Page 16 of A Deception of Courts

I narrowed my eyes, trying to discern details which would help me give them answers. My mind was numb. All I could do was watch helplessly as the creatures speared toward the fey. Angels, that was what Nathanial had said he’d seen. Spoken to. I put it down to a senile mind, but now I wasn’t so sure he was ever misled.

Seraphine was suddenly at my side, peeling from the swell of freed prisoners who waited, audibly panicked, by the display they too witnessed. “Well, looks like we have a change of plan. Robin, we cannot risk the lives of those fey by taking them out of the castle to this, not until we know what we are facing.”

Her words settled over me like cold rain, hissing off the anger boiling across my skin.

“Any insight you can offer?” I asked her, master of knowledge and secrets.

She shook her head, black hair cascading over panicked eyes. “I have no idea.”

I believed her, and that only made this more horrifying.

“What’s our next move, King?” Seraphine asked.

I gasped at the question, not yet sure. “We follow through with making sure we get these fey away from Lockinge.”

“Our only chance of leaving Lockinge is moments from sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Look!” Seraphine pointed outward, turning my attention to something I’d already noticed. One of the Cedarfall ships lifted at an awkward angle as though a monstrous creature dragged it down into the deep. Whatever had caused the ship to sink had torn a mass of wood from its hull, leaving a gaping hole for water to gush into.

As though our attackers waited for our full attention, an explosive bang echoed across the waters. I snapped my head at the sound. A blur of black metal shot across the seas with furious speed. There was nothing I could do but watch as it shattered through the side of another Cedarfall ship.

In the distance, fey soldiers threw themselves into the depths as their ship broke apart in a storm of wood and flame.

“We have to stop this.” My command burst out of me. A violent shiver took over my body as I witnessed bodies disappear beneath waves among the carnage. Our saviours had sailed all the way around the continent on my order. But, once again, I had led them to their deaths.

“Robin,” Althea snapped, ferocity matching that which stormed inside of me. “Those are my people. Our people. I’m with you. We cannot turn our backs on them, letting whatever those are attack them the moment they’re free. We’ve got to do something.”

My jaw ached as I ground my teeth together. “We will do something. Together.”

A plan formed in my mind. It was rushed. Given the chance, I would have likely discovered multiple problems with it. But I didn’t have a moment to think when unknown creatures bearing the symbol of the Creator attacked us.

Duncan was already looking at me as though he sensed where my thoughts had gone. Deep lines furrowed across his brow as the winds whipped his length of dark hair from his face. The scar on his cheek created a devastating shadow from his eye to his lip, which curled into a sneer.

“Seraphine, keep the fey safe inside the castle until we have dealt with those opposing us,” I said, voice firm as more pieces of the plan slotted together.

“On it,” she said, before running off, spreading that command through the small army of her Asps.

“I know that look,” Duncan said, frown pinching harsher, eyes never leaving me.

“Thosethingsin the sky. I need you to bring them all down.” My command was vague but clear to Duncan. His eyes softened, and cheeks flushed. Then Duncan followed my touch and glanced down at his wrist.

I held it in my hand. My thumb dusted across the thin iron bracelet that reminded me painfully of the one and only item I had been given by my mother.

“Robin. I – I don’t think I can do it.”

My fingers gripped tighter as I urged him to look back up at me. He needed to see the desperation in my eyes so that my plea made its way into his soul.

“You heard Seraphine, those ships are our only chance at leaving. The more we hesitate, the more will sink. We must stop this before any more are destroyed.”

“Fighting Hunters and Kingsmen is one thing, but going against winged warriors is another,” Kayne said, always the first to point out the flaws.

“Enemies,” I reminded. “We planned to face enemies, and that is what clearly waited for us outside. The plan has simply changed.”

“Kayne is right, Robin. There is no saying what we are up against,” Duncan replied, chest heaving with each breath. He fumbled as he spoke. His hesitation poisoned every word that passed between his lips. “It is one thing trying to save the fey, but what if I hurt someone? I can’t control this… power.”

“I need you to try, for me, if not for them.” I gestured to those around us. “Do it because I asked. You asked if I trusted you, and I do, Duncan. For the sake of everything we have put ourselves through these past weeks, please.”

Sorrow creased Duncan’s expression. He closed his eyes for a moment, stilling as though he hardly needed to breathe.

“Tell me you will try.” I couldn’t conceal my creeping panic as I spoke to him.

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