Page 97 of Destined for the Fae King

It was just after dawn when Lysandir woke me, and though I wanted nothing more than to continue lying in bed, preferably snuggled up beside him, the rational part of my brain reminded me that I needed to get back to my room before Fia or someone else noticed my absence.

“You’re not leaving again, are you?” I ask.

“My brother did not say, but I hope not,” Lysandir replies. He told me he slept some, but some might have been five minutes for the sleep-deprived look on his face. “Even if he continues his bloody crusade, I will not go unless he orders me to.”

Which he might, like he did the first time.

Lysandir opens the door and peeks outside. The sky has just started to lighten, leaving much of the world in soft shadow.

“I don’t see anyone,” he says from the threshold.

Good. The last thing we need is someone spotting me leaving his room. I join him at the door, lingering in heavy silence. He takes my hand in his. His thumb rubs across my skin in a soothing promise. We stand like that for a while, just staring at one another, savoring the peace of the moment. The birds are just starting to wake up. A soft breeze ruffles the foliage. Once again, I wish I could hug him. Leaving with only a squeeze of his hand feels wrong after all we’ve shared. So, very quickly, before I can second-guess it, I rise up on my toes and plant a quick peck on his lips.

Color paints his cheeks. He lifts an arm like he might pull me to him but drops it, balling it into a fist. “I’ll see you again soon, Mira.”

The courtyard is just starting to lighten as I slip out of Lysandir’s room and make my way along the cobbled pathway. Dew clings to everything. The crisp air and peaceful aura belie all the horrors of the past week.

At least Lysandir and I were able to steal a precious night together.

Memories of it accompany me down the pathway, distracting my thoughts. It’s not until I’m halfway across the central plaza that I realize I’m not alone.

“You’re up early,” a female voice says.

I half stumble, drawing up short. My blood chills to ice as I look over to find Cora standing a few feet away. She’s wearing a cream-colored sleep shirt and soft-looking long pants, her hair sloppily braided over one shoulder, but she’s far too alert to have just woken up.

“And isn’t your room that way?” She points in the direction I’d been headed, a knowing look on her face.

I turn slowly and give the most casual shrug I can muster. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“So you decided to try a different bed,” she all but spits the last word, stalking toward me. “The king’s perhaps?”

The accusation causes me to flinch.

“I would never,” I reply in an urgent whisper.

“Oh really? Isn’t that the same dress you wore yesterday?” She tsks and gives me a once-over, frowning at what she finds. “Thought you’d gain an advantage over the rest of us by comforting him on his return?”

The tiny part of my head seeing reason screams.She didn’t see you with Lysandir. She doesn’t know.She’d have called me out on it in a minute if she had. She’s guessing. That’s it. My nails cut little half-moons into my palms as I wrestle control of my fury.

“It sounds like that’s what you had in mind,” I reply.

She smirks and tosses her braid over her shoulder. “It’s not a bad idea.”

The thought turns my stomach and not because I have any desire for the king or his crown. The opposite. “You can’t seriously want him. Not after yesterday.”

“Of course I do,” she scoffs. “He’s the king. I have to win this competition and become his queen. There’s no other choice.”

“What do you mean?” I rear back in confusion. No other choice? Of course there are other choices.

“You wouldn’t understand.” She crosses her arms and turns up her nose. “Cloistered girl with a family who loves you.”

“Loves me?” My mother and brothers, yes. And Selena. But my aunt and uncle? I’m not so certain. “I’m not here because they love me. I’m here because my uncle saw an opportunity to better the family name and is happy to use me as a tool to get it.”

“Ugh.” She sighs in exasperation, letting her arms fall wide. “Don’t pretend you don’t want to be here. I saw your little performance before the king that first night. How youdreamedof coming here and becoming his bride.”

My cheeks heat. “I did. That’s true. But even if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had a choice in coming here. My uncle has provided for my family since my father died years ago. If I didn’t come, if I didn’t do everything I could to win the crown, do you think he’d still keep a roof over their heads?”

Maybe he would. Part of me has to believe he wouldn’t be so cruel as to leave them homeless, but I have no doubt they’ll be better off if I make him happy. His love for his brother was unconditional, but the rest of us? It never extended that far.

---