Page 35 of The Fae Girl 1

I raised an eyebrow.That’s really all he had to say?

“They probably don’t do that where she comes from.” Jelric replied.

I shook my head and went to pour myself a drink. No woman spoke to me like that, had ever spoken to me like that. Not even Elynn would have used such a tone when we were arguing.

I smirked just a little, knowing neither Magi could see me. They were both so concerned with her magical ability they didn’t seem to see the furious creature underneath it all.

The girl was definitely insolent and needed to learn some manners.

But I’ll admit a part of me liked it. That she wasn’t the same subservient creature every other woman around us was. That she seemed unafraid to speak her mind. And I’ll admit I was curious to see how she’d respond, how she’d behave in front of my brother. What she would say to Uther when she finally confronted him?

No. I wasn’t going to think like that. That’s what she wanted. What the Fae did.They tricked you. Lulled you in. I wasn’t going to fall for it, not the way everyone else around her clearly was.

“What do I do now?” Marke asked.

I looked to Jelric. With Ghosh dead he could hardly be sent back. King Rette had his own Magi. I doubt he wanted another one cluttering up his hallways.

Jelric frowned as though he were considering something. “Perhaps it best you stay here. At the Santorium.”

Marke gasped. “Join the High King’s Magi?”

Jelric nodded. “I’m sure your skills would fit in well.”

It was hard not to grunt at that. So far the only skills I’d detected from the man was a sanctimonious attitude and a piss poor riding ability.

Marke flushed.

“I’ll see rooms are provided.” Jelric said showing him to the door, no doubt wanting him gone as much as I did.

When he returned he raised an eyebrow at me.

“His skills?” I muttered.

“What else would you have me do? We could hardly let the man go, knowing what he knows.”

“He won’t keep it from the other Magi.” I stated.

“No. But it would be best if they know.”

“And why is that?” I asked.

So they can stick their necks into our business. So they can figure out how much their own power is now threatened?

“We do not want a repeat of the last war Prince Fain. And to ensure that, we need to keep them on our side, keep the Magi loyal to your brother.”

My anger flared but I said nothing. Merely thought it.

That they should be loyal. That my brother had granted them more freedoms, more rights than any other king had. And yet they seemed content to forget that at every opportunity. As though their egos couldn’t stand the fact that they too belonged to the High King. That they too were as much a chattel as the very Fae they hunted like gold.

I finished my cup before leaving.

I know Jelric had sorted out a room, had put some soldiers to guard her but neither choices were ones I would have made. The room was too exposed. The guards were all men. And in my experience, men were easily wooed.

Especially by a pretty face.

I needed to make sure the people watching her would followmyinstructions. That the girl was made to realise that every step she made, every move, was with my permission.

And I knew exactly the soldiers to choose.

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