Gifts

I lean in closer to Carter, my voice barely above a whisper. “Carter, is that the same king you saw last?”

His face darkens as he shakes his head and shrugs, looking utterly devastated. “No,” he mutters, eyes fixed on the king across the room. “The king was not like that when he left yesterday morning. He was furious—angry beyond words, but he wouldn’t tell me why. He was inconsolable. Taking a chosen mate so suddenly… it’s not like him at all.”

Carter’s voice trembles with confusion and grief. “For the last year, he’s been holding on to hope about finding his soulmate. He dreams about her every night. He even described her to me—the way she looks, the way she feels. But that woman—Veronica—doesn’t match his description at all. It’s not her.”

I furrow my brow, listening intently. This revelation is unsettling. The king’s soulmate has been the focus of his life for so long, and yet, here he is with a woman no one knows, someone he’s never spoken of. Carter’s anguish is palpable as he continues.

“No matter what was going on, he’d always return in time to sleep. It’s the only way he can see her—in his dreams. That’s why I started worrying when he didn’t come back to the castle last night. It’s never happened before. And this… Veronica… I’ve never heard of her. Never met her. He may be the lycan king, but he’s also my closest friend. If he’d found his mate, he’d tell me first. This… this doesn’t make sense.”

An uneasy silence falls over our group as we exchange glances. Something dark is clearly at play here. The energy in the room feels oppressive, suffocating, and my instincts scream at me that we’re dealing with something far worse than a mere misunderstanding.

Breaking the tension, I speak up. “I need to get close to him.” Carter raises an eyebrow, curiosity mingled with concern. “I didn’t tell you this earlier,” I continue, “but I am the fairy queen. I have… unique abilities. One of them is breaking curses.”

His eyes widen in shock, waiting for me to continue.

“I also made the king a gift. A bracelet infused with magic to protect him from negative forces—whether it’s dark magic or a curse, I should be able to help. But I need a reason to approach him, and we’ll need to distract Veronica. Something’s not right with her.”

Carter looks at me, a glimmer of understanding crossing his face. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” he says with a slight smile. “I can get you close to him without raising suspicion. I know the king’s habits better than anyone.”

Daisy and Arya share a quick look before Daisy grins. “And we’ll take care of Veronica,” she says confidently. Arya nods in agreement, her determination clear.

Maya, Marco, and Claude exchange serious looks, ready for whatever may come. “We’ll stand by, just in case,” Maya adds. “If anything goes wrong, we’ll step in.”

With the plan set, we move quickly and quietly. Carter steps onto the stage, taking charge with ease, his voice booming across the ballroom. “What’s a birthday without gifts! Everyone with presents for the king, please line up.”

I pull the small, intricately wrapped box from my bag and step into the forming line, my heart pounding in my chest. The bracelet inside glows faintly with magic, a shimmer of protection woven into its core. This gift has to work. I glance over to see Daisy conjuring two bouquets of flowers with a flick of her wrist. She passes one to Arya, keeping one for herself. They’re ready.

As I inch closer to the front of the line, I watch the king with careful eyes. He’s cold, distant, accepting each gift with little more than a brief nod of acknowledgement before carelessly tossing them onto the growing pile on the table. His face remains emotionless, but beneath that calm exterior, I can feel the darkness clinging to him. It wraps around him like a shroud, a mask of dark energy that pulses with malice.

It’s not a curse—it’s something worse. Dark magic.

The realization sends a chill down my spine, but I don’t let it show. My breathing starts to quicken, anxiety clawing its way up my throat, but I force it down. I need to stay calm, focused. I can’t let him sense my true intentions.

As the line shortens, I prepare myself. I’m next. My hands grip the box tightly as I approach the king, my mind racing. I can feel my heart pounding harder, the tension in the room amplifying as I step forward. This is it.

I focus on my breathing, keeping my expression neutral, even as the dark energy seems to grow stronger with each step. I can’t afford to slip up now. Whatever is controlling him must not realize what I’m about to do.