Forever Entwined

Three months later...

While they had been back at court, Cass had been so consumed by his kingly duties that his requests for Nix to visit his chambers had lessened slightly, a fact Nixie didn't entirely mind. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of silk swatches, floral arrangements, and endless guest lists – the impending ball had become her entire world. Weeks had bled into a frantic flurry of planning the decorations, agonizing over color palettes, meticulously curating the guest list, and enduring endless dance practices.

Her bond with Millie had deepened into an unbreakable sisterhood, their days a tapestry woven with shared laughter and whispered secrets. However, the secret of the herb concoction remained a carefully guarded kernel within Nixie.

"Oh my stars!" Millie practically shrieked, her eyes wide as she watched Nix twirl, the black Swan gown billowing around her like a midnight cloud. The daring plunge of the neckline showcased the elegant curve of her collarbone and the subtle swell of her breasts, while the tight silhouette emphasized the gentle blossoming of her figure. Gone were the sharp angles of near starvation; in their place, a more womanly form had emerged – her hips fuller, her breasts heavier, her face softened with a delicate roundness.

Thick, expertly applied eyeliner mirrored Millie's own, framing Nixie's eyes with dramatic intensity. Her hair, a cascade of dark waves, was swept into an elaborate, curled updo, interwoven with delicate feathers that seemed to float and shimmer, and punctuated by the subtle sparkle of strategically placed diamonds.

Millie mirrored her sister in a gown of pristine white, her own golden hair left to flow down her back in silken, straightened perfection.

"I'm nervous," Nixie confessed, her palms damp as she wiped them on a delicate lace handkerchief.

"Don't be ridiculous. You are breathtaking, you are the queen!" Millie cupped Nixie's hands in her own, her gaze filled with the affection of the sister she’d never known she craved.

"Let's go," Millie declared, leading Nixie out of the chamber and towards the grand ballroom, where Caspian awaited them.

"My love," Cass murmured, his voice laced with affection, yet a subtle shadow seemed to cling to his expression, a hint of sadness or perhaps concern flickering in his eyes.

"Is everything all right?" Nixie asked softly, pressing a light kiss to his cheek.

"Yes, everything's fine." Cass offered a reassuring smile, but the unease in his gaze lingered, unconvincing.

"Okay, hush now, the grand entrance is about to begin," Millie interjected gently, positioning herself beside Cass as the three of them stepped through the towering, ornate doors into the dazzling ballroom, Nixie’s arm linked with his.

"Now presenting, King Caspian, Queen Nixie, and Princess Camilla!" the herald announced, his voice echoing through the suddenly silent hall.

A wave of bows and curtsies rippled across the room.

"You may rise," Cass instructed them with regal grace.

Millie, a whirlwind of cheerful energy, swept Nixie through the throng of nobles, eagerly introducing her to a dizzying array of dignitaries: a duke renowned for breeding the most magnificent steeds, a lady who had astonishingly borne seventeen children, a bard whose voice possessed the ethereal beauty of a songbird – the introductions blurred into a continuous stream of names and titles.

Eventually, Cass stepped in, his eyes twinkling despite the earlier shadow. "Dear sister," he said, a playful smile gracing his lips, "might I be allowed to steal my queen away from your formidable grasp, if only for a single dance?"

"Of course," Millie replied, rolling her eyes with mock exasperation before a genuine smile softened her features as she watched Nixie giggle, her nervousness momentarily forgotten as she allowed Cass to lead her to the polished dance floor.

"You've been drinking," Cass observed, his tone losing its playful edge, replaced by a note of mild displeasure.

"Only a glass or two," Nixie admitted, a slight flush rising on her cheeks as they began to twirl. The wine had loosened her inhibitions, but the countless hours of practice had ingrained the steps so deeply that she doubted even complete inebriation could make her stumble.

"No more, okay?" he pleaded softly, his brow furrowed with concern. He couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest whenever he saw Nixie indulging in wine with Millie. A nagging worry, fueled by the royal physician's cautious words about the potential harm of excessive drinking during pregnancy, gnawed at him. He knew how sensitive Nixie was on the subject of children. They had skirted around the topic for months, an unspoken tension hanging between them, Cass assuming her reluctance stemmed from a fear of infertility.

By the end of the enchanting evening, Nixie was undeniably tipsy, her laughter bubbling a little too freely. "Come, my love," Cass said gently, his voice thick with affection and a hint of concern, "it is time for you to rest."

He swept her into his arms, carrying her with effortless strength back towards her private suite.

They spoke in hushed tones as he walked, his breath warm against her temple. "You really shouldn't drink so much, my heart," he sighed, the weight of his worry evident in his voice.

"But it's fun," she giggled, her words slightly slurred.

"It's not healthy," Cass countered, his concern deepening.

"I'm sorry if I wanna have a little fun," Nixie pouted dramatically, her lower lip jutting out.

"You can have plenty of fun without alcohol clouding your senses," Cass murmured, nodding to the guards who stood ready to open her bedroom doors, allowing him to carry her inside.

"Okay, but like, how?" A montage of tedious royal meetings, stiflingly formal gatherings, and utterly uninspiring encounters flashed through Nixie’s mind. How could any of that be considered fun?

"Let's just get you out of this magnificent dress," Cass said softly, attempting to gently sit her down at her ornate dressing table. But Nixie, still giddy and disoriented, made a sudden, clumsy attempt to jump from his arms at the same moment, sending the delicate glass jar of the herb concoction flying from the tabletop. It crashed against the tiled floor, shattering into a thousand pieces, the dark, earthy contents spilling across the white stone.

"No!" she gasped, her breath catching in her throat. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. She had been so careful, waiting two long months before daring to return for more of the precious herbs, hoping to build a small reserve. But the vendor, his eyes widening with recognition, had refused her outright once he realized she was the queen. Now, the realization crashed down upon her – there was nowhere else she could turn.

"Calm down, darling," Cass said soothingly, reaching out to comfort her. "We can find more, surely…"

"No, we can't!" she sobbed hysterically, her body shaking with the force of her despair.

Instinctively, Cass bent down, intending to gather the spilled herbs, hoping to somehow salvage the situation and ease his mate’s distress. But as he looked closer at the dark, leafy fragments, his blood ran cold. He froze, his eyes widening in disbelief and dawning horror.

"Nixie," he said, his voice dangerously low, a tremor of disbelief and fury running through it, "do you know what this is?"

"It's tea," she lied, the word barely a whisper, her gaze fixed on the broken shards.

"You know damn well it's not tea, don't you!" Cass roared, the sound echoing in the sudden silence of the room. He couldn't fathom the deception.

"Okay, yes, it's not tea!" Nixie finally admitted, her voice choked with tears. "But what was I supposed to do? Become your… your breeding mare? I'm scared!" she sobbed, collapsing to the floor, the sharp edges of the broken glass digging into her bare legs.

"All this time," Cass said, his voice thick with a mixture of hurt and rage, "all this time, I thought… I thought there was something wrong with me! I thought you were anxious because we weren't conceiving, and this whole time! This whole time, you've been lying to me!" His roar intensified, and Nixie’s cries escalated into heart-wrenching, soul-shattering sobs.

The commotion drew Millie, who burst into the room, her eyes wide with alarm. "What in the seven Hells is going on?" she demanded, her gaze darting between her distraught friend huddled on the floor and her brother, his face a mask of fury. She rushed to Nixie’s side, gently helping her up and ringing the bell sharply for the royal physician.

"She's been lying to me for months!" Cass seethed, his eyes blazing as he glared at his mate.

"About what?" Millie asked, her expression softening as she looked down at Nixie, seeing not a queen, but a young fae, still so vulnerable in so many ways.

"She's been taking herbs… herbs to prevent my seed from taking root!" Cass spat out the words, his voice laced with disbelief and betrayal.

"Could you blame the poor girl?" Millie retorted, her own anger rising as she stared at her brother, unable to comprehend his lack of empathy.

"You too?" Cass’s voice held a note of wounded disbelief.

"No, you listen here, Caspian," Millie said fiercely, stepping protectively in front of Nixie. "She's still a girl! She's young, and she's not ready to have a baby! She should have the right to choose when – and if – she carries your child!" Millie’s eyes flashed with righteous indignation. "Get out of here, Cass."