Page 81 of The Forbidden Fae King

“Yes,” I whisper, and he recoils as though slapped. Aldrin collapses back into his chair. I watch him, still drowning in the magic swirling in my head.

He raises an arm. “Thank you for telling me your story. You’re released from the bargain.”

Conscious thought crashes down on me like a physical weight. That damper on my senses lifts abruptly and I am overwhelmed by the crackling roar of the fires, the heat that threatens to suffocate me and the scent of smoke. The ragged breathing of each person around me as their stares remain transfixed on me.

Confusion whirls in my head as I stare at them, then at Aldrin. My arm stings and I pull back the sleeve to watch the wisps of magic curl away from it in silvery light, the tattoo disappearing.

“What did you do?” I turn to Aldrin, but the memory slams into me of what he compelled me to say. “What did youdo?” I leap to my feet and back away from him. The anger at the abuse roars within me, clashing with terror. “You forced me to speak against my will. To tell you things that are a betrayal to my people. How did you get inside my mind like that? It’s a violation.”

Aldrin stand and reaches out for me, and I take another step back, just outside of his grasp.

“A violation?” His voice is pitched high in shock. “Keira, this is what you agreed to in our bargain. To tell me your story.”

“My story is about the horrible man I am promised to and my girlhood dreams. Not tactical details about the power structure in my realm or the intricacies of the pilgrimage!” I yell and tears run freely down my face.

How stupid was I to think I knew this fae? That I could trust him at all. Trust any of them.

The fae are known for taking what they want.

I am horrified that I betrayed my people, to a fae king none-the-less. It is so much easier to throw that anger at Aldrin instead of myself.

“The intricacies of the pilgrimage!” Aldrin growls back. “Thatis the violation here. These practices are the reason we fae closed the portals in the first place. And you are one of them.”

His hands clench to fists at his side and he towers near me, but he doesn’t yell or get in my space.

Self-righteous rage rolls through me hot and hard and bitter, but it’s tainted with deep shame. He is right. Not his methods, but his judgments of us.

“It is not this woman’s fault for the practices of her people. She came here with no ill will,” Cyprien chimes in.

I let another man near my heart, and he betrayed my trust.

“It is not my fault you don’t understand the nature of a bargain.” Aldrin doesn’t meet my eye.

“Well, maybe you should have informed me before you trapped me in one.” I spit at him.

“How could I have known it was going to compel you to speak truths you didn’t plan to share?”

“But you took advantage of it, anyway.” Pain radiates throughout my chest.He is a king of the fae. Of course he took advantage of you, you silly girl.

“I will not use the information to harm your people, you knowthat,” Aldrin replies. “Even if humans have been committing crimes against us for generations.”

“I don’t know anything about you.” I spit, then turn on my heel and stalk out of the grand hall.

Caitlin follows me out into the frozen night, gripping me tightly around my arm and leading me to our rooms.

“What am I doing here, Caitlin?” I sniff as I hold my emotions in. “I cannot trust my own instincts anymore. He used me.”

She quickens her pace. “Keep it together, Keira, until we have privacy.”

I need to kill this softness in me, if I am to be queen. I trust too soon, too easily, and am devastated when it is broken. We rush through an alleyway, down winding paths and up the staircase that hugs the apartment building.

I can’t get Aldrin out of my head. Those golden eyes that swirl with fire. The quick half-smile that warms me from head to toe, that penetrates to the depths of my soul. Aldrin is a man I could love. By the gods, he might drive me to insanity, but I could love him with my whole heart. The emotion he flares within me puts to shame the pitiful spark I hold for Prince Finan, and it will only grow the longer I let him in.

After witnessing the devastation of these lands, I know for certain that I have to marry Finan. The fate of two worlds depends on me. My shoulders sag from the sheer weight of it. From the heartache of having to tie myself to that man.

Caitlin rounds on me as soon as we are in my chambers. “I know you want to leave, but we need to finish what we started. We will complete our mission and have something to bring home. And you will stay with Aldrin long enough to work out what he is going to do with the information he took from you.”

I lock away that pain deep within my chest. “He is high fae and outmaneuvered me. I shouldn’t be shocked. There won’t be a next time.” I toss myself onto the bed and let out a shuddering breath. “By the darkest realm, I was enjoying his company too much. Of course itwasn’t real.” I laugh bitterly. The pain will come later, in the depths of the night when I am alone in my blankets.

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