Page 92 of A Court of Sugar and Spice
“I need to change form,” Lir says in his booming, echoing voice. “Are you healed?”
I nod, unsure if someone as huge as him would hear my tiny reply.
He sets me down gingerly. Then his body alters, shifting, rippling in silver waves—forming silver scales. His wings remain the same, but the rest of him morphs into a gigantic silver dragon. And the dragon, too, has a deep scar on its foreleg.
I would be terrified, except the dragon’s green eyes are familiar. I know them—they’ve sparkled ragefully at me during arguments, stared at me with gloomy disdain, burned into mine with a passion beyond anything I dreamed of possessing.
Instead of being terrified, I’m exhilarated.
Because this is the beginning of the end for the forces of the Rat King.
27
I’m not sure how many days have passed since Fin and I woke up in a foul-smelling, ink-black cell. He’s wearing a collar that locks away his magic, and my whip was taken away. His conjured clothes have long since disappeared, so he’s naked, and I’m wearing only my ribbons. But his wounds have healed, and his shredded wings have repaired themselves. I only know this by touch, because there is no light in this place, only darkness.
By now my sister, Lir, and the others must have passed through the Ravine. If they made it through alive, they should reach the Unending Pool soon, if they haven’t already. If the last loyal Seelie fighters can hold off the Rat King’s forces, and if Lir can get into the Pool, his curse will be broken. He’ll reclaim his power, and he’ll be able to drive the Rat King back to his own kingdom.
So many “if’s.” I chew over them endlessly in my head, hope giving way to despair and despair yielding to hope in an endless cycle.
There’s a stinking pit in our cell, intended to be the toilet. I nearly fell into it when we were first put here, as I was exploring the room on my hands and knees, feeling around in the dark. Since then, Fin and I have stayed far from it unless we need to relieve ourselves.
Even after days of imprisonment, his body and breath still smell delightful, but I’m not so lucky. What I wouldn’t give to be able to wash my body and clean my teeth!
Now and then we’re given two cups of oily water and fed a grainy gruel with strange, chewy lumps that I try not to think about. Fin insists I eat some of his share. As a faerie, he can survive on much less food.
“Do you think the Rat King has forgotten about us?” I curl against Fin’s chest, stroking my fingers down his arm.
“Not after you and I decimated his army.”
“Mostly you.”
“You as well, dearest. You made the Rat King respect you enough as a warrior that he put you down here, instead of shutting you in with the other concubines, in one of those Inescapable Cages. I wish I could have seen you fight for me.” He traces the round edge of my ear.
“If we ever get out of here, I’ll paint the scene for you,” I promise. “In fact, I’ll paint the whole story. I have the scenes already planned out, with the colors I’ll use and everything.”
“Of course you do.” He chuckles quietly, a warm affection in the sound.
I find his mouth, molding my lips to his, shifting my body nearer. Sex with him has been the one delight of our confinement. I don’t know why they put us in a cell together, but I’m glad of it.
“The Rat King is going to do something especially awful to us, isn’t he?” I whisper.
“I’m afraid so.”
“I wish I knew when.”
“Would that make things any easier?”
“No.” I wrap one leg over his hip, urging my center closer to the hardness prodding my belly. Fin’s body twitches as I grasp his cock, guiding it into my heat.
“You’re soaked,” he whispers, his hand sliding over my breast.
“I’m always wet for you.”
He hums low in his throat, gliding deeper into me. But a clang down the hall distracts both of us.
“It’s not time for the food yet, is it?” I whisper.
“No.” Fin slides out of me. “I think they’re coming for someone again.”
