Page 95 of The Forbidden Fae King

“Yes. Yes. I can take you there. It’s full of fire sprites, mind you.” The woman says, then rushes off, barking orders at her partner.

Aldrin raises an eyebrow. “Fancy a swim? I could escort you, especially if you are planning to take these off.” He pulls at the fabric of my clothes.

I nudge him in the ribs, giving him a dark look. He plays dangerous games. “We are looking for a home for the second seed-stone.”

He continues to grin at me. “Careful what you get yourself into, sweet little human. Fire sprites have a temper. You almost got eaten alive by pixies last time you were surrounded by low fae.”

“Are you offering yourself as my big fae protector?” I roll my eyes at him.

He spreads his arms wide. “Well, I’m here if you need me.”

“If I recall, they were biting you as well.” I poke him in the chest, then freeze as a thought comes to me. “Why are there fire sprites inside the mountain?”

“Because this is an active volcano.” His smirk is oily as he waits for me to react.

“We are standing on an active volcano?” I practically yell and everyone stops and turns to me.

Caitlin stalks over with fury lining her face. “Are you bloody serious?” She pokes Aldrin in the chest. “Are you insane, making us hike up a volcano for days? What if it erupts? I don’t know about you, Aldrin, but I don’t have a death wish.” She storms off.

“I see why she and Cyprien became fast friends,” Aldrin mumbles.

“She has a point.” I don’t let him bait me. I wait for the explanation I know he has.

“It rarely erupts and the fire sprites give us plenty of warning when it is about to.” He shrugs. “This inn has survived five eruptions, because it has wards layered upon wards. We’ll be fine.”

“Have you forgotten I’m human?”

“How could I forget?” He murmurs so low I wonder if I was meant to hear it.

We are led through a series of tunnels filled with hot steam. Water drips from the low ceiling and runs down the walls. The way opens up to an immense cavern filled with dozens of baths.

Another tunnel takes us to a great, bubbling lake with multiple streams converging and gushing water into it.

My skin flushes from the heat and my clothes are hair are damp from sweat and vapor. I take a few steps toward the edge of the lake, but it feels like walking toward a raging bonfire.

Cyprien grabs my arm and pulls me back a pace. “Do not touch the water.” His gaze is hard as he holds my eye. “It will sear the flesh off your bones.” A great splash drags my attention back to the lake, as all three kelpies dive in. Cyprien gives me an apologetic half-smile. “They are fae, and you are not.”

Caitlin slaps him on the back as she passes. “Thanks for the tip, Cyprien, but I think we will manage.”

A crackling, scraping sound echoes from a tunnel and I whip around to it. They are footsteps of a whole horde of creatures, becoming louder and louder. The rock walls illuminate with an intense red glow, only growing brighter.

My mouth goes dry and every muscle tenses in preparation to fight whatever hellish beasts are about to march out. If they are half as violent as the Cú Sídhe, I won’t have a chance to run.

“Ouch, Keira. Why are you clawing into me?” Cyprien frowns at me and I realize I have a death grip on his arm, and my nails are digging in.

Drake glances at me, then at the tunnel, and laughs. “Are you afraid of a few fire sprites?”

“Aldrin said…”

“Oh this is going to be good. What story did he tell you?” Drake beams.

Cyprien drags my hands off him. “They are bad-tempered but not dangerous. This wouldn’t be a tourist spot if violent creatures lived here.”

It makes sense. Drake is still staring at me, his lips clamped tight like he wants to laugh again and I give him a hard look.

My heart freezes regardless of when the fire sprites step into the cavern.

Their forms are humanoid but completely composed flames that move and flicker and crackle. Their hair, fingers, and feet are tongues of fire and their eyes are black as charcoal. It is like their entire bodies are ever-changing mosaics of red, orange, and yellow. The heat that radiates from them is distinct, even in this sauna.

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