hobbled towards the door. She pointed a gnarled, thick-nailed finger at Lexi as she passed. “You tell my grandson to marry you quick or I’ll leave all my money to his sister here.”

  A slight blush crept up Lexi’s cheeks. “Goodnight, Lady Nessa.”

  Talan and Anna echoed her sentiments. As soon as Lady Nessa was out of hearing, Talan turned to Anna.

  “She won’t really disinherit him?” he asked.

  Anna shrugged. “Grandmother has become unpredictable,” she explained, standing. “She also gets irritable when I don’t join her on her walks, so if you’ll excuse me.” Anna left the room, her elaborate underskirts rustling as blonde ringlets bounced down her back.

  Talan looked at Lexi with a grin, his scent suddenly much stronger. “Will you tell Van?”

  Lexi’s eyes widened. “Of course not.”

  Talan laughed. “I will.”

  Lexi shifted uncomfortably on her stool and pushed the last bite of pie around her plate.

  “It will be much harder for you to find your beloved peasant with two nobles vying for your hand,” Talan predicted happily.

  Lexi scowled at him. “Is that your plan? To drive away all the other men?”

  Talan considered seriously for a moment. “Not Van.”

  Lexi let out an irritated breath. “What’s he doing on the mountain anyway?”

  Talan folded his lips tight, then shrugged.

  “You weren’t surprised that he had gone.”

  “Why do you say that?” Talan asked, staring down at Van’s jacket as he removed invisible lint.

  “When Anna told us, you didn’t respond.”

  Talan shrugged. “I had spoken to her earlier.” Talan stood and held out his hand to her. “Would you like to see Van’s stables? I know it’s not as much fun since we can’t ride them anymore, but he does have some beautiful stallions.”

  Lexi considered for a moment, then looked down at her dress. “I think I had best return this dress to Anna and get some sleep.”

  “You slept half the day,” Talan complained. “You can’t be tired yet.”

  “Goodnight, Talan.” Lexi stood in an attempt to terminate the conversation.

  “Wait,” he said, taking her wrist and moving close to her.

  “Don’t, Talan,” Lexi warned, trying to ignore the little thrill that ran up her arm at his touch.

  “Why not?” he asked, releasing her wrist to run his fingers up her arm in an exhilarating crescendo.

  Lexi caught his hand and pushed it away.

  “What if I let you keep your lady’s maid?” he blurted.

  “Then you would only lecture me more often about the way I treated the servants,” Lexi said wearily.

  “Lexi,” he pled softly, artfully biting his lip.

  Lexi frowned as she watched, then turned away quickly when he leaned in to kiss her. “Goodnight, Talan,” she repeated, moving swiftly from the room. In the hallway, she pressed a hand to her pounding heart as she took deep breaths of the unscented air.

  “Your Highness!”

  Lexi turned to see Vaden hurrying down the hall towards her, an irritated steward on his heels.

  “Her Highness is not to be bothered,” the steward announced haughtily.

  “It’s not a bother,” Lexi assured him. “Vaden, did you need something?”

  The steward retreated with a comically juxtaposed sullen glare for Vaden and an obsequious bow for Lexi.

  “Your Highness,” Vaden said, taking a moment to catch his breath. “I’m leaving now, returning to the Royal City.”

  “You’re abandoning your duty?” Talan demanded from the dining room doorway.

  Gritting her teeth, Lexi ignored Talan, shrugging him away as he tried to take her arm.

  “No, My Lord,” Vaden bowed, then turned to Lexi with a slight blush in his cheeks. “My season ended, Your Highness. When one of the royal flying guard loses their ability to fly, we are to report back to the King immediately.”

  “Oh. Do you need money for transportation?” Lexi asked.

  “No, the mail coaches have to take us for free,” Vaden assured her.

  Lexi smiled. “Hurry, then. Maybe you can make it home before your children are born.”

  An answering smile flitted across Vaden’s square jaw, then disappeared as he faced Talan’s scowl. “My Lord, might I have a word with you?”

  “Perhaps later,” Talan said irritably, trying to lead Lexi away.

  “But he’s leaving now,” Lexi argued, removing Talan’s hand from her arm.

  “Fine. Speak,” Talan growled.

  Vaden looked uncomfortably at Lexi, then back at Talan. “It regards Her Highness' safety.”

  “Surely she is entitled to hear about that?”

  Vaden’s face flamed red, and he stared at the floor. “It’s about Celus. He’s...very attracted to Her Highness; he has even presumed to signal her on occasion. He should not be left alone with her.”

  The tendons in Talan's neck stood out as he clenched his fists. "Excuse me," he said with a brusque bow, then flew away with rapid strokes.

  “Thank you for the warning,” Lexi said when she found her voice. She had noticed a mustard scent when Celus was around, but had assumed it was merely food on or about his person.

  Vaden bowed, then hurried away.

  Lexi stood in the hallway a moment, watching him go, before she finally returned to her room. Despite sleeping past noon, the long hours of flying had drained her, and she was asleep soon after she crawled into bed.

  Chapter Six

  Lexi awoke before dawn and was eager to be gone. Finding a servant out in the hallway, she requested breakfast in her room, then surveyed her clothing. Tiger’s cast-offs were all that remained clean, and she cursed herself for not asking the lady’s maid to do some laundry for her. Sighing, she pulled on Tiger’s clothes, hoping neither Anna nor Lady Nessa would catch her wearing them.

  “Breakfast,” a female voice called, followed by a rapid knock.

  Lexi opened the door and took the tray from another pupa girl whose constant bobbing curtsies were upsetting the contents.

  “Thank you,” Lexi said, moving to close the door again. The girl’s imploring eyes grew wide as the door moved, her eager pink lips open to speak. Noticing her expression, Lexi paused. “Was there something else?”

  The girl curtsied again. “Forgive me, Your Highness,” she mumbled, then peeked up at Lexi
through her lashes. Her mouth opened again, then snapped shut, punctuated by a running curtsy as she disappeared down the hall.

  Lexi pressed her lips against an amused smile and shut the door. The breakfast was elaborate: delicious pastries, creamy beverages, and eggs prepared every conceivable way. Lexi ate until her stomach hurt, sampling a little of everything and grinning with delight when she discovered something especially good. She entertained the thought of stealing away Lady Nessa’s cook to the palace, until she remembered it was no longer her home.

  With a slight frown, she strapped on her bag, then spent several minutes fiddling with the window latches until they unfastened. Fully opened, the windows were expansive—just large enough to leap through with wings spread and her legs tucked up beneath her. She sailed out, an excited giggle bubbling out of her throat as she glided over the twilight courtyard. She flew east into town, hoping she could find an open store and make her purchases before Talan woke up in a fury that she had left him. She intended to return, dressed in her purchases for a polite departure from Lady Nessa and Anna, but the thought of leaving Talan and Celus behind was particularly pleasing. She smiled as the orange and pink of the sunrise suffused the sky’s rich night blue.

  Oakridge was a middling-size town, with several clothing stores. Lexi flew down to the first she saw with light in its windows, then knocked politely at its locked door.

  “We’re not open yet,” a voice called from behind it.

  “When do you open?” Lexi called through the door, feeling foolish in the empty street.

  “When I finish my breakfast!” The voice was distinctly cross, and Lexi was eyeing another clothing store when a scowling face appeared at the window, evaluated her clothing, the previous night’s elaborate coiffure, and her dramatic orange and black wings. The scowl faded into surprise, and the face abruptly disappeared with a series of clicks and sliding locks that accompanied the opening of the door.

  “Who are you?” demanded a pug-nosed woman with shrewd eyes.

  Lexi fought down the color rising to her cheeks. “Your customer,” she replied evenly.

  The woman snorted, a smirk twisting up one side of her pursed lips. “Come on, then.” She opened the door wide and shuffled out of the way. Lexi glanced down at her, taking in the plain woolen dress, practical shoes, and oddly-shaped brown wings that reminded her of puzzle pieces.