Page 23 of Facade

A chilling sensation crept along my spine, my throat suddenly dry. Fear didn’t grip me as it should have from his words. Instead, a dangerous thrill sparked in my chest at the knowledge that some of the darkness tainting him was nailed to the wall back at Castle Aurelia.

And it didn’t bother me one damn bit.

We didn’t talk after that. The death and destruction had laid a heavy blanket on us all, dampening any chance at conversation. Even Lyra looked pale and grim when we left.

Iron screeched, making me perk up in the cramped space. The carriage finally slowed as we approached the “friends” home. I couldn’t wait to get a break from the four walls surrounding me—my containment. The dungeons hadn’t felt this claustrophobic. At least in there, I had room to move and was alone. In here—it’s as if my world was growing smaller.

“Oh, I wish they’d hurry! I need to piss!” Lyra squealed, holding herself as she bounced up and down.

“Lyra, stop that! That doesn’t help!”

“You know you’re not the boss of me, right?” she huffed. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Maybe not, but if you wet yourself, you’ll look like a child. Not to mention all the males will see,” I shot back. Her mouth twisted as she mocked me, exaggerating every word. I dragged a hand over my face.

The carriage door clicked open, and my stiff joints screamed as I stretched out my legs.

“My Queen.” Aiden bowed.

I fought the urge to smack him as I brushed past, irritated at his insistence on calling me that. But that feeling was fleeting as I gaped at the home before me. Home wasn’t an appropriate word. Small Castle was more accurate. It was almost the same size as Castle Aurelia.

Made of pale stone, it rose high, with giant black pillars on either side of the stairs that led to the entrance. The entire property was surrounded by iron fencing, with the greenest grass inside, a garden, and miles of forest beyond. My face fell—escape would be impossible to attempt here. Between the ten-foot-tall wrought iron fencing and the seemingly endless forest, I wouldn’t make it far. That’s if I were to get away at all. There was still my invisible tether to the captain to deal with.

The large wooden doors opened, and out walked a tall male in finery, his smile broad as he glided down the stairs to greet us. His tanned skin shone as brightly as if he were glowing. Pointed ears poked out around his close-cropped, curly hair. But something in the way he carried himself told me he wasn’t Fae. He was different. Older. The tension among the guards tightened as he approached; the males seemed to keep their distance, subtly stepping back.

Eyes of the deepest gold scanned over us, though his weren't like the guard on the horse, whom I learned goes by Malachai. But more severe. As if he held an ancient power in them that demanded respect.

“Aiden!”

The male embraced Aiden in a hug, and the captain returned it with a smile. A genuine one that I didn’t think him capable of. A warmth spread through me—stop it.

“It’s been too long!”

“Yes, it has.” The corner of Aiden’s mouth lifted. “Thaddeus, may I introduce you to Evanee, a queen visiting from the Southern Realm.” He gestured toward me. I didn’t know what to do. Thaddeus didn’t look like a male easily deceived. Yet that powerful gaze washed over me before he folded into a very dramatic bow. I fidgeted with the sash and curtsied, averting my gaze.

Lyra snorted a laugh behind us. I shot her a glare, noting that she was squeezing her legs together and dancing. One of the other guards looked at her and coughed into his arm, a hint of a smile on his face.

“Your Majesty, it is an honor to have you here at my home.” Thaddeus lifted, and his attention flicked to Lyra, his brow raised. “Uh, my dear. Why don’t you use one of the toilets in the house? My butler can show you where it is.”

“You have a working toilet? Damn! Thought only the Queen had those, and she don’t let anyone use them. I knew this would be the best adventure ever!” She hooted and hollered as she shuffled past.

Thaddeus shook his head, expression dumbfounded as he watched her go, then dragged his gaze back to us, smiling once more. “Come! I’ve had dinner prepared. We have much catching up to do.” He smiled once more, flashing all of his teeth as he clapped Aiden on the shoulder, then bounded up the stairs.

Aiden motioned for his guards to walk ahead.

My eyes slid skyward, the setting sun already casting an orange glow through the clouds. I held up my skirts and obediently followed until a savory aroma of smoked meat wafted over me. It triggered my mouth to water. My lips pressed together, clamping down a moan, but my stomach wasn’t so subtle.

I placed a hand over my abdomen, cringing. Hopefully, it wasn’t that loud. We didn’t get decent meals back at the Queen’s Castle. Blanche mostly fed us gruel in the mornings, broth with bread and cheese for lunch, and, for dinner, leftovers from the main kitchen—which were scarce.

“That’s not a very queenly sound,” Aiden whispered in my ear. I cursed.

“Nor language. You really shouldn’t talk like that.”

“I wouldn’t be this irritable had we just stopped and eaten earlier in the day.”

Though my irritability had nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with the goosebumps spreading from his breath on my neck. My body reacted to him in a way I couldn’t control—I hadn’t been with anyone in my time at the Castle. It was hard to grow close to someone if they all treated you like a plague. Sure, there were those I fended off. But they hadn’t been males I was interested in. I wasn’t blind to the captain’s attractiveness, but that’s where it stopped. Those feelings weren’t an option. Especially when it came to someone who willingly served the Fae.

He chuckled. “I told you we had to keep moving. I’ll have more provisions for tomorrow.” He walked past me, lightly brushing against my arm, the steel in his eye gone.