Page 124 of The Fae Girl 1

I glanced around, making sure no one heard that. They’d have her head for it if they did and I’d be hard pushed to save her. “He’s High King.”

“Yeah, well he can shove it. I’m not being her god damn chastity belt.”

“It’s noted.” I growled. I didn’t want her to be either. As much as I hated the thought of it, the girl had the right to be with who she wanted,ifshe wanted, that is. “But we have to keep her safe.”

“I won’t do it Fain. I don’t care what you say, what orders you give me. She’s busting her arse for us right now. Training all hours of the day. If she wants to go out and have a drink every now and then, I don’t see what the issue is.”

I clenched my fists. Opening my mouth to argue but she was already walking away.

“Discussion is over.” She said loud enough for me to hear.

We didn’t talk about what the Prince had said. Nela didn’t divulge any of it but I could feel her eyes on me after. Watching me. As if she knew something I didn’t.

From the looks she was giving me, if I didn’t know better I’d say she felt sorry for me. But that was ridiculous. What cause did she have to suddenly feel like that?

Mira came back hours after us. We didn’t ask where she went either.

We all knew who’d she’d been with.

Besides she was an adult and she knew what the situation was. It was her decision how she wanted to play it. If she even wanted to see him. And clearly she still did.

Weeks passed. I didn’t see Fain. Not that I was avoiding him but it felt like he was avoiding me. Either that I was being paranoid.

As the High King’s birthday approached I felt myself being more excited for the celebrations than I’d expected. We all needed a break. We all needed something to take our minds off the Ridley situation.

Ribbons were strewn across the streets. Every window seemed to be decorated with banners. The whole castle seemed to come to life.

Even Jelric seemed less uptight. Though he didn’t seem amused when I pointed it out.

A week of celebrations was announced. Feasts for the most part. Feasts I clearly wasn’t invited too. I was all but put in lockdown, as if the High King feared who might see me. As if all the foreign dignitaries and Lesser Kings that were apparently occupying the castle were a threat. I guess the question was did he not trust them or not trust me?

Still, I was grateful he hadn’t gone the other way. Hadn’t decided to parade me about, to show me off to them like some sort of statement of his new power.

No, in this instance it was far better to be a bird locked in a cage, than one made to perform for them all.

The final day Uther held a joust.

Mira hadn’t stopped going on about it for weeks in the run up and we all knew it was because Ridley would be competing.

In his mercy the High King gave me permission to attend on the proviso I was seated in the box next to his. Far from prying eyes, or prying hands more like.

Mira picked a dress, a great fancy thing I’d well imagine the High Queen wearing and that thought made me nervous.

I stood in front of the mirror, seeing the way it clung to me. seeing the way the expensive green embroidered cloth complimented my skin a little too well.

“It goes with your eyes.” Mira said smiling.

I let out a low breath. After months now of wearing leathers being back in a dress felt odd, vulnerable even.

“Wow.” Indi said as she spotted me.

“Is this too much?” I asked. “This is too much.”

“No it’s not.” Indi replied.

“Every other lady will be wearing something like this.” Mira stated. “And you’ll be beside the High King’s box. You have to dress accordingly.”

I pulled a face.

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