Page 52 of A Bargain with the Fae King

“A ball!” a woman screeches in delight.

My head whips to the left, catching sight of two elaborately dressed fae women strolling arm in arm. Even their hair, one brown and one blond, is curled and pinned atop their heads in intricate up-dos, strung through with leaves and flowers. Their high giggles set my nerves on edge.

“And with the Court of Air, can you believe it?” the brunette squeals.

My smile dies. Teeth grind together in my mouth as my vision paints red.

“A ball. That’s what Riven’s been occupied with today?” I can’t mute the venom in my voice or the way it grows shrill. Fingernails bite painfully into my palms as I clench my fists. The beautiful bracelet is forgotten in an instant. “My sister’s out there, and he’s—”

“Hush,” Solona says.

My teeth rattle as I snap them closed, staring daggers at her for her command. Sylvie and Galen scoot closer, Sylvie blocking the women from my view.

“Don’t say another word and come with me.” Solona reaches between them and grabs my fisted hand. She pulls me through the courtyard before I can form the biting retort inching its way to the surface.

A ball. A freaking ball! Anger burns so hot through my veins I might catch on fire. Not like they didn’t just have one, what, two days ago?

My two guards follow as we practically jog from the courtyard, the remnants of lunch forgotten. After two turns and a trot down a short hallway, Solona throws open a door and pulls me inside. Galen closes it behind him, securing us all in a cramped room resembling a large supply closet. A scoff catches in my throat. Even the graceful fae have rooms for storing all the stuff they can’t find a place for. One high window on the far side provides the only light filtering into the dim and dusty space.

I cross my arms as she releases me. What possible explanation can she have for that nonsense in the courtyard? Treating me like a queen one moment and a scolded child the next.

She glances at the door then me. “There are bigger concerns than just your missing sister.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach, followed by a slap to the face. Even Galen winces. I can’t do anything but gape.

“What did Riven tell you last night?” She pins me with her fierce gaze.

My fists clench and unclench as I try to reign in the fury about to spew forth like a volcano.

“The magic is fading because there haven’t been many humans around. He’s grown weak. You all have.”

Not that you’d know it from her grip. My arm still stings.

“Anything else?” she asks.

“My being here helps.” A different sort of fire sparks to life when I consider his words about never having marked a human, but I’m so not bringing that up right now. “Yeah, that was the gist of it.”

“That boy.” Her eyes flare with a golden glow. Sylvie and Galen share a look as Solona shakes her head and the glow fades.

“That’s not true?” I ask.

“Of course it is. We cannot lie, but it’s deeper than that. Our waning magic has made his position weak. He has no heir, Lia. There is no direct line of succession. Some of the nobility are honest and good, but others scheme, hoping to inherit the magic if Riven were to fall. His bravado has been his strength in a time of great weakness, but even that will run out.” Her tone is dire, sharp, as she relates the details of their predicament. “This ball you sneer at is an opportunity for him to solidify his position and could help us improve relations with the Court of the Air. They were our strongest ally once, but relations have been poor at best throughout Riven’s reign.”

I bite my lip, some of my anger dying away. So much is going on that I don’t know about or understand.

Solona lays a hand on my arm. “Riven will do everything he can to find your sister. He is worried for her and did not expect his rescue to fail, but you have to understand how many burdens are on his plate. He is responsible for all of us, and the safety of the Court of the Forest balances on a knife’s edge. Your stay here can change everything for us, help save us all, and we’ll do what we can to repay that favor. But you must be patient.”

It's the third time in fewer days that I’ve heard how dire their situation is, yet all I can think about is May and my need to protect her and get her home safely. A deep, steadying breath fills my lungs as I meet Solona’s stern gaze.

“I understand. I do, and I’ll do whatever I can to help.” I glance at Sylvie and Galen with their equally serious expressions. “For Riven and for all of you.”

Solona’s features soften back to their normal, pleasant expression. The stiff set of her jaw relaxes as her lips turn up into a soft smile. Just as quickly, the tension between us fades into the dark recesses of the room.

“The ball was just announced, but already the people are ripe with excitement.” Her smile brightens further, dark eyes turning wistful. “It’s been sixty years since Riven’s father died and relations between our courts broke down.”

“So long, I had no id—” A chill runs down my spine. I step back as shock radiates through me. My heel catches on a box, and I wobble toward the pile behind me.

“Lia!” Sylvie catches me in her dainty but strong arms before I can tumble backward into the mess of stuff. But my legs won’t support me, and I lean heavily on her.

---