Page 79 of Fae Exile

The queen chuckled, a dark, seductive roll that slunk across my skin like billowing smoke. I longed to get away from it even as I held my ground, pretending her news didn’t upset me.

She jerked her head down. “What, did you actually believe I didn’t know? That I’d agree to Rush’s foolish little terms that he’d be willing to kill the girl he claimed to love, so long as he got to do the killing?”

She scoffed. “It’s never wise to underestimate your opponent.” Her stare was fixed on Rush. “Especially when that opponent is me. You should have known better.”

“You knew she wasn’t going to die,” the king asked, too softly, “and you didn’t tell me?”

“I tell you what you need to know. Why burden you with anything else, my love? You know I like to protect you.”

Despite my previous experience watching him fall for her performances, I was sure he wouldn’t this time. No one could be that daft.

But he didn’t say a word to indicate his thoughts one way or the other.

The slapping of running footsteps anticipated the arrival of an out-of-breath Ivar to the double doors of the throne room. He sprinted through them, then slowed his pace to a hurried walk until he reached the throne.

He bowed to her—and only her. “My queen, I was so worried.”

Braque skidded to a wobbly stop at the same doors, so out of breath his chest and large belly heaved. His round face was too red.

More slowly than Ivar, he made his way to the dais, clutching his potions satchel to his waist, tucked beneath the bloated proof he was fond of excess.

When he was halfway to her, she told the two of them, “Elowyn is back from the Sorumbra.”

A vein pulsed in Rush’s neck while I struggled to hide the unease jumping around my insides.

She knew far too much.

After all these weeks in the mirror world, it was painfully obvious I still knew far too little.

I was forced to play a game to which I knew only some of the rules.

“The magic of the trials has activated,” she told them.

Braque reached the dais and bowed. “Does that mean ... everyone will ... be staying at ... the palace?” he panted.

She frowned, presumably at his lack of physical fortitude. “Yes. We’re all stuck here for now. Clean this place up and get things ready.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Ivar said before jauntily stepping over what very much looked like the remains of ... by dragonfire, severed heads, to stand behind her, on the opposite side of the king.

“If you think I’m going to stay here, you’re mad,” I announced, causing Ivar and Braque to draw in offended gasps on her behalf. Even Azariah chirped behind me, but I suspected that was out of concern for me. “You’ll just try to kill me again!”

“No. Regrettably, now that the magic has locked into place, the ... shall we say, loophole I discovered? I can no longer avail myself of it. I’m stuck with you. For now, anyway. You won’t make it beyond the Nuptialis Probatio, of that I’m certain. Your competitors are every bit as vicious as those you met in the arena.”

Rush cleared his throat, seeming to debate something.

“Spit it out, Rush. I don’t have all day. I was a bit busy when the magic pulled me here.”

As if anyone could doubt what she might have been getting up to in lace that barely contained her tits, her nipples pert and straining against the translucent fabric, she leaned farther back and spread her legs, giving Rush a clear shot of bare thighs and a string of black between them.

A growl tore from my throat before I registered it.

She threw her head back and cackled, before yanking her gaze between me and Rush.

She spread her legs wider.

“Perhaps you haven’t completely ruined yourself for me, Rush. Betrayals notwithstanding, you’ll still make a tasty treat.” She looked beyond us. “Your friends too, I suppose.”

She grinned and dragged her teeth across her bottom lip. The blood-hued pigment remained as if she hadn’t touched it. “If life has taught me anything, it’s to make the best out of what it delivers.” She glanced at the king with a frown.

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