Page 61 of When the Wicked Sing
“Who’s the Matriarch?” she asked Dax in a low voice.
The male stepped toward her and looked down at her with the grayest eyes she’d ever seen. They were completely devoid of color.
“She’s someone you never want to disobey. My name is Cyrus.” He held out a sun-kissed hand as though he expected her to shake it. When her glare never left his face, he dropped his hand with a ghost of a smile.
She turned back toward Dax, who seemed torn with indecision.
“Daxon?” She heard Rufus call out from the bar, but instead of answering him, Dax tightened his grip on his weapon like he desperately wanted to use it. But something held him back. Something he wasn’t telling her.
“You know what will happen if you don’t come with me. I have horses ready,” Cyrus said, leaning a hip against thefireplace. With a smirk, he added, “Or we can do it the fun way: tied up and dragged behind. Your choice.”
Dax growled. His brows were low over his rage-filled eyes.
Mariana didn’t understand why he wasn’t acting on that rage.
“Dax?” she whispered. When his gaze slid to hers, she gave him a pleading stare. His jaw tightened. He slowly exhaled before sheathing his weapon.
Her chest tightened at the sound.
“Fine,” Dax relented, “we’ll go with you. But she stays close to me. Let her go.”
Cyrus lifted himself from his lax position. “I don’t think that—”
“Now!” Dax shouted, making her jump.
Cyrus begrudgingly flicked a hand, and the shadowy creature disappeared.
Dax marched over to her and lifted her face to his. “You okay?”
“What are you keeping from me?” she asked softly, and when he averted his gaze, her stomach squeezed.
“This is all very touching, but we need to get moving.” Cyrus gestured for them to follow. Dax took Mariana’s hand and apologetically pulled her toward the door leading outside.
Rufus lifted an eyebrow at Dax, who just tipped his head toward him and placed the cellar key on the bar.
They left the inn and approached two horses secured to a post.
“We’ll follow you. She rides with me,” Dax stated, his mouth set in a firm line.
Cyrus smirked, glancing between the two of them. “Fine, but don’t be surprised when she stabs you in the back—or in the balls.” He lifted himself onto his horse with ease.
Dax lifted Mariana by the waist and placed her on the horse before climbing to sit behind her. As he settled in, his chest pressed against her back, and his hips fit snugly against her. Mariana struggled to steady her heartbeat. She wasn’t sure if it was from how close he was or that he wouldn’t answer her question on who he was working for.
“What in the burning stars is happening?” Mariana whispered harshly to him as he guided their horse to follow Cyrus.
“Nothing has changed,” he replied quietly against her ear. “You’re still going to the royal family.”
“Then,whois the Matriarch?”
“It’s just a name,” he breathed. “She won’t hurt you.”
The fact that he even needed to say that made her scared. She tried stomping on that fear, telling herself that no matter what, they were on their way to Aurelia, where her sister was imprisoned. She should’ve been elated to know she was getting there faster, and by sunrise, she’d be hugging Astra.
She held onto that hope like a lifeline as they traveled through the dense, dark forest. Having never been on a horse before, she fidgeted and was uncomfortable within the first few hours. Dax kept telling her to calm down and eventually settled a reassuring arm around her stomach. Trapped—she should’ve felt trapped. Instead, she pulled it closer around her. Dax leaned his head against hers, keeping a tight grip on the reins, and held onto her until pale light brightened the sky into a deep violet hue.
Wait—
It wasn’t dawn lighting up the sky. It was the fae palace.
