Page 4 of Protected By the Fae King

My smirk faded, and I sat forward. “What doesthatmean?”

“Someone tried to take her by force the other day. I only barely managed to intercede, but this asshole was using dark magic—some kind of spell on her. If I hadn’t been on a date with an enchantress at the time, he might have succeeded in taking her out of the apartment and to gods only know where. I only barely managed to get her free, but it’s like she’s being targeted now. Her secret is out. I can’t hide it anymore, Jace.”

Saint fully shuddered, and anger shot through me.

“Who was he? I’ll have my guards pick him up and throw him in prison. Unless you’d rather him be put to death. Just say the word!”

Oddly, the desire to do even more to the audacious bastard who had dared touch Saint’s little sister sliced through me, but I calmed myself before I could overreact.

Saint gave me a watery smile. “I need you to do more than that for me, Jace,” he said wistfully. I cocked my head to the side as Saint built up the courage to say it. “I’m asking a lot, but…”

“Just ask, Saint.”

“Could you keep Elix here? At the palace under your protection?” he finally revealed. I blinked at the suggestion, the idea blindsiding me slightly. Saint rushed on to plead his case. “That way, we could both vet her suitors together and find her someone worthwhile. Then I won’t have to worry about the assholes that keep seeming to find her.”

Steepling my hands in front of me, I considered his ask carefully. There was certainly more than enough room in the palace to house his little sister, but Elix had been a bratty kid. I hadn’t forgotten some of the stunts she had pulled in her youth, now that the floodgates were opened. Sneaking out of the palace and creating windstorms she couldn’t control just to get out of going to school. Once she had a fire in the woods, practicing gods only knew what with one of the driver’s boys.

I didn’t need that kind of trouble living under my roof.

“She’s all I have, Jace,” Saint murmured, reading my expression. “And she’s not the same kid that she was.”

It was all I really needed to hear, but I did need to be sure.

“Can you assure me she’ll stay in line?” I asked, and Saint nodded vigorously.

“Of course,” he promised, with far too much gusto. “She would be lucky to have this opportunity, and she’s aware of it.”

He looked away when he said this, and I wondered if he had brought it up to her at all. My guess was no.

“If you can promise she won’t be any trouble, I’ll allow it. We’ll find her a suitable husband and keep her out of harm’s way,” I agreed, standing to shake my friend’s hand. The relief on Saint’s face was palpable, and I smiled to myself.

“Thank you, Jace!” he breathed happily. “I don’t know how to repay you for this.”

“You can repay me by coming to visit more often—and not just when you need something from me,” I scolded him teasingly. Saint grinned sheepishly, and I clapped him on the back heartily. “I’m joking. I’m always here to help. You know that, Saint. Have her come right away. In fact, I’m having a party tomorrow. You should both be there.”

He balked slightly. “I’ll be out of town,” he replied. “I’ll be here for the next one.”

I smothered my disappointment and maintained my smile, nodding. “Fine. I look forward to catching up with her again.”

Saint thanked me again, and I walked him to the door, feeling proud of myself. I’d done my good deed for the day, and it wasn’t even dawn yet.

Chapter 2

Elix

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” I barked, crossing my arms over my chest so defiantly, my anger opened the taps in the kitchen faucet to full blast, spraying water everywhere. But my brother didn’t notice anything except the fire in my eyes, his own irises undoubtedly the same shade of fiery green as mine. It was a small miracle I didn’t shoot full sparks at him through my glare.

I hurried to turn off the running water, and Saint held his composure as he continued to eat his breakfast across the scarred wooden table in our apartment like I wasn’t having a meltdown in front of him. He pretended my annoyance wasn’t affecting him, but I could see that I was already getting under his skin, his eyes sneaking toward the wall clock over my head.

“You’re going,” he said again with just as much flatness as he had the first time. “And that’s the end of it.”

“You’ll have to drag me out of here!” I insisted, my voice raising but cracking as it did. “That’s the only way you’re going to get me to go.”

We glowered at one another, neither of us willing to bend on the subject of me leaving home. A thousand thoughts racedthrough my mind, each one faster than the last, my mind whirling before I could catch up with my own headspace.

“If that’s what it takes, Elix,” he agreed, and my heart sank, reading the sincerity of his words. “I will.”

Oh, gods. He really means it. I have to go!

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