Page 31 of Across an Endless Sea

It’s only then that I notice every single fae in our party has dropped to their knees and touched their heads to the earth, all of them facing in the direction of…

Rose, who’s passed out on the dock in a heap.

Of course it’s her doing this. Ancestors, even when she’s unconscious, she’s causing mayhem. I take a single concerned step in her direction before I can stop myself.

She’s not my problem.I turn to my cousin, knowing that she must have an idea of what’s happening. But Prae is busy staring at Rose.

“When we first arrived in the courts, years ago,” she begins, swiping a stray lock of hair from her face as she thinks. “The climate was awful, and it only got worse, remember?”

I nod once. “Then it improved when Rose reappeared.”

The courts turned from inhospitable wastelands to relative paradises in the space of a few days. The spring court changed from a muddy, rain-drenched bog to a blooming woodland in the space of a few minutes. Elfhame was the same, and my reports said similar things about the rest of Faerie.

“The fae believe their Nicnevin is the bridge between their Goddess and the land. If she was somehow reconnecting the realm with Danu just by her very presence, it stands to reason that…” My cousin trails off.

“Finish,” Elatha orders.

Prae swallows. “As your kingdom technically exists within Danu’s realm, my king, itispossible that the Nicnevin has reconnected the mountains with the Goddess.”

I wince as soon as she finishes the sentence, knowing what’s coming.

Elatha doesn’t disappoint. His blue skin flushes dark with anger, those eerie black eyes narrowing with fury.

“This mountain belongs tome. Not some ludicrous fairy goddess. Soon the realm will belong to me too, and I will destroy anyone—fae or Fomorian—who dares to even utter the name of that made-up nature spook.”

He spits the last few words so vehemently that everyone around him flinches with each syllable. He takes a step towards Rose, and something in my gut revolts. I lock down my power, determined not to earn another hundred lashes, but my muscles tense, and for a second, I truly believe my body is going to betray me and fling itself between my mate and the king.

Thankfully, he catches himself before he can take another step. “When she wakes up, kill another thirty of her people for this. Make certain she watches.”

Prae drops her head in a deep bow. “Yes, my king.”

Elatha’s eyes drop to the glimmering gems in the lake, and his glower only grows colder.

“Howdareshe turn my kingdom into a sparkling fairy paradise,” he snarls, striding away.

For a split second, my feet refuse to leave Rose. I hesitate, staring at her crumpled form, but Prae catches my attention and gives me the slightest shake of her head.

A reminder.

“I’ll arrange the execution,” I offer.

I’ll find the worst of the slaves to be executed. The ones who have so little left to offer, or live for, that death is a kindness.

I’m still obeying orders, just not wasting good manpower. My father doesn’t acknowledge my statement, but Prae does. She gives me a thankful nod before I turn my back on her and follow Elatha towards the archway that marks the entrance to the grand lift.

In many ways, Rose is lucky that Prae will be watching over her.

My cousin may hate fae, but she’s never cruel to them unless she has to be. She sees dealing with them as a waste of her time when she could be tinkering in her workshop. If Rose behaves, she’ll be mostly ignored until Elatha is ready to deal with her.

And being ignored is probably the best an enemy queen can hope for in Fellgotha.

Eleven

Rhoswyn

Iwake up in a tiny, bare stone room that’s barely larger than a closet. Someone has chucked a small, thin fur over me, and there are more beneath me, cushioning the hard floor. The branch of glowing mushrooms in one corner is the only other thing in here.

Is this my new cell? The metal door is slightly ajar, so I doubt it. My limbs ache and my head is pounding, but aside from that, I actually feel better than I have in a long while. That probably has something to do with the room’s sparseness, which means there’s no iron around me. My feet no longer hurt, and my skin is… clean?

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