Page 85 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
“You are still worse at fighting than most fae children,” she points out. “Going now would be stupid. You’d risk your entire queendom over the hurt feelings of an enemy princess?”
“I’d do worse for my friend.” I drag Prae past the still-frozen royals without bothering to unfreeze Gryffin.
He can stay there all night for all I care.
“I’m glad you almost gutted him,” I murmur to her when we’re on the stairs.
There’s a grunt behind her, followed by some low, threatening words that I know in my soul are coming from Caed, but I’m more concerned with Drystan who’s hot on my heels.
“This is brash,” he insists, as I lead Prae back out of the palace tree.
“I know,” I assure him, throwing a glamour over us both to hide us from the lurking fae nearby, who are no doubt hungry for a glimmer of the gossip.
It’s not that I don’t care, but more that some part of me was silently waiting for this to happen. After what happened in the other courts, Cressida’s court felt too good to be true. I hate that I’ve been proven right, but I’m less affected by the thought of leaving than I thought I would be. Especially with the Goddess suddenly so eager for the move.
And if leaving helps Prae? I’ll do it in a heartbeat.
I don’t stop until I’m back at the door to Prae’s room, and when we’re past it, I let Caed through and then slam the door in the faces of the rest of my Guard.
“Rhoswyn.” Drystan lets out an exasperated breath that I can hear through the wood. “I recognise that Praedra needs you bothright now, but I would prefer it if you would allow one of us to accompany you as well.”
Because of Caed, he means. I swallow back the angry retort that springs to mind. Honestly, I’m surprised he’s not just demanding entry.
“Maeve,” I murmur, and my grandmother is there in an instant. “Hold the door for us?”
With a grin and a little push of power, she does as I ask, turning solid and bracing herself against the wood. I’m just in time, because a second later, the handle rattles.
I love my Guard, but this isn’t the time for their protectiveness. Fortunately, they seem to get the message, because they don’t try a second time. I’m not fooled into thinking they aren’t listening in and probably guarding all the exits in case Caed decides to abscond with me, but the illusion of privacy is enough.
“Let’s get the blood off you,” I whisper, soothingly, and Prae’s hands fist by her sides.
“She means you look like a fucking wreck.” Caed gives his cousin a once over, and curiously enough, that’s what gets her moving.
She has zero shame as she tears the copper dress I’d admired earlier from her body and heads for the tub. It’s empty, but as I watch, it disappears, replaced with the larger tub from my room. A second later, a phantom kiss brushes against my cheek.
Lore.
I should’ve guessed bracing the door would do nothing against him.
“Can we have some privacy?” I ask him quietly as Prae tugs at the leather straps of the empty weapon holsters at her thighs. “You know I’m not in danger with them.”
Another kiss, but this one is a goodbye. I feel him leave just as Prae reaches back and undoes the straps holding Florian’s swordagainst her spine. In one smooth motion, she lowers herself into the steaming water and dunks her whole body under. She comes back up with her war paint dripping down her cheeks like the tears she hasn’t shed.
Settling to my knees behind her, I quietly move my hands to the tangled mess of braids that is her hair.
“Can I undo these to wash them?” I ask softly.
A jerky nod.
Caed heads for a cabinet and returns with bottles of soap and shampoo, but it takes a long time to undo the careful mass of white locks, especially now that they’re wet.
“I was going to say yes.” Prae breaks the careful silence with a voice that’s liquid with rage. “I was going to tell him—and then she took that from me.”
I pause, midway through rubbing the shampoo into her scalp, soapy bubbles dripping from my hands into the water. I’m not sure if this confession makes the situation better or worse.
My attempt at comfort earlier just made things worse. For whatever reason, she finds Caed’s harshness easier to deal with right now. I don’t have his ability to look someone hurt in the eye and be so standoffish, so I keep my mouth shut.
“That stupid idiot tricked me into sparring with him, then used my blind side to do this.”
