Page 2 of Long Live the Elf Queen

She mustered up enough strength to smack his hand away. “Don’t,” she snarled.

“You’re going downstairs. Get up, please.” He was too patient, too calm. She didn’t trust his demeanor after he’d knocked her in the head with the hilt of a sword and kicked her in the ribs. The bruises and cut were long gone but the memory lingered.

“You’ve been invited to breakfast.”

Breakfast… Her stomach cramped and her mouth watered at the thought of food of any kind. Potatoes, eggs, fruit. Water. She craved water more than anything. Her tongue felt like sand and her throat, gritty and aching. She blinked, confused. Why would he take her out of this room for breakfast? She rolled onto her side and put the pillow over her head. This was a trick. A trick she wouldn’t fall for. A false kindness or worse, if she was invited to breakfast with the king that meant they wanted to move forward, that they had a plan for her…

“Layala,” he chided, like she was a small child that didn’t want to get up for schooling. “You must be thirsty and hungry. It’s been twenty-eight days.”

“No.”

“Do you want to stay up here forever?”

What a stupid question. As if she’d asked to be here? The sound of sloshing liquid in a container was enough to make her turn back toward Aldrich. His off-white tunic was too crisp, too clean. Even his hands look softer holding a metal canteen. Clearly, he’d taken his time away from Thane and the Ravens to indulge in the luxuries hisfatheroffered.

A drop of water slid down the canteen onto the cot. Her throat burned like sparking dry flint. She reached for it with a shaky arm. The sheer effort it took made her angry. He kept moving it just out of her range. Furious tears stung.Bastard. Bastard. Bastard.She chanted and let her arm fall back to the bed.

“You’re that weak? Can you even sit up?” He wasn’t mocking her, and he sounded genuinely concerned but it must be an act.

It was an effort to pull air into her lungs at this point.

He pushed his arm under her back, forcing her to sit up. She was too tired, too weak to fight him off. “Come on. Have a drink. Please.”

She pressed her back into the stone wall, and he twisted off the top of the canteen. Cold metal touched her lips then water slid over her tongue. She moaned in relief. Nothing ever tasted so good. She drained the entire thing in seconds and then lifted her chin to level Aldrich with a blank stare.

“I’ve convinced my father to allow you to eat. Come downstairs.”

“What’s the point?”

“I’m trying to help you.”

“Why do you care? I’m here because of you. Just let me die.” Shedidn’t care anymore.

His mouth formed a hard line. “You won’t die. You’re an elf, Layala. Your body will go into hibernation for survival, and you’ll sleep. For months—years even.”

She’d felt that soul-deep tiredness in every pump of her heart as it slowed. A few more days might have pulled her into the sleep he spoke of. He slid his arm around her waist and dragged her up. She hooked her elbow behind his neck, and her legs swung with his strides as he carried most of her weight.

Crossing the threshold of the door made her feel oddly fearful. Leaving her prison to go to something unknown… to face the tyrant who kept her here. They descended the curving staircase and her bare feet scraped against the cold stone. Her muscles stung and burned but it felt good to use them for more than a few steps to the window.

“I’m going to warn you now,” Aldrich said once they reached the bottom of the stairs. “There arepeoplehere to see you.”

Why did “people”sound off? “Who? Aldrich, if it’s my aunt—if you ever cared about me even in the smallest amount, get her out of here. Please.” She always thought she was above begging but she would for Aunt Evalyn.

“It’s not her. She was gone when the soldiers got there. It appears someone warned her my father would be coming.”

She glanced over at him. “Someone?” Thane? Was that where he’d been? Had he made sure that her Aunt Evalyn and the rest of her hometown wouldn’t be butchered? The thought brought a small curve to her mouth. That must be why he hadn’t come yet… but then why was his voice in her head beggingherto go to him?

A set of guards with the Palenor weapons sigil on their armored chests moved down the corridor toward them. The clink of their boots bounced off the walls in the otherwise serene space. They wore deep gray battle helmets, pointed at the center—unlike the Ravens’ winged helmets—shin guards that reached past their knees; one carried a long dark wooden staff. The chatter quieted the closer they drew. Their advance slowed and they stared at Layala with pity. Maker, she never wanted anyone to look at her like that. One of them opened his mouth as if he might say something but a low growl from Aldrich was enough to keep them on their way. These guards used to smile at her, now they looked afraid.

“I never found your gnome,” Aldrich said, continuing to half carry her toward their destination. “She might be safe.”

Tif was alright? A bit of the heaviness on her shoulders eased. At least that was something positive.

It was a few minutes before Layala recognized the hall they ended up in. Her room, the Starlight room, next to Thane’s chambers was around the corner. The suits of armor built into the alcoves, and the sprays of fresh wildflowers in silver vases set on stands were more familiar than anywhere else here. A place she would have called hers.

He stopped in front of her mahogany door, tugged the gold handle down, and pushed it open. “Reina and Pearl will be in to bathe and dress you in a couple minutes.”

She pulled out of his grasp and stepped forward, a sudden wave of strength and energy filling her. This room brought her a modicum of comfort in the agony of the last few weeks.

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