Page 33 of A Bargain with the Fae King

Ambrose’s lips quirk up as he scratches at his beard. “She’ll be yours, I think, while you’re here.”

Mine? I stiffen, only to receive another nudge. “O-okay.”

A horse of my own, how odd. I give her another scratch before glancing back over my shoulder. My eyes lock on the vacant space where Riven and his company of men were only moments ago.

“He’ll be fine,” Ambrose says

“I’m not…” But it’s a lie. Iamworried about him.

It was buried so far below my worry for May it hadn’t occurred to me, but I am. He and his men are going after the Unseelie, who he himself called animalistic, to savemysister. For me. If anything were to happen to him, to any of them, it’d be yet another mark on my heart. I sway on my feet.

Ambrose steadies me. “He’ll do all he can to bring your sister back safely too.”

My lips press in a tight line. Ambrose’s optimism can’t wash away my uncertainty, in their safety or May’s. I rub the fabric of my skirt between my fingers, already impatient. This is going to be a long wait, no matter how short it actually is or isn’t.

“Come with me,” Ambrose says. His words are polite enough, but the command in them is obvious. No one argues with the captain of the guard.

The remaining fae are hard at work assembling tents from impossibly small packs. Ambrose leads me to one nearby. It’s massive, elaborate, and dare I say, comfortable looking, with various pillows and such inside. No clue where those came from. The sturdy sides and high ceiling make it look more like a prop from a movie than something my family would use. A dozen people could stand around inside with ease.

“We’re camping?” I balk.

Ambrose shrugs. “Might need to rest before we shift back to Virideria. Stay inside until Riven returns.”

“What—” I protest.

Ambrose cuts me off. “It’ll be safe for you here. We aim to protect our lady.”

Lady. The title rubs against me and kills the retort dangling unspoken in my gaping mouth.

“Rest.” Ambrose claps a firm hand on my shoulder. “He’ll be back soon.”

I don’t have the chance to argue before he retreats, leaving me in the care of two fae who watch the entrance of the tent like I’m some sort of ancient royal too important to be disturbed.

It’d be so easy to sit like a good little human on my feathered pillow and wait until Riven gets back. It’s what they want me to do.

I pace back and forth near the entrance. Sit and wait? Yeah right. It’s only been a few minutes and already my anxiety tingles across my skin like a rash.

One of the fae guards looks through the entrance—again, as if I could have disappeared in a puff of smoke. My sister is out there, in the hands of their enemy, and yet they’re worried about me?

I stalk to the entrance and yank the flap closed. If they’re going to cage me and keep me from helping May, the least they can do is stop staring.

No sooner does it flutter shut than noise outside snares my attention. A loud bird call squawks from the trees opposite of the direction Riven went…I think. The fines hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Fae speak in low tones, moving swiftly toward the sound. The ones outside my tent move a few feet away to speak to another guard.

A sudden stiff gust of air slips through the tent sending goosebumps rising across my skin. If I’m going to leave without being seen, now is the time.

I can do it. I need to do it.

For May.

How could I ever forgive myself if something happened to her while I sat here like a good little human? I couldn’t. And that decides it for me.

I peek out between the tent flaps again. My guards are still distracted. Another loud bird squawk demands their attention. A quick glance around proves this is my opening. My chance.

Riven, I’m sorry.

Chapter 10

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