Page 164 of The Fae Girl 1

Nela and Indiwalked with me. I’d vetoed Mira’s option of a dress, more because the high collar of the leathers hid the marks better. But I kept my hair loose, kept it down, hanging over my shoulders.

People stared as we walked past. The messenger walked ahead, like this was the proudest moment of his life. Wherever we were headed it wasn’t to the usual room I seemed to always face the High King in.

As we moved further into the bowels of the building my panic began to rise.

“Where are we headed?” I asked.

“The dungeons.” Indi replied.

My hands clenched into fists. I looked across at Nela but she didn’t look concerned, though she did shake her head slightly.

I could feel the bile rising in my throat.

God this was it wasn’t it. He knew. Somehow Uther had found out what we done. Was he going to punish me now? Collar me even? What had he done to Fain? Had he locked him away, imprisoned him already?

I could feel my body shaking. I could feel my chest restricting as my panic manifested into something uncontrollable.

Ahead a huge iron door stood closed. Guards blocked our way but as we approached they all moved aside.

And the awful thing was pulled open.

Inside was a dark room, lit only by candles. No windows. Along both sides benches were strewn, like viewing platforms. And in the middle was an iron chair, bolted to the floor, with shackles made to keep whatever unfortunate was made to sit there in place. It felt like a place of horror. It felt like a place one would be brought before they were executed.

I shook more. Nela whispered something but I didn’t hear her. My fear was too great to hear anything, to focus on anything.

As the guard all but hauled me inside I realised Nela and Indi were held back. That they weren’t permitted in.

And then he stepped out, stepped away from the mass of men who were obviously waiting for me.

I let out a gasp, staring at him wide eyed.

“It’s okay.” Fain murmured to me, as if he could feel my fear in this moment, as if he could tell what was in my head.

“I thought…”

“No.” He said quietly. “This isn’t about that, about us.”

“Then what…”

“Come here girl.” The High King’s voice rung out and I fell silent.

I looked up at Fain. He didn’t look afraid. He didn’t look like he was concerned about anything but me in this moment.

“Trust me.” He mouthed it and I nodded the tiniest bit back.

I stepped away from him, taking in a long deep breath of air. I needed to be calm. I needed to control myself.

The High King was stood scowling, surrounded by all his Council, all those men that had been there, judging me, leering at me after Rillon….

Stop.

I shouted the word in my head. I had to stop. I was spiralling. And right now I needed to calm.

“Your Highness.” I said bowing. Indi had taught me that. That when dressed as a soldier you could hardly curtsey like you were wearing a ballgown.

Uther inclined his head.

“We have a task for you.” He said running his eyes over me like he was sizing me up.

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