Page 64 of Fate and Flame
She shook her head. “Someday, I want to come back here. This is where I want to be more than any place in the world, but right now, we have to go south. You know that.”
I nodded.“Thank you for being so understanding and logical.”
“Just don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold around here,” she said, winking at me.
Something about the warmer weather had lightened her spirit, and I could hardly get enough of her these past few days. We’d come so close so many times, but rationally we knew it wouldn’t be safe to stop for frivolous activities. We had to travel quickly, but the moment we were somewhere relatively safe, she was all mine. And she knew it.
“Just ahead,” Alavon called out. We braced ourselves as the carriage pulled to a stop.
I stepped out and Nadra followed, taking my hand as she always did.
“It’s that building there. You’ll want to knock three times, pause a beat and knock twice more. I’ve got to take this piece over to Beften’s place, but I’ll be there shortly,” he said, tapping on the glass gnome he had brought along.
We followed instructions and were met by several rebel guards at the door. They let us in, only because we knew the knock, but eyed us carefully as I asked for Rhogan and the Weaver.
“They’re in the back,” one guard said, stepping closer to me than I liked.
I pulled Nadra behind me, and he smiled carefully as he passed, leading us down the dimly lit hall into a room filled with lesser fae having intimate conversations amongst themselves as they dined and played cards at several tables.
“Thank fuck,” I heard Rhogan say as we entered a large warehouse room. “I can take it from here, Grend,” Rhogan said, clapping me on the back.
“I bet you can,” the guard mumbled and went back to his post.
“Sorry about that,” Rhogan said. “Everyone here’s been on edge lately. The truth serum has revealed a few traitors and we are cleaning house.”
“I suppose we have you to thank for that,” the Weaver said, moving over to us. “It’s been quite helpful.”
“I’m glad to see it finally put to use.”
“We haven’t gotten any of the other flowers to grow yet, but I kept half the seeds, like you asked.”
“Good. The flowers will likely need a bit more time.”
“I think you need to take your serum to the new king. He’s going to need all the help he can get,” the Weaver said.
“New king?”
“King Tolero was killed. Fenlas is soon to be crowned king of the Flame Court. And since they are mostly funding the rebellion and taking in anyone who needs sanctuary, we need to get him some help.”
Nadra and I shared a glance.“Great. Because that’s just where we were headed. And you’re coming with us?” I asked Rhogan.
He flashed his toothy smile at me, and Nadra giggled.
Chapter Seventeen
Ara
This was it. This was the day Fen had to get out of bed and take on a kingdom. I knew his heart was still heavy, the loss of his father so very fresh, but today was more than that. Today, before he left this room, we had to have a very difficult talk, and as I lay wide awake in bed, his naked body curled up with mine, I stared at the ceiling, preparing for the thousand different reactions he might have.
“Fen.” I nudged him.
“Five more minutes,” he grumbled, pulling me into the warmth of his body.
And I would give him those minutes because this day was the single day that would change the rest of his life forever. This was the day the prince of the Flame Court became the king. I could feel all the emotions he was feeling, and our bond became a weight between us as I tried to help him. But there was nothing more I could do for him than what we all were doing. Offering him support as he stepped into his father’s shoes, feeling inadequate and lost the entire time.
The small castle staff had already tried to talk him into taking his parent’s rooms, and not only was that a no, it was a hell no. Officially, Wren, Kai and Greeve moved into the castle and were added to Fen’s new council, but Kai and Leora had gone to the ocean to try to help the sand settle there. I would attend the public meetings but decided to keep my distance from the things they discussed in private. I knew if there was anything Fen wanted to talk to me about, he would. Eventually.
It had been just over a week since his father’s funeral, and his work as interim king had already demanded so much of his time, we were barely seeing each other. If not for our bond, I would have been worried. He still came to bed every night, and somehow, we began to define a new normal.
