Page 10 of Atop the Faerie Throne
The stab woundto my chest still burns as I kneel before my father. After a day spent pilloried in the middle of the camp, and a night caged with the fae prisoners, I’m bruised and bloody. Still, he ignores my breathing corpse, keeping his attention on the other two males in his tent.
“Our warriors and equipment are ready to sail for Elfhame at the next tide, sire,” Draard announces.
“Excellent. And the legion who lost control of the western peninsula?”
“We’ve relieved the legion garrisoned there with no issues.” The second male, a commander I don’t know, salutes. “We won’t let you down, sire.”
Elatha waves his hand, dismissing the soldier without a word.
It’s a trick, but the commander is too busy thanking his lucky stars to realise my father has never heard of mercy or second chances.
He practically runs from the tent on shaking legs, leaving me to ponder what horrible fate awaits him.Unfortunately, his absence leaves my father free to focus on me, and something in my empty stomach rebels under his scrutiny.
The approval I’ve always sought is finally shining from the depths of those black eyes, and I haven’t done anything to earn it.
That’s when it finally clicks in my dumb-ass brain. I’m only seeing it now because I’m no longer a person in his eyes. His regard now is the kind you give a well-balanced sword. Impersonal, but with appreciation for the skill of its maker.
I spent years trying to gain that sliver of acknowledgement, and this is how I finally achieve it?
I want to be sick.
“If you ever gave a shit about me,” I whisper. “Let me die.”
Elatha’s eyes narrow, a small smile gracing his lips. “I’ve filled this camp with pathetic fairies for you to free. Your slaughter of that useless legion will provide the perfect cover for your escape and reunion with the Nicnevin. You can even return her precious brother.”
Goddess, he’s lining up the pieces for me to rejoin Rose’s Guard, which he would only do if it benefited him.
“Caedmon Fomorii, I order you to return to the Nicnevin’s side. You won’t speak of my presence here, and you won’t give them any reason to suspect your true intentions.” There’s a pause where Draard beams like he’s in on some great joke. “Once you hear that we’ve taken Elfhame City, you’ll separate her from the rest of her Guard and bring her directly to me. Oh, and sink a dagger into Praedra’s back while you’re at it.”
My throat seals up, a wordless noise of distress breaking free of my chest.
His commands twist around me like invisible chains that sink beneath my flesh. It’s the swift, painful death of that fragile hope that began to bloom when I saw the top hat appear on my arm…
“Get up.”
For a second, the dullahan’s snapped command merges with the dream, and I frown at my father, trying to figure out why he’s using Drystan’s voice.
“We don’t have all day, Fomorian.”
I will deny it every step of the way to my fucking grave, but I’m grateful for the asshole as the details of the tent distort. My eyelids—more cooperative now that I’ve had a little time to heal—open, but I still have to blink several times to clear my vision.
My cell is bland, all earthen walls without even a window to tell me how long I’ve been out. The cot beneath me is surprisingly comfortable, and the air is warmer, which gives me pause. We must have left the winter wasteland.
Turning my head hurts, but not quite as much as it did before.
Rose is on the other side of the bars, glowing like the Goddess she is, with the rest of her Guard surrounding her. Prae and Gryffin aren’t here, and I wonder if that was purposefully done, or if they’re already dead.
My lips part, ready to ask, but Rose holds her hand up for silence.
The tear-stains on her cheeks are a punch to the gut, so I shut my mouth and try to swallow the dry claggy feeling in my throat.
“Will you let me use my magic on you?” she asks.
Fuck, all the progress I made with her is gone. Her wings flutter anxiously like I might try to snatch her at any moment, and she’s started worrying her lower lip between her teeth.
“Is killing me once not enough?” I reply bitterly. “You want to keep my ghost around so I can be useful in the afterlife?”
Is that what they’ve done to Prae? Shit. Whereismy cousin and her dumb-ass mate?
