Page 55 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
The Shadow Fae gives a lighthearted chuckle and a shrug before swiveling to me. “Water wraiths, am I right?”
Poor Nimue. It fills me with liquid fire every time Svenn calls me a good girl too. This fae knows the water wraith is shy and vulnerable to praises. It will take months for her to recover from that.
“You used her weakness against her…” I mutter.
“I do mean my gratitude for her help. Ironwick is in the middle of a nasty draught season. With this new water source, grass will grow, bisons and mountain goats will flock this area again,” he says casually, as if discussing the weather with one of his advisors. “Our herd will grow and prosper. Good thing none of the nest is nearby.”
He finally turns to fully look at me. I take in his presence just as he stares at me.
“An elf…” he muses. “Are you an assassin from Tiamat?
I blink, surprised by his question.
That’s right… He doesn’t know I’m the queen of Aelfheim.
“How did you know the prince was going to be here?” he asks again.
I don’t bother answering his questions because nothing really matters right now. I scramble for the piece of a broad wet leaf to fold into a crane.
“Can you please save her?” I gesture towards Coral. My hand trembles as I pass him the tithe. “I’ll bargain with you.”
He cants his head. “Why on earth would I bargain with an elf?”
His rejection makes my heart clench. “Please, I’ll do anything.”
He gives Coral a once over, then turns to me again. “Death is a kindness to her. That wyvern should not have been born yet. The cartilage over her back has not formed as it should. She will never fly. No rider will claim her. She’ll starve and die soon enough.”
My throat tightens to the point of pain.
“No.” I shake my head, holding on to Coral’s limp body stubbornly.
“It’s called natural selection. Even the mother knows her survival is futile,” the Shadow Fae says easily.
I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand.
“Save her,” I beg with all my heart.
He says nothing and merely looks at me. My pulse ticks faster the longer the Shadow Fae stare at me.
“What makes you think I can do that?” he asks.
“You have a castle next to their home…” I mutter faintly. I know I’m grasping at straws but I’m desperate. “You must know something that can help.”
He gives a mirthless laugh. “I’m merely a custodian of this place—”
“Save her…” I urge him again.
I’m met with tense silence. I feel so helpless I want to cry.
“Step aside.” His voice is like a knife’s edge.
I give him as much room and berth as he needs.
“Are you going to use faerie magic?” I ask him. I know they are capable of performing miracles.
“There are no spells known to mortals that can transcend death,” the fae mutters absently.
He flips Coral to lie on her back and places his hand on her chest, giving her chest compression. It’s no different from the one I learn in swim school back in Völundr.
