Page 119 of Royal Captive
I nodded.
“Well, voices have plagued me. Not to the extent it has been for him, but as we grew up, we realized that what we were hearing and seeing were connected, and likely coming from the same source. Ellis tried to ignore it. I prepared.”
That was why Viana had been the only one unsurprised when the fae had arrived in full glory. She’d been ready.
“I even recognized one voice—Ferar. I focused on him and waited, biding my time. When he was caught after the games, I visited him and Cassus at night. I learned he was a rebel, and Cassus knew it, despite being on the fae king’s court.”
“Ferar’s dead,” I said bluntly.
Viana frowned. “Shame. I liked him. Sweet ass, too. Not as sweet as yours, though.”
I blinked, but she shrugged.
“Anywho, Cassus had seen a few things as well, but different things. Putting our stories together, we figured out that no matter what, you needed to go to the fae realm. So, I agreed to help make it happen, no matter what. He promised to protect you and help you return, even if it meant aiding Ferar and the rebels. Ferar agreed to take the blame for the catastrophe of the Royal Hunt so that Cassus could protect you without suspicion. I agreed to care for any refugees sent our way when it was all over.”
I knew it. I knew Cassus hadn’t protected me in the pleasure house out of the goodness of his heart. An ache opened in my heart realizing Ferar had died for me. He hadn’t even known me.
Feyanna’s anger and hatred now made a horrifying sense. Her lover had chosen a woman he hadn’t even known over her, putting the greater good of his cause above everything else. Pity rose in me, but I shook my head. There was no sense mourning the past. It wouldn’t change anything. “You still betrayed me. You betrayed Ellis.”
Viana crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not sorry. It needed to be done to bring them down, and stabilize the magick.”
Her words made logical sense, but it stung. She hadn’t trusted any of us with this information. Not me. Not Ellis. Part of me understood why, but it still hurt.
“I see you’re upset. I understand. But right now, the refugees need to see you. They view you as their queen, and not me. Rightfully so,” she tacked on at the end, her eyes softening with a look of respect.
I still wanted to smack it off her face.
“And then I’ll take you to see Ellis.” Her tone worried me, instantly pushing my annoyance with her away. I wanted to insist we see Ellis first, but the seriousness in her face made me hesitate.
Together, we slowly made our way downstairs to the large, open foyer of Ellis’s palace. It was surreal to see the same room and dais his family had been slaughtered, but it helped that there were massive changes.
Instead of the banquet tables, the space was now completely open, and filled with people, blankets, and cots. Fae, humans, and everyone in between mingled in the small little paths between cots and blankets.
The moment Viana and I entered, all conversations hushed. Every eye turned on me.
My mouth went dry.
“Like I said, you’re their queen.”
My lips parted, but I continued to stare dumbly.
“Say something,” Viana rumbled at me.
Like what?
I cleared my throat, and started talking. “T-thank you everyone. Welcome to the Northern Realm. I will speak with you later.”
I turned and went out the same side door a servant had tugged me through all those months ago, only to dress me in a dead princess’s gown. That’s when I’d first met Cassus. That’s when I first realized how fucked we all were.
“Nice. Super smooth. Inspiring the utmost confidence.”
I turned and lashed out at Viana, but she’d been expecting it. She deflected my hand and turned it to the side, then swiped my legs out from under me in one motion. I went down hard, or would have, had Viana not grabbed me arm and pulled, stopping me a few inches from meeting the ground.
“Again, more than happy to fight you, when you’re up to it. Save your strength for Ellis. I think you’re gonna need it.”
Ellis. Fuck my problems, I needed to make sure he was ok!
“Where is he?” I asked, but Viana just shook her head and gestured for me to follow her outside.
