Page 4 of Chosen By the Fae King

My gaze landed on the two men-at-arms stationed by the town hall, clad in black armor that glinted under the midday sun. They stood with hands resting on the pommels of their swords, as if daring anyone to defy them.

Like I needed another reason to loathe the royals.

“It will be fine,” I whispered, stroking her hair. “No one is taking you anywhere. Do you hear me?”

“But Aeryn, if we don't go–”

“We'll think of something.” I leaned back, grasping her shoulders. “You know I would do everything in my power to stop them.”

“I'd rather go willingly and leave the town unharmed.”

“Sofi,” I sighed, feeling a weight pressing down, “I don't know if I can just stand back and watch them take you.”

Everyone had been taken from me. I didn't have it in me to simply let it happen. Not again.

A wan smile flickered across her lips. “I know. But you can't fight them alone.”

“Watch me.” I flashed a grim smile of my own, dropping my hand to the handle of my dagger. It was no sword, but it would do.

“No one threatens the people I care about and gets away without my boot in their ass.”

“You sound like a bloody pirate,” Sofiya murmured, shaking her head. “When will you learn to stay out of trouble?”

“Where would the fun be in that?” I teased with false confidence, nudging her shoulder. “I'll make sure no one else is blamed or punished, if it comes to that.”

My smile faded as a larger group of soldiers came into view, a silent promise taking shape in my mind. My stomach knotted. I wouldn't let my nerves get the best of me.

“Be brave, Sofiya,” I said the words I, myself, needed to hear. “Whatever happens, hold on to your courage.”

She nodded resolutely.

Before the sun set today, there was a good chance my blood would stain the very ground we stood upon. But I couldn’t simply stand by and watch the royal guard pluck eligible females like ripe fruit from the vine.

They deserved better than that, damn it.

Soldiers approached in two neat rows, the hooves of their horses thudding in unison against the dirt path. There were ten of them in all, clad in black leather armor and bearing wicked-looking swords and axes.

My gaze flickered to the rider at the head of the group, noticing how his helmet obscured all but a thin slit for the dark eyes that seemed to stare right through me.

A chill crept down my spine. Magic. Strong magic. Something I lacked and would lack until my 25th birthday when I came of age, like all fae born in this realm.

Small groups of villagers quietly emerged, sticking close to the doorways of the buildings lining the square.

In front of the small trading post stood Colleen Buckley, the bawdy and lively female who owned the only pub in the village. Her tense posture and drawn face were so out of place she was nearly unrecognizable.

I swallowed hard, fingers tightening around my dagger. Strong magic or not, anyone who threatened Greenhollow was my enemy.

The soldiers came to a halt in the village square, the mysterious rider raising a gauntleted hand.

“Let it be known we come on orders from King Nox himself.” His voice echoed from within the helmet, deeper than seemed natural.

“The time has come for the Bride Trials to begin once more. All unmarried females who are of age and not under the terms of a betrothal are to present themselves for selection.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, eyes flickering between the soldiers and each other. I ground my teeth, rage boiling in my blood. King Nox could rot for all I cared, and take his bloody Bride Trials with him.

“We will not stand for this!” Councilman Huran shouted.

The fair-headed male stepped out of the shade of the town hall, face reddened in anger. “The king has no right to take our daughters from us!”

---