Page 13 of Facade

I stopped. “Why? How would he even know who I am?”

Aiden huffed. “There are bigger things at play in the Eastern Realm among the Fae than you could understand. You’re…” He stopped and shook his head. “You’re being summoned. End of story.”

“What about me?” Did he know where I came from? Where my family disappeared to?

“That’s all I can answer,” he shot back, making me recoil. His jaw ticked as he noted my reaction. “Come,” he growled after a moment and turned, dismissing the next question already forming on my tongue.

With his back to me, I turned toward the gate—closed. But that hole in the wall wasn’t far—

“I wouldn’t.”

I startled at the closeness of his voice, craning my neck as I turned. He towered over me, his expression unreadable, but he was clearly irritated in the way he huffed like that angry stallion. My pulse hammered against my ribs as he grabbed my arm once more and pulled me after him, my boots scraping along the stone path.

What the hell happened in my life before my memories were stolen, that would put me on the Fae King’s radar—a position no one would want. I highly doubted the Fae King knew any of the human slaves in his wife’s court. This had to do with that bastard guard from last night.

I wanted to demand answers, refuse to move until he told me what my fate would be in the north. But I knew that to escape, I’d need to get away from this place and break the shackles of Cressida’s curse that bound me to it. With a newfound purpose, I slowly rebuilt that net of restraint around myself, preparing for a game of patience and resilience.

I’d only ever been inside the kitchens and dungeons. That’s as far into the castle as I’d ever been allowed.

As we entered, I shamelessly gaped at the bright colors everywhere—entirely at odds with the dreary stone exterior. Pinks, yellows, royal blues—from the railing, to the vases sitting upon intricately carved stone stands.

The large crystal chandelier that hung in the entryway glittered in the glow of multiple torches lining the walls. Black banisters with vine-like bars snaked upward, lining marble white stairs. It was stark and clean. Oak doors lined the halls on either side of us. On the left, the doors were barred. The double doors on the right stood slightly ajar, where raised voices drifted out.

The captain turned toward the latter.

“Wait here,” he said, motioning to a chair beside the room. He left me with two guards standing stoically in the hall.

I hated it here. Nothing good ever came from being in the castle for humans. Every human who entered came out entirely changed. Whether it was a session with Cressida below in the dungeons, or something worse. No one dared ask.

My fingers twisted together in my lap as the door silently clicked shut behind him. A fresh citrus scent clung to the air, triggering my gag reflex. Too clean. Too pristine.

The Queen’s muffled voice rose, and my head snapped up in response.

The door creaked open.

“Evanee!” she screeched.

My back twitched as I stiffly stood, tugging Aiden's’ jacket tighter around me as I slowly walked through the door. Not that I wanted his scent to cling to me more than it already was, but rather, I was still in my nightdress. And no corset.

The Queen sat behind a mahogany desk, still in her earlier attire, her crown now resting in front of her. Dark green eyes burned furiously as she glared at me, tapping long, black painted nails along the desk with a click, click, click.

“For some unfathomable reason, my husband wants you in the north.”

Click, click, click.

My attention flicked to Aiden as he crossed his arms, his face unreadable.

“I have half a mind to tell him no,” she scowled, this time at Aiden.

He stepped forward, voice firm. “You will allow me to take her. It would be unwise to refuse him. You don’t want to be on his less favorable side once he gains what he’s after, would you?” My heart beat faster as his eyes burned brighter, his tone both commanding and openly disrespectful.

“I am the Queen!” Valentina bared her fangs, shoving her chair back with enough force for it to crack against the wall behind her. “You will show respect.”

“And you know what I am.” The side of his mouth lifted in a wicked grin, lighting his face, canines on display.

I stepped back involuntarily. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea to go willingly. I don’t even know what he is. At least here, I knew the monsters I’m dealing with.

The Queen laughed, low and cruel. “Oh, I know what you are. And who, Aiden.”