Page 96 of The Heart of the Dragon

She laughed, a rough, throaty sound that came out not at all humorous. "And why would I help you?"

"Because when I am king, you will one day need my favor." I had nothing tangible to offer her today, but I could offer her a future favor. "And I will owe you."

"Go home, Magnus. Run back to your uncle and remind him that I am exempt from his games."

"I'm not here on his behalf." I debated whether to tell her about the spell I'd broken. But since I wasn't sure how much I could trust her, I decided against it.

Her eyes narrowed, and she looked between me and Rose. "You are always here on his behalf. What's changed? And who is—?" As the last of the glamour surrounding Rose fell, Corvina gasped. "Good gods! Magnus! Have you lost your mind? Why is there a dark fae in our realm? I thought they were all dead. You ki?—"

"In my defense," Rose interrupted. "I didn't know I was dark fae until a few days ago. I thought I was human."

Corvina turned back to me, her gaze both alarmed and filled with disbelief. "You've got thirty seconds to explain what's going on before I banish her." She raised her hands like she was going to bring down the wrath of her magic on Rose's head.

"Touch her, and I will burn you where you stand. It would do you well to remember who I am. Your magic may have rendered me unable to move, but it has no effect at all on my dragonfire."

She shifted her gaze between me and Rose, looking none too happy about the situation. Fortunately for her, she dropped her arms. But I could tell she was far from satisfied. However, the magic seizing us eased and we were both able to move again. Although it did feel a little like walking through mud.

"Really, Corvina?" I rolled my eyes as I made my way over to Rose and pulled her to my side. I wasn't going to let Corvina anywhere near her if this was how it was going to go.

"Your mate is a dark fae?" Her eyes grew even wider. "Now I'm really curious about what is happening. Let’s go inside and away from watchful eyes. Your uncle has been on the warpath even more than usual lately."

That was enough to rise my hackles, but I followed Corvina into her cottage with Rose in tow.

"Is it really safe for us here?"

"It's not safe for us anywhere until my uncle is taken care of."

Corvina jerked around at my words. "You're serious? I'm almost speechless."

I smirked at her. Corvina had never been speechless in her life and I doubted she would start now. "It would seem that when a fae-born travels through the portal between fae and human, any spells rendered here are broken. I am no longer under his control."

"Wow. I think this calls for a drink." Corvina wandered into her kitchen and pulled a bottle of red wine down from her cupboard along with three glasses.

"We're good," I said before she could pour. "We'll celebrate when this is over. Until then, we both need a clear head and an even clearer picture."

She nodded and continued to pour a single glass of wine. She took two sips and then set it back down. "So that's why you two are here? But that still doesn't explain how you ended up with a dark fae or in the human realm. When did that happen? I saw you only yesterday."

"Actually, he's been gone for months," Rose said quietly.

She choked on her drink. "Nay, that's impossible." She looked between the two of us. "It sounds like the two of you should have gotten your stories straight before you got here."

"Our stories are just fine," Rose seethed and I squeezed her hand in support.

"She's not wrong, Corvina. I accidentally followed Isaac and Kitra through a portal, not realizing the damage it would cause or what would happen. It seems the portal plays fast and loose with time when you cross to the human realm. Or the human realm moves much faster. I haven’t quite figured it out, but it's quite odd."

"You followed the dragon?! I told you no good would come from associating with him. I guess I was right."

"Isaac's a pain in the ass, but he's not that bad. He didn't kill me when I lost all control of my dragon and considering the trouble I caused, that must have taken incredible restraint. And if not for that trip to the human realm and through that portal, would I even know what kind of control my uncle had over me?" She suddenly looked nervous, causing me to narrow my eyes. "You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

"I have been your closest ally since we were children, and my mother worked for your uncle. If I had known for certain he'd messed with your mind, I would have told you."

"I thought you said we could trust her?" Rose whispered. "She sounds about as trustworthy as your uncle."

I squeezed her hand, hoping Rose would trust me.

"Corvina, I hope you mean that, because I need your help to take down your king. I need to get into the castle unseen at a precise time of the day and location. Will you help us?"

Chapter

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