The God & The Shadow

Chapter 39

VERONICA

The sun was setting and the castle loomed a few miles ahead. The horses were left in the deeper part of the forest, but accessible enough for us to find them easily.

Olivia scratched her pointed ear next to me, the sight of it still leaving me in awe.

We didn't want to risk using any magic to glamour our faces at the possibility of any wards that might compromise us, so we all took a swig out of Olivia's many concoctions earlier.

The only alteration to my appearance were my pointed ears, but the princes' face were completely different. Thankfully, the potion was temporary. Or Olivia believes it is, which Cassian closely threatened to send her back to Salem if it were otherwise.

"Gods, how could anyone walk in that?" Olivia asked next to me, her fingers pointed to one of the two women in front of us. She wore a tall blonde wig and an oversized red gown with a petticoat too wide for the woman's body.

Florens quickly pulled down her outstretched arm. "Quiet, girl. Maintaining a low profile doesn't include pointing at the guests."

The witch quickly stammered her apology and kept her head low. Florens hadn't done any progress in warming up to the others since we first arrived, but I understood that she wasn't exactly the type to do so.

Although, it wouldn't be too bad if she wasn't sneering at them every second. From what I've gathered, everyone was afraid of her.

And she was right. We had to lay low because we were enemies of the kingdom, and any unwarranted attention could jeopardize us all.

"Name?" The guard barred us from entering through the castle gates and held up a scroll.

Taylor surveyed us all before facing him and smiling. "We're the March sisters."

"March?" He asked, his eyes perusing the long paper.

We all nodded and murmured our agreement in unison. He looked confused when he finally reached the bottom of the scroll where I assumed was where March had been written through whatever Lore had compelled the guard to do earlier when they went in first.

"Apologies." He gestured us in through the iron gates. "Please enjoy the festivities."

Taylor smiled at him and entered first, which we all followed through with our chins up and backs straight.

"Are we seriously the sisters from Little Women?" Olivia asked when we walked through the gardens.

"I'm pretty sure the fae have no idea who they are, so its not a problem." Taylor replied, looping her arm through Olivia's.

To my surprise, Florens mirrored the movement and linked our arms. "Who are these little women?"

I gave her a smile. "When we get back, I can lend you my copy. Its one of the mortal classics."

"But to be sure," Taylor turned her head around to look at us as we moved deeper inside the castle. "I'm Meg," She tilted her head at Olivia. "She's Beth."

"You're Jo, and she's Amy." She quickly finished and turned away.

"She said that too quickly. Is being Amy good?" Florens whispered to me.