Page 9 of Fae Exile

“Th-there’s a new s-suspect. I was just s-sent to notify you at once. We thought you’d want to know immediately…” But that final statement trailed off, as if the guard were no longer certain of the conclusion.

“A suspect,” the queen repeated with a frown, unimpressed with the guard, the idea of a suspect, or both. Next, as if she realized so many were gauging her reaction, her features tightened into an impression of grief.

I’d long understood it was likely the queen had a hand in every single death that took place at court—save Saturn’s. He’d been her precious boy, her perfect prince.

But ...hadshe had something to do with his sudden death? Was it possible?

Now the picture of the grieving mother, she nodded beatifically at the guard, who still bowed, his thighs quivering visibly through his britches.

“Of course. Of course I’d want to know immediately. My dear boy, snatched away from me in such awful, violent fashion, so long before his time.” Her chin tilted upward in exquisite performance. “I shall persevere in finding his murderer and punish them. They’ll wish they’d never thought to harm the royal family.” She nodded. “Lead the way.”

The queen turned toward the crown princess contenders, who hurried to dip their heads in suitable condolences.

“We’ll resume our activities later, at a more opportune time.” Her voice hardened. “After my Saturn’s vengeance is served.”

As the queen swept away, her retinue—led by Ivar and Braque at the hem of her train—and the ladies dispersed, Octavia stalking quickly over to the perceived safety of her twin.

I finally inhaled deeply. My chest filled with relief, sweet yet short lived, I already knew that. Whatever reprieve I’d just earned, it wouldn’t be nearly long enough.

On legs that had been steadier facing down my opponents in the arena for the Gladius Probatio, I began my walk back to my friends, purposefully ignoring the many fae glancing my way.

Before I even reached them, I caught West’s eye.Thank you, I broadcast silently through them. Whatever spell he’d cast to lay a trail for a new suspect, it was proof that no matter what nonsense spilled from his mouth, he was my brother. The three of them were.

West nodded subtly, then pretended to be immersed in conversation with Hiroshi and Ryder.

How many times would he be able to spare me before I’d be forced to “perform” for the queen?

It was just the beginning of my agreement to save Elowyn. I’d promised the queen a lifetime of performances, of whatever depravity she wanted.

Dread clogged my throat and shortened my breaths.

5.NOT A FAN, NOT AN ENEMY

~ ELOWYN ~

Our crew had walked or ridden for the better part of three days, and yet Finnian estimated we were still at least another full day of travel away from reaching the coast, which would be our final destination for the time being. According again to Finnian and also Roan, setting up camp along the coastline was our best bet at safety—or relative safety anyhow. There, they said, the monsters of the Sorumbra would only be able to sneak up on us ononeexposed side. There were, of course, vicious beasts in the seas below—down beneath what they described as steep, ragged, sharp-as-knives, all-but-unclimbable cliffs—and they thought even those creatures would struggle to scale them to get to us.

Their descriptions required far too many qualifiers for my liking. And the tautness that tensed both their muscles and faces hadn’t relaxed so much as an inch since I’d regained consciousness. If anything, the fae among us only grew jumpier and more nervous the longer we spent within the borders of the Wilds.

Twilight was at least an hour away when Finnian called our group to stop and make camp for the night. Despite my desperation to arrive at the coast so I didn’t have to keep riding so many hours a day, I didn’t complain, didn’t suggest we keeppushing just a little bit farther. During the brightest hours of the day, my skin crawled with the many hidden creatures that kept pace with us, prowling alongside us, just out of sight in the deep shadows cast by the thick foliage surrounding us on all sides.

Something was always watching, always waiting for us to make a wrong move and reveal a weakness it could pounce on.

But in the deep of night? That’s when the bad got worse, so much worse. Had I not been so exhausted from all the energy required for my recovery, I doubted I would have been able to sleep at all. But whenever my head hit the ground, I struggled to keep my eyes open, the deep restoration of sleep sweeping me away from the constant terror that was apparently the way of life in the Sorumbra.

I put all my trust in my companions. They’d risked everything to embark on this hopeless journey with me. I especially trusted Xeno to keep me safe. He was the only one I’d known all my life, who’d always had my back—who’d literally taken an arrow to the heart for that loyalty.

His hand landed on my thigh now, the other soothing along Bolt’s neck. The horses were more skittish than we were, jittery and alert even when they rested. Bolt hadn’t been thrilled that, to boot, a dragonling rode him. Once I’d invited Saffron to sit with me, he’d scarcely left my side. He’d become a constant fixture, a clawed, scaled bundle wrapped in my arms.

“You want help down?” Xeno asked as his blue-green eyes darted across me then around us, ever roving, anticipating attacks.

“No,” I answered right away out of habit, then groaned. “Yes.”

His gaze snapped to me as he chuckled, seeming to interpret my inner conflict perfectly. All my life I’d prepared so as never to be this vulnerable, to need this much help, and yet here I wasrelying on all of them to keep me safe, all while their choice to be here with me placed them in the gravest of danger.

“I think even my hair hurts,” I admitted before immediately regretting it.

Complaining undermines your strength, Zako had told me many times.You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always control your reactions.

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