Page 44 of Fae Champion

“He … really? He was seriously worried about me?”

“He nearly killed Drake Lennox Heath of Etherantos. Other noblemen had to pull them apart.”

My heart thumped. “Why … why’d Rush nearly kill Lennox? I mean, specifically? Obviously he’s more irritating than having a foot covered in fat blisters, and next chanceIget I’m gonna kill him for being a despicable, underhanded, murderous bastard. But why’d Rush try to beat me to it?”

Pru picked up the comb again and guided me to face forward. This time I let her, relaxing when her movements were now gentle. “I wasn’t there to see it, but I heard Drake Rush thought he’d been the one to lock you up in the fae dungeon. Drake Rush thought you were dead.”

“What’d he do to Lennox, then?” I breathed, unsure when I’d started enjoying Rush’s defense of me.

Pru wove my hair with expert fingers that no longer trembled or threatened to jerk me bald. “From what I heard, Lennox had to be carried away. He couldn’t walk on his own.”

“Good,” I said, content to hear the vicious slant of that one word. “He deserves more.” Righteous anger sped through my veins, heating my skin.

“If Mistress wants to be the one to deliver his punishment, then she’d better stay alive.”

“Wow, Pru, never woulda thought of that myself.” I scowled at her, my insides a tangle of emotions I wasn’t in the mood to sort.

I’d been abducted, tormented, and nearly killed multiple times. I’d come back from the edge of death when it was already so near I could taste its final grip. I’d glimpsed power for a few moments, but whatever hope it had delivered had shriveled to nothing when I’d called on it in the dungeon. I’d lost my maidenhood but had no chance to enjoy or process the change.

I was still a captive in a magical world I scarcely understood and in which I was woefully unskilled—where the queen’s cruelty was far-reaching.

“And knock off all the ‘mistress’ crap,” I added. “I disappear for a few days and you’re back at it. It’s as weird now as it was before. Hasn’t changed.”

“But you are my mistress, Lady Elowyn.”

“How about,I’m your friend. So treat me like one.”

Pru’s face crunched and contorted; she was either moved or eking out a silent fart.

The goblin finished with my hair and began brushing blush onto my cheeks.

I rolled my eyes. “Do I really need this? Wouldn’t it be better if the queen saw me pasty and pale after my imprisonment? It’d probably make her day.”

“Mistress must—” I glowered at her. “Would you rather look weak for the queen?”

I stiffened in answer as Zako’s unique lilting voice filled my memory.In battle, the appearance of strength is as valuable as strength itself. To win, aim to have both.

“No,” I seethed. “I’d rather murder the queen while she sits atop her pretty throne, for all her subjects to see.”

I caught Pru’s eyes widening in alarm through the mirror before she examined the corners of my bedchamber again—though even when spying ears and eyes were present, she didn’t see them.

“Mistress,” Pru hissed before correcting herself. “Lady Elowyn … Elowyn … you must be careful.”

When Pru attempted to brush more of the rosebud pink powder across my cheeks and nose, I pulled away. “That’s enough. Can I go now?”

Pru gulped. “Yes, you’re ready. Just…”

“Just, what?”

“Never mind.”

“You really don’t think I’ll come back, do you?”

“The lords and ladies of the court have placed bets.”

Abruptly, I stood. “On whether or not I … die tonight?” Even though, when compared to Rush and his drake friends, I wasn’t particularly tall, I towered over the goblin in the high heels she’d insisted I wear.

She fidgeted, noticed, and stepped over to the vanity table to return the blush. Dusting invisible lint off the case, she said, “No.Whenyou will die. No one’s given odds that have you surviving more than another month.”

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