Page 144 of The Fae Girl 1

I turned to look, seeing the hundreds of faces watching us, watching me.

But my eyes found his. The Prince.

He was back. He’d returned.

And from the look on his face, he was furious.

I gulped looking away.

She was magnificent. That was the thought that ran through my head as I’d watched her.

She hadn’t looked afraid. She’d looked serene in that moment. She’d looked like a goddess in human form as she’d destroyed that spectral.

But my fists had clenched. My heart had stopped as I watched the thing engulf her. As I watched her disappear entirely.

For one awful moment I’d believed she was gone. That the spectral had killed her. And the pain, the fear, that had wracked through me told me more than I needed to know about myself in that moment.

That it wasn’t just some infatuation. That it wasn’t just a fancy of my head. That it was deeper than that. Far deeper.

Gods I was screwed. Completely and utterly screwed because I’d never be able to have her as I wanted. Never be able to have anything with her. She belonged to my brother. She was his to own. And worse than that, I’d ruined any chance of her even looking my way by my own stupid actions.

By my hateful behaviour.

I was a fool, I realised, a complete and utter fool.

She’d risked her life for us today. Not even hesitated. She’d stepped right out into danger. Just as Uther wanted. Just as everyone around me expected her too. But in that moment I was torn between some unfounded pride and an unimaginable raging fury that she was in danger, that she was at risk, and I was stood, doing nothing to help her.

And now I was here. In Uther’s rooms. Waiting calmly. Pretending that none of it affected me. Pretending that she was nothing to me. That she meant nothing to me.

Uther had poured himself a drink and already knocked it back. Wherever Jelric was, he hadn’t gotten here yet.

The door opened.

They walked in, both bowing but I kept my eyes on her.

She looked at me then looked away. A part of me was grateful she did. I think if I’d held her gaze any longer I might have fallen to my knees, crumbled like some lovesick fool at her feet.

And even now it took all my strength just to stand here. Just to be in her presence.

“Your Highness. Prince Fain.” Nela murmured.

“Drink?” Uther asked.

Nela and Alice shook their heads.

“Suit yourself. I needed one after that display.” Uther said before sitting down and assessing them.

The door burst open. Jelric ran into the room barely giving a bow before he rushed to her.

“How did you do that?” He cried.

“I, I don’t know.” Alice stammered.

“Tell me what magic you used. Explain it.”

“Jelric let the girl go.” I murmured.

Jelric blinked like he suddenly remembered where he was. “I apologise your Highness.” He said and gave another bow to my brother. “But what you saw today…”

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