Queen of Fate (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #3)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

The kingsfae led me back to the courts’ entrance and told me to keep an eye out for a messenger bird. “If you’re needed again, you’ll be summoned via dillemsill. You’re to stay in Jaggedston until you hear otherwise.”

I nodded, my heart pounding as I tried to recall everything I’d said to the junior justices and what I’d revealed. I just hoped I hadn’t screwed up too much.

But the second we reached the admittance entryway, my focus changed. I searched everywhere for my mate and his friends in the vast hall, but they were nowhere to be found.

Several other fae I hadn’t seen before were being processed at the desks, but other than that, there was nobody new present.

Stomach tumbling, I followed my jailer as he walked briskly ahead of me.

The kingsfae took me to the same door I’d entered and showed me out. The wards exiting the building weren’t as horrible as when I’d been brought inside, but the magic still assessed me. I had no doubt that somewhere within this ancient and magical building, it had been cataloged that I’d just left and was no longer within its powerful walls.

Alone on the courts’ paved platform outside, I gazed at the massive stone steps that spread out before me. Nighttime had fully set in, and a slight breeze ruffled my navy gown around my legs. I was thankful the lightweight material was easy to move in, even if it didn’t provide much warmth, and I quickly took the steps down two at a time.

At the bottom of the stairs, in the middle of the huge cobblestone circular street, the fountain sprayed water into the air. It was nothing like the Venapearl Fountains in Leafton with their colored water and dancing sprays that moved to the rhythm of music, but it was still a calming sight. And right now, I needed to be calm.

It was only as I turned back to gaze at the courts that I realized I’d never asked about becoming free of a guardian. I’d been so caught up in keeping my story straight and not revealing too much that it’d entirely slipped my mind. Someday, I would have to return here to plead my case for freedom, but that wasn’t meant to be today.

Even though it was late, I walked swiftly around the entire building’s perimeter to see if I could find Jax or anyone else. Two of the moons glowed brightly on the horizon, but it did little to lighten anything farther around the courts.

The capital’s bells didn’t ring once in my lap around the building, indicating it was indeed late since they never rang past ten.

Chest heaving, I finally stopped by the fountain again. My dash around the courts had confirmed that there were multiple entrances and exits. The prince and his friends could have been taken inside through any of those doors, but there was no sign of them. If they’re even here...

I concentrated on the bond connecting my soul to Jax’s. It burned brightly inside me. He was still alive and well, and instinct told me he was somewhere nearby, but the magic encasing the supernatural courts wouldn’t allow me to decipher more.

Or, for all I knew, Jaggedston was big enough to have more than one supernatural court building. Perhaps there were multiple courts just like this one in different parts of the city. It was possible Jax was at one of those instead and he wasn’t even here.

My mind raced with how I could find Jax or learn how he was doing. Twisting my hands, I searched for somebody I could ask.

But there was no one.

I twirled in a circle. A cool breeze billowed around me as sprays from the fountain misted across my face, and I realized that I was entirely alone. Unlike when I’d arrived earlier, there were no longer fae traversing the street, although I did catch sight of one fairy farther down the road, but they were walking quickly, obviously in a hurry to get to where they were headed.

It was late enough that most fae had retired for the night, and with stunning clarity, it hit me that I had nobody here. Nobody I could call. Nobody I could go home to.

Nobody.

I thought back to the bag of rulibs the prince had paid me for finding Bastian, but that was locked away within the palace, far from my reach. And I had a feeling if I returned to the king and queen’s residence, asking for the coins that I’d been given, their door would be slammed in my face.

But it wasn’t like I had any other option because I had nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even a spare rulib or two sewn into a pocket. It hadn’t even occurred to me to secure that small measure of safety before Jax and I had ventured down to the dining hall.

I began to walk away from the courts, my only saving grace being that the palace stood high in the distance, easy to see. I would have to return to it. I had no choice.

But while I doubted the royals would give me a place to stay for the night, I could insist that they return my things to me. I still had my bag with the clothes the prince had gotten for me in Fosterton. And then there were my rulibs.

As my feet tapped quietly on the silent street, I just hoped beyond hope that Jax’s parents would have the decency to at least give me what was mine. Because I had to find a way to survive on my own until Jax was freed.

And my mate had to be freed. There was no other option I could accept.

Tightness coiled around my chest, threatening to constrict my lungs. I gulped in a breath and tried to reassure myself that all would be fine. Because it had to be. I couldn’t imagine a future without Jax.

It took me two hours to walk back to the palace. Cold night wind had set in, leaving perpetual goosebumps on my arms. Despite the chill, a sheen of sweat covered me. It’d been a long walk across the city, gradually uphill the entire way, and I only thanked the gods and goddesses that nobody had accosted me on the long journey.

If I had been in Leafton, walking through one of the seedier areas of town, I had no doubt that someone would have assaulted me or attempted to rob me. But that wasn’t the case in Jaggedston. I’d either lucked out, or Jax’s father ruled his land with an iron fist and locked up any vagrants attempting to conduct a crime.

I shuddered, wondering what the king would do if he ever found out his own son truly was the Dark Raider and had committed more heinous crimes than all of the vagrants in Jaggedston combined.

Breathing heavily, I warily approached the gates surrounding the palace. Blisters had formed on my heels, making my steps unsteady. And even though my magic healed the open wounds quickly, it seemed as soon as one blister disappeared, another formed.

But even though I was sore and tired, when I beheld the palace’s onyx walls, magic began to swirl like a tornado inside me. In the moonlight, the looming castle shone like obsidian.

Standing near the gates, the guards on night duty watched me approach, their eyes narrowing with every step I took.

When I reached them, one of them curled his lip at me. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“My belongings are within the palace. I need them.”

The guard looked to the other across the lane. “Did you hear that? The whore wants us to retrieve her things.”

My head snapped back, but just as fast, I seethed. “I am the prince’s mate .” I drew myself up taller and shot him an icy glare. “For your own sake, you may want to remember that.”

A brief flash of uneasiness stole over his face, but just as fast, he rolled his eyes. “According to the king and queen, mate or no, you’re to be arrested if you attempt to get within the palace again.”

My eyes widened. Surely, they wouldn’t be that cruel. “But my things. I need them. I literally have nothing . Absolutely nothing. The least that you can do is return my bag and coins to me.”

“The least I can do is not call the kingsfae to have you arrested all over again.” He bared his teeth, and the guard across the lane snickered.

My cheeks flushed. “And did the king and queen also order you to be so heartless?”

“They’re none of your concern,” he replied coldly. “Word of advice, you best be on your way before either of them learns that you’ve returned. They might not be so kind to you a second time.”

A ball of worry knotted in my stomach. Without any clothes, rulibs, or a place to spend the night, I was in a much direr state than I’d ever dreamed possible. “Please, at least get me my bag. That’s all I’m asking. I won’t step a foot inside the palace.”

“No,” he replied coldly, and he made a move forward, as though he were going to strike me.

I jumped back, memories tumbling to the front of my mind of how Zale, my former guard at Emerson Estate, had treated me. But my abrupt movement had my foot catching on my gown. Stumbling, I almost fell backward on the pavement but caught myself just in time.

“Leave her be,” the guard at the gate’s other side said, a note of worry in his tone. “The prince won’t like it if you hurt her.”

I turned pleading eyes on him, hoping he had an ounce of mercy in his heart. “At least tell me where the prince is. Has he come back? Is he okay?”

But the guard only shook his head. “We’re not to tell you anything about the prince. Now, like he said, you best get on your way.” He nodded down the street.

Dejectedly, I was about to turn away, but then someone called from within the palace’s large open front courtyard, “He’s not back yet! But do as the guards said and go!”

I swung around to see Saramel standing on the other side of the gates. I nearly ran to her, tears instantly forming in my eyes at seeing a familiar face, but a quick shake of her head had me stopping.

She jerked her chin to the side, and her subtle communication had me schooling my expression into neutrality.

Turning on my heel, I scurried away from the palace and around the corner in the direction that she’d nodded.

On the opposite street, away from the palace wall but still visible should anyone walk by, I waited near the street corner, hidden just inside an alleyway.

Tapping my foot, I continually searched for Saramel on the dark street, but she didn’t appear.

Above me, the moons slowly glided across the sky. Stars danced in the galaxy, winking in pulsing light, and colors emitted from the visible planets.

I used the night sky to calm me, latching onto its beauty as I waited and waited and waited.

I finally sank to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping the navy gown around my legs. I tried to ward off the chill, but it had to be after midnight, and I was freezing.

Hopelessness began to consume me, seeping deep into my bones as the night sky continued to shine.

I had no idea what I was going to do. I had no rulibs. No friends. No home to venture to. And even if I wanted to return to Emerson Estate since I had nowhere else to go, I had no way of getting there. Besides, I couldn’t even leave. The courts had demanded that I stay in the city. Even if the city didn’t want me.

I dropped my head onto my forearms, and tears sprang into my eyes. Fear bit me so hard that I couldn’t contain it any longer. A soft, mewling sound escaped me as I let some of my worry gush out of me.

“Elowen,” a soft voice said, then somebody dropped to the ground at my side.

I whipped my head up to see Saramel hunkered beside me. A shawl covered her hair, hiding most of her appearance. “I couldn’t come any sooner. I’m so sorry.”

I threw my arms around her. She didn’t utter a sound, and just as quickly, her thin arms locked around my neck.

We held each other as tears rolled down my cheeks, and quiet sobs lifted her shoulders. The despair wafting from both of our auras was so acute that I could practically taste it.

Finally pulling back, I wiped my eyes. She did the same. I regarded her carefully. “How’s Cassim?”

“Asleep, thankfully. He doesn’t know yet what’s happened. But he asked at bedtime why his da wasn’t there to tuck him in, so I had to make up an excuse.” She shrugged dejectedly. “He asked if he would see him in the morning, and I didn’t know what to say.”

New tears formed in her eyes, and I pulled her back in for another hug. She clung to me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone other than me knew the truth about her husband. She seemed as fearful and alone as I felt.

“Have you heard anything?” I asked when she pulled back. “Do you know where they are or what’s happening to them?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been trying to stay close to the halls in case anyone says anything, but nobody knows what’s happening. And if the king and queen are aware, they’re not telling anyone. I even asked the queen’s personal attendant, but she’s oblivious too.”

“They’re not back? None of them?”

“No. Not one.” She gripped my hands, and her throat rolled in a swallow. “It was pure luck I even saw you. I happened to walk outside to see if they were perhaps making their way back. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of them on the street, and that’s when I saw you at the gate.”

“I’m so glad you found me, and I looked for them too when I was at the courts, but I didn’t see any of them.”

“Stars, I nearly forgot that’s where you’ve been!” Her tone turned anguished. “Elowen, I’m so sorry. How are you doing?”

“I’m okay, just scared, like you. They took me in for questioning, then let me go. I have no idea where they took the rest of them. They split us up when we left the palace. But even down there, I didn’t see them.”

Saramel nodded, her frown growing heavier in the moonlight. “They’ll have to send word eventually. Prince Adarian is the crown prince, for goodness’ sake. They can’t keep him indefinitely without informing the king and queen.”

“Do you suppose the king and queen already know what’s happening, and they’re just not telling anyone?”

She shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” She glanced over her shoulder, toward the palace. “But I should go back. Cassim’s alone in our quarters. I don’t want him to be afraid if he wakes up.”

“Of course. I’m so sorry to keep you.” I hastily stood and smoothed out my gown, wiping the dust and dirt off my backside.

Saramel looked me up and down. “You must be freezing.”

“I am, but . . .” I shrugged. “I’ll survive.”

She cocked her head, her frown growing even more troubled. “Do you have anywhere to go?”

I considered lying to her. She didn’t need my troubles to worry about on top of her own, but I couldn’t. I’d lied enough today. I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak.

“Oh, Elowen.” She clasped my hands. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. Of course, you have nowhere to go.” She pulled something from her pocket and pressed it into my palm. I realized it was a handful of rulibs when she closed my fingers around them. “Take this. It’s all I have on me, but I’ll do my best to retrieve your things for you tomorrow. You have plenty of rulibs within the palace to sustain you. But for tonight, go down to the wharf. This will be enough to get you a room near the docks and a bit of food. It’s not the most luxurious accommodations, but at least it’ll be a roof over your head.”

I squeezed her hand. “Thank you. I’ll pay you back.”

She gave me a weak smile, then shifted closer to my side and whispered, “They still don’t have Quinn. I’ve already sent a dillemsill to try and find him.”

My eyes widened. I’d completely forgotten about the eighth member of their raiding group in the interim. He’d disappeared days ago, after Jax and his friends had nearly been caught by the kingsfae in Possyrose Forrest.

“Do you think you can reach him?”

She shrugged. “It depends on the dillemsill. Sometimes they’re able to find him. And sometimes they can’t, but I’ll hope for the best.”

I nodded. “How will I find you again tomorrow?”

“Let’s meet here at ten bells into the evening. With any luck, Nellip, the prince, and all the others will be back by then anyway, and all of this will be behind us.”

“All right. Ten tomorrow. And you’ll bring my things if they’re still not free?”

She nodded. “Yes, I’ll find a way to get everything.”

“Is there any chance you can also grab a handful of portal keys from Quinn’s stash? Just in case I need to get somewhere quickly?”

“Yes, I’ll do my best to get all of that for you.” She squeezed my hands again. “We’ll survive this, somehow, Elowen. We will.”

I dipped my head. “Yes, we will. And Saramel? Thank you.”

She took a trembling breath. “Let’s just hope by tomorrow, this nightmare is over.”