Page 52 of Chosen By the Fae King

Lorne continued. If it wasn't for the looks they were throwing me I would have thought their words were naught but gibberish.

Smoothing my hair, I approached the doorway. Lorne said something else and Nox finally responded in our language.

“It's none of your business. Go with Liam to escort Aeryn back to her chambers. I want extra guards on that floor tonight. Instruct the females to lock their doors. I'd have you tell Astrid to draw runes but she'd never agree to marking every door.”

“Even if His Majesty demands it?” Lorne asked.

“I wouldn't put her in the position of having to defy me,” he answered.

I'd never have thought he'd say such a thing. It was good of him. What wasn't good was that his consideration of Astrid made my veins course with bitter heat, surging with powerful envy.

“Now,” his palm landed on my lower back. “Be a good little hellion and do as I say.”

He pushed me forward and disappeared in a swath of shadow.

Well, hell.

Eleven

Aeryn

The thick forest loomed before me, branches intertwining to block out the sun, shrouding the obstacle course in shadows. My heart pounded as I stared at the first leg of our route: a rope bridge suspended twenty feet above the ground, swaying precariously over jagged rocks.

Zoriyah smirked at my side, her piercing blue eyes glinting with cruel delight. “Scared already? Maybe you'll fall to your death and save us the trouble of eliminating you.”

“I see you've decided not to change my mind about your bid for the throne. I can't say I'm surprised. Rotten cores can hide, but they're the ruin of the fruit.”

Red flooded her face. I shouldn't have taken such delight in the bitch's reaction. But I did. In fact, I was quite pleased she hadn't phased me in the slightest.

Xerag huffed impatiently behind us. Vanadey, a quiet fae standing at the back of our foursome, watched the forest with wary eyes. Right now they were a pretty coral. Sometimes they were as black as her hair.

We were the last group set to enter the course, waiting for the signal that it was safe to begin. Well, not safe. That the group in front was far enough along.

“Enough chatter,” Lorne barked from atop his black stallion.

He towered over us, muscles rippling under his shirt as he crossed his arms. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before sweeping over the others. “You may begin.”

Zoriyah flashed a triumphant smile and strode onto the bridge without hesitation, balancing easily on the swinging ropes.

Show off.

I followed after her, gripping the ropes tightly. My heart leapt as the bridge swayed violently under my weight.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move one hand forward at a time. Zoriyah was already halfway across, glancing over her shoulder to smirk at my struggle. Rage bubbled up inside me and with it came a surge of defiance.

Balance wasn't the problem. My fear of falling was.

I wasn't in a pair of torture heels. I was in boots. I could do this. Loosening my death grip, I straightened and walked with deliberate ease.

Zoriyah's eyes narrowed. She picked up her pace, nearly running across the remainder of the bridge in her haste to reach the other side first. But it was too late. I stepped onto solid ground only seconds after her.

Huh.

Zoriyah bared her teeth, eyes glowing with fury. Before she could utter a retort, Xerag jogged past with Vanadey close behind.

“Do try to keep up, ladies,” Xerag taunted playfully over her shoulder.

If Zoriyah could have shot flames out of her peepers, Xerag and Vanadey would have been nothing more than ashes. In a huff, she sprinted after them, leaving me behind.

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