Page 75 of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
She’s King Emrys’s consort.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I followed you.”
And her butterflies followed her. Wings flap about her hair and her dress, the only sign of life for miles.
“How did I not see you until now?” I ask. “I have sight, and besides, you’re human. How did you find me?”
“I’ve always been more at home in the wilds than anywhere else.” She shrugs. “A few years in a palace can’t erase experience. You were easy to track and distracted enough to make you easy to hide from. I’ve kept eyes on you since you left my castle. A friend at Neirin’s court told me when you left, and the woods were happy to point me in your direction.”
I’m stunned into silence. Her answers have only opened more questions, but for some awful reason I snag on what she said about Neirin’s house.
“A friend at his court? You have spies?”
She pulls a face. “That’s an unkind word for it.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“Does it matter? I’m here to help you.”
“Why?” I say incredulously. “Surely your king wouldn’t want you interfering.”
“He doesn’t, and I’m sure he’ll be furious when I get back, but when I explain, he’ll understand. I couldn’t let my family get hurt.”
“Family?”
She ignores me and grabs my wrists in certain, strong hands, tugging me away from the water’s edge and into the pale light. Her eyes are alert, not at all like the lost girl-child she seemed in the palace. I pull away, but her eyes continue raking over every inch of my face. She stands tall, carries herself with the air of someone who has grown used to power and can wield it.
And she called mefamily.
“How are we related?”
“I’m your aunt.” Delyth presses a hand to her chest. “You’re Elin’s daughter. I can’t believe it’s been so long since she had her child—”
“Granddaughter,” I correct her, before I even think about what I’ve said.
Before I can understand whatshehas said.
Her smile slips slowly to the ground. “What?”
She’s Gran’s missing sister, the girl who vanished on her way home from the shops. The girl my gran never stops looking for in every crowd.
“It’s been fifty years. Did you think time would stop?” A furious twitch hurtles through me, and Delyth’s face softens.
“I used to do that,” she says.
“Why did it stop?”
She shrinks in on herself. “Emrys stopped it for me. He grew tired of it after a few years. He could do the same for you!”
“No,” I say instantly, though I don’t know why.
My twitch has been a constant source of bullying and irritation all my life. It keeps me awake when I’m upset, and no one takes me seriously when I try so hard to sound clever but can’t control my own body.
Still, I won’t get rid of it. It’s a part of me.
Delyth grabs my hand, shakes it rapidly. “This has started all wrong. I’ll try again. I’m your… I’m Delyth.” She can’t quite bring herself to say “great-aunt.”
