Page 32 of The Beast King's Bride

“No.” He shoves black hair out of his eyes. “Maab, this is complicated.”

Maybe for him. I have no clue what he expects from me. He walks toward the fireplace, stops in front of the flames, pressing a hand to his side.

Is he angry or is he in pain? I had forgotten about the wound. “Prince Elyar struck you with steel.” I put the goblet down. It’s empty anyway. “It’s not as bad as cold iron. You should be fine. After all, I thought the Fae healed quickly.”

“We do. But since the Decay, healing seems to take forever.”

“I hate to inform you that this is how we humans fare all the time against wounds and illnesses you Fae heap on us.”

So much for not making him angrier.

But he only clenches his jaw and says quietly, “The Empress has recruited many of the Lesser Faeries to do her bidding. Sends them out to scout and lets them have their cruel fun with humans. Though being cruel is in their nature. It is in ours, too.”

“The Empress, huh? Your sovereign? Is she really so bad?”

His chuckle is dark and low. “Believe me.”

I get up and warily approach him. “Tell me about the Decay.” The farmer mentioned it, and so did the two maids. “Is that the name of the curse?”

He nods.

“Descriptive,” I mutter. “I’ll give you that. But what is happening exactly?”

“The crops won’t grow. The animals won’t reproduce. The forest is still. Foraging brings little.” His mouth twists. “My land is dying. My subjects are starving. Leaving. Blaming me.”

“And you want me to help with that? I don’t know how, king. I’m just a human.”

“Or not,” he says, eyes flashing at me.

“It isn’t only the blood in your veins that makes you who you are. Half-Fae or not, I grew up among humans and that is where I belong.” I sigh. “Let me go back.”

“No.”

“But you must. I have family there. Friends. I can’t—”

“I’ve already been punished for bringing you here. You have to help me. Help us.”

“What if I don’t want to? Have you thought of that? What if your punishment isn’t my burden to bear? Whatever it is you did to bring this curse on you has nothing to do with me.”

His hand drops from his side, clenching into a fist. “I brought you here to help us.”

Heat spreads in my chest. “Just because you had the power to do that doesn’t mean you should have. It doesn’t make it right.”

“You are not going back,” he grinds out. “And that is final.” He lifts his hand, snaps his fingers. “Jassin! Guards. Take her back to her room.”

“No, please. Wait.”

But he doesn’t say anything else.

“Oh Gods, I hate you!” I shout at him as the guards haul me away. “You selfish prick! You don’t think about others, only yourself. I’m not your slave! Let me go!”

“Lock her door and window,” he only says and turns his broad back to me.

Bastard.

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