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Sixteen
Callum
Something extraordinary just took place and my heart raced with emotion. My little sparrow had opened her heart to me, a feat I didn’t think possible. Though, I would much rather whisk her away and forget this whole Rift plan, I knew that was not an option.
The cold numbness from the wake of her leaving my arms didn’t sit well with me. I wanted to hold her, assure her we would succeed, no matter the odds. I’d shared my deepest secret with her and in return she showed me hers.
She sniffled as she took the rod out of her satchel. I grabbed her hand, wanting to touch a part of her and stay connected. It seemed unnatural to separate after she had unwound in front of me. Our first days together, I thought the attraction was normal after being away from the world for so long and Kelia being a gorgeous female, but the longer I spent around this complicated human, the more I understood how dangerous my feelings were.
“Are you ready?” I asked, squeezing her hand.
She paused, taking a deep breath then nodded.
A portal opened beside us, the castle glimmering in the wavy image. With her hand in mine, we stood and stepped through.
We were in the same spot we had left in, right in the throne room, though no one was there to greet us. Keeping Kelia’s hand entwined with mine, I pulled her toward the exit. “We better go find the queen.”
Kelia glanced at our hands, and I stopped, already guessing what her mind was thinking. “We’re in this together.”
“Aren’t you afraid of what they’ll say?” Her gaze met mine and the softness in her eyes made me want to take her to the surface and never return. The dark fae didn’t intermingled with the other races, though some of our surface kin weren’t as strict. Rules didn’t matter to me, they never did.
To prove that, I tugged her forward until my mouth slammed against hers, daring any who would walk in to challenge this connection. Though Kelia let me in for a moment, she quickly pulled back, her cheeks flushing red.
“What are you doing?” Her gaze darted behind me, a flash of fear in her blue eyes.
“Whatever I want.” Taking her hand, I pulled her alongside me. “I told you before. I’ll get us through this and anything that comes after. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, little sparrow.”
Her bottom lip trembled, giving me a glimpse into her complicated thoughts. “If the queen sees us holding hands it will cause more suspicion. Right now we need her to trust us. We’ll have time for pleasantries, after.”
I inwardly groaned at the word pleasantries. She sounded so fancy, and I couldn’t wait to see the other side of herself that she hid. “Very well.”
Dropping her hand, I left the throne room and headed to the only other place I could assume her highness would be. Our footsteps echoed against the empty stone corridor. Where were the guards? The servants?
A tremor shook through the castle.
“What was that?” Kelia said behind me.
“Fighting, outside. We need to hurry.”
Quickening my pace, I ran down the hall, Kelia in step with me.
Shouting poured out of the war room and a group of soldiers trailed out followed by the general. He glanced at me, face taut in a hard line before he and his entourage disappeared through a portal.
Inside the war room, Queen Merelda leaned over the table, head bowed. I stood in the entryway waiting for her to acknowledge me. Alisha eyed me and Kelia, her brow narrowing as she could clearly smell Kelia’s delicious scent all over me. It was one of the few times I wished fae didn’t have such heightened senses.
“Where is my granddaughter?” The queen lifted her head, her violet eyes simmering with rage.
Thankfully for me, the queen’s power rested in her fist not in magic. As long as we stayed back enough, we’d be safe. “We ran into some difficulty.”
She gripped the edges of the table, her hands cracking the wood. “How many times will you fail me before I end your pitiful existence?”
“Your majesty.” Kelia stepped around me like a shield. While I appreciated the gesture, I could handle the queen’s wrath.
“Kelia,” I whispered, eyeing her to stand down and let me handle this.
Pressing her hand to my chest, she moved me behind her, clearly determined to rescue me like a damn damsel in distress. “You were wrong. The prince had expected us. He waited until we killed the creature to show himself. He knew we were coming.”
The queen’s gaze flitted to Alisha. “My son has always been good at strategy which is why this feud has been dragging on for years.” She sighed. “I’m assuming you know where he is. You’re not foolish enough to return here with nothing.”
