Page 57 of Hidden

“I confess he made a useful tool of my pride,” her mother said. “It worked, at first.”

It was the most honest thing Lila had ever heard her say. “And then?”

“His friendship was like a charm. Invitations and advancement sprang up like flowers after rain.” Galeeta wavered. “But time passed, and I began to hear from others how their dealings with Farras had gone wrong. It was always the same story—at first, he was all smiles. Then debts were suddenly called in. Marriage plans called off. Fortunes collapsed. People grew afraid to cross him.”

“Why? Why did he do that?”

“You said it yourself. He desires mastery, whether it’s over a horse or another fae.”

“Do you know why? What do we even know about him, other than that he is cousin to the king?”

“He came to court many, many years ago. Some said he was a second son, the only survivor of a family murdered by the dark fae. That is all I know. By the time I met him, he was second only to the king and he did not welcome questions.” Galeeta’s smile was grim. “He has never confessed anything to me, but I believe he hungers for as much power as any fae can possess.”

“Royal power?” Lila shivered at the thought. The power of a king or queen was, by virtue of their role, exponentially greater than their most gifted subject. But it came with the crown, either by birth or by conquest. There was no other way to possess it. “That’s treason.”

“So it is.” Galeeta’s tone was weary. “I began to pull away, hoping our acquaintance would naturally cool. But he wasn’t about to let me go. He made it impossible to deny him anything.”

Lila shifted nervously, dreading what came next. “What did he do?”

“By then, your father had been taken by Lord Teegar. I was alone, and I had you children to think of.”

“What did Lord Farras do?” Lila said again, the words a mere whisper.

“His lordship had already taken Ademar under his wing. He was sponsoring Ademar’s advancement at court and in his studies. Lord Farras has the power to make or break his fortune.”

And to set Ademar up when Lord Teegar came calling, but Lila didn’t say that.

“He held my son’s interests over me, ensuring my loyalty.” Her mother’s eyes grew flinty with temper. “And then he threatened Sala.”

“What?” Lila exclaimed. “How?”

“You said vampires arrived at her door. That was not the first incident.”

“But those were Undead.”

“Farras rarely dirties his hands directly. They were his hirelings.”

“Is that why she tricked me into coming here?” Lila asked, the cold knot in her chest warming to anger.

“Sala has children.” Her mother said it as if that answered everything. “She understood what was at stake.”

And if Farras could hurt an innocent animal, would he stop at a child? Her nieces and nephews?

“We need your cooperation,” her mother continued. “We meant to get it without involving you more deeply than needs be.”

“You mean that you intended to leave me ignorant,” Lila asked, her voice sharp. “Am I the sacrifice? The child you can afford to lose?”

“No!” Galeeta’s voice was a whip-crack. “You’re the one who had the strength to leave for the human world. To change and grow. You can hold your own.”

Confused, Lila fell silent.

“I need you to convince him of our desire for an alliance.” Her mother’s voice was calm even as her hands twisted in her lap. “Our survival depends on making him believe we’re his loyal followers at the very same time we’re plotting his downfall. He is no fool, so it will take all your cunning. As political games go, this is at a master’s level.”

“I’m not good at games,” Lila answered in a small voice.

“You’re like your father. More interested in beauty than battles.” Her mother’s expression was grim. “That is one good reason why it would have been easier if you knew none of this. Now we have no choice but to play the cards we have, and to play them flawlessly.”

“Why not simply run? Or tell the king?”

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