Page 72 of The Fae Girl 1

“I haven’t done anything.”

He towered over me. Suddenly the air around us felt electric. Like he was Fae too, like he was capable of wielding magic as much as me.

“Tell me.” I said. “Tell me what you think I’ve done.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Tell me what your nightmares are about.”

I gulped. Shaking my head. “Who told you about them?”

Nela. Nela and Indi. Of course they had. Nothing I’d said, nothing I’d disclosed was a secret was it? It had all been passed on, disseminated, laid bare for them to pick over.

He grabbed my shoulders, grasped them. “What is it that keeps you up at night huh? What is it that you’re hiding?”

I snarled forcing down the way my body heated at our proximity. “I’m hiding nothing.”

“Is that so Fae?” His eyes dipped down, lingering. “You act all innocent but…”

“But what?” I cried. “Do you really think I’d still be here if I could wield magic? Do you really think I wouldn’t have fought back? Wouldn’t have fought you?”

He narrowed his eyes like he didn’t believe me.

“It’s not a trick.” I said. “Whatever it is you think I’ve done, whatever you believe, you’re wrong.”

He stared back at me as if he wanted to say so much and yet he didn’t utter a word.

* * *

Nela and Indiappeared hours later. I knew new guards were on my door. Apparently all the old ones had been killed. Butchered.

I made a mental note to be less resentful of them now that it was clear how much they were putting on the line for me.

How the three Agnai had gotten inside I don’t know. Nela said they were searching the halls, searching all the servants passageways too.

As I sunk against the new, softer, more comfortable couch I realised this place had never felt more like a prison than in this moment.

I picked up the stringlet, absentmindedly playing as I watched the fire begin to dwindle.

It was late. Far too late to still be up.

If the High King was here, if this meeting was imminent it would be in my best interests to get some sleep. To be fully rested.

But I couldn’t switch off.

Maybe it was the adrenaline still pumping through me. Maybe it was the feeling of confusion at the fact my magic hadn’t responded but something was bugging me.

Something was setting all my nerves on edge.

I just wished I could pinpoint what it was.

Jelric and I were already waiting, long before he walked into the Privy Chamber.

As I took my brother in, I saw more than just the weariness of a few weeks on the road. He met my gaze, silently telling me everything I needed to know.

That the city hadn’t survived. That Seford had been entirely destroyed. Just like all the others.

He gave the High Council two hours of his time. Longer than I’d have believed he had patience for. Answering their questions. Sorting out the few bits of governance that couldn’t be done in his absence.

And then his patience waned.

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