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Marlak glares at me. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
The words sting like a lash. Well, he is an asshole. At least the sting wakes me.
Marlak turns back to Nelsin. “Explain everything. It’s an order.”
The blond fae faces the prince. “I brought Astra here to see how she’d react if you were attacked, and cast an illusion.” He glances at me quickly. I sure hope he doesn’t tell Marlak everything. “It seems she wouldn’t want to see you harmed.”
I exhale, relieved that he didn’t mention my foolish jump.
I see a vein popping in Marlak’s neck. “Did I ask you to test her? Did I ask anyone to doubt her?”
“I didn’t feel it was right that I couldn’t protect you as well.” Nelsin looks down and shakes his head. “It was foolish and wrong.”
Marlak touches the blond fae’s chin and lifts his face. “Listen to me.” His words are slow, measured, his voice low. “You are sworn to protect her, not me. Her. If you see her with a knife trying to kill me, you protect her. If I’m about to die, you protect her.”
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, but if he’s that suicidal, so be it. I’m not going to point out that he’s dumb, especially if he’ll yell at me.
Nelsin nods quickly. “Understood. Then, as we stood here, two bloodpuppets appeared out of nowhere. They had invisibility glamour and magic-sucking darts.”
“From which court?”
Nelsin’s lips form a line. “I don’t know. One of the darts hit me and impaired my magic. Astra killed the puppets, though.”
Marlak turns to me, his mouth open. Was he doubting I could kill anyone? He turns back to Nelsin, who continues, “But they had some dark magic, and one of them turned into leech roaches. I told Astra to run. I begged her, but she didn’t.”
The prince huffs. “Yes, it would be so great for her to run alone, right at the edge of the Wild Fae Lands. I can’t see how it would be dangerous.”
Nelsin swallows. “Better than being devoured by leech roaches. But she cast this light shield and asked me to be quiet. That was what I did, as I waited for my magic to return.”
Marlak rests his face in his hands and closes his eyes, then takes a deep breath. “I flew all the way from the Eerie Court when I… I saw it. It took me over three hours.”
“Indeed,” Nelsin says. “It felt like much longer. My magic got back to me, but it wouldn’t work outside her shield, and I was afraid to disturb it, so I waited. I’m glad you came, and I’m ready to face the consequences of my actions.” He then kneels and looks down.
I fear that Marlak is going to behead him, and say, “Don’t hurt him!”
All I get is a glare in response.
The prince turns to Nelsin. “You’re henceforth dismissed from your duties as a royal knight.”
Nelsin looks up. “That’s it? What I did is unforgivable.”
Is he really complaining that he didn’t get a strong enough punishment?
“Rest assured you won’t be forgiven.” Marlak’s deep cutting voice sounds terrifying.
Nelsin then turns to me. “Whenever you need me?—”
Marlak steps between me and the fae. “No. I don’t want you anywhere close to her.”
“I have a life debt to her,” Nelsin says.
“A life debt to me too,” Marlak roars. “Because had you served anyone else, you’d be killed for your insubordination. And yet you’ll be able to walk away, unharmed and free. Don’t get close to Astra.”
Nelsin bows. “Noted.”
Marlak then turns to me. “Let’s go. We lingered too long.”
“What about him?” I point to Nelsin.
