Page 118 of Royal Captive
“Easy, killer.”
“The barrier. Who came through it? There was a fae queen, who—”
“Woah, relax. A metric shit ton of people came out of that thing, and it was a pain in my ass to vet them all, but I think we’re going to be fine.”
A bit of worry eased from my chest. Yeah, I was pissed at Viana, but I couldn’t argue she was a good leader. She’d get us through this mess. It might be enough to allow me to forgive her.
Maybe.
“No psychotic fae queens?” I whispered, Feyanna’s crazed expression burned into my mind.
“No psychotic fae queens,” Viana confirmed.
I closed my eyes, sighed, then opened them again.
“And Ellis? Is he all right?”
Viana blanched, a lopsided, forced grin on her lips.
“What? What is it?”
Viana set down the cake on the floor, and didn’t spare it another glance. Oh, no. This was serious.
“Ellis is … fine. Technically. I mean …”
What? What the fuck did that mean?
I clutched the blankets in my lap, gathering the fabric into my fingers and squeezing tightly.
“He um … he’s a bit different than the last time I saw him, but he’s fine, physically.” She frowned. “At least, as far as we can tell.”
Swinging my legs over the bed, I breathed in the cool morning air that blew across my cheek.
Wasn’t it winter? The sun was shining, and the air was pleasant.
“I want to see him.”
Viana stood, brushing the crumbs off her lap. “Of course. And if you’re up for it, the uh … refugees could use a look over. If you don’t mind.”
Seemed like an odd request coming from a queen in her own right, but I nodded. If I could, I most definitely would. “Take me to Ellis.”
As we emerged into the brightly lit corridor, I realized it wasn’t the right season. Had time passed differently here than it had in the fae realm?
“Ellis’s palace is being rebuilt, but I’m happy to say most of it is back in working order. Your realm was a mess when you got kidnapped.”
I came to an abrupt halt, jarred. I had nearly forgotten in the upheaval of … well … everything. Viana had been the one to sell us out to Cassus.
“Easy there, killer. I can explain.” Viana paused, giving me a smirk and a once over. “Though it’d be fun to see you try in your current state.”
I took a half-hearted swing at her, but she easily caught my fist with a sound of disgust.
“Let me talk. If you want to fight when you can stand properly, I’d be more than happy to oblige. Sit.” She pushed me down onto a bench in the corridor. I wasn’t that mad about it; my body was tired and fatigued.
Viana paced a few times, then faced me, her hands on her hips. Her black hair was in a tight braid against her scalp as if she were about to go to battle.
And maybe she was.
“Dreams and visions have plagued Ellis his whole life, yes?”
