Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, #5)(48)

The next portrait made her step back. Teague’s Royal engagement portrait. He stood tall and proud, his face lacking the joy so obvious in the earlier paintings as he held the hand of his future bride. It wasn’t Mina.

Teague held Ever’s hand.

She stopped, unable to look at any more. She wanted to run out of there and hide from all of her mistakes. How could that painting be true? The artist had captured so many moments of the choosing, but this seemed out of place. Ever hadn’t made it to the tower. Mina had.

Maybe she wasn’t supposed to make it.

Mina was confused and taken aback, and then she was filled with guilt again.

She pushed back her feelings and moved on to the next painting—another engagement portrait. But this one featured Teague and Annalora. Curiosity pushed her to keep moving the frames, and she wasn’t surprised when she noticed a third depicting Dinah and Teague. Three engagement portraits painted for three possible outcomes.

Longing to see her own portrait with Teague, she searched the whole room top to bottom. It wasn’t there. Puzzled and a bit annoyed, she moved on with her original task and picked some tapestries. She chose fantastically colored pieces featuring the woods, mountains, and valleys—the life of the Fae world.

Then Mina came to a section that housed the thrones, and the yeti joined her. She studied the various matching sets of ornate chairs and saw some inlaid with gold, others with diamonds and gems. But none of them fit Teague. Then she spotted a dark ebony chair with a deep blue cushion. She could make out fine engraved detail in the wood. It was masculine but not flashy.

“What do you think of this chair for him?” There was no need to say who she meant. Both she and the yeti knew it was for Teague.

He paused, tilting his head in thought. Then he grunted. He moved forward and picked up a set, one in each hand.

“No, just one throne.”

He turned and gave her a steely look before giving her his back and shuffling out the door with both chairs. She winced when the wood door slammed against the outer wall as he exited.

After she had picked everything she thought Teague would like, she left and locked the room. By the time she entered the throne room, it was finished. The yeti and the Fae lights had hung the new curtains, tapestries, and painting. She stopped mid-step when she saw the chairs she had picked out for Teague sitting on the dais.

One was occupied by a ghost from past.

“Playing house, I see.” Annalora smiled cruelly. Her braided hair hung over her shoulder. The olive green of her dress made her look sickly—or maybe her gnome heritage was simply showing through.

“What are you doing here?” Mina asked, defensive.

“I should ask you the same thing. You shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m not exactly here willingly. But why are you here, Annalora?”

“I’m coming to pay my respects to my prince and offer my services,” she answered snidely.

“What services would he need from you?” Mina scoffed.

Annalora’s face turned ugly and red. “Teague’s banished the king and queen. I’ve talked to them, and they have no intention of attacking him and retaking the throne. They are waiting for another solution. So I’ve come up with my own.”

“Which is?” Mina asked sarcastically, knowing the Fates were waiting on her to solve their dilemma.

“Our world is dying. A queen should know what that means.” Her eyes narrowed. “I do.”

“This is not my home. So I don’t exactly keep up to date on Fae World 101.” Mina said, pretending to not care.

Annalora sneered. “All good things come to those who are patient. And I am very patient. You don’t belong here, Mina. You never did. If you hadn’t’ve shown up, none of this would have happened.” Annalora gestured to the palace.

“You’re the one who killed Dinah and tried to kill Ever and me.” Mina stepped forward.

Annalora stiffened but continued. “Well, I blame you for stealing the throne from me.”

“That’s all you ever cared about. The throne. You never cared about the prince, just his title and position.

“That’s how it should be.” Annalora’s voice rose in anger. “The job comes first. You don’t need love to rule. I know that. Teague knows that. All of the Fates before married for power, not love. Her voice calmed, and she took a deep breath. “But I also thank you for returning my throne to me. Giving me a second chance.” She rubbed her hands along the dark ebony wood.

Mina wanted to march up there and yank her out of the chair by her hair. “The throne will never be yours.”

“Teague will have to choose someone eventually,” Annalora answered slyly. “Why not me? Besides, you’re the one who betrayed him and made him this way. Not that I’m complaining. I kind of like him ruthless. And I can see by the iron cuffs that you’ve not redeemed yourself. You’re nothing more than a slave.”

The whole time they argued, the Fae lights had darted in and out of the room, clearly alarmed by Annalora’s sudden appearance.

Mina felt the build-up of power and sensed Teague’s approach moments before the Fae lights disappeared. Teague marched down the room and stood in front of Annalora, who quickly jumped up and out of the throne.

“My King.” She spoke softly and curtsied.