Page 146 of The Fae Girl 1

“It will take longer if I don’t.”

Uther scowled. “Fine. Take the time then. The girl is safe here for the moment.”

Jelric bowed and after glancing at my brother I quickly followed him out the door. Stalking his steps until we were past the guards.

“What do the other Magi think?” I asked. “Can they tell she’s different? Can they feel it too?”

Jelric stopped, pulling a face I absolutely did not like. “Perhaps. They would have had to have been close. And to understand how Fae magic differs from ours.”

“How likely is that?”

“There are a few that would know. But I will speak to them. Ensure their silence.” Jelric said.

“No one can know of this. She’s already a target.” I stated.

His body shifted, he looked over his glasses at me. “Or wouldn’t you say ‘a prize’?” He replied.

I stiffened at the word. “What?”

“That’s what you told her isn’t it?”

I took a step back glancing at the guards. “Someone had to.”

“Had to what?” He asked.

“Had to warn her. She deserves to know.”

“No.” He snapped. “She deserves to not be treated like that.”

“Do you think I like it any better than you do?” I snarled.

“He has no right to dictate such things.” Jelric said. “To control such things.”

I gritted my teeth. We both knew he was correct and yet this was Uther we were talking about.

“This conversation is over Prince Fain.” He said before turning and walking away.

All but dismissing me, as if he held the higher rank.

Idon’t know what I expected. I guess I hadn’t been looking for a ‘thank you’ but it felt good to hear him say it. To essentially praise me.

God was I an idiot?

To seek that. To want that. He was my captor. My jailor.

As we walked back to my rooms I wondered how this would change things,ifit would change things. Somehow it felt like I’d only made myself more valuable to him. More of a treasure to keep hold of.

And then there was the Prince. I could feel his eyes on me. But the way he’d looked, the fury when I’d been out in the atrium and then the lingering ones just now.

None of it made sense.Hedidn’t make sense. Maybe he really was the arsehole I first took him for. It certainly felt like it’d be easier to deal with him like that.

As we opened the door, Indi and Mira barrelled into us.

“Calm down.” Nela said. “Anyone would think we’d won this war.”

“After what Alice just did it feels like we have.” Mira said.

I shook my head. One win didn’t mean anything, as much as it pained me to admit it.

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