Page 141 of The Fae Girl 1

“What if we get caught?” I asked.

“We have nothing to hide. You’re not escaping. And technically you’re guarded if we’re with you.”

“Prince Fain won’t see it like that.” I said.

“No.” Nela said smirking. “No, he probably won’t.”

Not for the first time I wondered if she enjoyed goading him as much as I did. As she met my gaze, her eyes said it all.

Ihadn’t seen the Prince in weeks. I tried not think about it. About how awkward our next meeting would be.

Would he pretend it hadn’t happened? That he hadn’t kissed me? Maybe that’s what this absence was meant to do. That he intended for us both to act like it was nothing.

But when Nela let it slip that he was gone, that he wasn’t even in Montefore but had been sent away on some errand, I felt my heart leap, as stupid as it was.

As ridiculous as it was too.

Jelric gave up the pretence of being too busy to teach me. And, as our lessons resumed, it felt like life returned to the same monotonous normality I’d gotten used to; mornings spent wielding magic and afternoons spent training with Nela.

Only the occasional venture into the city broke it up. But they were few and far between and soon even their delights waned.

“You look pissed.” Nela said as we walked back from another session of her kicking my arse.

Sure I was grateful that she wasn’t going easy on me, but some days it would be nice if I could win, even if it was just once.

“Not pissed. Just frustrated.” I muttered.

She gave me a look that all but said she sympathised but it was tough.

Around us the walls suddenly shook. I grasped the stone to keep myself from falling.

“Not again.” I murmured.

“We have to get to the Great Hall.” Nela said.

“Why is this happening again?” I cried.

She threw me a look as we began to run. Indi raced behind us but as we turned a corner I felt it. The magic. It was so close.

Too close.

“Alice.” Nela screamed.

But I was already running. Instinct taking over before I even registered my body was moving. I raced down the corridor stopping only as I saw the horrific creature in front of me.

It was black, metallic, like it’s body was plated like a scorpion. It had six legs, brutal looking pincers and wings that seemed to slice through the air. But it’s mouth, it’s mouth was a jangle of razor-sharp teeth and I knew the liquid oozing down wasn’t saliva.

“Fuck.” Nela gasped beside me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“A dybba.”

“That’s what they are?”

She nodded, not taking her eyes off the thing for a second. “We have to move. Now. Before it sees us.”

“I can fight it.”

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