Page 54 of Wolf Caged
She wanted Kaeleron.
“Ask him.” I shrugged and smiled at her, my prettiest smile. “Because I am fairly sure that paying someone a million gold coins for me counts as buying a female.”
I turned away from her.
“Such a filthy little mutt. Lying about our king. I shall have your head for that.”
“Elanaluvyr,” the petite one hissed in warning and I looked back at the trio to find her holding Elanaluvyr’s arm, stopping her from coming at me.
Elanaluvyr flexed her fingers, her nails like talons as they raked through the air, her eyes dark as midnight and filled with rage and hunger. My wolf side had me turning my front to her again, every instinct I possessed warning me that this femalemeant to attack me with more than words, and all because I had spoken the truth about her precious king.
That precious king appeared in view, crossing the twilight-sun-kissed courtyard, his strides long and hurried as if he was trying to escape the males and females who stood as he approached and said things to him, all of them fawning over him.
Elanaluvyr was quick to scurry over to him, her two companions rushing on her heels.
Kaeleron’s expression remained as cold as stone as she greeted him. He didn’t even slow.
“Poor Elanaluvyr. How she longs for my brother.” That gentle and familiar female voice had me spinning on my heel, eyes widening as I came face to face with the beautiful owner of it.
She was tall and striking, her fall of black hair like satin and her silver eyes bright with amusement as she mocked the female who had been threatening me moments ago.
“You shall have to forgive her. She has been chasing his heels for almost a decade now, and I am still not sure whether she wants to claim his heart or is like all the others and simply wants to claim his crown. One is not his to give and the other is something I doubt anyone could claim.”
Which was which? Did he not have the right to give his heart or his crown?
I struggled to recall her name, feeling a little flustered as I realised we were alone. There was no sign of the guards. Had they disappeared when this female had approached me? How much had she heard?
“I am Jenavyr.” She dipped her head in a short bow.
I fumbled a curtsy, unsure what the correct greeting was for the sister of a king. “Saphira.”
Her smile was warm and genuine as she leaned towards me. “Would you like to see a more charming side of this city?”
“Yes.” I couldn’t say that word fast enough, and not only because I wanted to see more of it.
The thought of escaping all the vicious looks and horrible remarks that had left me feeling I needed to watch my back and couldn’t let my guard down had me leaping on the chance. The opportunity to see more of this place was only made all the more appealing by the fact it would be the king’s sister acting as my escort.
“I thought you might say yes.” Jenavyr cast a fond look at the castle and the gardens, and her brief smile made me look over my shoulder in the direction Kaeleron had been heading.
He stood at the edge of the garden, looking right back at her.
At me.
For a crushing moment, I thought he might come and demand I return to my room, but then he dipped his head, and disappeared from view beyond the castle wall, a trail of nobles following him.
“Come then.” She took my arm, draping it over hers, and patted it. “Let us find some peace and quiet away from the court politics and desperate females, and see if perhaps we can discover a place that is more…us.”
I blinked at her.More us.
It hit me that she had seen right through me as we walked down the gentle slope towards the imposing castle gatehouse. I looked at the garden behind me, at the highborn coming and going, and that feeling cemented within me.
I didn’t belong here.
These noble fae weren’t my world—my people.
My gaze drifted to the larger area of the town, beyond the black and grey stone walls that had no doubt been constructed in part to separate the highborn from the commoners. Those weremy people. I tracked the cobbled road that snaked through to the town until there was nothing but open, wild land in my sphere of vision. That was my world.
Jenavyr led me towards the main gate, towering over me and making me feel small, drawing glances and elegant bows from the nobles we passed. I looked from them to her, as curious about her as I was about the town I was finally going to see up close.
