Page 3 of Atop the Faerie Throne
My fingers shift to claws before I can wrench myself back under control this time.
“Are you hurt?” Drystan demands, mistaking her tears for something else. “Did he do anything to you?”
Rose ignores him. She’s too focused on Caed as the nathair drops his body to the ground. Abandoning its prey, the beast makes a crooning hiss and butts its nose against her, seeking her affection.
She pets it automatically, and the Call in my chest throbs as her heart crumples silently.
“I caught him trying to drug you,” Bree explains, when she doesn’t speak. “He seemed… Out of it.”
His tone is full of remorse, and he flinches as her tears finally start to fall in earnest, only to be licked away by his nathair’s forked tongue.
I start pacing again.
“He apologised,” Rose says quietly,stillstroking the insistent serpent, which can’t be as soothing as cuddling a wolf. “He didn’t act like someone who?—”
“A last-minute attack of conscience can’t make this right.” Drystan remains about as emotionally intelligent as a pebble, and I have to resist the urge to cuff him.
The smug bastard is probably one step away from saying ‘I told you so.’
Rose looks so small and lost right now. The last thing she needs is a dose of unseelie callousness on top of it all. Bree squeezes her tighter and purses his lips, shooting a warning look at the dullahan.
My wolf grumbles quietly, sending me images of our mate wearing his mark on her neck, but I force him back again. Goddess, dealing with him is becoming exhausting. As easy as it would be to soothe her with a true bond, the same obstacles remain. Chief among them, the blue piece of shit on the floor.
Bree’s snake disappears in a cloud of ink as Roark, Rowena, and Gryffin rush into the room, weapons drawn. They lower them when they see Caed is incapacitated, and Kitarni stands, moving over to them like she’s about to shoo them away.
“This doesn’t go anywhere.” Rose pushes to her feet, wobbly but determined, and I automatically offer my arm to steady her. “No one else can know about this.”
“As you wish, Nicnevin.” Her high priestess bows.
“Rhoswyn…” Drystan begins, but she cuts him off.
“This wasn’t him. I’d stake my life on it.” Her shoulders sag, and she presses a kiss to Bree’s cheek. “Thank you for stopping him. Without you, I’d probably be facing down Elatha again right now.”
“Stop. Thanking. Fae.” The dullahan’s ears catch fire, but we ignore him.
“Any time, dragonfly.” Bree follows her to his feet, brushing off the debris from his coat. “But… if we’re keeping this a secret, what would you have us do with him?”
Rose heaves out a breath, looking up at me hopefully, as ifIhave an answer.
Honestly, I’m still not sure what she means when she says this wasn’t Caed’s fault. Even Kitarni, who seems to always have a plan, is staying out of this one.
“If you’re safe, I need to return to my mate,” Gryffin says, sheathing his sword.
“I’m already here.” Prae stumbles into the room, her skin grey.
Her war paint is gone, and the lack of it makes her bad eye stand out starkly. She clutches at her bandaged side as she dodges her mate’s attempts to steady her.
“You look awful,” Rose comments, and Prae rolls her eyes.
“You’re not looking great yourself,” she retorts, as she waves Gryffin away a second time. “Oh, piss off, I’m fine.”
“You were stabbed and pushed through a window!”
Rose’s concerned little gasp cuts through the room, raising my hackles again.
“No. I fell when I tried to dodge his attack,” Prae grumbles, her cheeks darkening with embarrassment. “Caed got one lucky hit because of my bad eye, but he didn’t push me, I just… tripped. Anyway, the snow cushioned my fall, and the healer fixed the rest.”
“Then why are you bleeding through that bandage, you stubborn female?” The autumn prince wraps his arm around her waist despite her protest and looks pleadingly at Rose. “Nicnevin, would you…?”
