Page 69 of A Shard of Ice

Xander glances at me before looking at Damon. “I have a few answers. Perhaps you and I can discuss it later.”

“No, you can speak freely in front of Kyrie. I trust her with my life.”

I warm up inside. I bite on my bottom lip to keep from smiling like a loon.

“They’re best friends, Xander.” Thesha gets that cheeky smile. She winks at me.

“I won’t say anything to anyone. You have my word.” I put my hand on my heart.

“Fair enough.” Xander nods. “Snow controls the fae through mirrors. There is one at each court. They all look the same. Big, ornate, and magical.”

“Mirrors?” Damon sounds incredulous, and I don’t blame him.

“Yep, these huge magic mirrors that can’t be broken. Instead of regular tax, she demands a quota from each fae in magic.”

“We had heard such a rumor.” Damon looks at me.

“Yes, but we assumed that she didn’t take too much,” I say.

“She takes almost all of it. Haven’t you noticed how reluctant the fae are to use their magic, even in battle?”

“I did.” Damon nods.

“It varies from species to species and fae to fae, but all must contribute. All must pay, even the emptyfae. She sucks their magic from them like a leech. Fall short often enough, and she will end you. It is told that she can smite a fae down in an instant. Go against her and die. Or even worse, watch your family perish foryourwrongdoings.”

“That’s terrible,” I gasp.

“There was that guard at the salt mine a few years ago who was struck by lightning in the middle of the desert.” Damon rubs his beard. “I remember it because it was so out of place. Lightning in the desert. He died instantly.”

“I heard about that.” I thought it was an exaggeration. “There was quite a lot of talk about it when I first arrived at the mine.” I narrow my eyes in thought.

“That was more than likely Snow. It happens all the time. She’s relentless in her pursuit of power. She can track all of her fae. She can listen in on conversations. She has spies everywhere, as well.”

My skin crawls at the thought.

“It’s only the fae, not us humans,” Thesha pipes up. “It’s why she detests us. She can’t control us. Or spy on us through her mirrors. Snow fears us because it makes us dangerous to her. That’s why she wants us cowed and enslaved or dead.”

“I always saw her as a queen living in an ivory tower who let the fae run rampant,” I say. “I always saw the fae as evil. I never considered that it was a human behind all of it. In a matter of days, my whole world has been turned on its head. I don’t know which way is up anymore.”

“Follow your instincts, Ky. It’s never steered you wrong before.” Damon bumps his shoulder softly against mine. “And as to which way is up, you naturally gravitate up.”

“You guys are so sweet.” Thesha has this sappy look. “You make such a great couple.”

“They’re friends, love,” Xander tells her.

“Oh, right! I forgot for a second there.”

Is it obvious that we’re attracted to one another? That there is something between us? It must be.

“Belen mentioned that Orion has been freed as well.” Damon steps over a log. “Orion is the beastfae king,” he tells me as I step over the large, twisted root. We have to tread carefully in this terrain.

“Yes.” Xander laughs softly. “He’s also married and expecting a child.”

“No. How did that happen?” Damon’s eyes go wide.

“Do you really need me to explain how it works?” Xander lifts his brows, grinning.

“Very funny.” Damon chuckles. His eyes light up, and his dimples pop out. He’s handsome. I can’t believe I never noticed. I know plenty of the women at the salt mines really liked him. I was asked all the time if we were involved. I can’t believe I never saw it. His jaw is masculine. His mouth is almost too full to have any business being on a man. His eyes are unreal. That vivid blue framed by thick black lashes. They were brown before but still striking. He’s very good-looking, and there’s no denying it.

---