Page 47 of Fate and Flame
“She’s a monster no matter what she looks like.” Her light dimmed as her eyes fell to the sea floor.
“You shouldn’t talk like that,” I said, repeating her earlier words.She giggled and then floated closer to the door.“Are you leaving already?”
“I know it must be terribly boring for you. I’ll be back at dinner time.” She gathered her tray slowly. She wanted to stay, and that was a small win.
I wanted so badly to ask her to help me, but I needed to build a rapport with her first. The room felt a thousand times bigger when she was not there to light it. Leora’s small smile and sweet personality were not what I had expected from a sea fae. But slowly, I began to realize they were just like the rest of us. Living in a flawed world and only trying to survive the reality of their circumstances.
I spent the next several days laughing at her absurd jokes about food, I ate whatever she brought, and it became a game between us. She made it her personal mission to find something from their kitchens that I liked, and I made it mine to brighten her glow each time she left the room.
I still felt the lurking disturbance in the waters, and eventually, I remembered a bit of important information. Something Aibell, who had been irritatingly absent, had said to me.
“Leora, do you think you could get a message to the shore for me?” Her eyes grew wide and her light nearly faded as she sunk to the ground. “Eventually the queen is going to call for me, Leora. I cannot give her what she is going to demand. She wants my power. The only way I’ll be safe is if you help me.”
“If I’m caught, she will kill me and my family,” her small voice whispered.
“But if we make it out, I will free you from her. I’ll make sure she cannot hurt you. You can move to the castle if you want. Be a guest and not a servant.”
“I couldn’t eat your food,” she retorted.
I laughed. “We could figure it out together.”
The glow within her grew as an idea came to her. “I think I can do it. I know someone that could sneak me out.”
“My message is specific, Leora. You’ll have to remember every word.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
“My mate is the prince of the Flame Court. If you can go to the castle and ask for Fenlas, he will come. I promise. He will be scary, but if you say these words to him, he will believe you. Tell him, ‘Ara is trapped in Morwena’s castle. Lichen betrayed everyone and I am wearing the cuffs. Bring the keys.’ Tell him I said to call him Prince Fancy Pants.” She scrunched her face at me. “Just trust me. He’ll know I said it. Oh, one more thing. I need you to get a message to Greeve also. He’ll be somewhere close to Fen. He’s a bit dark, covered in tattoos, and will likely be the first to make a threat.”
She whimpered. “What is it?”
Afraid to say the words out loud, I leaned in and whispered into her ear. She gasped, looked out into the water, and nodded before slipping out the door. I could only hope she could swim far and fast without getting caught. She was cuffed, but I hoped that helped Fen to see she was on our side. I knew Leora would not betray me, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t die trying to help.
Chapter Twelve
Temir
“The soldiers are here,” Nadra whispered, sending a tidal wave of her own worry crashing into my own. We stood inside our room in the rebel compound and listened to the battle outside begin.
“This was foolish. We should have just started running.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered, Tem. They were all on horses, we would have been outnumbered.”
“Rook says there are about three hundred rebels in the compound right now. I won’t be able to save them all.”
“No one expects you to.” She took my hand and pulled me closer to her. “It’s not your job to save the world.”
She was desperate and terrified and, had I any less will power, I might have resigned to stay locked in this room with her. But they needed every edge. Every male. “I will hardly be able to save any of them.”
“What about the magic? The one you used against that guard at the castle. Will that help?”
“That type of magic is incredibly draining. I won’t be able to use it more than a couple of times and then I won’t be able to heal anyone.” A battle cry came from down the hallway and I jerked for the handle.
“Temir,” Nadra whispered, reaching for my arm once more.
“I have to go. I have to do what I can. The minute I leave the room, lock the door, move the chest in front of it, and then the bed. Do you hear me? You have to protect yourself and the flower until I can get us out of here.”
She nodded solemnly.
