Page 81 of A Tale of Treachery

“Yes, Mother,” she said with a snort, stumbling slightly over the words. Clearly, the wine was taking effect.

What had I gotten myself into?

I leaned back, sipping my wine, the warm liquid coating my throat with a sweetness that had no comparison.

The tavern was packed tonight, not an empty seat in the house. There was a band playing on the raised platform by the bar, and the pixies fluttered around, sprinkling faerie dust, while a small coven of mages sat along the wall and a group of fae occupied the large table at the center of the room. A few garden gnomes crawled beneath the tables, searching for grubs. Everyone was laughing, dancing, and drinking, having the night of their lives. My usual suspects, Eulalia, Ryken, and Fin, were the only ones missing.

They’d left me in the dust without looking back. Disowned me to have a life and adventures of their own. Maybe I deserved it. Each of them had left because of my choices, my actions. They’d escaped from the black hole that was me.

Gabriella moved her shoulders to the band’s music, and I wondered if she would be my next unsuspecting victim. The thought was sobering.

“They’re all so attractive,” Gabriella said. Mouth watering, she stared at the group of fae sitting at the center table. The door opened behind me, and the air shifted. Gabriella’s hungry gaze moved to whomever had walked in, her pupils blown out. “Who is that?”

I turned eagerly, hoping that the newcomer would be a certain someone, but my heart dropped in disappointment upon setting eyes on the male. It wasn’t Ryken, but he was the next best thing—Eulalia’s mate.

Fin glanced around the room before approaching the table of fae, but when he locked eyes with me, he froze and quickly turned for the door.

I stood up. “He’s a friend. I’ll be right back.” I stopped in my tracks. It probably wasn’t a good idea to leave Gabriella, but this might be my only opportunity to track Ryken. “Just don’t drink any more fairy wine and keep your hood up.”

“Yes, my lady!” Gabriella shouted, offering me a sarcastic salute.

I narrowed my eyes at her in warning, knowing it was risky to leave her behind in such an unfamiliar place, but I was losing time. I had to speak with Fin. He was likely here to meet with Ryken, and I couldn’t let him warn him away. I left with a huff, praying that I wouldn’t be returning to trouble, and chased after him.

I threw open the door to the tavern and stepped out into the brisk night, searching for Fin. He’d been in a rush to leave and was obviously avoiding me. I searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Stepping over to the tree line, my search continued, but my only company was myself and the little birds flittering through the night. Defeated, I collapsed against a tree to catch my breath.

He must’ve sifted away.

“He doesn’t want to see you,” a severe voice said, cutting through the quiet night.

Fin stood in the shadows. I moved to him, desperate to have a source connected to Ryken, to explain what had happened.

“I need to speak with him. He needs to know that I only wanted him to get to safety. I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” I explained, inching closer to Fin. A sliver of moonlight illuminated his face, the clenched jaw and stern golden eyes.

“You did hurt him…” Fin trailed off, silence descending between us. “How is my mate? I can’t seem to track her down.”

Neither could I.

“I don’t know,” I admitted reluctantly. “She doesn’t want to see me.”

He laughed scornfully. “That seems to be a common theme with people who get close to you. They all tend to reach a certain point where they never want to see you again. I’m beginning to think it’s you.”

Not so long ago, Fin had liked me, had smiled at me like a friend. However, his opinion of me had changed the night of the trial when he’d seen me fight with his mate. I tried not to take his words personally, reasoning that his opinion had been skewed from that night, but the words stung.

“You know nothing of me, Fin.”

“You’re right,” he said, his tone cold. “And I don’t care to know anything more about you. Stay away from Ryken and stay away from my mate.”

“Fin, wait,” I pleaded, as he moved away. “Just tell me that Ryken is safe, and I’ll leave you alone.”

Fin stopped in his tracks. “He’s safe but occupied. He’s still looking for the crystal and can’t afford any distractions.”

So Rykenwasnearby. I’d been right in thinking he’d planned to come to the tavern tonight, and I opened my mouth to ask Fin his whereabouts.

“Where—” My words dissipated into the air as he vanished, sifting into the shadows.

My shoulders slumped with defeat, and I returned to the tavern, disillusioned but telling myself it was for the best. Now it wouldn’t be necessary to lie to Ryken about the crystal or keep secrets from him. If he knew where the crystal was, if he took back his power, the world would be doomed. It was better to not speak with him, because if I did, I probably couldn’t hide the truth.

The tavern's warm lights and cheerful atmosphere greeted me when I went back inside. But the sight of a drunk princess dancing without abandon, without her cloak, and with all eyes on her slammed into me.

---