Page 41 of Brutal Fae King
“Yes,” I reply. “He was… familiarizing me with the kingdom when they jumped the carriage. Well, attacked it, I mean.”
I have to break their intense gazes. My hand curls into a loose fist around my chest.
I’m still seeing my memories, and I can see him… Standing tall over me, chest clad in shining armor, so covered yet revealing at the same time. His eyes, searing hot in intensity as he stares out at the enemies around us. His arm was firm as he pulled me to him protectively. His strong, deep voice bellows in my mind:Touch her and die, vermin!
A shiver passes through me.
Marya scoffs.
“I can’t believe the king would take you out of the castle like that!” she says.
“Yes, you need to be careful,” Dronfil grunts. “Make sure he’s not actually trying to kill you.”
He wouldn’t want to kill me—that’ll destroy the entire kingdom.But I don’t say that. For some reason, what comes out of my mouth is:
“He saved my life! He put myself between me and their swords and…” I shrug. “I didn’t expect him to do that.”
They frown at me.
“I don’t know,” I say quickly. “He’s not fully evil. I-I mean, he has his moments, I suppose.”
They just keep staring at me. I’m confused myself—why am I defending him? After everything he’s done?
I’m not sure…
“Well, he’s not the worst out there,” I counter. “Compared to the followers of Mischevil, at least. I mean, he’s not trying to destroy Faevea, at least.”
I only get blank stares in response.
“You know, Mischevil?” I ask. “The king said the leader or at least a very important member of the group was called Dralis?”
The two I’m talking to are looking at me blankly. Dronfil looks over my shoulder:
“Geiton!”
“What?” another guard replies.
“Have you ever heard of Dralis?” he asks.
The other guard frowned.
“Dralis? I don’t think so.”
A similar conversation is going on all around me—between the guards and the maids alike. After a short while, Marya comes back to me.
“I don’t think anyone knows what you’re talking about,” she says. “Was it only the king who told you all that?”
“Yes?” I say it like a question.
“Do you… think he might have lied?” Marya asks quietly. Pointedly.
“I…”
Could… He could have. It wouldn’t be that unbelievable, would it? If he would do all the terrible things that people said he would, why wouldn’t lying to me also be on the list?
I don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it.
But… why don’t I want to? Why do I want to defend him after everything he’s done?
