Page 57 of The Light Falls
A muscle tics in his jaw. “Yes, the fire drake. She told me. Neither of us has a fondness for the Fire Fae. The things we saw that night will live in our memory forever.”
“How did you escape?” I ask, unable to stop thinking about it.
He looks out over the city. “One of the staff showed us a tunnel.” His eyes dart to mine, and he pulls me into his arms. “We hid for a long time because we feared they would come after us. Not once did we tell anyone what happened. Our family still owned our previous home in the Autumn Court, so Allandra and I went there and stayed for a while. Eventually, the money ran out, and we came here to ask Nyssa for our inheritance. Not for the land, of course. Just the money. She gave it to us on the condition we leave her court.”
Placing my hand on his back, I rub up and down. “I’m sorry for the loss of your parents and home. It sounds horrible. How can you bear to return? Why are you going with the delegation?”
“It feels like all this is coming full circle,” he admits, eerily echoing Solandis. “For Faris, too. His brother was killed in the war. His father was killed when he visited Estrella’s father right after the war ended. He suspects the Fire Fae, although Estrella’s family has always denied it.”
Interesting. “What do you think about giving rights to the Lesser Fae?”
He stills. “Something needs to be done or they will continue to rebel.” With a pivot, he faces me. “I want to spend some time with you when I return. Just the two of us.”
My brow furrows. “Talk to Allandra. We’ll see.”
Firm lips nibble on my own, then he groans. “As delightful as this is, I need to finish packing, but I’ll text you when I get back.” Determined purple eyes meet mine, but I don’t respond one way or another.
Leaving him standing on the roof, we make our way out.
When I get to the palace this time, I dismiss the guards. “I’m not leaving for the rest of the evening. Right now, I’m going to see Rivan.”
Kian replaces Ansel and takes a stand in the hallway outside Rivan’s room. When I knock, he opens the door and looks at me in surprise.
I laugh. “I seem to be surprising everybody today. Can we talk?”
As I cross the threshold, I automatically cover the crown on my forehead with another scarf. There’s a sketch pad lying open on the table, and I can see the portrait of a beautiful dark-haired woman smiling over her shoulder.
“Is that Sima?”
He runs a charcoal smudged thumb over her face. “No. It’s my mother. I thought them all gone.” Flipping a page, he shows me his sister, Aeris. His father, Brixton, whose portrait now has an angry slash through it. The last image is obviously a human.
“This is Sima.”
Sparkling eyes, windswept long hair, and a tall, lithe body. She looks gorgeous and happy in this picture.
“She is stunning. They’re all beautiful.” Goddess, I hope I get this right. “You should go. See if they’re alive.”
He rears back. “It’s forbidden. I’m not allowed to seek out my family or any Phoenix.” With a single finger, he flips the sketch pad shut and puts it away. “Ever since Cormal told me my father was involved with the coup, I haven’t been able to think of anything else. It’s driving me mad. I made peace with their absence. Now, it’s all stirred up again.”
“What if I assign you to the delegation as a guard?”
He scrapes his hair back from his face and holds it there. “They’ll know. I know little about the guards here except for their faces. They sure as hell know mine.”
One face in particular pops into my mind. “I’ll send Tiernan with you. As a guard and fire drake, he should be able to blend into both parties. We’ll figure out a way to disguise you with a little glamour.”
Hope flashes in his gold eyes. “Why are you doing this?”
I raise an eyebrow. “We’re friends, remember?”
He studies me. “Will you go somewhere with me?” He strides over to his small balcony and opens his arms.
I don’t even think twice.
“Hold on,” he murmurs, his cheek nuzzling mine.
With a shiver, my hands slide around his neck, and I clasp them together. In a flash, we’re off, but this time, we shoot straight up into the air. Looking down at the palace, I’m surprised to see how tall it is. I really need to explore my new home.
With a sharp turn, we slide between two turrets and set down on a flat section of roof on the highest story. He releases me. The space is full of stuff. A box with art supplies and sketch pads sits in one corner. Binoculars lie next to it. Several pillows and blankets are tucked up under an eave. A flash of water and a box of food is nearby. Tucked between the tall turrets, it’s the perfect hideaway.
