Page 148 of The Forbidden Fae King

Our energy and magic have been greatly taxed by weeks of these nightly battles, but the assassins keep coming, fresh and powerful, no matter how many we kill.

As dim light bleeds across the sky, Odiane’s much depleted form collapses into a pool of water and does not rise again. The assassin’s assault intensifies for another hour without her harrying them, then their silver rain ends abruptly and their forms cloaked in shadows skit away.

I let go of the plinth and lean forward over my knees and heave.

“Have you lost your mind, Aldrin?” Cyprien snaps. “We still need to power the plinths for tonight.”

I examine each of them. “We don’t need to charge them. I am leaving here today.”

Cyprien collapses his back against the plinth as relief ripples across his face. Lilly sits heavily on the soaked ground, but rolls her eyes over to me. “You have made a decision then?”

“I am not going to bloody like it, am I?” Cyprien dries the sweat from his hands onto his leathers, then grimaces at the dirt deposited on them.

“Oh no, you are going to hate it.” I grin at him despite myself. A heavy weight lifts from my shoulders. “In fact, you’ll think it’s my worst idea yet. I will not ask anyone to come with me.”

“You’re not going to hand yourself over to the Assassins of Belladonna to challenge them, are you?” He asks.

“No. Not yet anyway.” I pull myself upright and stumble down those water lodged steps encircling the outside of The Tower.

“Aren’t you at least going to tell us?” Cyprien calls over the edge of the rampart.

“You can find out when everyone else does.” I toss over my shoulder.

For the first time in weeks, there is a spring in my step.

Chapter 37

Keira

Ipace the lavish sitting room of my apartments, while my brother sits on the edge of a dark violet couch. Agitation makes my muscles taut, ready to flee. “I have made a horrible mistake, Diarmuid. I cannot marry him.” My stomach churns at the idea.

“That error of judgment belongs to our entire family.” Diarmuid tips his head back and gulps down his entire glass of sherry. “It is not right how they treat their women here. You were not born to be silent and powerless.”

I pause in front of Diarmuid, frowning while the cogs of my mind whirl.

“Oh no. I know that look.” Diarmuid straightens. “You’re about to do something wildly reckless and drag me into it.”

“I’m going to tell Finan I will not marry him. That I will become a priestess instead.”

Diarmuid leans forward in his seat, excitement rippling over his face. “Finally! I’ve already told you I don’t want you to marry him. We have to plan carefully and do this the smart way. We will go straight to the Sanctuary of Magic in the city first thing in the morning, and have themmediate on your behalf, while you are in a position of strength and safety. The Mothers of Magic will not beintimidated. We have no idea how he will react, but it won’t be pleasant.”

A sense of relief washes through me so hard and fast that my legs feel weak. I collapse onto a couch.

Diarmuid rises and stalks toward the bar, pouring long drinks for each of us. “We will work out the details tonight, then pack our bags. We leave at first light, before the palace wakes up, but when it is safe to walk the city streets.”

My brother approaches me, arm stretched out to offer me the crystal glass, when a pounding shakes the door to my apartment in its frame. He shoots me a startled look. “Who would be visiting you at this hour of the night?”

“I have no idea.” Shivers run down my spine because I have an inkling.

“Stay here,” Diarmuid orders, a rare seriousness falling over him as he curls my fingers around the glass.

My heart races and I can’t sit still, as I listen to the bolts being removed from my door. I take a sip of the sweet sherry to quell my nerves, but the alcohol does little for me.

“My sister has retired for the night. She doesn’t take visitors at this hour.” Diarmuid’s anger travels to me.

“Prince Finan has requested her company.” A gruff voice replies. My stomach tumbles with dread.

“Like I said, she has retired for the night. Tell him she will keep him company tomorrow. In the afternoon, perhaps. She does like to sleep in.” Those words are followed by the sound of the door hitting something and reverberating, as though Diarmuid tried to slam it in the guard’s face and it hit his foot obstructing it instead.

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