Page 128 of The Forbidden Fae King

I let out a long breath, then close the distance between us. I take the hand he extends toward me, but pull him into a hug instead. Cyprien stiffens, then pats me on the back.

“Are you okay?” I ask, holding him at arm’s length by the shoulders.

“I have survived worse,” he says in a dry tone. “You?”

“Likewise.” I shake my head. “I was attacked in the palace, and then again while fleeing through the city. We fought them off, but I don’t know how many more will come. And Drake has been poisoned.”

Cyprien’s eyes slide over to Drake, taking in his condition. His lips compress into a thin line. “The Assassins of Belladonna will not stophunting you, until you kill the person that hired them or you convince her to cancel the order. It will be incredibly difficult for you to do either from exile.”

“I know.” Every muscle in my body is taught with that knowledge. Cyprien opens his mouth to say more, but I cut him off. “I will not start a military coup or civil war within the city. Especially with little preparation. I will not kill Titania, not before I convince the people of her guilt.”

Cyprien scratches his jaw. “I thought you would say as much. It means you cannot remain here. What is your next move?”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “The exact thing you were thinking when you suggested we meet at this gate.” I turn from Cyprien and address our combined people. “We will go back to the Frozen River Fortress. It is defensible against the assassins. Titania will call off her order when it becomes widely known, or at least rumored, that she tried to kill me. I will hold court from there and make the people who come to me witness the rifts.”

They stare at me for a long moment, then nod. They would follow me to the ends of this realm and into the voids themselves.

“It is going to be a hard journey, because we are going to run there the entire way.” I search Cyprien’s guards until I find the kelpies. “Kai, Freya and Iris if you could take Keira, Caitlin, and Drake.” Kai gives me a curt nod. “When we reach the fortress, you continue on with Drake and Klara, and take him to the healing waters of the Living Lagoon.”

I help pull Drake onto Freya’s back and tie him in place with ropes of vines. He groans out in pain with each movement, and his breaths are shallow, but they are also regular. That wound has stopped bleeding, but it is still puckered and the black tendrils slowly grow out from it.

I spend a stolen moment checking on Keira. Her sister has both arms wrapped around her shoulders and speaks to her in urgent whispers, as she shakes uncontrollably. Her eyes have trouble focusing on me. I want to kiss away the fear in them.

“We’ll get through this, I promise you. I will keep you safe,” I say.

Caitlin steps back to give us space. Keira’s hands roam all over my chest, as though she is still trying to convince herself that I am alive. “So much death, and for what, Aldrin? Why did those worshippers have to die? This wasn’t their fight. And those assassins? Was it for money?” She pulls away from me. “They could have killed you, Aldrin, so easily while you slept. They could have killed us both. And I—” She throws a hand to her mouth. “Oh gods, I killed two men tonight.”

“You did what you needed to, Keira. Gods, you saved my life twice tonight. If you are keeping numbers, hold onto that one.” I peer down into her eyes and run a finger over her lips. “I need you to be strong for me Keira, can you do that? Kai will carry you, and we will be in the safety of the fortress before you know it.”

She nods, still dazed. It kills me to lift her up onto the kelpie’s back, and watch her wrap her arms around his torso instead of mine.

With a swift thanks to the Worshippers of Peace, we leave the capital through the God’s Gate. Jittery tremors run through my muscles, screaming to fight, to swing my sword, as cruel anticipation pounds through me. We race through the open field of portals beyond, half expecting an attack at any time. But it doesn’t come.

I set a brutal pace through the forest, only taking short breaks for food, drink and rest. I use them to sit with Keira and hold her against my chest, her legs tangled with mine. She has never seen the brutality of a true battle, and all the fear and gore that comes with it. I pull back her hair while she vomits.

I hate that her innocence was broken on my account. That I couldn’t protect her from witnessing such violent death. A battle is so very different from a hunt.

When night falls, we make camp within a Watchtower Tree and the nymphs stand as our guards while we try to catch some sleep. It is no use. We all jolt at shadows and more than one of us has night terrors, waking the rest.

To my surprise, Keira sleeps solidly, held tightly in my arms while I keep an unintentional vigil over her. When she wakes, she appears as tired and ragged as I feel, with deep grooves under her eyes.

She looks at me with such sadness, it breaks my heart and sets myblood to ice. I have lost her. I know it to the depths of my soul. Maybe I never had her, and I was a fool for trying to keep her.

I have nothing to offer Keira. No home. No safety. Definitely not a crown. I am a man on the run. What right do I have to love?

We reach the Frozen River Fortress the next day, right as the sun hovers over the horizon and dusk threatens.

I bark orders, and my people scramble to see my will done. This fort can be defended against the worst of odds. There are magic plinths installed throughout the site that need powering up. Their wards cast an immense, domed shield across the entire fortress, defending against aerial attack. The act will almost completely drain each of us, but Odiane will aid us.

People rush around me in a mad flurry, every one of them with their orders, but I only have eyes for Keira. Both sisters slide from the kelpies’ backs, so the low fae can continue on to the healing water with Drake.

I want to scoop Keira up into my arms, to hold her close and never let her go, but she turns and embraces the man half of Kai. An expression of shock passes over his features. His eyebrows shoot up and his arms hang limply for a few heartbeats, before awkwardly wrapping around her, as though he isn’t quite sure where to put them.

“Oh Kai, thank you.” Keira’s voice is muffled. “Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t get emotional on me, human.” He pats her hair.

Keira embraces Klara. “I am glad you were able to speak to your son again,” she murmurs, then places a light kiss on Drake’s forehead, receiving an unintelligible, mumbled response from him. She looks at them all with such sorrow as they leave for the healing waters, like she will never see them again.

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