Page 10 of Queen of Ever

‘Ethan left because of me.He came back because of you.I’m not sure if I should thank you for that or not.I suppose we’ll see how things play out.’

Before I could ask him anything more, Solas and Lord Bastielle returned, neither of them looking particularly happy and it made me curious what they’d spoken about.Solas offered me a smile, taking my arm once more and linking it through his.‘You two were looking very serious over here,’ he said, arching his brow as he glanced at Niall.

‘Yes, Niall was helping me to understand the court a little better,’ I said, which wasn’t entirely untrue.He’d certainly given me some things to think about.I suddenly felt wary of Solas as the question of his motives came circling back to my mind.Why was he helping me like this?What reasons lay behind his actions?

‘And has that troubled you?’Solas asked, his gaze returning to me.

‘It’s just different to what I’m used to in the Human Realm,’ I answered.

‘Hm, yes.What an ordeal to have to grow up in such a barbaric place,’ Lord Bastielle said.‘But you do hold yourself well, I must say.’

‘Uh, thank you,’ I said uncertainly.I wasn’t entirely sure that was a compliment, and I definitely wasn’t going to correct him on the barbaric thing.The Fae Realm seemed far more barbaric to me, despite the façade of civility.

‘Come, there are a few more people for you to meet,’ Solas said, and I resisted the urge to groan.I’d met so many people already and my feet hurt from these heavy shoes that pinched at my toes.I still couldn’t see Marietta anywhere.

‘Yes, of course,’ I said instead, plastering a smile on my face.‘It was lovely to meet you both.’

Lord Bastielle and his son inclined their heads to me, and I tried to ignore the look of concern on Niall’s face as Solas led me away.‘You have an awfully serious look on your face, rabbit.Did Niall say something to upset you?’

‘Do you think we could take a break?’I asked, after a brief hesitation, the lie I’d been about to utter catching in my throat.‘I’m a little tired.’It was far from a lie, but I was aware it hadn’t answered his question.From the turn of his mouth, he was too, but thankfully he let it go.

‘Yes, of course.Let me get you a drink, I won’t be long.’He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of my fingers before turning towards a table filled with glasses.Guilt twisted my stomach.Despite the fact that I’d never welcomed his flirtations, part of me felt like I was being unfaithful.I drifted towards an open door letting in an evening breeze, wondering if Solas would let me wander in the gardens for a few minutes for some fresh air.The pink mist lapping at my feet smelt overly floral and it was making me want to sneeze.

‘You’re not easy to catch alone,’ a voice said from close behind me, and for some reason I was immediately on edge.I spun around to face someone I’d never seen before.He wore a servant uniform, with chestnut hair hanging in strange, violet eyes with slit pupils.The expression I saw in them unsettled me; there was anger there, and something even worse.Fear.

‘Who are you?What do you want?’I asked, my voice wavering, giving away my alarm as I took a step back.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, and the glint of metal drew my eyes down to his hand, to the blade he held there, fingers curled so tightly that his knuckles turned white.‘It’s nothing personal.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Shh, lower your voice.Can’t be drawing attention to ourselves.Something might happen to the princess if this were to go south for me.But if you’re nice and quiet now, my friends won’t hurt her.’

The princess?Did he mean Marietta?Wherewasshe?‘What have you done to Marietta?’I demanded, anger lighting a spark of the magic under my skin.Magic I had to control.If he’d done something to her...I couldn’t risk her getting hurt.

‘I’ll make this quick,’ he said, almost apologetically.

Time seemed to slow then.He stepped forward.His arm shot out and I didn’t dodge him fast enough as he took a handful of my hair, yanking so hard I thought my scalp would come away from my skull.Someone screamed.I grit my teeth against the pain as he angled his knife.I was never going to see Tarian again.

And then there was a flurry of movement.I was yanked away, tumbled to the floor, landing on someone’s chest.‘Are you crazy?’Niall hissed.

I pushed myself up, my gaze darting around the room.Guards seemed to come from nowhere, descending on my attacker, but he wasn’t my concern.Where was Marietta?And then I saw her, her blond curls bouncing around her as she ran to me, eyes wide with concern.

‘Are you alright?’She knelt next to me, helped me to my feet.‘What happened?’

‘You’re...you’re not hurt?’I looked over at my attacker, held firmly by his arms, blood running from his nose, coating his teeth as he grinned at me.

‘So, you showed yourself,’ Solas said, a triumphant smirk on his face.‘I almost expected it was too obvious, but you took the bait so readily.You’re getting bolder, aren’t you?’

‘Bait?’The word fell from my lips in surprise but no one was listening to me, all eyes were on Solas, and on the man who would dare to attack the ward of the Seelie King in the middle of his own palace.

‘Finding your nest is proving frustrating, but now that I’ve got you, you’ll spill every secret while begging me to end the pain and let you die,’ Solas said.

His monstrous words should have horrified me, would have, if I wasn’t so enraged.I could hear my blood pumping in my ears, feel the magic burning under my skin, now an agitated buzz.Solas gestured his hand, a silent order, and the guards dragged the man away while the courtiers whispered.

‘Imogen, are you hurt?’Solas asked, suddenly in front of me, only inches away.And it all just fell into place.The attention, the way he’d trussed me up in this outrageous dress, the way he’d exhibited me around the party, introducing me to every single guest in a slow parade.Like I was being dangled.

My hand shot out, slapping him hard across the cheek.Gasps echoed around us, but I didn’t care.‘You used me as fucking bait?’I seethed.‘I could have died.’

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