Page 63 of Fates Fulfilled
A tall human—no, worse,a Halven—blocked his way before he reached Lex. “I don’t think so, buddy.” The Halven had shaggy brown hair and a bulkier build than Fae, and he exhibited what Garrin believed to be a strong energy level for a Halven. Amund would know for certain. But all that mattered was that the Halven stood between Garrin and Lex.
Flames rose from Garrin’s palms, and he was about to teach the Halven a painful lesson when a blond Fae warrior stepped between them.
“Derek,” the blond Fae said. “If I’m not mistaken, this is the Dark Prince. You would do best to give him space.”
Derek eyed Garrin. “Dark Prince, eh? He’s light for a Dark Prince, don’t you think? Though he is rocking black hair, and I don’t think any of you Fae have that in our land. You’re all pretty pasty.”
“Except for me.” A woman with black hair and blue eyes stepped forward. “Hello, Garrin.”
Garrin glanced at Lex. He wouldn’t be reassured until he could speak with her. “Do I know you?” he said to the dark-haired woman. He didn’t trust these people, and after the dungeon, he’d lost his patience.
“We met a long time ago. I am Camille.”
Her face was familiar, but Garrin didn’t have time for this. He shouldered past Derek and reached for Lex’s hand. A ripple of sensation flowed up Garrin’s arm where they touched. He drew Lex close enough to see the gold flecks in her eyes and tucked her into the cradle of his body. He held the back of her head, relishing the sense of relief that washed over him. “Are you okay?”
Lex wrapped her arms around Garrin’s waist. “Em helped me escape before more soldiers came.” She leaned back and looked past him to the others. “These are my friends.”
“Garrin Branimir is no friend of yours.” It was the Fae who’d attempted to block their exit from Earth and forced Garrin and his men to rush into the Land of Ice unprepared. “He kidnapped you!”
“I will have your head,” Garrin growled. “Lex could have died, thanks to your interference.”
“If she had died, it would have been onyourhead, prince!”
“Jas, stop being an ass,” Lex said, and moved out of Garrin’s arms to his side.
“He’s got you brainwashed, Lex. Don’t you see it?” Jas lunged for Garrin, only to be held back by Derek and the blond Fae soldier.
“I’m not an idiot, Jasper. I know what Garrin did and why. Do you?”
Garrin wanted to take Jasper apart piece by piece.
Jasper’s gaze flickered away. “It doesn’t matter why. He’s not to be trusted.”
Lex looked at Garrin, and she squeezed his hand.
His chest loosened. The world could cave in around them, but Lex was safe and by his side. He could manage.
Amund—indifferent to the conversation—stared at Camille. “You are the other portal creator.”
Instead of addressing Amund, Camille was looking at Garrin. “I am.”
“Oookay,” Elena said. “And I thought New Kingdom was bad.” She looked at the blond soldier. “Keen, it seems we had nothing to worry about. The Dark King is more interested in destroying his own people than ours.”
“For now,” Keen said.
“Well, I don’t know about any of you,” Elena said, “but I think we should do as suggested and get out before the king and his men show up.”
Derek must have loosened his hold on Jasper's arm, because he yanked it away, but he didn’t go after Garrin again. “Agreed.”
Elena looked at an older man who was familiar. “We’ll go to the caves you mentioned. Where people are buried.”
The grave caves.Garrin looked down thoughtfully. “It is bitterly cold there. And the graves are haunted.”
“Could be haunted.” The older Fae rubbed his chin. “No one knows for certain.”
“Not haunted,” Camille said, but she didn’t elaborate.
Garrin sighed. “It won’t be the first place my father looks, which gives it merit.”
