Page 11 of Curse of Thorns
“And if she’s found I’m going to have to banish the guards on gate duty.”
The guard blinks back his shock, but I wave it away. “Send Sir Simmons in, I’ll have a chat with him.” The Captain of the Guard will be the only person able to make the right choice here. That or my father, but he’d figure out more than I’d desire.
There are only two guards I trusted with my secret visitor.
“Yes sir.” He nods to the four remaining guards stationed around my bed like it’s the wall of the kingdom.
“She’s obviously not in the room,” I hasten to say. “Have the guards outside the doors, not caging me in like a beast.”
“I’m very sorry sir, but the intruder is able to use shadow to hide from sight. We can’t be too careful, at least for the time being.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Learning more about shadow fae, are we?” Well, at least they took my orders seriously. I do, however, bite my tongue to keep from telling them that if they shined direct light onto potential hiding places she’d be exposed—she uses the natural darkness and shadows to her advantage. If you take away that advantage, you expose her.
But right now, it’s in my best interest that theydon’tfind her. And truth be told, I don’t fear Caelynn. I should, I realize. She used her shadow power to hide from the guards ten years ago, slipped inside my brother's room, and...
I swallow.
If I were wise, I’d be wary of her. But apparently, I’m not wise.
She could have lied about her motives for killing Reahgan. She told me she did it to save me, and I believe her. The magic in the trials was certainly not lying when it told me she was my fated mate. My stomach sinks at that thought.
It’s a bitter truth that wedges its way into the cracks of my heart.
Maybe that’s more reason I shouldn’t trust her. The magic of the mating bond has a sort of hypnotizing effect. It drives me to be near her, to protect her, to care for her. And perhaps that means I’m not thinking clearly.
But it does serve one purpose: it’s easier to trust someone you know is magically inclined to care for you too.
She had many chances to harm me during the trials. And given what I know, I am confident I am safe with her. My father is another story. But then again, he’s not actually my father so...
It’s hard to break the habit of calling him that name.
The four guards stand in a semicircle around my bed, backs facing me, ever vigilant. I flop back onto my pillow and sigh. Where is Caelynn? She was seen from the window, which means she wasn’t sleeping. Is she in the halls somewhere? Or hiding in this very room?
I look around, but it’s too dark to see much.
Finally, Sir Simmons marches into the room. Followed by my father.
I suppress a groan and cross my legs, still partially beneath the covers.
“You wanted to see me, Your Highness?”
“Yes,” the king tilts his head, “I’m rather curious what you have to say to the guards.”
Great.He already suspects. Oh well, let him suspect. He hates me anyway.
“I was simply going to request the guards loosen their security measures when it comes to my private sleeping quarters. The intruder is clearly not here and even if— “
“Even if what?” the king says, stepping forward, a scowl written on his face.
I keep eye contact. I’m way past backing down from this fae. “Even if she was, she is not a threat. Not to me.”
Every muscle in the king’s body tenses, even as he forces his expression to one of casual curiosity. “Ahhh, she’s not a threat toyou.”
I chuckle. “Relax father, I don’t believe her a threat to you either.”
He watches my expression closely. He wants to see if I’m lying. Fae are quite able to lie, unlike the legends humans have of us, but it is a rather uncomfortable endeavor, and it almost always shows signs. A tick or a wince or a tightened jaw.
“What other reason could she have for trespassing a third time?”
