Page 35 of Fae Farewells

But that made me think… Silence wasn’t why it left. Whatever was in my mind wouldn’t feed off me for long.

And though I felt solemn now, I wouldn’t stay that way.

* * *

The palace was a fucking monstrosity of mismatched bullshit. I didn’t know how else to describe it.

I wasn’t a design genius, but gods… someone should have stopped that bitch from mixing twenty different patterned stones and bricks with wood paneling. It was like a train wreck; you didn’t want to see it, though it was impossible to look away.

There was another palace in the distance. Snow completely covered it, only the sun highlighting the shape of the architecture. But I could tell it was beautiful.

It had to be the original winter palace.

Because how many abandoned castles could one realm have?

Sarge ushered us to a back entrance with staff quarters attached. Inside, the door appeared to open into a corridor between a kitchen and some room I couldn’t name without being nosy... Until I saw the stairs that led downward. I assumed it was the dungeon and made a mental note.

Either that or she actually had her staff living in the fucking basement.

I hated this bitch before I got here, but I hated her more now than ever.

A tiny redhead stopped outside the open kitchen doors, blinking at Sarge before running to him. I tensed, ready to fight, until he opened his arms. He spun the young woman around, then set her back on her feet, his hands on her shoulders.

“Tilly,” he spoke in a hushed tone, “We haven’t told anyone we’re here, but we know she knows.”

“We all know. The queen is in a pleasant mood this morning.” She looked through the group, her happiness melting away. “Where is Vaughn?”

“Where is Freya?” Sarge countered.

Tilly scowled. “In the dungeon as of a couple of hours ago. I don’t know why. I’ve been avoiding my mother so I don’t get thrown in a cell with her.”

Sarge looked down, then peered at me before shaking his head. “I suspect that’s where Vaughn is, too.”

“They’ll be fine for a few days,” she said conspiratorially. “But we need to get them out of the realm soon. They can’t stay here.”

“I don’t plan on leaving them there for long,” I told her.

“It's not really something you can plan,” she responded, furrowing her brows as she looked me up and down. “You’re my brother’s mate?”

“I am.”

Her smirk reminded me of my fae. “He’s kind of out of your league, don’t you think?”

“No, I don’t think that at all.”

“Vaughn would be pissed to hear you say that,” Novak stated, catching me off guard with his serious tone. “He’s changed a lot since you last saw him.”

Her cheeks tinted pink as her bright green eyes flared with anger. “It won’t be enough to save his life.”

“It’s more than enough. They’ll be fine,” Sarge confided. “Nothing will happen to Freya while he’s there, and nothing will happen to either of them while we’re here.”

“If you say so…” She sounded like she didn’t believe us, almost as if she didn’t want to get her hopes up.

I wouldn’t either... But I knew better.

“She asked the staff to alert her to your arrival,” Tilly mentioned, switching the subject off her siblings. “We should find one. The gods know she’d throw a fit if I were the first to welcome you.”

I glanced at my guys, wondering if anyone found that strange, but York didn’t react.