Page 22 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

What Do You Mean Jump?

Draped in gold robes that dulled in comparison to his face, Orion nodded to a select few as he waded through a tide of bows and curtsies. Panic filled me when I realized Muddy was leading him our way. He’d recognize me just as I recognized him!

I turned to Griffon, gripped his arm, and found him just as horrified to see who had entered his mother’s home. Beyond him, Bridie watched, oblivious to the danger. On her far side, Archer turned wide eyes to me.

“I have to get out of here,” I said.

Griffon searched my face, then shook his head. “He won’t recognize you like this. Just breathe, keep calm.”

I put my hand to my chest. “But I have Hank!”

He frowned, not comprehending.

“Shite.” Archer understood. He’d been in that taxi when Daphne had been searching for mycloch realta. He shook his head. “No time. We’ll figure it out. Maybe he won’t sense it—” He didn’t bother smiling as Muddy reached us. “Muddy.”

Muddy rolled his eyes, then stepped up to me, the first in line. He took my hand and lifted it, then clapped his free hand behind the back of my upper arm to make sure I couldn’t recoil while he kissed my knuckles. Then he grinned like he’d won some sort of game. “You’ll know my plus-one.” He smirked. “You never specified whether guests were allowed, so…” He stepped closer to Bridie and introduced her to Orion, King of the Fae.

“Oh!” She bent her knee and began to curtsy, but both her sons lifted her up again.

“Not with your knees, Mother,” Griffon said.

Orion inclined his head in her direction, but his eyes shot to me. He might have passed me by without notice, but then Hank had hissed.

He scowled as he studied my face—my wild hair, my colorful eyes, my mouth. But Farrig’s makeup job left nothing familiar for him. He shook his head and his attention dropped to my barely concealed cleavage. “What is that hissing?”

He lifted his hand toward me and Hank hissed louder.

“Behold! The true King of the Fae!” Farrig appeared between myself and the enemy. Breathless, she threw herself on the forest-like floor, giving both of us no choice but to take a step back. Even prostrate, she took up a mere three feet.

All around us, people hit their knees, as if they feared their bows and curtsies might not have been enough.

A little green dress stretched out beside the sea blue one, forcing Griffon back beside me. Then Blath fell next to Cré. Goy pushed her way through the crowd to take her place on the floor beside Farrig despite the whiteness of her gown.

“All hail, King of the Fae!” Their chant, in unison, stroked Orion’s ego despite their interruption.

“Welcome to our home, Sir.” Griffon barely inclined his head, unable to move much else.

Orion’s eyes flashed and turned slowly from golden brown to black. “I had to pay my respects to such a…loyal family. Though, I had hoped there was a way to bring Daphne back…”

Griffon inclined his head, then moved slightly closer to Bridie. “But with all options exhausted, our stepmother needed closure.”

Orion’s attention turned to me again. His foot moved, but he couldn’t take a step with Farrig in the way. “Here, now. Up with all of you.” He looked from side to side, listening, and honed in on Hank again. “What am I hearing?”

Archer opened his mouth to speak, but Farrig beat him to it. “Relics! You hear the relics of the DeNoy, my lord!”

Her sister fairies chimed in. “Only one with the Naming Power—”

“Only the true Fae King—”

“Can hear the relics!”

He shook his head and pointed at my chest.

“The gown is from the relic room, my lord.” Farrig bowed deeply and reached up to take Orion’s hand. “Come. Let us show you.”

His scowl remained, but he gave in.

Goy hurried to Orion’s far side. Blath herded him from behind and urged Muddy to fall in beside her. Farrig stayed where she was, in front of Griffon and me, and waved them on. She was all smiles until they turned the corner, headed for the waterfall. Then her smile fell away. With all other guests watching Orion or following in his wake, she looked up at me.

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