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“You’re not just any fae, Nine. You’re the Shadow Man. And I trust you.”
I love you.
I don’t have to say the words. He knows. I know he does.
But he doesn’t return them.
I didn’t expect him to.
I also don’t expect him to take one last, long look at my face before he turns, the long tail of his shadowy coat flaring out behind him. He strides over to the front of our cell, careful not to grasp the iron-filled bars with his bare hands.
“Guard!”
21
It’s one of the Light Fae guards who answers his arrogant call. Not Rys, though, and I’m not even a little surprised. Disappointed, maybe, but not surprised.
“Yes?” He looks at Nine with a bored expression. “What is it, Cursed One?”
“I want to meet with Melisandre. Immediately.”
He what?
“Nine?” I hiss. “What are you doing?”
He has to have heard me. The tips of his pointed ears twitch, his head cocked slightly to the side as if he wants to turn. He doesn’t, though.
The guard shows a little more interest. “I’ll see if my queen is willing to meet with a traitor.”
I flinch when the Light Fae calls Nine that. A traitor? That sounds bad. It’s one thing to throw Nine in Faerie jail with me, but if she really believes that he’s a traitor, what will happen to Nine when I’m gone?
I can’t bring myself to ask him that, not even when the Light Fae leaves the vicinity of our cell. The guard isn’t gone long, though, and by the time I work up enough nerve to even speak to Nine again, he’s back.
Just like everything else I?
??ve seen in this castle, the key is more crystal than anything else. The guard fits it into the keyhole, unlocking the cell door with an ominous snick. He waves the door open, standing back. After trading the key for his sword, he orders us both out of the cell.
“No,” Nine immediately argues. “Leave her here.”
I’ve already started to move toward the open door. “What? No! I’m going with you.”
“Riley—”
“The Shadow comes, too. Queen’s orders, I’m afraid.”
I resist the urge to stick my tongue out at Nine. He doesn’t honestly think that I’m about to let him out of my sight right now? Not when I’m absolutely convinced that, if anything happens to him while in the Fae Queen’s palace, it’s all my freaking fault?
Nine glowers the entire trek back to Melisandre’s throne room. I don’t know how much time has past since we were sent to the cell—it feels like we walked forever both there and back—yet barely anything seems to have changed since.
My parents are still frozen in the corner.
The queen is still perched regally in her glittering throne.
Four of the guard are flanking Melisandre, two on each side. I’ve got no clue if any of them are the same from before—except for Rys.
He’s still here. And, when my glance flickers his way, there’s a burning hunger that he can barely conceal behind his dutiful mask.
I turn away. I can’t let myself be distracted by the Light Fae. Not when the queen is watching me like a cat ready to pounce.
