Page 33 of Fae Exile

“Who is himself descendant of Prince Borromeo.” After each burst of information, Roan paused for me to echo.

“Who is the son of King Spiro, who created a new world, mirror to that of Faerie.”

Xeno groaned loudly as if Finnian were prodding his injuries, but I didn’t look, focused on speaking the words precisely as Roan did.

“The magic and power of Faerie is meant to run through me,notthe imposter queen Talisa Zafira Tatiana. Put real emphasis on the ‘me,’ lassie,” Roan said, and I did.

In response, the umbracs chittered louder, restless and unsettled, as if they sensed ... something happening, I just wasn’t sure precisely what.

“The magic of the land of Faerie, mirrored in this world…” Roan offered, “…runs through my blood.”

I swallowed. “Runs through my blood.”

“I wish to further connect with the land and its power, to forever feel it as a part of me.”

Did I really want that? I suspected that kind of connection should come with some pertinent warnings. But what choice did I have? Better to have the tie between us constant so I didn’t have to keep doing this while our lives were threatened.

“I wish to further connect with the land and its power ... to forever feel it as a part of me,” I announced.

“If I’m worthy of the honor,” Roan said in that ultra eloquent way he’d revealed for this purpose alone. I repeated it, but then he hesitated.

I turned to face him. He waggled his mouth to either side as he absently waved his torch at our many enemies.

“What is it?” I asked urgently.

“I’m not sure of how to ask, and I’m figurin’ it’s mighty important to get it right.”

“Oh,” I said lamely. If he didn’t know, I surely didn’t either.

“Maybe I can help, Mistress,” Pru offered from behind me.

I yipped and whirled to face her, mouth already parted to admit I’d neither seen nor sensed her approach—so much for the warrior instincts Zako had tried to drill into me—but decided against it. Even though she’d previously admitted to powers that allowed goblins to blend into their surroundings, I didn’t want to contribute to her feeling invisible.

“Yes, please, Pru. What is it?” I asked instead. “Tell me quickly.” How much longer would the land hang on to my incomplete request?

Dragon Xeno grunted again in pain, causing Saffron to whine in solidarity, but Pru kept her dark eyes pinned up on me. “Prince Saturn tried something like this too.”

All three men glanced our way in surprise.

“He chugged a potion and grabbed a crystal he wore around his neck. Then he called on the land, saying he was its rightfulheir like you did, Mistress—only he wasn’t, he just didn’t know it.”

“None of us did,” Roan grumbled.

“Then he said he wanted to do good with the land’s magic. He wanted it to choose him as its steward, that’s what he said.”

“And what happened?” Roan asked her.

Holding my expectant stare, she answered, “He didn’t glow or anything, not like Mistress. But the ground shook a little where he was.”

“And where was he?” Roan asked.

“Out past the gardens, where the queen never goes.”

Roan waved his torch at the restless umbracs, stalked toward the now-roaring fire, where he swapped the burned-down branch for a longer one, then looked toward where Finnian was. The fae was already staring at him.

“Are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” Roan asked him.

“Yes,” Finnian replied. “The queen felt it or found out some other way.”

---