Rejected Queen by Meg Xuemei X.

Excerpt of Midnight Courts Complete Series

 

 

“You fought me on everything else I’d asked of you,” Ares said, “but you had no problem with this suggestion. You were studying the geography during the whole trip. Don’t think I don’t know how your busy, little mind works. I warned you about running away and I don’t mind reminding you again. I’m courteous to you, but that will end if you keep playing games, and the rest of the trip won’t be as pleasant as it is now.”

A few moments ago, he’d been amiable. He’d tried to show me he also had a sense of humor when we’d landed. Then, in a blink of an eye, he turned into an asshole.

Hadn’t Ventus warned him that I didn’t take threats well?

I didn’t even bother pointing out that he had his head up his ass if he thought being kidnapped was pleasant.

I’d have to find my own dinner. Since these jackasses wouldn’t allow me to go far, I would have to try to find some edible plants and fruits. Just as the idea crossed my mind, an open garden appeared ahead of me.

It hadn’t been there before.

“There’s a garden,” I cheered.

Ares and Einarr shared a look, and Lucas smiled with pride.

I dashed toward it. I had to secure my dinner before these huge men fought me for the limited food resources.

“Freyja, wait here!” Ares ordered.

Like hell. I didn’t slow my sprint.

“No one can enter it without being invited,” Ares called, hurrying after me.

“It’s warded,” warned Einarr.

I didn’t see the ward. If there was one, it wouldn’t withstand my touch. I pulled a glove off and shoved my bare hand in the air to feel resistance. There wasn’t any, and I stepped through the entrance of the garden.

The warriors darted after me, but halted at the perimeter.

Great! This was great. They thought they couldn’t enter. Perception shapes reality.

“If she can get in,” said Tyrone, “so can we.” He charged and flew backwards as if slammed into a solid, bouncing wall.

“Ouch, that must have hurt.” I giggled as he crashed onto a stone column with a groan.

There was indeed a magical ward, but it wasn’t hostile toward me. Who would place such a garden in the middle of a ruin? Maybe some estranged Fey once lived here and warded it with their Fey magic. Good job! 

“Freyja,” Ares ordered sternly, “get back here. You weren’t invited!”

“I just invited myself.” I laughed and flipped him the bird. Just in case he didn’t get it, I verbalized for him. “And fuck you, Darken! You can’t get me now. How does that feel, abductor, huh?”

I tilted my head like a happy bird and smiled big at the dark storm rising in his golden eyes. “So fuck off,” I told him. Intending to add more insults to the wound, I showed him another vulgar gesture with my fists and elbows before dancing in twirls and hopping deep into the garden.

“Freyja, return,” Lucas called behind me. “We’re a team.”

Even if he shifted to his animal form, I doubted the garden would let him in. I was the only one with Fey essence in me, which was probably why I was able to pass through the ward. 

As I skipped through the garden, I laughed and sang the wolf song of victory.

The garden was lush and enormous, and sunset’s light made it look like the land of dreams. I threw my head back and howled at the faint moon. In the far distance, I seemed to hear my pack responding with their fierce cries. 

Soon. I’ll join you soon, I promised and roared once more at my newly found and much appreciated freedom.

My glee didn’t last long.

What if the guardians could get in through the sky and snatch me? That would end badly for me. I’d have to fill my stomach and be on my way. The sorry lot was still shut out on the other side of the garden, dejected, and I would exit through the backdoor and disappear under the cloak of the night.

If Ares and his minions caught up with me, I could handle them one by one since darkness was my friend. I had no qualms with Lucas and Einarr, so I would let them go if they didn’t intend to harm me.

If the ward covered the space above, I could take it easy before making a hasty exit. I shut my eyes to quiet my mind, and when I opened them, I saw a pale purple net weaving above the garden. The ward was three-dimensional.

Though I could see the ward, I couldn’t detect its origin. I wasn’t trained in magic. I had never met other magical beings to compare notes with.

I glanced around me, taking in the well-tended garden. Someone was living here.

Alarm rang through me.

Ares had mentioned that guests had to be invited into the garden. If the keeper was his friend, then I was in big trouble. I had to find food and get out of here quickly.

I looked around and saw a peach tree. An abundance of fruit hung from its branches. I darted toward the tree and plucked the closest peach I could reach and bit into it. It wasn’t ripe, but I couldn’t be choosy now. I finished it in a few bites, tossed the core aside, and tore another one from the branch.

The scent of stew floated toward me through the breeze.

I crept forward, following the aroma.

Treading through the maze-like garden, I saw a light inside a wooden house ahead. There were several cabins scattering around it.

Something clicked in my mind. Ares had said he would feed me. He was waiting for an invitation. I had to leave. Right now. The keeper must have heard my singing and howling. And that idiot Tyrone must have triggered the alarm when he’d rammed into the ward.

But whoever lived here hadn’t come out to investigate yet.

The enticing scent of the stew grew stronger and my stomach growled. I couldn’t remember when was the last time I had had a warm bowl of hearty stew. I would steal a bowl of it before I went my way. It wouldn’t take long.

I edged toward the side of the house, my steps quiet from my wolfish nature, and I looked through the window. A long wooden table was in the center of the room, covered in paper and ink. Shelves lined on one of the walls and leather-bound manuscripts weighed them down.

The books held no interest for me. I was ravenous and only cared to find the kitchen.

I slithered toward the other side of the house. There it was! Through the half-open window above the sink, I spotted three large pots on the stove, all unattended. Steam rose from the holes on the lids, and the irresistible aroma wafted toward me.

My keen sense of smell—a trait I got from being raised by wolves—picked up the scent of rabbit. Rabbit stew. It was my pack’s, and my, favorite! My mouth watered. I smacked my lips on the scent through the air and discerned the mixture of herbs that used to season the broth: cinnamon, orange skin, wild mushroom, dioscoreae Rhizoma, and peppermint.

With no one in sight, I wouldn’t have to create a distraction on the other side of the house. I could slip in through the window, grab a bowl of the mouth-watering stew, and be on my way before anyone realized I was here.

I pushed the window fully open, placed my gloved hands on the windowsill, and holstered myself up.

“Freyja, stop!” a sinister voice thundered from behind me.

I stilled. They’d caught up to me.

Ares and his minions were probably less than three feet from me. No matter how fast I was, Ares would grab my feet just in time and drag me out before I flew through the window.

I let go of the windowsill, landed on the grass ground, and turned to the party with a sigh. My former companions surrounded me in a half circle.

“How . . . how did you get in here?” I tried to back away from them, but my back was already against the wall.

The Dragonians grinned at me maliciously. 

“I was just messing with you for a little fun,” I explained. “I was actually coming here to get food for all of us since you couldn’t enter the garden. Man, there are rabbit stews on the stove, free for us to take!”

“And this is how you messed with me for a little fun?” Ares asked, mimicking how I had flipped him the bird.

“She also added, ‘Fuck you, Darken’ to full measure,” Boomer said, fueling his leader’s anger.

“That was some kind of misunderstanding,” I said, but from the expressions on everyone’s face, there was no misunderstanding.

 

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