Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“Trust me,” he whispered. “Watch how I do this.”
“But—but wait,” I cried, reaching to grab him, then remembering and snapping my hand back.
That split-second hesitation and he stepped into their view, ending my chance to stop him.
Bradach was going to hurt them. All to help me, and help himself get closer to Aeris. Not even Meya herself could be more shocked that I cared about the well-being of a couple faeriken, but I did.
Less than a week ago, I was certain being in a faeriken’s presence resulted in death. Well, I’d been in the presence of many faeriken, and they’d been nothing but kind or deferential to me. Except for Bradach, but even he dropped everything to help me. He was even willing to go so far as to knock out his own countrymen.
Why didn’t I tell him I didn’t want any violence? I was expecting him to show me the door to an old servants’ entrance. Not go after—
“Good morning, gentlemen. Lady,” Bradach announced. He pointed straight at me. “The queen would like a stroll through the village. Send for her carriage.”
“Of course, my queen.” They snapped to attention, then bowed to the dumbfounded shadow behind the wall. “We’ll have it brought out to you at once. Please, stay in the warmth until it arrives.”
“I, uh— Yes,” I croaked, stepping into the open. “Thank you.”
Bradach brushed past me, shaking his head. I heard the word keva loud and clear.
Embarrassment flipped my stomach. I couldn’t be faulted. I’d been a princess for a short while, and a queen for less time than that. I wasn’t used to living in a world where I gave commands and they were followed without question. It never occurred to me that I wasn’t a prisoner in the castle I ruled.
I groaned, memory assaulting me. “I owe Aeris a big apology.”
AN HOUR LATER, THE carriage dropped me off at the drawbridge.
Aeris, Eadaoin, and Foalan waited for me outside in the cold.
“What are you all doing out here?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
“It is not,” Foalan said. “Lady Ana, it is not wise to travel without guards.” He gestured to Eadaoin. “Your companion is trained in combat. Trained by me. I ask that in the future, you travel with her by your side at the very least.”
“All right. I will, thank you.” There was no reason to argue with him. I’d already done what I needed to do. I wasn’t going to be around long enough to worry about who was with me when I went out.
I turned to Aeris. “Aeris, I want to apologize for throwing my shawl over your head to make my escape. I saw this for you in the market and... I hope you like it.”
Wide, glistening eyes beheld the small, silver bracelet, graced by the tiniest snowflake charm.
“Oh, my lady...” She trailed off, smiling at me. “Thank you.”
“My lady?” Eadaoin gestured behind her. “If you’ll follow me, our lord requests your presence in the war room.”
I opened my mouth to tell her where he could shove his request, and a spike of pain assaulted my ankle.
Gritting my teeth, I just nodded. “Lead the way.”
I followed Eadaoin inside. Aeris and Foalan broke off when we entered the castle, heading down the hallway leading to the throne room. Aeris’s laugh echoed behind her.
Our trek took us up three flights of stairs and down two twisting hallways. I lost my bearings immediately. I envied the queen consort who had to learn how to navigate these strange, winding halls. Thankfully, after the next morning, that would not be an issue.
Eadaoin stopped in front of a huge, red door and knocked.
“Come.”
Sweeping it open, she moved for me to step inside.
I did. My jaw dropped before I stepped over the threshold.
Maps.
Everywhere. Of everything. For everyone. Plastered all over the walls, and spilling off the desks, detailed maps of Lyrica, Sarabai, Rajadom, Quatassa, and the human lands dominated the space. There were even maps of places I didn’t recognize, with names impossible for me to pronounce.
Alisdair leaned over a slanted desk, speaking in low tones to Bradach.
My lips pressed into a thin line seeing Bradach’s hand on his shoulder.
“See to it,” Alisdair said.
“My lord.” Bradach bowed, then left as quickly as I came in.
Alisdair hadn’t raised his head from the map. I took that chance to study him.
The large, heavy black coat he always wore was nowhere to be seen. Lunch must’ve given him the magical energy he needed, because he never looked more fae. No lethal points tipped his nails. No fangs poked his deceptively soft lips. Even his horns were the smallest I’d ever seen them, giving the briefest hello from their nest of dark, pine-scented curls.
Outside the cloak, everything was on display. Of course, he’d already given me a rough and vigorous tour of his body, but without that, I still could’ve traced the outline of his shoulders and hard, stony muscles through his white linen tunic—buttoned barely above the belly button.