Page 2 of Wrath of the Fae Queen
There is so much pain between us now, when a day ago we only had love and peace.
I am grabbed by the arms, by the hair again, and dragged along when I am perfectly capable of walking. It dehumanizes me.
“Get your hands off me!” I try to scream, but my voice wobbles as it comes out. I thrash, wanting to shove them away, to strike at them, but a single large hand suddenly grabs both of my wrists at once and twists them easily behind my back.
“Then stop fucking falling, you useless human,” one guard growls as he leans right into my face, his bright red eyes narrowing. Strands of his dark hair slip out of the knot he has half of it up in, falling over his features. The white scars peppered through his cropped beard stretch with his snarl. “You are trying to make this as difficult as possible.”
“Stop tossing me around and I will stop falling.” I shove my shoulder against his chest hard to push him back, thrusting all of my body weight and strength into the motion. He hardly moves an inch and laughs at my efforts. I could have him fall on his ass if I threw my magic behind me, but I cannot reveal my secrets yet.
Weak. That is what I am in this moment. And so gods-damned vulnerable.
Dozens of warriors exit the portal behind us, streaming past on either side in two thick channels. They unintentionally cage us within their center. None even glance my way.
Torin grabs my arm and pulls me toward him, until our bodies are flush. He grabs my chin and forces me to look up into his eyes, which are dancing with thrill. “You are nothing here. Not a lord’s daughter. Not a king’s mate. Not even a creatureworthy of notice. You are dirt beneath our boots, and you should pray to whatever gods you believe in that we don’t crush you with each step.”
Aldrin bristles from far away, but there is nothing he can do.
“I am your rightful queen,” I growl.
Torin throws back his head and laughs. “You are a queen of nothing.”
My power brims within me, especially the newfound ability to turn a man to ash, but I have to force it down and take this humiliation. I cannot fight and win against nearly a hundred fae warriors. I cannot show my power now, when they think I am a fragile, magicless human. One to be underestimated.
Titania and her son are known for having very little magic of their own. It is a fact that makes them bitter to the point of hatred, and of course it is humans they despise, humans whose blood they share so much of and blame for their own inadequacies. For not being fae enough.
Prejudice is like that. It rarely makes sense. It is the reason both Titania and Torin wear pointed ear caps of golden wire, made to look similar to the jewelry worn by other fae, but theirs hide the tips of their ears completely. It is rumored that they are as rounded as a human’s.
“Torin, if you’re done taunting our little guest to the Spring Court, I would like to get moving,” Titania calls out. “Play your petty games later, son, when they are not wasting my precious time.”
Torin flinches like he was struck. I drag my eyes away from him and take in the clearing for the first time. Cascades of colorful spring flowers erupt from the bright green grass of the meadow. The late-afternoon sun is dappled through branches bursting with apple blossoms.
Its beauty is a mockery of my dire situation.
It is a knife in the chest, to be here again without Aldrin.
Titania calls out orders and suddenly all those guards funneling out of the portal circle around me, trapping me in their midst. More join them from this meadow, where they clearly awaited our arrival. I back away from a wall of tall, broadly muscular figures in segmented armor, but it only brings me closer to others.
Those sneers and glares twisting their faces as they look me up and down are enough to break a cold sweat across my skin.
I am completely at their mercy.
They can force me to do almost anything.
My breath catches in my throat and I struggle to drag in air as the moment stretches out. As I wait and watch for the next attack. Fear freezes me within its clutches.
Use your magic if they try to hurt you, Keira. Don’t let them harm you!Aldrin’s voice breaks within my head.
I will be a useless spy from the dungeons if my powers are discovered.I straighten my back, even though my hands shake violently.
I don’t care for a damned spy! I want my mate unbroken,Aldrin roars.I want you safe.
The bargain I made with Titania prevents her from treating me worse than any other noble in her court,I say.Surely there are limits on her.
A bargain with Titania never means what we think it will,he replies, and I have to clamp down on the bond to stop his hopelessness from infecting me.
Titania breaks through the crowd and stalks straight up to me. I force myself not to cower under her observation. She clutches my chin with sharp nails, turning my head from side to side as she inspects me. “Not a very impressive thing, are you, little mouse?”
The only thing that holds my tongue is the grim ring of hostile warriors that surrounds us.
