Page 45 of The Forbidden Fae King

Heat flushes through my entire body, but disappointment spikes within me that I didn’t see all of him.

He dives into the water and the spell over me is broken.

I must be insane.

Aldrin swiftly rises to the surface, with sparkling water dripping from his long brown hair like some sort of god. The rainbow sheen across the water’s surface goes wild around the high fae, and its rippling show is utterly magnificent.

Aldrin runs a hand through his hair and his voice floats to me. “It’snot enough to tell Cyprien what we know.He won’t believe it. None of them will, especially not from us. We need to show them evidence of what is happening at the borders. To bring the Council of the Spring Court there so they can see it for themselves.”

“And how exactly do we do that?” A man grumbles, with half his head shaved and tight strawberry blond curls draping to his shoulder on the other side. His hair is paler than his tanned skin.

“That is the question, Silvan,” Aldrin retorts.

“Can we bring a corrupted spriggan to court? Find one that isn’t so far gone it would turn to ash and float away on the journey?” Drake cuts in.

“If the fools would even believe their eyes.” Says a woman with midnight black hair and the strangest yellow eyes, like that of a snake.

“No. That would make life too bloody easy.” Drake spits.

I float closer to the curtains of vines that hide me, intent on their conversation. These fae are speaking of the Twisted Ones.

Aldrin shakes his head. “It pains me how the lower fae suffer with the corruption. The pain of enduring flesh that rot and breaks away while they live, all because we have abandoned them and these lands.”

That same woman turns sharply to him. “Wedid not abandon these lands.Theydid. The council would prefer to remain blind, and the people care for comfort and entertainment only.” Anger radiates through her.

Aldrin turns to consider her. “Zinnia, we too were blind for long enough.”

Zinnia mutters something I cannot hear, but I swear Aldrin’s gaze reaches over her shoulder and straight at me instead. It lingers, his expression deepening. I stay completely still. Surely he cannot see me, not with the shadows and foliage covering me. Too much of my body would be visible through the clear water. I can make out the entirety of his bare chest. Aldrin drags his eyes away.

“We need to make an alliance with the humans. Open these lands up to them and allow trade and travel. Our people need each other, they always have. But first we need information on how they would receive us. We need an ambassador,” Aldrin says.

“If that girl’s reaction is anything to go by, they’ll be equal parts terrified and enraged.” Drake retorts.

“If history is anything to go by,” the man called Silvan snaps and the rest mumble an agreement.

My stomach tightens.

“You can’t waltz into their world and petition their king.” Silvan’s words are slow, thoughtful.

“No.” A slow half-smile grows on Aldrin’s lips. “But we have two human women in this forest. So if we are very kind to them, and they understand our good intentions, that we want to improve relations to the benefit of both realms, then maybe they might decide to speak with us. If their king sends us a party for negotiation, then no one will need to waltz into their realm.”

My head spins. Aldrin definitely saw all too much of me. I wonder if he realizes how obvious his manipulations are.

Drake actually laughs. “Yeah, you make it sound like getting the cooperation of the human woman is the greatest challenge here. Have you forgotten about why we were exiled? Hell, Cyprien took one look at us standing near two humans and accused us of treachery.”

“It is a significant obstacle to get beyond,” Silvan states.

Galloping hoofbeats echo throughout the cavern, and the kelpies race into view at the entrance to the lagoon in a cloud of dust particles. Shock shatters through me. My heart leaps and thunders wildly in my chest.

Are we under attack?

What could spook all three kelpies like that?

They leap impossibly high into the air, their back legs shifting into a fish’s tail. I stare mesmerized as scales flip up over fur, legs shrink into small fins and tails expand and widen rapidly.

When they hit the vibrant water of the lagoon, in mer-horse forms, the surface explodes in shudders of rainbow light and huge waves curl out from the site of their impact. I scream. They land almost in front of me. Then I scream again as the billowing water completely opens my curtain of vines and I wrap my arms over my chest in a panic.

It gets worse. They swim below the surface where they can see the entirety of my nudity.

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