Page 16 of Heart of the Raven Prince

“Don't play dumb, brother dearest. You know I'm talking about that waif of a human Gregor saw you riding with not even an hour ago.”

Now it’s my turn to have the queen’s rapier-sharp gaze on me.

“What is he talking about, Caden?” she asks, suspicion tinging her words.

I shrug, making a show of rolling my eyes as I say, “Truly, I have no idea. He’s drunk most likely. I know how you can't seem to handle your liquor. You're letting your imagination run wild, brother.” Just to pile on, I flash him a wink, and it has its intended effect of making him scowl. “Whatever mundane things Lochlan fills his time with while I am busy winning a war for you are none of my concern. If you must know I’ve been with Duvessa since I returned.”

“You hate Duvessa,” Lochlan counters.

“I don’t need to like her to fuck her,” I lob back, wincing in a mock look of regret when the queen sneers at me. She expects decorum from her sons, and if I play this just right, then she will order me out. Then I can make my way back to the Lower East, retrieve Fawn, and—

“You’re right,” Lochlan says, his voice and face guarded. I frown, my instincts warning me of a coming trap. Lochlan would never willingly agree with me. “Gregor must have been mistaken, clearly it wasn’t you riding around with a human. It couldn’t have been, right? Since you were too busy burying your cock as deep in Duvessa’s cu—”

“Lochlan!” Arawyn sharply cuts him off. Amusement flashes across Lochlan's face. He sits up straight, ignoring his mother’s withering glare.

What are you planning?

“What human, Caden? Someone from Gaelynn?” the queen presses, her voice taking on the edge of shattered crystal. I note the tension in her posture, in the way her hands grip the Vessel’s arm, her nails digging deep into his flesh.

“The only humans I have come in contact with are now locked away under Doran’s watch,” I say, my voice bored, but my hackles raised. The queen seems to relax, relief gracing her eyes for a moment. But, for once, it’s not the queen I am worried about. I shift my gaze back to Lochlan.

“Well then it appears you’re in need of a new general, brother,” he says, and a pit opens up in my stomach.

If this bastard did something to Doran…

“Apparently a measly human can overpower him and escape unnoticed.”

I frown.

What?

I haven’t been able to meet with Doran since returning to Fomoria, but I cannot imagine a single one of the human prisoners being able to overpower the mortal guards, much less a fae warrior. Lochlan must be trying to provoke me again, trying to get a rise out of me in front of the queen.

“None of the prisoners have escaped, I assure you,” I say to the queen, my gaze steadfast on Lochlan.

“No?” The satisfaction in his tone lets me know I’ve walked willingly into the trap, I’m just waiting for the snare to snap. “How do you explain this?”

He snaps his fingers, and I watch as a guard opens the door at the far end of the room. Gregor comes strolling in with the same shit-eating grin as Lochlan. But I’m not focused on his fucking face, because I’m staring only at the figure tossed over his shoulder.

No. No, no, no, no.

He drops the kicking and writhing human on the ground before the dining room table, hidden from our seated vantage point. I don’t need to stand to see her, yet I have to confirm it with my own eyes. The queen and I stand as one, Lochlan remaining seated, and together we peer over the edge of the table.

Fawn sprawls bound and gagged on the floor in front of us. She jerks and fights against the ropes I see tied tightly around her forearms and legs, spitting something directly at Gregor, the words muffled by the gag secured around her mouth.

Just be calm.

I will the words to reach her, once again furious her mind is not open to me. I could easily sway this situation if I could simply control her. If she can just make herself small and uninteresting, I can convince the queen to let me see to her punishment for running. But I cannot risk the queen taking an interest in her, and that plan hinges on this willful fucking human having a single ounce of self-preservation.

Be small. Be weak. Be quiet.

She turns her deep green gaze to me, and she looks about as meek as a wild stallion.

Well, fuck.

The fae male and I crash to the ground. He hits the stone floor with a loud thwack.

“Gods-dammit,” he grumbles, but I sit up and strike awkwardly at him, attempting a punch with my bound hands. He might appear older, but his reflexes are quick when he grabs my wrists before I’m able to make contact with his face. He rolls us to the side, shoving me off him as we both jump to our feet. Breathing rapidly, I dart my eyes around to get a quick idea of my surroundings. We’re facing off on opposite sides of the fairly small space, which presents its own challenges. I note that he doesn’t move nearly as fast as Caden, nor is there that clawing sense of magic leaching off him. I can’t overpower Caden, but maybe I can overpower this male. Then I can make my way through this strange city, find somewhere to hide—