Chapter 12 #2
“I do,” I said, my hand going to the magical dampener around my neck. It had been too long since I had accessed my power. Everything felt off with my magic gone.
Gideon shifted his body so that he faced me, blocking me from Kane’s sight. “Not all of us agree with how things are being played out.”
He was careful with his words, not to insult his king.
I understood the meaning and nodded. “Thank you. It's been really hard.”
That emotion that crept up in the worst times bubbled to the surface. I did not want to cry at dinner, not around all these strangers. They couldn't see me weak. I had to be strong.
“You know,” Gideon said, smiling at me, making it hard to not smile back. “There are many places around the palace that I think you may enjoy.”
The only places I had visited were the stables, the kitchens, my room, and the outside grassy area near the stables. Liora had been adamant that I didn’t visit anywhere else. Not after my incident in the dungeons.
“Not sure I'm allowed anywhere.” I took another sip of the wine, my muscles relaxing a bit.
“What does that say about the fae if we keep our future queen locked in a tower like a pet?”
Before the truth of his words could settle in my mind, he continued.
“As the king's cousin and one of his nobles, it's my duty to show the future queen a bit of the beauty of our world.”
I wanted to tell him it didn't matter because I wasn't going through with this marriage. Though, honestly, I had no idea how to get out of it. “I would like that if it's allowed.”
“You let me worry about that,” he replied with a wink. “It’s only right that you should see what you're getting into. Don't you think?”
I took another sip of wine. “I guess so.”
Gideon raised his glass. “In the meantime, I’ll give you a rundown on who’s who.”
Intrigued, I leaned in closer, knowing any information on Kane’s court could only help.
“Those two twins over there,” he said, pointing to two fae the color of the morning sun, “are Riddik, Master of Coin, and his sister, Renna, Master of the Hunt.”
Dark swirling tattoos ran up Renna’s neck and along the sides of her face, her wild russet hair frayed out around her shoulders. Unlike her twin who laughed beside her, Renna seemed uninterested by the banquet.
Riddik met my gaze, his golden eyes almost hypnotizing me, and I wondered if he had some type of elemental mutation that allowed him to do so.
His shaggy russet hair just passed his pointy ears and had been styled away from his face, which was extremely handsome.
Besides Kane, Riddik was the most handsome fae I had ever encountered.
It made sense that he would be the one to deal with the financial responsibilities of the court.
How could anyone say no to a fae that charming?
“Then you have our beloved jester.” Gideon gazed at the fae in the corner playing a lute, the male’s curly brown hair bouncing as he tapped his foot. “Conroy Duffy is the finest bard in all of Saol.”
The bard gestured in our direction, singing louder.
Gideon continued pointing out the nobles, including his sisters who had all been pining for the king, hoping one of them would be chosen.
There were three fairies from the Nightsong Jungle, almost a larger version of the pixies, and Nustul Stormgut, a dwarf ambassador who had been working on a trade alliance with Kane.
The dwarf laughed, his braided ginger beard bouncing off his stout belly. Whatever he said to Kane made the Deathless One smile.
By the time Gideon had finished, my belly was full, and the fae court didn’t seem as scary. He leaned back, and when he did, Kane's glare landed right on me.
I froze, not understanding what I could possibly have done wrong other than having a polite conversation.
“Don't worry about him,” Gideon said. “He's got other issues to deal with.”
“Like what?”
“Gideon,” Kane said, interrupting the discussion.
Everyone around the table quieted.
Gideon turned, a smile on his face. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How fares Lady Ista?”
Gideon's eyes did not match the painted smile on his face. “Well, Your Majesty.”
“And the alliance?” Kane added. The black-haired pixie flew to his shoulder. She wore a short black dress with tattered edges around the sides, her eyes focused on Gideon.
“Her father has sent over the contract, and we shall be wed soon, Your Majesty.”
“Good,” Kane said as he lifted his goblet to his lips.
And that was it.
There were no more questions. No more comments.
Gideon didn't speak to me again.
The slight comfortableness I was feeling vanished. Instead of letting Kane’s jealous interruption bother me, I focused on the now cold soup and ate. Conversations continued around me, no one else bothering to say hello.
Every so often, the hair on the back of my neck tingled, and I’d glance up to find a fae eyeing me and whispering.
I shouldn’t be here… drinking . . eating like everything is normal.
Panic clawed its way up my throat. The tightening in my chest made my heart beat rapidly.
He killed my husband.
He’s a murderer.
What if they are all like that?
What if…
I couldn't see Liora, but hoped she was hiding behind one of those drapes. I lifted two fingers to my chest, the signal that we had worked on. Once she didn't appear, that panic grew.
At any moment, one of them could attack, and I was defenseless.
Focusing inward, I searched for my magic to find a way past the fog in my mind. If I could just have a sliver of that familiar power, it would be enough comfort to get me through the night.
The black-haired pixie landed on the table in front of me. “You’re to be the future queen?”
I didn't respond, knowing anything I said would be the wrong answer.
“I asked you a question,” the pixie said.
Again, I ignored her. There was not much soup left. I scraped a chunk of bread along the inside of the bowl, trying my best to hide my shaking, but I nervously tapped the bowl.
The pixie hissed and flew forward, right at my face.
On instinct, I swatted her hard, sending her across the table with a loud thump, knocking over plates and bowls of food, her cry stilling everyone in the room.
Gasps erupted around me, and I realized what I had done.
Kane stood, his amber eyes almost glowing with fury. He walked around the table, fae scattering out of the way.
Gideon quickly rose, attempting to block him. “Your Majesty.”
Kane shoved him aside and I cowered back against the pillows. He leaned over, grabbed my arm, and yanked me to my feet.
“Ouch!” I cried. “It was an accident!”
I truly did not mean to hit the pixie. She sat in a bowl of soup, covered in pumpkin, glaring at me.
“Anna,” Kane said, gripping me tightly. “You and Ella get Olivia out of here. Everyone else, dinner is over.”
“What are you doing? Stop!” I yelled, tugging against his hold.
He didn't say a word, and all the whispering behind me sent me into survival mode. Straining against Kane’s grip, I twisted and pulled against him, desperate to be free.
Gideon stood by the table, his gaze hard and worried. Liora appeared behind him and attempted to move toward me before he held out an arm and shook his head at her.
Our gazes locked, fear brimming her eyes.
Nobody was going to come save me.
Kane pulled me out of the hall and into the adjacent corridor.
“Let go of me!” I yelled.
He did, tossing me against the wall.
I froze, looking up at him as he cornered me.
He placed his hands on either side of my head. “You attack one of my pixies again and I don't care what the magi do to me. I will kill you.”
Pressing my back against the wall, I tried to put space between us. “I didn't mean to. I just reacted. She flew right at me. I thought she was going to hit me.”
My words came out in a squeak as Kane’s amber eyes glowed and his skin rippled with scales.
I was not a violent person. And what harm could the pixie truly have done to me? And the way she yelped… Tears filled my eyes. “I didn't mean to hurt her. That's not who I am.”
The fire in Kane’s gaze dimmed a bit and he tilted his head. “You have been nothing but violent.”
“You attacked me at my home. You killed my husband. I haven't… I couldn't even bury him.”
Tears fell and Kane stepped back, folding his arms. “Know this. My pixies mean more to me than anything else. I will allow this insult only once because you're new to my court and you didn't know that no one is allowed to harm them in any way. If there is a punishment to be had, I will enact it.”
“You killed my husband. There is no greater punishment!”
No response, not even an apology.
I hate him so much.
I wiped the tears from my face and stood straight, attempting to regain any sense of dignity.
His mouth curved into a grin as if he enjoyed watching me in pain. “I think it's time that we see if you're worthy of being Queen of the Fae.”
“What does that mean?”
“Tomorrow, I will take you to the cave of blessings. It has been almost a thousand years since someone has gone in and survived. We’ll see if you do.”
“That sounds like a death sentence! Why not just kill me now?”
Kane whistled and two guards adorned in golden armor and curved blades came. “If you are the child of prophecy, you have nothing to worry about.”
Touching my face, I rubbed the birthmark as Kane glared at me.
“Remove this thorn from my side.”
The guards reached for me, and I dodged the first one, only to be caught by the second. “Wait!”
My cries echoed down the hall as each guard took an arm and dragged me back to the spire.