Page 80 of A Tale of Treachery

“Is everything all right?” Gabriella’s voice broke through my musings. “You went somewhere else for a second.”

“Yes, sorry. I was just thinking of an old friend.”

I sidestepped the clearing, ignoring the memories that flooded my mind, determined to have a good night. We were free. Aiden was gone, the guards were distracted, and we’d escaped the confines of the palace. Gabriella had never had a chance to step outside of her role, to explore and live. This would be a night to remember for her.

“It’s just around the corner. You’re going to see some things tonight that are outlawed in our kingdom, so keep an open mind.”

“What will I see? Pixies? Fae? Shifters? Witches?” she asked, excitement edging her tone. “You said I could have fairy wine, right?”

I stopped and twisted around, chuckling at her eagerness but wanting to ensure she understood the warning I was about to give. “Hopefully, all of the above, but just do me a favor: make sure you don’t tell anyone who you are. It might upset the wrong person, and the last thing I want is for you to be kidnapped or taken for ransom.”

Gabriella pulled her hood further over her face, but her enthusiastic smile continued to peek out beneath the shadows of the cloth. “You have nothing to worry about. Tonight, I’m not a princess. I’m just a regular person looking for a good time with a friend.”

My lips tilted to one side, an automatic response to her kindness. We barely knew each other, yet she’d put her total faith in me. I wouldn’t let her down and would ensure she had the best night of her life.

A small part of me felt a little guilty for not letting her in on the real reason I wanted to come here: Ryken.

“Follow me.”

Two pookas sat outside the tavern, drinking ale from the trough. When Gabriella went to pet them, I grabbed her arm and steered her toward the entrance, making sure the tricky faeries didn’t have a chance to offer her the wildest ride of her life.

“Not those horses. They aren’t really horses. Those are pookas, mischievous faeries that like to trick drunk and weary travelers into accepting terrifying rides with no end destination. Gods forbid you make a deal with them, and they tell you what your future holds. Nothing good comes from those faeries.”

One of the pookas snorted at my comment, clearly insulted. As we entered the tavern, I threw them a scathing look to make it clear my friend was off-limits.

Not that they cared.

“That’s insane!” Gabriella said, her eyes widening when she saw the interior of the tavern.

I stopped and gave her a chance to take in the gnarled wood walls, magical faery lights scattered along the ceiling, and the smell of maple syrup and honey before leading her to my regular table. We sat in silence for a moment, and her face went slack-jawed, her eyes dancing as she followed creatures she’d never seen before. A cluster of pixies fluttered around the room, catching Gabriella’s eye, and she squealed in delight. While she was distracted, I seized the opportunity to search the tavern for a certain fae male, frowning when I didn’t see him.

A barmaid popped out of nowhere, startling my friend and causing her to nearly fall off her chair. I stifled a laugh and ordered fairy wine for the two of us. When the barmaid disappeared into thin air, Gabriella placed her hands over her mouth like her mind had been blown. “How? How did she just do that?”

“Magic. Most fae can pop in and out of places using an ability called sifting, and I’m pretty sure she’s half fae and half human.” I sighed, remembering my pathetic attempt at sifting with Ryken.

How I wished he were here, sitting at the table across the room with Fin. I missed him, yearned for him, and craved his touch. A feeling of warmth grew in my chest where that strange tether had been, telling me that he was close by. I kept my eyes peeled, knowing that he would come here tonight. Butterflies danced in my belly. I only had to wait.

My face contorted at the thought of how deeply I was betraying him by keeping the crystal a secret. I wouldn’t be able to fully apologize for the other night, not without telling him what I’d discovered. An empty apology wouldn’t fix the rift between us, but it would be a start.

The barmaid suddenly sifted before us, slamming the fairy wine onto the table as Gabriella squawked in surprise. Before I could thank her, she disappeared with a poof, leaving us to our drinks.

“I’ll never get over that.” Gabriella grinned. “I wish I could sift.”

“So do I.” I laughed, knowing full well that my magic was capable of it, even though I clearly wasn’t.

Gabriella lifted her glass in a toast. “To new experiences.”

We clinked glasses. “To new friends.”

“I second that,” she said, lifting the glass to her lips and gulping down a mouthful of the pink liquid. Her eyes widened at the sweet taste, and she guzzled the whole drink down, slamming the empty wineglass on the table.

I held my breath for a minute, hoping the wine didn’t come right back up. When her gaze became unfocused and her attention started to flit about the room, I relaxed.

“You shouldn’t drink fairy wine so quickly. Actually…you should be careful not to drink too much of it, since you’re only human, and you’ve never had it before.”

She tittered and waved her hand at me. “SinceI’monly human? You are, too, and I don’t see you pacing yourself. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ve had years of experience. Promise you’ll take it easy tonight. It’s your first time having it, and we’re in a place where you should be on your guard.”

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