Page 37 of Midnight Star

“I need to see Aerix,” I say, trembling as I take a step back. “Now.”

Aurora catches my arm. “Zoey, wait?—”

“No.” I shake her off, turning to Aethelthryth. “Take me to Aerix’s quarters. Please.”

Technically, I have no say around here. I’m just a human, and even though Aethelthryth is only a servant, she’s still fae. She outranks me. I probably shouldn’t be asking her to do anything for me at all, and I especiallyshouldn’t be demanding her to take me to Aerix’s quarters.

However, she’s also only shown me kindness so far. And I’d like to think it never hurts to ask… but the scene in front of me makes it clear that in the Night Court,anythingcan hurt—and it can hurt hard. But I’ve already asked, so I might as well wait for an answer instead of taking it back.

Aethelthryth studies me for a long moment, her wings shifting uneasily. “Are you sure that’s wise?” she finally says.

“I don’t care if it’s wise.” Relief fills me at the fact that she didn’t say no, and I scramble for my next words, since my thoughts are a storm of shock. “Aerix killed Jake because I scratched him with that stupid rake. This is my fault.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Aurora says firmly, surprising me by jumping into the conversation. “Jake’s actions were his own.”

“And now he’s dead because of them,” I snap. “Because Aerix decided to?—”

I can’t finish the sentence. Because even though I’m purposefully not looking at him, the image of Jake’s slit throat is burned into my mind, along with the knowledge that his blood is filling that fountain right now.

Somehow, through the horror, the blood is one of the worst things here. Because Aerix couldn’t even botherusing it for sustenance. He just left it there. For all of us to see.

No… he left it there as a threat.

Aurora glances back and forth between Aethelthryth and me.

“It might not be a bad idea to take her to him,” she finally says. “So she can learn.”

Aethelthryth lets out a low sigh, her gaze heavy with something between pity and frustration, and turns her focus back to me.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks.

“Yes.” I don’t need a second to think about it. “I want to see him.”

“I can’t promise he’ll want to see you,” she says, and she studies me again, as if she’s sizing me up. “But I’ll take you to him. And if you need anything, remember I’ll be right outside his doors.”

Zoey

The walk toAerix’s quarters is a blur, my heartbeat thundering in my ears, drowning out the sound of my steps against the marble floors.

Aethelthryth doesn’t say a word, and I don’t, either. I can’t. Because every time I open my mouth to speak, I see Jake’s lifeless eyes staring back at me. Then there was Aerix’s note…

He’ll kill anyone who touches me.

The question is—why? Yes, he has an unusual infatuation with me, but this feels extreme. Although, I’m not sure what to think, given that there are likely more secrets and lies woven throughout the Night Court than I could create in my wildest dreams.

No, not dreams.

Nightmares.

Aethelthryth and I are turning the corner into the hallthat leads to Aerix’s quarters when raised voices echo from inside.

“…reckless!” A female voice shouts. “Do you understand what you’ve done?”

“He threatened what belongs to me,” Aerix replies, cold and precise. “He hurt her.”

His door is cracked open, as if whoever’s inside of his room with him entered in such an angry rush that she couldn’t be bothered to close it.

Aethelthryth shoots me a warning look, but I’m already pushing past her, throwing open the door and stepping inside.

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