Page 68 of Taken By the Fae King

She dips her chin.

“You have visions, do you not?”

My head jerks back slightly. How in the seven hells does he know this?

“I do,” she admits.

“Can you tell me anything of my future?”

“It does not work that way,” she replies. “I cannot call upon it at will. It comes to me in dreams and even then, they can be difficult to interpret.”

He dips his chin. “What of the others?” he asks.

“What others?” I frown.

“The other Sanishon,” he replies. “Are their visions like yours? Or are they able to seek answers whenever they ask.”

“How do you know about us?” Grayce asks the question that I have held back. “Where did you learn of this?”

“I have studied the prophecies.” He cocks his head to the side. “They say the Sanishon will possess great powers. That they will be called upon to make a great sacrifice.”

“Those powers are not specified,” I counter.

“The tomes are written in the archaic form,” he explains. “The word used for powers can also be interpreted as visions.”

I sit back in my chair, stunned that an Orc of all beings has discovered this. “And what of the sacrifice?” I ask, because that is the part that concerns me most. “Is there another way to interpret that?”

“The translations state they will be called upon to make a great sacrifice, but when you go back to the original text, it says they will make theultimatesacrifice.”

“What does that mean?” Grayce asks.

“Many scholars believe it means that because of their visions, the Sanishon will be aware of what is to come. And still… they will choose to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Which is why the translation ofultimate sacrificeis thought to be the correct one.”

Fear unfurls and wraps tight around my spine, and it takes everything within me not to lift Grayce into my arms and carry her back to our room, begging her to remain there, under heavy guard until the Order of Mages are defeated entirely.

But that could take many years, and I already know she would refuse. Grayce is brave and determined. She would never be content to hide away, even for her own safety.

Arokh shifts his gaze to me. “Now that we are allies, I would ask a favor.”

“What is it?”

“A great darkness is coming. Before peace, there will be war. It was foretold in the prophecy. The Order of Mages and their Wraith will not be easily defeated. I wish to visit the heart tree in your temple. It is my hope that the spirt of the heart tree will give me guidance for what is to come.”

The heart tree is sacred, and I am reluctant to allow an Orc anywhere near it. But when Grayce gently squeezes my hand under the table, I understand what she is trying to convey.

Trust.

I have allowed others, including my friend, Varys, and the High Elf King of Cymaril to receive a reading from the spirit of the heart tree. If this alliance with the Orcs is to have any chance of succeeding, it cannot start off with mistrust.

“Done,” I reply. Off to the side, I notice Lord Torien’s eyes widen in shock as I continue. “The temple is heavily warded.” I gesture to one of my guards. “My guards will take you before you leave.”

Arokh dips his chin in a subtle acknowledgment and then returns to his warriors.

Lord Torien walks over to me, his gaze disapproving. “May I have a moment of your time, my king?”

I dart a glance at one of my guards, and he immediately moves to my side. “Stay with the queen,” I whisper, and he nods. I turn to Grayce. “I will return as soon as I can.”

“We will speak in the council chambers,” I tell Torien over my shoulder.

---