Page 1 of The Poison of the Earth
Prologue
“Your name is written upon my heart, Oleander. I’ll carry you with me until it stops beating.”
The words are said directly into my mind and my eyes fill with tears. I throw my arms around the scaled neck I know so well. The blue gleam of them is sapphire, cerulean, sky. I focus on the play of the sun upon them, as I will never see it again.
I will give him up. I would give up everything if necessary. I knew this long before I loved him.
I raise an arm and wipe my eyes upon my cloak where my face rests upon Vale’s muscular shoulder. I feel his front leg rise and wrap around my back, nearly lifting me off the ground.
“I love you, Vale.” I pull away gently. “Perhaps I’ll see you in another life.”
His blue eyes meet mine. “I shall await the day, my star.” The edges of his lips on either side of his snout tilt up in a soft smile.
And then he turns and launches his bulk into the air without even a backward glance. I blink quickly and turn to the forest.
Chapter One
Lonan
“That absolute fuckwit,” I growl. I rub my forehead.This King will be the death of me. Or I him, I sincerely hope. I sit up and level a glare at Lilac, her cropped purple hair in disarray.
“Sir, I am certain,” she answers as she straightens under my scrutiny.
I glower at my lieutenant, annoyed that she would consider my frustration to be doubt in her. “I believe you. What I cannot believe is that Alder would be so stupid.”
“I was there myself when he gave the order,” she defends, clasping her leather-clad hands behind her back.
A frustrated sound escapes me. “I do not doubt you, Lilac. You are one of my most trusted advisors. It simply makes no sense. Even if the King is a moron, his advisors are not.”
I sit silently, considering. “Has he gone rogue?” I ponder the idea.
But at that moment, Caspian strides in. The tall Fae tosses back his luxurious black hair. He’s a shifter. And an asshole. But one of my best friends; he’s my third in command.
His eyes meet mine and I can immediately see his worry.
“What is it?” I bark. “I have enough clusterfucks in the air right now.”
“A girl was found near Thistle Grove keep.”
“And why is this my concern? Return her to her village.” I snarl, turning back to Lilac.
Caspian blurts, “She’s not local.”
I slowly turn to face him as I sit in my chair at the head of the heavy wooden table. I lean back and put an ankle on my knee.
He continues, “And she’s part human.”
I frown. It is not uncommon of Fae to have human blood, even though the Veil Stones no longer work. However, it is uncommon in this part of Faery to be descended of humans, rural as we are.
“A spy then?” I raise an eyebrow. “Kill her.”
“She claims to have knowledge you could use. She begs sanctuary.”
I look at Caspian like he’s gone soft in the head. My ranking officers should know better. “I’m not a church nor an orphanage.Kill her.”
I stand, and I tower over Lilac, who is tall and slender, like women of her species. She takes an unconscious step back.
Caspian locks gazes with me, defiant. “She says she was one of King Alder’s maids. I think you should speak with her. Kill her after, if she’s lying.”
