Page 76 of Fate and Flame
“I don’t care. I don’t belong to anyone.”
“Autus will know where you are though.”
She flickered. She was there one second, gone the next, and then back again.
“Sorry. Just nerves. Autus is coming south no matter what. We all know that. Especially when he finds out about . . . you know who.”
Greeve jerked at her words and she shrugged. I was beginning to think leaving us to sit and wait this long just for the liaison was a military tactic meant to rattle us out of our secrets.Either that or the creepy eyes on the paintings were watching us.
Anything?
For the hundredth time, no. I promise I’ll let you know soon.
I’m bored.
Why is it that when I’m there, I barely see you, and now that I’m away, you suddenly have all this time?
I’m listening to a lecture from Knocky on setting proper schedules.
We should have sent him to the ocean.
No, he’d come back with the hydra as a mate.
I giggled and Gaea shook her head at me. “It’s really creepy when you guys do that thing.”
I couldn’t respond. Wouldn’t give away any information. So instead, I stuck my tongue out at her like the child I was.
The door finally opened and a tall, pudgy fae walked in, shoving his oversized glasses up his tiny nose. We stood as he crossed the room and took a seat on the large chair in front of us. “The meaning of your visit?” A fae we could only assume was Hivan asked, failing to look up from the leather-bound book he was writing in.
“We’ve come to request a private audience with the king.”
“The king isn’t taking private meetings.” He slammed his book shut and tried to walk out.
Greeve was there, blocking his path before he could even register the movement. He crossed his tattooed arms over his muscled chest and stared at the male in the eyes. “King Fenlas has sent us to speak to King Coro. You will either make that happen,” he said, pulling the curved blade from his back, “or I will.”
Instantly Gaea was beside him, and I’d never been so jealous of their magic. Then I remembered mine and the fact I could take the castle down with a single thought and felt slightly better.
“He’s having his meal in his study right n-now. Perhaps after.”
“Now’s a really great time for me.” I crossed the room. “Lead the way.”
He looked at the tip of Greeve’s sword and nodded. They stepped aside, letting him out and he hurried down the hallway. We followed closely as he rounded a corner, scurrying behind several guards blocking us with their lances. He turned his instantly smug face in our direction, and without missing a beat, Gaea grabbed my hand and we were on the other side of the guards as well, looming over Hivan.
The guards rotated, holding their weapons out, and Hivan shook his head, his neck rippling with the effort. “You have to wait here. You can’t come barging in on the king. Give me just a moment.”
“Aw, but we are so very good at barging.” I opened the door and walked in to find Coro sitting at a long, marbled table with two guards behind him.
He looked up, his eyes instantly on Greeve.
“Why are you always the one everyone worries about?” I asked, pulling out a chair at the opposite end of the table. The guards were moving immediately, but Greeve and Gaea were armed and ready. I slid the knife from my wrist, hiding my hands below the table.
“What’s this?” Coro asked, pointing with the half-eaten food left on his gilded fork. He held his other hand up, stopping his guards from coming any closer.
“Sorry, my king.” Hivan bowed to hide his tremble. “They’ve requested a private council quite ardently.”
“I know you.” His eyes narrowed on Gaea. “But what are you doing with him?” He jutted his fork toward Greeve. “And who the fuck are you?”
“Which question did you want answered first?” I asked, sitting back comfortably in the padded chair.
