Free In the Shadows by Erica Cope

pale gold Queen Ann chairs in my room and take a look around. A small sigh escapes my lips. I really love it here.
                  My room is located in one of the castle towers. I know it sounds all very Rapunzel-like, but unlike Rapunzel, nobody has ever locked me up here. And even if they tried, I probably wouldn’t complain too much. The canopy bed is lush and as soft as downy-feathers. A crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling with real candles, not the artificial lighting ones—this one’s the real deal. Probably my favorite part of my room is the view from my balcony. The castle gardens are one of my favorite areas in Álfheimr.
                  I enter my massive closet and search through the hundreds of different dresses, finally deciding on a floor length teal dress with cap sleeves and a scooped neckline lined in lace. The waist in cinched together with a thin belt boasting a pearl embellishment.
                  It takes a little longer to find a pair of suitable shoes. Whoever’s in charge of stocking my closet seems to think princesses should only wear four-inch heels. Newsflash: this princess prefers flip-flops. After some digging I finally find some silver ballet flats that I slip on before making my way down the hall to the stairs that will lead me down to the main floor of the castle.
                  I pass a couple of servants on the way who bow or curtsy politely to me and I smile in return. Nobody says much to me but at least they are no longer constantly whispering about me whenever I walk by. Most of the Light Elves seem pretty comfortable with me now, but they seem more reluctant to accept Jacoby as one of their own even after learning that he’s Isobel’s nephew.
                  All of the Light Elves love Isobel. How could they not? She’s the kindest person I’ve ever met, human or elf alike. While I understood their initial distrust of him—I mean, he did live with the Dark Elves and aid in my kidnapping—I feel like he has proven himself to be on our side. But still the whispers follow him wherever he goes. He doesn’t act like it bothers him but I think deep down it does. I guarantee that even with the whispers and distrust he prefers it here over the Underworld where he was considered something like a prince. Here nobody forces him to harm and torture innocent people.
                  Plus, the food is way better. 
                  I glance in the library as I pass and see Grey and Adele standing nearly nose to nose whispering to each other. It’s times like this that I wish elfish hearing had been one of the traits I inherited because I’m dying to know what Grey is telling her that’s making her cheeks turn that lovely shade of pink. Whatever they’re talking about is making him nervous because he keeps pushing his dark brown locks of hair behind his ear. I’ve only ever seen him that flustered on one other occasion—the night in the garden when he kissed me.
                  “Mia?” Freya says from behind me, causing me to jump out of my skin alerting and Grey and Adele of my presence.
                  “What are you doing here?” Adele asks as her cheeks redden even further. Grey looks everywhere but at me.
                  “Is the king expecting you at this hour?”
                  I look away from Adele and Grey and turn to answer Freya’s question.
                  “Um, no. Actually Jacoby just asked me to meet him so I’m here. Meeting Jacoby. I was just on my way down to the courtyard. That’s where I’m heading now. See ya,” I stammer nervously. I’m not sure why it should bother me, what I think I almost witnessed, but for some reason it does.. I wave awkwardly and walk away as fast as I can without making the situation even more awkward.
                  I don’t get very far before Grey catches up with