Page 6 of Hunted By the Fae Warden

CHAPTER 4

KAIDEN

I strideinto the castle and immediately spot Prince Lucas in the receiving hall. He’s seated at a table on the dias, dining with his most trusted advisors and commanders. My friend, General Dalgaard, is among them, which puts me at ease. Though Prince Lucas is a distant cousin, I can’t claim to know the male very well, but if he objects to my impending departure, I’m certain the general will speak on my behalf.

I must return to Linnshire, my family’s holdings in what remains of the Summer Court, as soon as possible. In the month I’ve been gone, there have been two greshhlin attacks. The dark creatures are growing bold, and I must help stop them. The Kingdom of Trevos has been duly conquered, and I see no reason to linger. I brush aside thoughts of Mira and the pain that sears my chest as I approach the table.

“Lord Kaiden Valloc,” the prince says, “please join us. We were just talking about you.” He snaps his fingers, and a human servant scurries forward with an extra chair.

I glance at General Dalgaard, but his typical stoic expression gives nothing away, and I soon find myself seated at the table as a huge platter of food is set before me.

“Thank you, Prince Lucas,” I say with a slight nod. “You are most generous to include me.” Unease spreads through me as I consider why I was just the topic of conversation. But perhaps they were only discussing my feats of battle during the conflict with Trevos. I slaughtered over two hundred human soldiers during the brief but deadly fight.

General Dalgaard clears his throat. I can’t be certain, but I think I glimpse regret in his eyes, though the uncharacteristic glimmer disappears with a rapid blink. “The prince inquired about your abilities to govern. I informed him that you’ve assisted your father in running Linnshire for hundreds of years.”

A sinking feeling comes over me, though I strive to keep my expression as neutral as the general’s. “Yes, it is my life’s duty to help govern Linnshire and keep its people safe. In fact, I am eager to return home and resume my duties there.”

“I’m aware that you’re likely impatient to return home, Lord Kaiden,” the prince says as he leans back in his chair while holding a glass of wine. His eyes narrow on me, his gaze not unkind but definitely calculating. “I know about the greshhlins and what pests those creatures can be, but I am confident your father can manage without you for an extended period of time, particularly if I send him reinforcements from my personal guard.”

“The greshhlins are more than just pests. They are malevolent spirits that are difficult to drive back into the mountain caves and even more difficult to destroy. They killed twenty-five of my people last year alone. It takes the skill of several highborn fae to maintain the wards and fight back when the greshhlins attack. In addition to my father and myself, my three uncles assist and we occasionally bring in a highbornfriend or two, but I know my particular warding skills are missed.” I straighten and direct a cutting glance at General Dalgaard. I appreciate that my friend has spoken highly of me in the prince’s presence, but I have a feeling I won’t be happy with the outcome. Especially if it prevents me from returning home soon.

“I will send four of my personal guards to Linnshire, my dear cousin, and I will see that they leave within the hour.” The prince takes a leisurely sip of wine. “All members of my personal guard are highborn and quite powerful, and I have no doubt they will be a great asset to your father. Just as you will be a great asset to me.”

“What is it you would like me to do for you, your majesty?” It’s all I can do to keep the condescension from my voice. Prince Lucas is a full five hundred years younger than me, and though many believe he’s proven himself as a skilled leader and soldier, it galls me that he has the authority to keep me away from Linnshire.

Prince Lucas sets his wine glass aside and leans forward, resting his forearms on the table as he holds my gaze. “The majority of our forces must depart Trevos within the week. Some of our northern settlements have sustained recent attacks from humans and even orcs. We must, of course, retaliate. Blood for blood.”

“And you wish for me to follow the main army, along with the soldiers I brought from Linnshire?” How many more battles must we fight? I cannot help but wonder. Perhaps we’ll be at war for the next few centuries as the magic from our courts continues spreading across the realm, drawing our people away from those courts that have admittedly become too crowded for the tastes of many fae. The priestesses claim we’re on the cusp of a new age, that our magic will soon devour the realm and we’ll rule over allcreatures large and small. But first, the blood of our enemies will soak the ground.

The Summer Court prince stares at me for an unsettlingly long time, and I almost look away when the clouds shift and sunlight pours in the windows, illuminating his golden skin. Not for the first time, I muse that he favors his mother, who was a pure Seelie queen in the Old Lands long before the original two courts fell. Long before the formation of the new courts: Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter.

At last, he answers my question.

“No, I don’t wish for you or your Linnshire soldiers to follow the main army, Lord Kaiden.” The light coming through the window dims, and the prince is once again cast in shadows, though his stark blue eyes gleam with interest as he studies me. Clearly, he’s trying to assess my worth. I hold his gaze unblinkingly, even when his next words send a shockwave through me. “I’ve decided to appoint you as the Warden of Trevos. You will remain in this human kingdom, maintaining law and order. A fourth of your Linnshire soldiers will remain with you, and the rest can return to your family’s holdings with the four highborn reinforcements from my personal guard. I’ll also leave one hundred Summer Court soldiers behind to help keep the citizens of Trevos in check.”

For several long moments, words fail me. I’m staying. Here. In this godsforsaken human city. I suppress the urge to curse.

Mira. How will I keep the distance between us if she’s so close, a constant temptation? Fucking fires, I’m not certain I’ll be able to resist visiting her again. Or watching over her. More than once during the last week, I’ve found myself standing on a high rooftop staring down at her as she went about her day. Thus far, she’s only caught me watching her once. Yesterday, when she met a friend in the street and visited a trading post.

General Dalgaard clears his throat yet again, and I’m certain it’s his foot that impacts my leg under the table. I force a pleased look and incline my head in a fake show of gratitude to the prince. “Thank you, your majesty. I am honored by the appointment.” I want to ask how long—how fucking long—I’ll be stuck in this human city, but I know better than to demand such details of the royal. I’ll be here for as long as it pleases him, and that’s likely the only answer he would provide if I dared to ask.

“The honor is mine,” Prince Lucas replies with a brief smile. “General Dalgaard has spoken very highly of you. We’re fortunate to have such a skilled, highborn soldier in our midst. My dear cousin, I believe you might’ve killed more humans during the battle than all of us at this table combined. The citizens of Trevos will tremble before your might, and I doubt they will attempt to rebel or attack any nearby fae settlements or outposts again.”

“I will do my best, Prince Lucas.” I rise to my feet, leaving the meal untouched. “If you will excuse me, I would like to address my soldiers who are leaving for Linnshire today, and I would also like to write a letter to my father.”

“Of course, of course. Go prepare your soldiers and do what you must. I will leave the details of the governance of Trevos up to you, including the fate of King John. Keep him under a glamoured spell, kill him, torture him, I don’t care. I’m sure you’ll think of the proper way to make an example out of him for ordering the attack on our settlement near Allostus.” The prince’s eyes flash with violence, and I get the message. I must be brutal and creative as I dispense justice.

I depart the castle, eager to leave the prince and his advisors. Though I help—helped—govern my family’s holdings, I never liked the politics of court. Paying false flattery to royals and those who have their ears has never been a strength of mine. As a child, my father stopped letting me visit court after too manyincidents during which I spoke too bluntly to royal children and even adults. A laugh rumbles in my throat as his words return to me now.You must learn the art of properly kissing royal buttocks, son.

“Something funny?” a deep voice calls from behind me.

I pause on the castle steps and turn to find General Dalgaard is following. I spin on my heel and continue on my way, irritation coursing through me in a fiery wave that nearly draws a growl from my chest. Of course, he catches up to me in seconds, the lithe bastard, and jabs an elbow in my ribs.

“Oh, come on, it won’t be that bad, Kaiden,” he says, omitting my title now that we’re alone. “I know you’re worried about your father and your people, but most of your soldiers are returning to Linnshire, and the prince is also sending those highborn guards. Fear not, they’ll likely be able to maintain the wards and fight the greshhlins just as well as you.”

I open my mouth, ready to tell him it’s more complicated than that, on the verge of confessing that I recently discovered my mate is a human living in Trevos, but I quickly bite my tongue. Somehow, telling him about Mira feels wrong. I want to keep her identity a secret from everyone, even my oldest friend. “You know I wanted to return home as soon as possible, Tristan,” I say instead. “I appreciate that the prince is sending reinforcements from his personal guard, but I will still worry for the welfare of Linnshire every hour that I’m away. How long do you think I’ll be stationed here as warden?”

Tristan hesitates to respond and scratches the back of his neck. “It might be years. I am sorry. I truly am. When the prince began questioning me about your character and your skills, I didn’t realize what he had in mind at first. Not that I would’ve painted you as a fool just to keep you from the posting. I wouldn’t dishonor you by speaking falsehoods about you, old friend.”

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