Page 108 of The Forbidden Fae King

I glance at my pocket watch again. “On another day.” I hurry them along.

We take one of the many bridges that lead to the mouth of the palace. My heart fills with equal parts nostalgia and dread upon returning to my home.

The golden palace is perched at the highest reach of the city. It consists of immense, circular buildings adorned with arches, columns, and staircases that lead to levels of gardens and open platforms.Waterfalls run down the curved faces of the palace that are otherwise occupied by massive leadlight windows.

The highest garden has a circle of arched gateways at its top, with a diamond plinth in its center, once a portal to the world of the gods. At its apex is an open-air temple to the Tuatha Dé Danann. Once we worshipped and summoned our patrons from that site, until they stopped coming.

I would have loved to witness our creators stepping out of those portals, to bask in their glory, but it has been hundreds of years since they have visited us. Some believe our gods are dead. Maybe that is another reason our lands are dying.

Both Cyprien and Lilly wait for us in the courtyard that leads to the servant's entrance of the palace, casually leaning against a railing. They straighten as they spy us. Lilly collects my band and leads them away to their position for our move.

Cyprien is at my side, leading me through the garden. “Did you make sure you were seen in the city?”

“Yes. Rumor of my return will travel fast.”

“Good.” He nods curtly, setting the gold beads of his black hair clinking, despite how the braids are pulled back by a leather thong.

We exit the garden and take a staircase down to the Senate house, a small, cylindrical building with all the same golden features of the palace.

Cyprien holds open the back door for me and we make our way through narrow corridors of marble floors and walls, and into a waiting room. It is here that witnesses are called to give accounts during the Senate.

All my low fae companions wait here: the pixies, nymphs, fire sprites, selkies and kelpies. I greet each of them by name.

I stand behind the door, where the sound of muttering and footsteps from the other side, as the senators fill the House of Representatives.

“Don’t wait for an official summoning, because you won’t get it,” Cyprien whispers in my ear. “You’ll know your cue.”

He disappears the same way we came in, and within moments, hisvoice travels from the other side of that door, greeting his fellow senators. The buzz within the room increases, becoming so loud it is difficult to pull one conversation from another.

What I would give to have an eyehole into the room.

The sound cuts off all at once, as the clicking of heels on marble rings out.

“I declare the Senate is now in session.” A musical, feminine voice rings out. It sets my blood to ice and has my mind recoiling with rage. Titania. The woman who calls herself the high chancellor. “We have many, many issues to discuss. First on the agenda are the food shortages and low fae riots?—”

Titania stops speaking abruptly, as more footsteps echo off the stone floors, accompanied by gasps and murmurs.

“Cyprien? What are you doing?” There is a feral note to her outrage.

“I invoke the right to speak first! On the gravest of matters!” His statement cut over the top of increasing murmurs.

“No. No, you cannot speak first!” she snaps at him.

“It is his right!” a man calls out.

“It has always been the way of the Senate.” Another supporter chimes in.

“Let him speak!”

Cyprian roars. “I have discovered a betrayal to this Senate, to our people and the entire Spring Court.” The room falls silent. Not even the high chancellor speaks.

Anticipation has as cold sweat prickling my skin and sliding down my back. It would be so easy for Cyprien to betray me at this point. To hand me over to Titania for treason. I have considered it a thousand times, and dismissed it as many. But you never truly know a man.

“We have been lied to,” Cyprien pauses to let it sink in. “By this woman here! The high chancellor who calls herself the representative of the people and Senate.”

“You DARE lay such charges at my feet!” Titania roars.

“I do,” Cyprien replies.

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