Page 30 of Dark Fae's Secrets
I take the opportunity to grab both of her hands, glad to see that she still has the ring on. I’d half expected her to take it off.
“I was an ass to leave without confronting you about what I was feeling. It’s not so much that you kept this a secret, that I totally get. You want to know more about it before youtell everyone, and it raises expectations. It’s the fact that it’s another secret that you have with him.” I indicate to Rath. “I worry that this is going to change the dynamic of our collective relationship.”
“No. I’ve already reassured Jerrick that isn’t going to happen. This isn’t about keeping secrets from you and not Rath. It’s just that it involves him in a way. I’m glad that you understand my reasons without me having to tell you. I just wanted to get a handle on being Queen first.”
“I get that,” I say softly.
“We’re good?”
I pull her to me for a kiss. “Yes.”
“I’d say that you are more than adept at being Queen,” Rath pipes up.
Savvie gives him a pretty smile.
“Oh?” I ask. “What did I miss?”
She goes into her tale of why Jerrick was imprisoned and what happened afterwards. I watch her eyes light up as she talks about taking control of the situation and banishing this woman. She is gorgeous.
“Quick question,” I ask. “Where do banished Fae go? I thought there were only Dark and Light Fae lands.”
“Oh no,” she explains eagerly, seeming pleased by my question. “There is a stretch of land on the far side of the forest that is neutral ground.”
“Oh,” I say with a nod. That appeases some of the worry I had that this woman would still be lurking on Dark Fae lands if she had nowhere else to go. “Good,” I add as she gives me a curious look.
“Don’t worry about her, she has been branded by magick as a banished one. She can’t make it back onto the Palace grounds.”
“Even better,” I say.
“Uhm, changing the subject, I need to find the other men. I may have made a small announcement about me and Jerrick earlier and I need to get out in front of it and inform the Fae about all of you.” She grips my hand tightly. “I will need you to stand with me and support me on this. The Fae are very traditional, they aren’t going to take this well. I need you with me.” She gives me an imploring look.
“Of course,” I say. “You don’t even have to ask, Savvie. You know that I will do anything to make this as easy as possible for you.”
She gives me a relieved smile.
“You’re doing this now?”
“As soon as everyone has gathered. An hour or so.”
She is really nervous now.
“It will be fine,” I try to reassure her, but I don’t really have any clue what is going to happen. “You are their true Queen and even more now.”
“It’s not me that I’m worried about,” she murmurs ominously.
“Meaning?” I press when she doesn’t add anything else.
She shakes her head and starts walking again.
Rath and I exchange a look and then stride forward to catch up with her, but before we reach her, Rath grabs my arm and we stop walking.
“She is worried about the backlash on us,” he says quietly. “I know that I can handle myself, and I’m fairly sure that you can too. Jerrick won’t be caught unawares again; if I know how he thinks by now he will be setting up additional measures. The other two, though? Theo, especially. He is a Vampire in an already hostile environment. Are you prepared to have their backs?”
“Of course,” I say instantly as another thought hadn’t even entered my head. “We are a team; it goes without saying. Whatabout you? Are you all in if this goes sideways, or will you just be looking out for yourself and your interests?”
He gives me a withering glare that tells me all I need to know before he speaks. “I will protect you all without a doubt. Savvie loves you, and that means thatIlove you. But the Fae didn’t survive the wrath of Tiamat without knowing a thing or two about how to defend against Dragon magick. I am all too aware of what their bag of tricks holds. I need to know that if I fall, you will be there.”
His intense gaze makes me gulp. “Fall?” I question. “I don’t think that it will go as far as that.”
