Page 79 of The Fae Lord

She leads us through the gates into the courtyard beyond. I keep my head down, my heart pounding in my chest. I can feel the eyes of the guards on us, suspicious and wary.

I recognise some of them. Just a few weeks ago, we were kin. Now, they are the ones who stayed and I am the enemy who fled.

Pria’s presence seems to be enough to grant us passage, and we make it into the castle without incident.

Once inside, Pria turns to face us, her eyes flicking to me and Briony. “Who are they?” she asks Garratt, her voice tight with suspicion.

“Friends,” Garratt says simply. “They’re here to help.”

Pria looks like she wants to argue, or ask why we feel it necessary to hide our faces, but then she shakes her head. “Fine. But if they cause any trouble, it’s on you.”

She leads us through the winding corridors of the castle, her steps quick and purposeful. Being back here is like coming home, and the very fact I feel that way sends jolts of despair to the pit of my stomach.

Everything is familiar. The smells, the sounds, the way the air feels.

Finally, we emerge into a large, circular room. The banquet hall. I look up at the ceiling. The remains of my very last act still hang from the rafters.

“All right.” Pria puts her hands on her hips. “Time for the truth, Garratt.” She jerks her thumb at me and Briony. “Who are they and what is going on?”

Squaring my shoulders, I push the cloak from my face and extend my hand. “I don’t think we ever met, but I remember you.”

Pria stares at me for a second, then shakes my hand. “The jester,” she says. “You’ve returned?”

I shake my head. “Garratt was telling the truth. But Alana is not coming here. She is already here.”

“That’s impossible.” Pria folds her arms in front of her chest. “I’d know if there was someone here.”

“Have you seen Eldrion today?” Briony asks, taking off her own hood.

When Pria sees her, she smiles. Clearly, they do know each other because they embrace and hold contact for a little longer than necessary. “Not today, no,” Pria says as she steps back. “But there’s no way Alana could have gotten in here without the guards knowing.”

“What if she used the tunnels?” I ask.

“They collapsed when you escaped. It’s simply not possible.”

“Alana is capable of more than you know.” I gesture to the doors. “Take me to Eldrion.”

Pria hesitates. “Finn... if he catches you here.”

“Alana is about to get herself killed,” I snap. “And I am not going to let that happen. You can help me or you can stand aside, like you did when we escaped this wretched place. Either way, I’m going to find Alana.”

My words have hurt her. I can tell by the way her gaze softens and she shuffles her feet. “Very well,” she says. “I’ll take you to him. But we have to cross the courtyard. He had the stairs to his chambers sealed. The only way in is via the spiral staircase on the outer wall.”

I extend my arm and nod at her. “Then, lead the way.”

THIRTY-THREE

Alana

Ihave no idea how many times Eldrion reads his mother’s journal to me.

He reads it from start to finish, every single word. As I listen and try to truly absorb what they mean, it occurs to me that suddenly, with these words, my entire life makes sense.

I never understood what I was or why I was.

I never understood why the people around me hated me so much, or why there was no one to teach me how to use my magic. But it was because I should never have existed – not the way I do now.

I am unnatural, a thing that was created of magic and for magic.

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