Page 85 of The Fae Girl 1

“Yeah but she doesn’t know that does she? You’re his brother.” Ridley replied.

“She knows we don’t exactly get on. That was made more than clear after the ball.”

Ridley smiled and I knew where his head was. Not on the Fae girl, but on the one he’d met there, the girl he’d been sneaking off to see when he thought no one would notice.

“Ow.” He yelled as I landed a perfect blow against his shoulder.

“If you weren’t day dreaming.” I replied.

“Dick.” Ridley muttered and we both laughed. “Besides I think you’re giving yourself too much credit.”

“In what respect?” I asked.

“The girl doesn’t know you, she doesn’t trust you, trust any of us in fact. We’ve literally dragged her from everything she’s known, locked her up in this castle and now you expect her to come running to you like you’re her saviour?”

“I’m not her saviour.” I snapped.

“No you’re not. In her eyes you’re her kidnapper.”

“I didn’t kidnap her.” The girl was Fae. She belongs to my brother. I was simply carrying out my duty by bringing her to Montefore.

“I think you need to cut her some slack.”

“Sure, I do that and the next thing we know we end up in the same situation as last time.” I retorted.

“She’s not like the others Fain, surely even you can see that?” Ridley said.

I narrowed my eyes. “She’s Fae. She is like them.” I said tossing my sword. I was done with practice, done with discussing the damn girl too.

“Where are you going?” Ridley asked.

“Somewhere where I won’t have to think about that damn girl.” I muttered as I walked away.

* * *

I was stalkingthrough the corridors. There was a monster, a beast raging through the castle and my sword was out, ready to face it, ready to destroy it.

I could hear screaming, people rushed past and it told me it was close. That the monster was there just around the corner. I picked up pace, anxious to see it, to corner it, to hack it to pieces.

Only as I turned into the atrium there wasn’t a monster at all. Just a Fae.

The Fae.

Alice.

She was stood, floating with her feet just above the ground. Around her I could see swirls of light, magic, it was radiating through the air, dancing.

I paused watching. How was that even possible?

She turned around and smiled when she saw me as if she was pleased to see me, as if my presence was a thing of joy and not fear.

I had my sword raised still and she frowned taking it in.

“Are you going to stab me Prince Fain?” She asked.

I could hear the tease in her voice. The suggestion of another meaning too.

I dropped the sword, not caring where it fell.