Page 69 of Fae Games

Pokeweed turned around, his eyes softening. “Spend time with Prince Bradwell. He might be the key to winning Prince August’s heart.”

My heart lightened at his words. After returning to the sofa to slip on my shoes, I crossed the room and let him help me with my cloak. He placed the garment on my shoulders with the most featherlight of touches, as though I was made of pixie glass, and he was afraid of making me shatter.

Once the hood was on my head and I was invisible, Pokeweed placed his palm on the wall and inhaled. An opening appeared in the wall, along with a breeze that carried the scent of sweet apples and blossoms.

He paused, which I took for my cue to walk in front of him, and I stepped out into the orchard. An orange sun dipped behind the horizon of an indigo sky, lengthening the trees’ shadows.

If this was Doolish, I would run back inside, as it was around this time that the lesser dark creatures ventured out from the Mound. Instead, Pokeweed and I walked in silence through the quiet orchard with only the rustling leaves as company.

I glanced around for signs of McVittie, but couldn’t find him slinking from trunk to trunk. The cat was maybe a hundred years old and had probably curled up somewhere and fallen asleep. It made me wonder if he had considered if breaking the curse would turn him into a withered old man, too weak to support his body weight.

As we crossed a meadow and approached a copse of trees, a figure paced in the distance with hair that looked ruby-red in the light of the setting sun. It was Prince Bradwell, dressed in blue breeches and a matching jacket instead of the usual academy uniform.

Two guards stepped out from behind a kissing tree. The taller of the pair said, “Who goes there?”

“It’s only Puke, the overgrown moth,” said the shorter one.

Keeping close to Pokeweed’s side, I clenched my fists and clamped my lips together. What was it with these bloody guards needing to act like overgrown dicks?

“Hey, Puke.” The taller guard swaggered over to Pokeweed with his chest puffed out. “Have you seen Unity Quayle?”

Pokeweed walked past them, acting as though they were invisible.

“Hey,” said the taller guard. “I was talking to you.”

Pokeweed gave them the barest glance over my shoulder. “Then perhaps you should address me by name and not with an insult.”

“Have you seen her or not?” the other faerie snapped.

“Not for at least a day.” Pokeweed continued toward Prince Bradwell, who turned toward us and frowned.

I stared ahead, hoping Prince Bradwell would intervene. These assholes acted like they were trying to pick a fight, and I didn’t want Pokeweed to get into more trouble after he’d turned those other guards’ dicks into mushrooms.

“How do we know you’re not lying?” sneered one of the guards from behind.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Prince Bradwell snapped.

The two guards stepped away from Pokeweed, and the shorter of them cleared his throat. “Your Highness—”

“Idiots like you bring the king’s guard into disrepute.” Prince Bradwell strode toward us, his hands clenched into fists. ”If you wish to make inquiries, do so without insulting innocent folk.”

The shorter male frowned. “With all due respect, Your Highness, half-bloods—”

“Deserve as much respect as anyone else.” Prince Bradwell’s nostrils flared. “Or would you like to contradict me?”

The guard lowered his head. “No.”

Pokeweed walked away, his shoulders hunched, and his arms shaking with rage. He’d been so much calmer when that guard had pissed at his feet. I stared after him, piecing together the events of the day. I guess a strong faerie like him didn’t like the thought of being rescued.

“Get out of my sight,” said Prince Bradwell.

The two guards turned back toward their hiding place. With the greatest of care, I crept toward him and placed a hand on his chest. He drew in a sharp breath through his teeth but remained silent. As the guards disappeared around the kissing trees, I stepped on his feet and wrapped both arms around his neck.

Prince Bradwell’s wings extended, and he soared into the dark sky.

My stomach lurched, and my lips parted for a noisy gasp as we rose above the treetops. The only thing keeping me from falling to my death was the strength of my grip around the prince.

“You’re safe, now,” he murmured.