Page 41 of Fate and Flame
Instantly my hand flew to my empty neck. My mother’s necklace had protected me from detection and now it was gone. I hadn’t even noticed.“I wouldn’t come any closer,” I warned.
“Your beloved king has been poisoned while you were away today. Make a move to alert your mate and he will not be given the antidote. We have spies watching the prince’s room.”
“Who?” I demanded
“That is not important. You will come with me now, silently, or the southern king will be left to die.”
My heart raced. I could alert Fen, but if what she said was true, Tolero would die. I couldn’t rob Fen of the only father he had left. I still had my power, I’d kill an entire ocean of fae for him.
“Now I’m not saying I’m the world’s most intelligent person here, fishy. But”—I gestured between us—“land fae, sea fae? Catch what I’m saying, or do I need toscaleit out for you?”
“It’s your choice. You or the king, Promised One.”
I kicked a hip to the side and rolled my eyes, dramatically. “I will drown in the sea, you twat. Then I’m dead and you kill the king anyway.”
She cackled. “I’d love to witness such a thing, but the queen has ordered your capture. You will remain alive. I have a gift for you. You will wear it to breathe under the water, just as I breathe now.”She held out her hand.
I pictured Fen. He’d been absolutely livid when I raced into the dragon’s pit. This was not the same though. I would save the king and be back by morning.
“How do I know you aren’t lying?” I asked.
“You don’t.” She placed an earring into my hand. “Put it on.”
“Bold of you to assume my ears are pierced.”
“I’ve no time for your mouth. Put it on.”
I jammed the earring into my ear and gasped, drowning in the fresh air. I tried to yank the earring out, but it did not budge. Again, the sea fae laughed as she walked toward the water. I needed water so badly I ran ahead of her and jumped in, sucking it into my body like it was the air above.
She removed her evada pearl and her feet turned into a fin. Mermaid. In a flash, she circled me while I still struggled to adjust. She slammed a pair of familiar handcuffs onto my arms and I believed I nearly died as my magic and my bond with Fen instantly vanished. I panicked as she grabbed my wrist, dragging me deeper and farther out into the foreign ocean.
As we moved, my body became acclimated, followed by my eyesight. I looked down at the cuffs that had nearly ended me and realized the last person I’d seen holding them had committed the ultimate crime. I should have guessed when the sea fae found us in the forest, though I wore my mother’s necklace. I should have guessed the moment the banshee appeared. I should have guessed with every stupid question he’d asked me.
Fucking Lichen had betrayed us all.
Chapter Ten
Temir
Iheld Nadra close to me the entire ride to Briar’s Keep without a single rest. I leaped from the horse when we arrived, helped her down, and we ran, hand in hand, down the stairs and into the compound.
“Rook!” I yelled, turning to Nadra. “Go to the room and pack everything. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can. Stop only to warn your mother.”
She darted away, passing Rook as his wild eyes sought immediate danger.
“Temir, I didn’t think we’d see you again.” He leaned his hand against the wall, willing his breathing to calm.
“No time. The king knows everything. He knows where we are and it won’t be long until his soldiers get here. I’ve come on horseback, but I assume their horses were freed in the fire. They will be marching on foot.”
His eyes bulged as he stumbled back a step. “They saved a good portion of their horses. They’ll probably be here sooner than you think.” He turned to run down the hallway, barking orders as he went and beating on all the doors. “Emergency meeting, go to the hall!”
I rushed to the large meeting room and waited for it to fill with fae.
Rhogan entered, saw me waiting at the front of the room, and rushed to me.“Glad you made it out. We’ve been trying to organize a rescue party. What’s going on?”
“The king knows where we are. He has several names.”
His mouth fell open. “He enchanted you?”
