Page 64 of Fate of the Sun King

“I suspect it’s the same thing happening across Ouranos.”

We look up, where many of the leaves carry the same taint. Even the air seems different. I take a deep breath, inhaling the clean forest scent of pine and soil, but it’s mingled with a faint, cloying odor of decay. Our surrounding guards study the trees with grim scrutiny. They don’t appear surprised, though, so this isn’t new, only troubling.

“The mine collapse, those quakes we keep feeling, the depleting fish stocks, the other things we keep hearing about. There are too many events at once to be natural. Something similar happened when our magic disappeared, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s all connected,” Nadir says.

“Connected how?” I ask.

“I’m not sure yet. Maybe it’s nothing.”

I watch him for a moment, but it’s clear from the concern on his face that he doesn’t believe those words. I try to hold in my sigh. Not to be selfish, but the last thing we need is another wrench in our plans.

We continue walking, and I’m so tired now that my head spins. Just when I’m about to consider accepting Nadir’s offer to carry me, I catch sight of the edge of the tree line. We emerge from the forest into a wide clearing where the biggest tree I’ve ever seen spreads into the sky. It’s massive, practically a mountain. But then I note the windows and platforms suspended along its trunk and realize this enormous treehouse must be the Woodlands Fort.

I’m almost too tired to be impressed by the sight, and I start imagining a warm bath and a soft bed, hoping Cedar will allow us some time to rest before we “catch up.”

“Welcome,” Cedar says, having just dismounted from his horse. “You must be weary. We’ll get you some rooms, and you can rest.”

These are literally the best words I’ve ever heard in my life.

We enter the Fort through a set of tall gold doors into a grand hall with a curving ceiling braced with golden arches and a shiny green floor so smooth it looks like glass.

A female Fae, wearing brown leathers, approaches from down the hall, and at the sight of us, she breaks into a run. The queen of The Woodlands is as lovely as I remember from the Sun Queen Ball, with her long chestnut hair and bright green eyes along with a pair of those impressive wings. She leaps into Cedar’s arms, and he spins her around as they smother each other in sloppy kisses. How long has he been away? If he came to find us this morning, it couldn’t have been more than a few hours.

Watching them openly express their affection makes me seek out Nadir. When I find him, he’s already looking at me, and our gazes hold for a tense beat before I look away.

“It’s so nice to meet you finally!” says the queen. I remember her name is Elswyth. She takes my hands in hers and clasps them firmly. “I thought we’d never get the chance.”

I frown at her words. They’re all acting like they cared that we disappeared, and didn’t leave us to rot at the hands of the Aurora King for half our lives.

“Okay,” I say, not really sure how to respond, but she isn’t deterred by my less-than-enthusiastic response. She’s now hugging Tristan, her arms cinched around him so tightly that it’s almost a little awkward. He’s obviously as guarded as I am. We look at each other and shrug.

“We have rooms ready for you. And baths,” Elswyth says, her gaze lingering on the blood coating both Tristan and Nadir. “Seems like you’ve been through something on your way here. Come with me.”

She keeps up a string of chatter, describing the architecture of the Fort and explaining about the Winter Ball tomorrow, to which we’re all invited. Great, another party. I think I already got my fill when we were in The Aurora.

Finally, she stops before a door and gestures me inside while the other four are taken to rooms along the same hall. My guest room is paneled with varying shades of polished wood, and the floor is made of planks of honey-colored beams covered with thick green rugs. I sigh out loud at the sight of a large wooden bed layered with emerald-green pillows and sheets.

“There’s a warm bath for you if you’d like,” Elswyth says. “I’ll have some food sent up as well.”

She stands with her hands clasped at her waist, giving me a bright smile. I move to the window that overlooks miles and miles of green forest sprawling in every direction.

“Great. Thank you.”

“It’s a miracle to have you here. I never thought we’d see you again,” she says, repeating her earlier words, then dips her head. “I’ll let you get settled.”

Then she’s gone. I take a turn about the room, checking the drawers and closet, finding a pair of thick green leggings and a tunic made of soft, stretchy fabric. I take them into the bathroom and then strip down to clean myself off. When I’m done, I find a platter of food on a low table near the window.

I nibble on the bread, but my exhaustion outweighs my hunger.

Instead, I climb under the sheets, savoring their cool crispness and sighing again before I drift into a dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

When I awake, the sun hangs low in the sky, and it seems I’ve slept away most of the day. Lying on my back, I stretch out, testing the aches and twinges of my encounter with the Aurora King’s goons.

The hollow pit in my stomach rumbles, and I make my way towards the food left for me earlier. Someone has brought in a fresh platter of bread, cheese, and slices of cured meat. The jug of water is still filled with ice, suggesting someone was in here not long ago.

I try not to let that thought bother me. I was exhausted and slept like the dead. The healer had said the poison might linger in my system for a few days, making me more tired than usual.