Page 7 of Taken By the Shadow Prince

Just a handful of decades longer. If I were a witch, I’d be closer to seeing my father again—but fae live a few decades longer.

It is a blessing and a curse alike.

Chapter 5

Mavey

the witches

I send Kal and Kelsa in to meet with the witches first.

It’s better this way. An unannounced group of fae, mostly in soldier uniforms, will do nothing but inspire terror in the sanctuary—the place that they have been safe for a decade. But if Kelsa and Kal, our only two witches, go in first and explain what we’re here for, what we want, then it might be less alarming, might keep the inhabitants from screaming and fleeing.

The rest of us wait outside, just out of sight. The soldiers talk amongst themselves, and there’s even one beside me, babbling on about his boyfriend in the city. He seems kind enough, but I’m not here to make friends, or to form bonds with people who care as little for me as I do for them.

“What about you?” The soldier, Benji, asks me. “Why are you here? And how’d you convince em’ to let you lead the lot of us?”

I debate not answering, but I don’t exactly want to make enemies of these people either, so my best bet is to proverbially grit my teeth through the conversation and hope it ends sooner rather than later. “Mair asked me.”

From the corner of my eye, I catch his jaw dropping so low I sort of expect for it to become unhinged. “QueenMair asked you?”

I give one sharp nod, gazing out at the cluster of people who are under my charge. It’s an honor, really, to be in this position. And a little insulting that this soldier thinks it surprising.

“I didn’t realize anyone here knew her personally. What’s she like?”

I turn to face him with an arched brow. “You’ve never asked Auley?”

“Oh, I don’t know the Captain all that well. I’m a new hire—just came in when Queen Mair had all the new staff brought in. I think I’ve probably talked more toyouthan I have to him. But someday, maybe...” Benji trails off. “Does everyone else know the Queen?”

I try to hold in my sigh. I’m not sure how well I succeed. “Kelsa does. And Kal spoke with her, but he doesn’t know her.”

“And? What’s she like?” Beji asks again.

I huff out a breath. I don’t really want to talk about Mair—mostly because talking about her will lead me to thinking about the council, and my brother, whose absence I feel severely in the bottom of my stomach. But also because it feels a little like whispering about her behind her back, though it’s really nothing like that. I keep my description short in order to appease the boy and to end this conversation as soon as possible. “Smart. Kind. A little sarcastic.”

“Are you guys friends?”

I don’t know how to answer the question. I still don’t truly believe that she and the rest of the council are anything less than family, but to say that would be to tell this boy more about my life than I’d really like. I just settle for nodding again.

And I’m instantly grateful, for once, to see Kal striding into the clearing where we all wait. His eyes find mine and he alters his footfalls so that he’s heading right toward me. “They’ve agreed to talk,” he says when he’s standing at my horse. He strokes the mare’s ear. “But they want all weapons relinquished at the front gate.”

“Is that wise?” I ask. I know he must understand what I’m really asking—he’s a soldier, as am I. Or, Iwas, anyway, for a long time.Are they a threat?

Kal shrugs. “Nothing we can’t handle if need be.”

I don’t like the answer. I don’t like what it implies, or the cocky way he says it, or the smirk that follows it. “We don’t touch them,” I say, scowling as I slide off my horse. “Gather the rest of them. Benji and I are going to find Kelsa.” It’s a slight, and he knows it. A slight to go with Benji, rather than him at my side. Really, I’d rather the young guard stay with the rest of them, but there’s nothing wrong with speaking with my actions when words are too burdensome.

Kal visibly restrains the urge to scowl at my order, but nods. “Witches wait to take you to her. The meeting will be the three of us, yes?” Me, him, and Kelsa.

I nod. I nod because pairing myself with two witches is smart. Even if Kelsa really doesn’t have the rank required to be invited to the meeting, she has the people skills that I am severely lacking, and I’ve got a feeling Kal isn’t much better at persuasion than I am. She’ll be an asset.

Benji is quick to step off his horse, and I gesture for him to hand his reins to Kal as I give him my own. Another slight, but one he’s forced to take, since it’s a silent order from me.

It’s so much fun to see him glare as he walks away. Perhaps I should be nicer to him, should try to form some sort of acquaintance with him, but I much prefer the game we’re playing now.

“It’s an honor,” Benji says when we’re far enough from the rest of the group. I almost feel bad for using him to get on Kal nerves, but then he says, “I’ll help you to get under that guy’s skin any day.”

I can’t help but glance over to him in surprise as we make it to a pair of witches who stare at us while we remove our weapons and set them in the dirt gently. “You don’t like Kal?”

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