Page 75 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

“Never to you,” I promised, stroking her bottom lip with my thumb. “I have never lied to you and swear to always tell you the truth.”

Then I kissed her, endeavoring to prove the truth of my words in action.

Nineteen

Calypso

Interviewing Oran’s staff took hours. Azulin insisted on witnessing every moment of those hours, and since he didn’t want me out of his sight, I listened as well.

Fae culture made them wily. The iron-clad nature of fae bargains meant promises were set in stone unless a bound fae could wordsmith their way around them. However, for these interviews, the double pressure of a truth spell and the staff’s oaths of loyalty kept the staff from even wordsmith.

But my fascination with the squirming fae wore off quickly. I took no pleasure in listening to another’s mental and emotional discomfort.

Instead, I joined Ghost. The dragon had stationed himself in the shadows of the heavy curtains along the wall. They did nothing to disguise his large frame or the scent of smoke he gave off. His amber eyes glowed beneath his silver brows as he acknowledged my presence with a nod.

“My queen.” His voice growled low and rumbly.

“Ghost.” I offered him a nod in return. “What have you been up to since we arrived?”

“Listening at doors, prowling passages, and occasionally fetching things.” This last came with a slight snarl to his upper lip.

“I’m surprised they didn’t set you to hunting.” I watched as my husband and his brother circled the housekeeper, both intent on extracting as much information from her as they could.

“Can’t.”

Surprised, I glanced up at the dragon. “Why ever not? I assumed your skills were tailored to hunting down traitors.”

“They are.” His gaze didn’t waver from staring at the tableau playing out before us. “Outside my assignment.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“Protecting.” He nodded toward Azulin, who conferred with his brother as the housekeeper was led away.

“Ah.”

Azulin and Oran argued for a few moments before they separated. Oran turned and started yelling orders at his servants in an unfamiliar language, and Azulin stalked toward us, hands fisted at his sides. Our connection roiled beneath my skin in response to his anger.

“Wife?” His voice was low and threaded with irritation.

“Husband?” I responded. “Did you discover something?”

“We did.” Anger flashed in his dark eyes. He caught his bodyguard’s gaze. “Ready yourself for a hunt.”

Ghost rumbled with approval and a pleasing smoky scent thickened the air. “With pleasure. Fae, elf, or human?”

“Fae.” Azulin’s magic coiled invisibly around us. “My mother has taken a lover. The fae scum who greeted us. They fled together. Oran intends to pursue them on foot. Meanwhile, we shall follow up on the whispers that she allied with elves within Emrys’ court.”

“And I?” Ghost inquired.

“Come with us, and then return to hunt down the fugitives. We should be safe with the elves.” Azulin claimed my hand. “Are you prepared to depart?” he asked me.

“At your whim. Should we say farewell to Oran?” I glanced around Azulin to where his brother was verbally rebuking a high fae who was visibly wilting under the verbal barrage.

“Taking pity on my brother or the recipient of his rage?” Azulin’s amusement lightened his intensity.

“Both, I suppose.” I glanced at my husband. “We should at least show your brother common courtesy and bid him farewell.”

“Common courtesy in your world is showing great favor in mine.”

---