Page 60 of Savage Is My Kingdom

And Ember, a little voice in my head reminded me.

And Ember, I agreed. But something waited up ahead, a future I could taste, even if I couldn’t yet visualize it. I had the Fae King’s power, locked inside me.

And once those forces caught up with me, I’d never find out what my magic could do. WhatIcould do.

Solok and the king would take my power away, just because they could.

No, to survive—to save my friend—we had to stay ahead of that army, ahead of Solok.

I clung as tight as I could to the horse’s mane while we flew toward the only real future I had.

26

ANARIA

We rode until arrows thudded around us, forced us off the road, our mounts too winded to run another foot. The king’s army was going to catch us. My bright shiny future had been a nice dream, but like most dreams, this one was over.

Zorander diverted into the barren dirt field and we followed.

Zor dismounted and Tristan climbed painfully on, cradling his arm. “Stay off the road, ride hard for the rendezvous point.” He told them as Tristan and Raz kicked their beasts into a limping gallop. Tavion handed me down to Zorander.

“If we’re not there in an hour, go through.” Zor said, his voice gravelly from screaming orders. “Tell the king what happened.” Zorander never took his eyes off whatever approached in the darkness.

“We’ll wait for you.” There wasn’t a shred of hesitation in Tavion’s voice that we’d make it. “Watch yourself, he’s a slippery bastard, expect a trick or two.” Then he rode off, leaving Zor and I to face the Fae King’s forces, close enough I heard the rattle of armor.

Clearly, we had a plan.

Tavion and the others had been plotting for years; they would have something in place for this scenario. Yet the next second, when Zor yanked out a knife and sliced the blade straight across his palm, I wondered if perhaps I’d overestimated the commander.

“Don’t you fucking pass out on me.” Zor growled, dribbling his blood into the dirt around us. I thought his actions random until I realized he was drawing a circle.

When he turned to face the oncoming army, I turned with him, stroking my finger across the note to calm myself down. Forced the bile in my throat down. The panic skittering up my spine to settle.

I was destined for more than dying here.

More than being a pawn in the Fae King’s games.

“I won’t pass out.” The words came out so calmly, I didn’t sound like myself and Zor slid me a sideways look, as if he couldn’t believe it, either.

“Well, well, well, little thief, you’ve found some allies.” I shouldn’t have been so quick to make that promise to Zorander, because Solok materialized out of a nest of writhing shadows, his army slowing their approach behind him.

“Color me surprised that a common slave girl has such auspicious friends.”

“Allies?” I snorted, edging away from Zorander, whose eyes narrowed before he dragged me back, his bloody palm slipping against my skin.

“They kidnapped me from the palace. Not that I minded, since you were about to gut me like a sow. But I’d hardly call them allies.”

“Is that so?” Solok tilted his head, sharp teeth glinting. “Then step away from the general and come here, show me where your true loyalties lie.”

I took one look at that outstretched hand and snorted. “Why? So you can whip me to pieces in the prison like the sick bastard you are? Or stab me in the leg to release my power like I’m some kind of magical weapon? Or sacrifice me on an altar?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t think so.”

“You’re learning, little thief.” Solok’s cruel grin was filled with pride and malice. “You do amuse, even when I could snap your pretty neck. We shall do this the hard way, then.”

He snapped his fingers and the Mistress appeared, her claws wrapped around Ember’s pale throat, nothing in her gaze except the promise of pain.

Em’s terror filled eyes met mine, and I swallowed hard, scanning my friend for injuries. She was still dressed in the same gown from last week, red hair wild, her stark, terrified gaze darting between Zorander and me. But she wasn’t hurt.

“Let us begin again.” Solok strode over to Ember, tore her way from his sister, gripped her face tight enough her eyes bulged. “What did you promise your friend, little thief, before we left Varitus?”

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