Page 37 of Fae Crown

Forcing my gaze from Rush when I hadn’t even noticed it traveling to him once more, I asked Octavia, “What other ways can we be killed in our sleep?”

Another visible shudder, her eyes burdened. “By the Ethers, far too many. I can’t believe we’re being made to all sleep together. And we can’t have anyone there to protect us! We can’t even talk with anyone outside the competition. Octavio’s probably out of his mind with worry.”

I frowned. “He has every right to be. We’re about as far from safe as we can be until the Nuptialis Probatio is over.”

She blinked at me, her eyelids sluggish. I studied her now half-empty glass. How much had she had already?

“You really just say whatever’s on your mind, don’t you?” she said.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because it’s not what’s done.”

“Why not?”

“Because … it’ll get you killed.”

I snorted. “Seems to me that around here, you don’t need to say a word to have someone try to kill you.”

She lifted her glass and emptied it. Before shecould lower it to her side, the goblin was there again, filling it to the brim.

“You could lie to me, you know,” she said.

“I could. But how would that help a damn thing?”

When the goblin silently extended the pitcher toward me, I shook my head and handed him my glass instead.

“At least maybe I’d be able to forget for a minute that these might be the last days of my life,” she said on a shaky breath. “I feel like I’ve barely lived. I’m not ready to die. The Etherlands are wonderful, I know that, but I’m not through with really living. And I don’t even want to consider leaving Octavio alone for centuries. I don’t think he’d make it without me.”

“Would he die if you did? Is that how it works with twins here?”

Her brow furrowed. “‘Here?’ You mean in the Mirror World? Shouldn’t you know?”

Before I could even begin to attempt to explain how little I felt at home in the Mirror World—only to discover it was my purpose to save it—she went on.

“I didn’t even want to be here. I actually askednotto be part of the Nuptialis Probatio. I have no desire to marry Rush and become the next crown princess. I just want to go home. With Octavio.”

“Let me guess. The queen didn’t care.”

At that, Octavia pursed her lips, her stare darting in all directions. As if sensing her concern, a pair of severed ears and an eyeball that had been occupied with Natania and Malina zoomed closer.

As if I were swatting a pest, I backhanded the closest ear. It tumbled from the air while the other two disembodied spies zipped beyond my reach.

The ear careened toward the floor, where I held my shoe at the ready to crush it, grossness factor be damned. A moment from skimming the floor, it wobbled and flew upward and away.

“What in dragonfire was that about?” Octavia asked, eyes big and once more alert.

“You don’t wanna know,” I muttered grimly.

“You know, I think you’re right. I don’t think I do.” She drank as if she could see the grotesque spies as easily as I.

My sharp movements had drawn the attention of some of the others, and I cast the females a wary look. They were bedecked in enough colorful, opulent splendor to almost make me believe I’d dreamt the eager debauchery of the night before.

But no. And now, one of the strongest, bravest, most selfless men I knew appeared too ashamed to make eye contact with me.

Like the queen, many of these women were villains thinly disguised behind artful makeup and hair, beautiful dresses and jewels.

While meeting as many of their stares as possible, I asked Octavia, “Tell me what you do know about them. There must be ways we can protect ourselves from them while we sleep.”

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