Page 63 of Song of the Shadow Prince
His expression grew cold. “There are worse things than me in this forest, little human. Much worse. It’s best if you leave and don’t come back. But we’ll see each other real soon.”
16
CAT
Klaus led me out of Faelight Forest just as the sun was setting. I stumbled out of the trees to see Maeve pacing in front of our waiting carriage, biting her thumbnail. Garrick was nearby, looking just as nervous. As I approached, they turned in my direction and hurried closer.
“My lady!” Maeve shrieked. “Are you okay? What did you learn? Are you hurt? By the immortals, you were gone so long, I thought… I thought you wouldn’t make it!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” I said breathlessly.
“Come here, let me check your vitals.” Garrick took ahold of my wrist and placed three fingertips on my pulse. We waited in silence as the seconds ticked by. Suddenly, Garrick snapped his gaze toward me and his eyes widened. He knew I’d made a deal. I faintly shook my head, silently telling him to keep quiet. “You, uh… seem well.” He straightened and gently released my wrist.
Maeve released the breath she’d been holding. “Oh, thank the immortals!”
I smiled and nodded. “Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything; I just got lost for a while.” I gave her shoulder a comfortingsqueeze. “Why don’t you ask the driver to take us home? I’m really tired.”
“Oh, of course!” She walked quickly to the carriage to make the arrangements.
Once she was out of earshot, Garrick sidled up next to me. “My lady!” he whisper-yelled. “I told you not to make any deals—”
“I know!” I cut him off. “But this was… essential.”
“How?” he shrieked. “I can feel it on you. Your life is tied to a fae.”
I gulped. “He didn’t tell me much, but he hinted that I’d be stuck here in Elaria for a while… and that I’d need protection. With his mark, he promised to protect me.”
With a loud exhale, Garrick closed his eye and ran a hand through his messy hair. “By the immortals, my lady. Fae are tricky. Though they cannot lie, they don’t always tell the truth.”
I nodded. “I know he only used me to gain freedom from the forest.”
Garrick’s eye shot open. “What?” He slammed a hand over his mouth and looked behind him to where Maeve was chatting with the carriage driver, then back to me. “Do you know what you’ve just done, my lady?”
I blew out a breath. “Yes, Garrick.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think you do. If the emperor learns of this…”
“Klaus will protect me,” I said confidently.
“Klaus?” Garrick frowned and repeated the name a few times before his eye widened again. “By the immortals! You made a deal with Klaus? THE Klaus?”
“Is he someone important?” I shrugged one shoulder. I was so ignorant in this world.
“He is the grandson of the last fae king, if we’re talking about the same person,” Garrick said, his mouth wide in shock.
“So he’s royalty?”
Garrick shook his head. “No. The fae no longer have a monarch, but if they did, he wouldn’t merely be considered royalty. He would be the fae’s next ruler. With your bargain, you freed their would-be king!”
My mouth fell open. “What?” I muttered. “No. That’s not possible!”
“My lady,” Garrick grimaced. “Pleasetell me you set boundaries for this deal and didn’t leave it open ended?”
“Yes, I set a limit for one year,” I said. “He tried for ten, but—”
“Oh, thank the immortals!” Garrick sighed. “Maybe we can annul this deal before anyone finds out.”
“Is that possible?” I asked hopefully. I couldn’t believe I’d been tricked. Then again, I was like a newborn baby in this world, with no knowledge of their history or convoluted rules. Any time Maeve tried to tell me about it, I brushed her off because it was too much to remember. God, I regretted it now.
