Page 75 of The Fae Girl 1

I met Uther’s gaze. I could see it, him weighing it up.

Perhaps it would be easier to just collar her and be done with it. No more dreams. No more manipulation. The girl would be contained.

And yet something in me fought against it, the idea of her caged like that. I clenched my fists fighting the fury that suddenly raged as the vision of her lying chained, crushed, broken, in a dungeon filled my head.

Mira was dozing in a chair. Her legs laying over one arm while her head lolled against the back.

Nela and Indi were busy arguing the merits between a short sword and a ball and chain when it came to close combat.

I was laid out, on one of the longer couches, feet up, staring at the ceiling. I’d long since giving up playing a tune on the stringlet.

Any minute someone would be knocking on the door. Summoning me.

When it finally happened, the flash of adrenaline made me almost puke.

Mira cried out, falling out of her chair. Even though she’d missed the attack completely it had clearly really shaken her up. I don’t think she’d realised how much being my maid could put her in danger and now it was suddenly all too apparent.

“It’s fine. It’s just me they want.” I said getting up along with Nela and Indi.

“Here, practice while I’m gone.” I said passing her the instrument and hoping it might distract her.

With every step I took I could feel the butterflies whirling more in my stomach. This was it. This was what all the build-up was for. This moment right here.

I took in a deep breath, calming the coiling panic inside me. I was about to meet my jailor. My real jailor. And from everything I’d heard, I think I was more afraid of this man than all the others put together.

The guards opened the doors.

Nela and Indi stood back, leaving me to walk in alone.

I could see the three of them, sat beside each other at the very head of a long table. From where I’d entered I was stood facing them all like I was on trial. Like this was some sort of court.

My eyes found Jelric’s first. He smiled enough to be reassuring.

I didn’t look at the Prince. Instead I looked to his brother.

The High King.

He was older than I imagined. He had to be at least ten years older than Fain, if not more, with grey streaks in his beard and hair. His cheekbones were sculpted like Rillon’s but his eyes, he had the same piercing eyes.

I blinked, curtsied quickly. Badly. I wobbled so much I thought I might fall over and I made sure to keep my eyes fixed on the floor. No doubt the Prince would be sneering at my poor attempt and right now I just didn’t want to see it.

I could feel the High King’s eyes on me. Watching every move. I could Fain’s eyes on me too. I held my breath.

I’d had so much planned for this moment. So many things I was going to say, so many insults I was going to shout at this supposed High King and yet here, in front of him, all my courage, all my bravery faltered.

I was cowardly Alice once again.

“Come here girl.” Uther said with a tone that suggested he was so used to being obeyed that the thought he may not be had never crossed his mind.

I walked slowly, reluctantly towards the three of them. Stopping when I got close enough to the table to be reasonable.

Uther got up and walked round to where I stood.

He wasn’t quite as tall as Fain but he still towered over me. As he began to circle me I could feel his eyes wandering up and down my body.

No doubt inspecting his property.

“She is very pretty.” He said as he raised a finger to stroke my cheek.