Page 152 of The Fallen Fae King

A fae never lies.

But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t carefully watch what they do say…or don’t.

I don’t answer.

Instead, I spin to my feet, flapping my wings. “My pinion feather has almost grown back. I should be able to fly again any day.”

Excitedly, Freya bursts to her feet. “That’s amazing. I can’t wait.” She touches the pinion feather behind her ear. “I felt bad about taking this from you.”

“You didn’t take it from me. I gave it to you.”

“But you can’t fly now, right? So, do you have another way to escape?”

I should have known that she would ask that. My Spark is smart.

I have been protecting my Frost Clan from everybody since we were captured by Aurelius.

I have seen how Maximinus has used anyone I cared for against me.

My army lost everything. We started again together. My Frost Clan, including Ciara, were my best friends and new family.

Only three of them remain.

If Aurelius had known that they were captured and survived, what would he have done to them? He tried to take my cat from me as a punishment. Would he have done the same with my family?

How could I trust him not to threaten me like he did over Five? He could have blackmailed me.

Secretly, the Frost Clan have been my spies in Draca Kingdom and its army.

One way to control the board is to have invisible pieces on it that your opponent doesn’t even know exist.

I swoop to Freya, grasping her by the shoulders. She drops the core of the apple in shock, as I surround her in my wings. I drag her to our smoky and leather-scented nest by the hearth.

The crackle of the fire is at least some cover if the guards are listening.

I cocoon her in my wings, wrapping us in my shadows.

Freya’s eyes are wide. “What is this? A feather fort?”

“Good idea. Let’s add blankets.” I reach to throw the blankets over us as well to muffle our voices further. Then I lean to her ear to whisper, “The idiots haven’t bothered to check the olive tree in the back garden. I can climb it because that’s one of my talents. The jump over the back wall is dangerous, but you know me. I like a challenge. The daft guards patrol on a strict schedule. I can avoid them.”

“Why take the risk?” Freya challenges, concerned.

Here goes.

“I won’t. Yet. Closer to the Primo Festival, however, I have people who I need to meet.”

Freya clutches my arms. “Not good enough.”

“Because we’re not sitting here like sweet consorts while our Bat-faced King is tortured in that dungeon. We plan to break him out, aye?”

“But who are these people?”

My tongue is heavy.

I have held my silence on my Frost Clan for so long that this feels like breaking a vow.

But this is Freya. I trust her.