I heard footsteps coming closer, I looked down at my mother and went to the corner at the opposite side of the cell to try to hide myself. A male wearing a dark cloak and a fox mask enters the room. He talks to my mother quietly enough that I can't hear what he's saying and I quickly realize that it's my uncle Lucian speaking with my mother. He then leaves, surprisingly to me he didn't seem to notice me.

"Who the Hell are you?" I look to my mom and she's glaring at me.

"I… Well you might not believe me if I tell you…"

"Try me."

"I'm from the future and I'm your daughter." A pause,she's silent for what feels like forever, and then laughter.

"Well I believe you. I've heard more impossible stories that turned out to be true."

"So you're here to what? Get me out of here?"

"No… I think I'm here to give you hope of surviving. I wouldn't have been born if you didn't survive the challenges."

"Ok. Then I'm at least glad to have the company. So, I'm guessing Tamlin isn't your father. You look nothing like him. Who is your father?" Dangerous territory, I know that it would be a bad idea to tell her since at the moment she hates Rhys. So all I said was, "He's your mate. My father is you're mate. Anyway get some rest."

It seemed like a lifetime before someone came and took my mother away. I followed closely behind only to see them clean,dress,and paint her. Then I followed to the party where father had her drink some faerie wine. She was dancing in a way that scarred me for life.

Every night was the same mother would be dressed and painted and put on a show. It seemed like every other night but then father walked in.

"Your second trial is tomorrow," he told her. Something about his tone sounded off to me. I have never heard him speak to her like this.

"So?"

"It could be your last."

"If you're taunting me into playing another game of yours, you're wasting your breath."

"Aren't you going to beg me to give you a night with your beloved?" I saw a hint of jealousy in his eyes though he hid it well.

"I'll have that night and, all the ones after, when I beat her final task." Dad shrugged and flashed a grin as he came towards us.

"I wonder if you were as prickly with Tamlin when you were his captive."

"He never treated me as a captive--or a slave."

"No - and how could he? Not with the shame of his father and his brothers' brutality always weighing on him, the poor, noble beast. But perhaps if he'd bothered to learn a thing or two about cruelty, about what it means a true high lord, it would've kept the Spring Court from falling."

"Your court fell, too" I had a hard time believing that these were my parents. I could sense my father's love for my mother… and her hatred for him. I left the room and cried.

Mom had told me that it hadn't exactly been love at first sight for them. She had told me that things at the beginning of their relationship were hit and miss... She had not told me that she hated my father. That she wanted nothing to do with him. I realized that she probably envied my relationship with Mor how we had loved each other from the start.

All of a sudden the bright light that brought me here showed up and pulled me in again. This time I awoke in the Spring Court. And I saw my mother. About to marry my sisters mate.

To be continued...