Page 32 of Fae Exile

Well?I thought to keep myself from hurrying Ryder aloud.

He traced some complex geometric shapes in the air, pulling on their edges as if they’d crystallized into the physical for him alone, and stretched them farther open. Then he chirped in satisfaction, stalked toward the wall, and slipped his hand right through it.

With his arm disappearing into the wall to the wrist, he looked back at us, grinned, then waved us forward.

Hiroshi and West ran toward him, but I hesitated, considering Gadiel.

Well aware seconds mattered, I crouched down next to the man, and whispered, “We can find the way to get you out.” The cells had no visible locks, so they had to be controlled by spells. None of us were versed in this kind of magic, but for Gadiel we’d figure out a way—or find someone who could. “But she’ll be relentless when she hunts you.”

He frowned, causing his bottom lip to drip blood. “Yeah, I know.”

“Or you can wait till we succeed.”

I met the question in his eyes without flinching.How long will that take?

“Maybe months, maybe years.”

Ryderch-ch-ed me.Hurry.

Gadiel understood the message too. “For now, just don’t forget about me. Come find me when you can?”

“I will.” I drew my backup dagger and, hilt first, slid it between the bars.

Gadiel received it with a shudder that racked his chest. “Thank you.” His gratitude shook too, even though I believed he realized I was giving it to him not only for his defense, but also so he might have a way out if what faced him down here became unbearable before we could find the way to free him.

For a few moments longer, I studied him, wondering if it was the last time I’d ever see the man who’d had so much to offer the mirror world.

“Till we meet again, Gadiel,” I finally uttered.

“Till then, my friend.” Then, more boldly than anything else he’d said before, he added, “Forever as one in the light.”

“Forever divided in the darkness,” I finished, resting my forehead against the bars in solidarity.

Next I stood, and without a look back, joined my brothers.

We didn’t exchange a word of caution or encouragement as we drew our blades and followed Ryder through the opening the queen never meant us to traverse.

13.THE IMPOSTER QUEEN

~ ELOWYN ~

Since I’d first come to deep in the Sorumbra, the wound to my heart struggling to heal while I clung to life, I’d taken to slumping slightly so as not to pull on the mending scar. The act was subtle, and I didn’t even notice most of the time, but that night, right then, I made a point to stand tall despite the pain that tugged on the ragged flesh that was still red and raw and too fresh. I threw my shoulders back and faced the slithering wall of umbracs.

As dark as the night, they surrounded us, piling up on each other in their attempts to reach us. Their thick cores, somewhat like those of an octopus, jiggled in readiness, while their many arms vibrated and undulated. In an instant, they could lunge for any one of us, to snag on our flesh and tear us apart—or worse, to inject us with their poison so we’d be immobilized while they shredded us into bite-sized pieces that would slide easily into their toothless maws.

Accepting there likely wasn’t anything he could do now to help his pony Rompa-Romp, Roan temporarily abandoned the search for him and the rest of the horses to join Reed in holding off the umbracs. Reed had quickly started a new fire near Dragon Xeno, and both men were waving flaring torches at thecreatures. Between that and my dwindling power, the umbracs hadn’t yet attacked again. Their chittering, for now, was their only assault.

Finnian knelt beside Xeno, assisting in my friend’s healing, while Pru, holding Saffron, stood beside them, observing. I could only hope she’d choose to share some of her goblin secrets to help Xeno, and therefore all of us, get the hell out of here.

I inhaled, exhaled, then called out, “I’m the daughter of Odelia...”Shit. How had I not thought to first ask for a reminder of her full name and title? “Odelia?—”

“Odelia Catalina Corisande,” Roan offered on a rasp.

Relieved at the assist, I repeated, “I’m the daughter of Odelia Catalina Corisande.”

“The first-born child and rightful heir of King Erasmus,” Roan supplied.

“Who is the first-born child and rightful heir of King Erasmus,” I parroted.

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