Page 27 of Her Warrior Fae

I shook my head.

“It’s me, Nylah. It’s Ellie.”

“Ellie,” I said. The name was foreign on my tongue. I shook my head.

“What do you know?” she asked, her eyes filled with worry.

“I…” I racked my brain, looking for something to anchor myself to. When I found nothing, a new fear gripped me and threatened to choke me.

“Nothing,” I exhaled. I pressed my fingers against my lips. “I remember nothing,” I added in a whisper.

8

DEX

“What’s going on?” I demanded when I got to Nylah’s door and a guard was stationed there. “Leif, what are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Leif said, looking as apologetic as he sounded. “The Queen stationed me here. No one is to go in or out.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Get out of my way.”

Leif didn’t move.

“I’m your general!” I cried out.

“It’s the Queen’s orders,” he replied.

He looked terrified of me. Good. I wanted to knock him for disobeying me, but Ellie was above me, and no matter how scared the guards were of me, the Queen’s orders overrode mine.

Damn!

“Why are you stationed here?” I demanded. What was going on?

“I…don’t know.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You don’t know, or you’re not allowed to tell me?”

Leif looked like he was about to wet himself. I was in a bad mood already. I’d come here to talk to Nylah, to blow off some steam. This only made it worse.

The door opened, and Ellie appeared.

“What’s going on?” I questioned.

Ellie shut the door behind her and glanced at Leif, who stood at attention despite looking nervous.

“Dex, I need you to calm down,” she said. She wore a black dress, and it made her look somber, like she was in mourning. The Queen never wore black.

“Where’s Nylah?” I asked.

“Vanya is with her. She’s resting.”

“Vanya?” My frustration gave way to concern. “Why is she here?” She must have traveled all the way from Palgia to see Nylah.

“Will you walk with me?” Ellie turned away from the door, assuming that I would oblige.

I fell into step beside her. I couldn’t very well ignore her. She was my queen, and I wanted answers. Something was wrong.

“Nyla lost her memory,” Ellie said simply while we walked. She kept her eyes straight away, not looking at me as she talked.

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