Page 69 of The Fae Girl 1

“Yes.” I said. “If you know what’s best for you, you’ll stay away from all of us.”

“All three brother’s? Even the High King?”

I bristled. My jealousy spiking because as much as Uther owned her, right now I hated the idea. That she was his. That she belonged to him.

“Yes.” I growled.

“Some advice you give.” She spat. “You’re the one who brought me here.”

“Alice.” I growled and she span around facing me down.

“No. You don’t get to call me that. You don’t get to speak my name. You hate me so much. You hate what I am then fine. You call me Fae because that’s all I am in your eyes. All I am to all of you.”

I towered over her, breathing her in. She thought that was the first time I’d spoken her name? Like I hadn’t woken up groaning with it on my lips. Like I hadn’t cursed it as I beat my body into exhaustion.

“If that’s what you want Fae.” I said.

“I want nothing from you.”

She turned marching away from me. Storming down the last of the corridors till she reached her rooms.

Leaving me no choice but to follow behind her, stalking her every step. Not because I wanted to but what choice did I have? No one was guarding her, for all I knew the damned girl would be making a run for it the minute I turned my back.

She slammed the door shut on my face without even looking at me.

I shook my head, snarling into the wood, still smelling that hint of her in the air, before I turned and marched away.

It was only when I turned the corner, only when I got to the stairs, that I realised what I’d seen.

Or rather, what I’d not seen.

There were no guards. None on the doors.

Insufferable arsehole. He thought he could what? Swoop in and save me only to play the villain again? What the hell was his problem?

I kicked my shoes off. My hands fumbled with the pins in my hair. I wanted to be out of this dress, out of this entire outfit.

I didn’t know where Indi or Nela where. I imagined Mira was still lapping up the attention of Ridley, not that I blamed her. But I was looking forward to a few moments of complete silence. A few moments of actual privacy.

Where no one was watching me. No one was assessing me.

I yanked the sleeves down past my shoulders, shimmied the fabric over my hips and screwed the dress up into a ball, tossing it into the bedroom. I wanted a bath. One with bubbles, and steam, and just anything that might be soothing.

I turned the taps on, watching as the water flushed out and adjusted the temperature. If there was one thing I was grateful for in this world, it was the plumbing. No cold baths. No buckets. They even had flushing toilets.

Thank god for small mercies because if I had to piss in a pot like we were in the middle ages I think that would have done me in.

Mira had put a whole range of cosmetics on the side. I sniffed at a couple but they all smelt far more intense than what I wanted.

A hand reached round, grabbing me and I shrieked as a bottle slipped from my grasp and shattered on the floor.

I was pulled against the hard leather of a man behind me and as my fear multiplied all I could think of was what Ghosh had said.

About fucking Fae.

About it being good luck.

I shut my eyes. Pulled my magic.

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