Page 174 of Wolf Caged
He was looking at the rest of his kingdom—to the point where these fae had infiltrated his borders—concern growing in his eyes that drummed within me too.
How much information had they been able to gather in the time they had eluded capture? What kind of things could they have taken back to their king had they escaped? Kaeleron’s spies told him of troop movements and other valuable information, and were likely key when planning an invasion. Could the Shadow Court have come under attack if they had returned to the Silver Court?
I was beginning to doubt any accord between the high kings would stop the courts if they really wanted to go to war. They would find a way.
“What—What happened to them?” I looked up at him, gaze tracing his noble profile as his expression hardened, the black slashes of his eyebrows dipping low and his silver eyes glacial again.
“I was merciful. Their deaths were swift.” He turned to me at last. “They were not innocent, little wolf. They were spies—wolves clothed as bleating lambs. Trained from a young age in espionage, honed for this purpose. Had I let them leave, theywould have reported everything of my kingdom back to their king. I did what I must to protect my people.”
“I know.” But I was only just understanding how these courts worked and what this world was like, and I was only just realising that I didn’t understand what it was like to rule a kingdom, to have the welfare and safety of tens of thousands of people constantly on my mind.
Or the things Kael needed to live with, choices he had to make whose repercussions still echoed through his life now.
I had compared him to an alpha once, but he was so much more than that. His life was so much more difficult and challenging.
Not just the constant meetings, checking on his men, visiting border outposts, ensuring his legions were trained sufficiently, and ensuring thousands of people had all they needed in terms of food and safety. It was the scars even his immortal body couldn’t heal and the wars he had fought in that I had read about in the library. Those were the things that made me realise how different our lives had been.
I had been sheltered. So had my pack, and even Lucas’s pack. None of us had ever really had to fight for our lives, to protect everything, not like Kaeleron had. He wasn’t what I had thought a king would be. There was no waiting in the rear. No. In every account I had read, he had been at the front of the battle, in the thick of it, commanding and watching over his men.
He was a hard, cold bastard at times, but maybe that was for the reason he had said. It was the way he had to be, so everyone survived, so they could live as they did in the city. Safe. Quiet. Without fear of attack. And while they longed for their families, while they secretly resented their king for closing the borders, it was that closing of the borders and warding them with magic at great cost to himself that kept them safe, that meant they didn’t need to fear they would be attacked.
I looked at the city, seeing a flash of what might have happened had those seelie walked free, had they been able to report to their king. Fire. Destruction. Death. Everything good and beautiful rendered to ash.
I couldn’t imagine what it was like to fight for your life and be in a battle. I just couldn’t. My mind refused to conjure how terrifying it would be, the choices people had to make, the sounds and thesmells.
Kaeleron had fought in many, had survived them all, but as I looked at him, as he stood proud beside me, surveying his court—a court that was safe thanks to him—I could see those invisible scars each battle had left on him.
The life of a king was so different to that of an alpha. Kaeleron’s life made them look like pampered princes.
I glanced between him and the city, trying to find a way to break the thickening silence, wanting him to know that nothing had changed between us, that I wasn’t angry or afraid of him, and that while some of the townsfolk might not appreciate the things he did, that I did. He had been right back in the library. He was a very good king. One who was willing to make an enemy of himself to keep his people safe.
“I’m planning to visit the library today to research An’sidwain for you.” I knocked my knuckles against his, trying to get his attention.
The touch only lasted a split-second yet a thrill bolted up my arm at the contact.
That thrill became warmth and light as Kaeleron shifted his hand so our knuckles were in contact again, keeping it against mine as he spoke, as if he needed the connection as much as I did.
“Neve had another vision. An’sidwain lies within the Forgotten Wastes.”
I savoured the contact between us as I lifted my gaze to his face. “The Forgotten Wastes. I saw something in my dreams. Glittering dark grey sand. A plinth of bones. A red crystal. And I was terrified by the sight of it.”
That last part hit me out of nowhere, something I hadn’t recalled until I had replayed my dream.
“Exactly as Neve saw it.” Kaeleron huffed, his mood darkening. “Neve meddles. She should not force her visions upon you.”
“Why does she do it?” I had wanted to ask how, but that question had come out instead. “It’s not the first time she has.”
“She believes it is a way of keeping you here… of encouraging you to do as she needs or has seen.” He glowered at the city.
“She showed me this world… because I was afraid and wanted to go home. She showed me pieces of it, enough to make me want to stay and see it. And now she’s shown me the Forgotten Wastes and An’sidwain… But I don’t know why.”
His lips flattened, the corners turning downwards as shadows restlessly twined around the carved stone spindles of the balustrade. “Because she wishes me to take you with me, and I will not.”
“If I have to go, then I’ll go,” I said. “I’m not afraid.”
He gave me a look that said I might not be afraid, but he was. He didn’t want to take me there, meaning the Forgotten Wastes had to be a dangerous place, and going there might get me killed.
“Tell me where it is anyway, and maybe I can help research a way to get it.” I wouldn’t let him shut me out, wouldn’t be kept in the dark any longer, not when I felt I could be of use to him and could help him.
