Page 3 of Faerie Hunted

I’d gotten sick a couple of years ago at the Fae Academy for Halflings, in the human realm. That had been abnormal enough.

Getting sick again? In the freaking Fae realm where I was supposed to be my strongest?

Ugh. No.

The walk back to the palace was a long one though, and before I reached the massive courtyard gates, I leaned even more heavily on Noren. I’d held out long enough to keep Coral from seeing me this weakened, but playing pretend cost me in the long run.

It would give her teasing rights for the rest of our lives and fae were notoriously long-lived. Plus, she trusted me to teach her and show her the ropes.

Staying strong counted for extra now.

With Noren keeping me upright, we made our way through the palace gates. Guards stood at strict attention on either side and stared at me as I passed.

Did they still suspect me of being a mass murderer? What a joke.

They probably did. They refused to meet my eyes.

I glared back at them in response. How much longer would I have to keep defending myself against that stupid accusation? Everyone seemed too willing to think the worst of me.

Noren let out a low rumble of warning from the back of his throat. The guards shifted, lifting their attention forward as we walked through without incident.

The castle loomed ahead of us with its spires reaching up in the rich sapphire sky, and although dark clouds remained on the periphery of the forest at the castle’s back, magic seeped through the stone.

Flowers remained unfurled under the prismatic sunlight.

I drew in a deep breath and willed my emotions to calm.

“Just a little bit longer.” I spoke more for my benefit than for Noren’s, although he had the uncanny ability to look as though he actually heard and understood every word I said. “A little bit longer and we’ll be back.”

I refused to think of the castle as home no matter how long I’d lived there.

A smooth male voice cut through my inner chatter. “Tavi? There you are.”

I glanced up and blinked, a familiar golden head of hair swimming into view.

Prince Michael Thornwood cut an imposing figure. He strode across the courtyard with his elbow bent at a ninety degree angle and his mother gliding on air beside him.

Queen Laina.

I suddenly felt as if the ground dropped away underneath me.

Mike waved, a smile spreading across his features, and my heart flipped over in a rough tumble inside my rib cage. Had there ever been a more handsome male created? He was so attractive. And his smile…forme.

I picked up my pace as much as I could, and with only ten feet separating us I felt my skin go hot as a wave of dizziness crashed over me.Oh, god.Please don’t throw up.

I gripped Noren’s fur, locking my knees and greeting them both with an easy and totally faked smile. “Hi.”

Queen Laina was radiant. Her expression remained a picture of grace and beauty, and today she wore her long hair twisted behind her head in an assembly of braids that left small, tight curls fanning her ageless face.

“You look well today,” I told her.

“Thank you, Tavi,” she replied easily. “You as well.”

Mike stared at me and a question formed on his face but the grin remained in place.

I used to be terrified of discovery by the royal family of Faerie. After all, a person like me is not supposed to exist. Fae and shifters were sworn enemies of each other, and to have an offspring produced from the match basically amounted to heresy in the eyes of the monarchy.

Yet Queen Laina knew my secrets. She kept secrets of her own hidden from her husband and the other pure-blooded fae, and I knew if there were anyone out there who would protect me, it was her.

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