Page 136 of A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic 2)
“I believe it is Lady Fenwood,” I say loftily as I smooth my loose-fitting tunic of fae silk and step away from our younger sister.
“What are you doing here?” Helen manages to say through her shock.
“I’ve come to collect my horse.” I start toward the stables.
“But—that’s—you can’t—”
I pause to give her a sharp look. “I assure you, I can.” I continue to the stables, to finish what I should have done months ago.
“I’m going to tell Mother!” She runs inside. Laura still stands alone in the drive, too stunned to speak.
“Go and tell Mother, that’s the only thing you’ve been able to do for your entire life,” I mutter under my breath.
Cordella is outside of the barn, to my pleasant surprise. She nearly drops the rake she was using to collect hay for the horses at the sight of me.
“Well, old gods be resurrected. I never expected to see you around here again.”
“I didn’t expect it myself. But I won’t be here for long. And I assure you, this will be the last time I ever step foot in this place. But it’s good to see you, old friend,” I say sincerely. Cordella always did her best for me. Sometimes her best didn’t feel like enough, but I’ve had the distance now that I can recognize all her help for what was. “How is Misty?”
“She needs her legs stretched a bit. But I do what I can to keep her in top shape.” Cordella wears a knowing smile. “You finally come to collect her?”
“I have.” I pause as I start into the stable. “You knew I would come back?”
“I had a feeling.” Cordella looks at me from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes and back. She gives me a nod of approval. “You look good, Katria. You wear yourself better than I last saw you.”
“I know who I am now,” I answer easily. I am the heir of the last of the Aviness bloodline. I am the queen of the fae. But I am also the daughter of a merchant lord, who grew up in an abusive home, with parents who modeled all the wrong kinds of love. I am whole and broken and mending. I am all of those things, and more. I am Katria Applegate Aviness, and I will never feel small again.
“Katria?” Joyce’s shrill voice interrupts our conversation.
“Please tack up Misty,” I say to Cordella. “And I will make sure that they know to not dare punish you for doing so.”
“With pleasure, Your Ladyship.” Cordella bows her head and heads into the barn.
“Yes?” I stare at Joyce as she tries to lord over me from the veranda that circles the manor. I had been dreading this moment. But, now that it’s here, I find myself fearless. She holds no power over me any longer. The final knot in my chest unfurls and I can breathe again.
Joyce means nothing to me now.
“We did not expect you to come back so soon.” The words are fake etiquette.
“I’m only here for a moment.” And it has been months since I left. So soon? I can only assume she never wanted me to come back at all. “I’m collecting the last thing I made the mistake of leaving behind. Don’t worry, once I leave this time I’ll be gone for good.”
“There is nothing here for you.”
“There won’t be soon.”
“Misty is ready, Your Ladyship,” Cordella calls from the stables.
“Thank you.” I take Misty’s reins.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Joyce demands.
“I’m taking what is mine.” I mount Misty and sit tall. “I’m taking the last of me that is in this house and I’m leaving for good. You will never see me again. You will never hear from me again. You will never be welcome in any house or lands that belong to me. Because I have found a family who celebrates me.” I think of Oren, Giles, Hol, Raph, Shaye, Vena, and all of Dreamsong who have supported me in the first months of my reign. “I have found meaning, purpose, and true love. You have no power over me anymore. No matter how hard you tried to make me afraid of you for the rest of my life, it didn’t work. I am free of you; and I’m going to take Misty with me to my new world. This is farewell forever.” I pause, leveling my eyes with Joyce’s. “And if you dare think to punish Cordella for this, I will find out and you will know my wrath.”
“You—You—stop right there!” Joyce blubbers.
“No.” With a light kick from me, Misty springs into a trot. I can tell she remembers me. The feeling of her gait brings a smile to my lips. Fae horses are good, but they were never mine. I round the front of the manor faster than Joyce can keep up. Helen is still in front of the main doors, gaping down at the drive. I can tell why: Davien is leaning against the carriage, talking with Laura.
“I see you got your horse.” He pushes away from the carriage.
