Page 84 of Crown of Slumber

Not Tyrone at all.

“I’m sure whatever you need to speak with her about can wait until morning,” Fenn said tersely. “Good night, Your Highness.”

He moved to close the door, but, just like his brother, Tyrone shoved his foot in the way, the wooden door rattling from the forceof his movement. “I am indanger. Do you hear me? Someone is trying to kill me.”

I froze, my eyes going wide. My heart lurched painfully in my chest. What the hell was he talking about?

Tyrone was a full blooded fae, so he couldn’t lie.

But… he could be mistaken. He had to be. Callan had said he was unwell. Paranoid, even.

Fenn cocked his head. The only betrayal of his unease was the firm set of his shoulders, but his voice was perfectly casual as he asked, “What makes you say that?”

“Someone is following me,” Tyrone said in a whisper. “I hear them creeping behind me. All night, I’ve tried to evade them. But with the household staff asleep for the night, and the courtiers, too, I’m—I’m alone now. And I can’t be alone, or I will die. Don’t you understand?”

“So, why did you come to Aurelia’s room?” Fenn’s voice was ice-cold. I knew if I could see his face, his green eyes would flare with intensity, his jaw rigid with determination and fury. This was one of the few moments where, instead of wearing his cavalier prince mask, he was wearing his deadly Night Fae mask. The very room seemed to darken with the authority in his tone. The candles flickered slightly, and I suppressed a shudder.

“Because she is powerful,” Tyrone hissed. “I need her power right now. She’s the strongest fae in this castle. Only she can fight off whoever is stalking me. Please, Fennick.”

I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. Tyrone thought I was powerful? What in the world gave him that idea? I had never shown my power to him before.

“Aurelia hasn’t unlocked her fae magic,” Fenn said innocently. “Why do you think she can protect you? Don’t you have some kind of strong, elemental power at your disposal?”

“Do you want me to set the entire castle ablaze?” Tyrone snarled. “Fire does me no good. All it does it light the path before me, but whoever follows me is able to vanish into the shadows, even when I burn my flame as brightly as it can go.” He groaned, and the door frame creaked as he no doubt leaned on it with his arm. “Our witches have told stories of a princess of the SummerCourt who nearly razed their sisters’ clan to the ground with her magic.”

My blood ran cold, my stomach hollowing as the echoes of screams filled my mind. The faces, contorted with grief and agony. The flames consuming the tents and trees, burning them to nothing but ash.

And people were talking about it. The witch clans were spreading word of a dangerous magic.Mymagic.

Now, the other courts knew about it, too.

I covered my face with my hands, but that couldn’t block out the horrors circling my mind. Enemies waging war on our kingdom, not just for our dragons, but forme.Either to use me as a weapon, or to end me so I wouldn’t be a threat. More screams. More deadly inferno.

Nothing but carnage and destruction and misery.

A sob built up in my throat, and I couldn’t stop a small whimper from escaping.

Fenn stiffened, and Tyrone sucked in a breath. “She’s awake, isn’t she?” the king asked. He pushed forward, but Fenn shoved him backward.

“You are overstepping, Your Highness,” Fenn seethed. “Walk away. Now. Before you make yourself an enemy of the Star Court.”

My throat went dry. Would Fenn really do that? Would he risk a war with his people, all for me?

“Please. I?—”

A loudthunkcut him off, followed by a roar of rage.

“Shit,” Fenn muttered, ducking down low, his sword raised.

I couldn’t hide any longer. I surged forward, but Fenn snatched my arm, dragging me to a crouching position beside him, his arms hovering protectively over me. I glanced around, heart thundering, and found an arrow embedded into the door just a few inches above where Fenn had been standing.

No, not an arrow… A bolt from a crossbow.

“Shit,” Fenn said again

My wide eyes were fixed on the bolt in the door. A steady stream of blood was trickling from it.

“Fenn,” I whispered.

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