Page 19 of Kiss the Filthiest King

"Never mind that. The lords are too drunk and tired to act for now; what do we do at twilight when everyone wakes?"

That seems obvious. "We throw everyone a party and name our fiercest enemy as part of the queen's council."

Loch nods. Caenan groans. Relva grins. "I'd better start planning. And find more wine."

"If it's all the same to you, I'll take my leave for the night then," Valdred says.

I mislike this. Days ago, he had almost as much power as the high queen. He professed, and arguably, proved his devotion, but now, he's acting far too shifty.

"Somewhere better to be?" I ask, fixing him with a stare.

"Yes." He doesn't hesitate. "I have a situation to solve. I'll be back at twilight."

We all watch him leave, and I can't be the only one asking myself if we're going to have to shove a blade through his heart next.

10

WELL, HE DIDN’T QUITE LIE

Rachel

I can't stop brushing her hair with my finger. It's so bright, and soft, and gorgeous. It was red, almost pink when the tall, hot, dangerous-looking dude brought her back, but now it's dark blue, like a night sky before the sun has completely disappeared, or the depths of the ocean.

And then, there's the ears—pointy.

Her other features have changed, somehow hardening, becoming sharper, slightly younger too, but I still recognize my sister, despite those changes. I think I would have recognized her even if she'd been purple- or pink-skinned, like some of the strange creatures I've seen.

She's just…Darina. If anything, she's never been more herself than she seems now, like I'd known all along that she used to wear a disguise.

It makes sense. How many people wondered at the fact that a random child found in the woods ended up looking so much like my parents, like me? This—this is logical, somehow.

Though I certainly didn't expect that she'd be a bloody fairy-tale princess, it's just so much like her that I'd see some humor in it, if I could.

But the memory of those horrors back in my apartment is too close for me to find humor in anything.

The man and his cub, crushing Ben's head like it was nothing, just an egg. It all happened so fast, I don't think it's quite hit yet.

Remembering the real world—my world—I check my phone in my pocket. I still have fifty percent battery. There's no signal bar, predictably. I don't think the fairy people have satellites in orbit around their planet. Still, I can see new texts, received moments after I sentRain that message.

Rain:??

Rain: what the fuck, Rachel! Answer me.

Rain: fucking fairies??

“Yep, fucking fairies,” I murmur in agreement.

She’s likely freaking out back home.

The nasty part of me I can’t—or don’t try to—restrain where Rain is concerned thinkslet her.But that’s unfair. I’d hate to be left in the dark after that.

“We’re not all so bad,” comes a voice, though I didn’t hear anyone approach.

I flinch.

It’s the blond man who they tell me is my sister’s brother. What does that make him to me?

Nothing,I think a little stiffly.

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