Page 53 of Fate and Flame
“Where the fuck is the antidote?” Fen yelled.
He crossed the floor to stand in front of Lichen and the hydra followed behind him, leaning down so that when Lichen looked at my mate, he was also forced to look at her. The rest of us moved closer, showing absolute solidarity as Fen made his demands. Lichen trembled with fear. Not from watching Fen, but from the looming beast above, poised and ready to kill.
“Shall we force him?” the hydra asked, staring down at Lichen.
“It . . . it won’t matter,” he stuttered. “There is no antidote. There is no saving the king.”
“Liar,” Fen snarled, swinging his blade until it pressed into Lichen’s throat.
Say the words and I’ll ask the hydra to step in.
His nostrils flared as he flexed his hands into fists.I don’t need your pet.
His words were fierce and hurtful, though I knew he didn’t mean them to be. He was on the cusp of losing his father. Desperate to save him. Lichen remained silent and, though fear was written across his face, a smile pulled at his lips, and that was all it took to push Fen over the edge. Lichen lost his head in a single move and the hydra instantly devoured his body.
“We need to get back,” Fen said, void of all emotion.
“The sea fae have just lost their queen. Someone has to stay and pick up the pieces,” Wren answered.
I looked at Greeve, but he shook his head. I turned to Kai and drew back. I’d never heard of a land dwelling fae gaining a tail with a charm, but there he was, every inch the sea god with his flowing blond curls and a tail as blue as the night sky, gold flecks shimmering within. “What the fuck, Kai? You even dressed the part.”
He looked down and back to me, shrugging as he examined the sea glass ring on his finger. “I’ve always loved the sea.”
“Will you stay?”
His eyes flashed to stone-faced Fen who dipped his chin. Kai mimicked the gesture in my direction and that was that. “I will for a bit to get things settled, but it won’t be long term.”
I could see the struggle on his features. His clenched jaw and worry as he watched my mate. He didn’t want to leave Fen. I turned to the rest of the sea fae watching us. Some with hatred, some in awe.
“I need a servant named Leora. Has anyone seen her?”
“She’s at the castle still. She’s working with Loti in the kitchens,” Kai answered.
I turned to the hydra. “I will send someone back here to help find peace and decide what to do. In the meantime, you’re in charge. Anyone so much as whispers about killing someone else or joining the northern king, eat them.”
She smiled and nodded. Greeve grabbed my arm and whisked me away before I could say another word. The moment I was on land, he was gone again. I easily pulled the earring from my ear and waited for them all until we stood in a group, dripping wet and panting. Fen crushed me into his arms, and I mumbled an apology into his chest.I turned to the others. “I know you’re all really pissed at me right now, but you have to understand. There was a mermaid and she told me if I cooperated, the king would be saved.”
“You should have told me, Ara. You could have alerted me down the bond.” Fire coated his clipped words as his jaw clenched and released, breaths ragged.
“I thought I was helping. I could have killed them all with my magic. I only realized too late that Lichen had turned over the dragon’s cuffs.”
Greeve’s lethal voice was hardly above a whisper as he forced his words out. “I’ve spent the last week watching my brother suffer because of the choice you made. Next time, we do it as a group or not at all, Ara. We’re a team now. I can’t protect you if you don’t let me.” A harsh wind whipped around his feet, the damp sand flying everywhere. “You should have sent a signal. Something.”
“None of you knew there was a traitor here for years, so don’t blame me because I didn’t figure it out. I had a plan and it all went to shit. I think we’re all familiar with that. Wait, it’s only been a week?”
“Yes, and I don’t think my father has much time left. We need to go to him. He’s been asking for you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Temir
The world came crashing back to me as I lay on the floor and began crawling toward Nadra. Something terrible had happened. Unable to save her mother, I refused to lose her also.
“Let me help you.” Rhogan put his hands under my arms and lifted. “What the fuck just happened?”
“You saw it too?”
“The ground shook, Temir.”
