AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t believe her. For the first time since I’d arrived, I wasn’t sure she had my back on this. I was the human, the outsider. They were still a closed little group.
Fae.
“She’s messing with your minds. All of you.”
“She can’t do that. She’s Fae, like the rest of us.”
Or Conjurite.
Nylah must have sensed my emotions. She put a hand on my shoulder, her expression gentle.
“We’re going to figure it out,” she promised. “We’re going to look after you, and we’re going to make sure they don’t get to you. You’re important, Ellie. You’re important as a member of our warrior family. You’re important to Dex and Ren. And you’re important to me. Your friendship is one that I have already come to cherish, and I don’t want to lose you.”
I still felt sick. Bessie had beenjusta servant, but she’d been sweet and caring. Bessie’s life had meaning. I’d been a servant, too. I knew what it was like to work in service, and I knew what it was like to be treated poorly. I’d felt a sort of resonance with her.
And now she’d died in my place.
My throat swelled shut, and my eyes stung with tears.Shewasn’t an example of a warrior who’d known the risks. Hers had been innocent blood spilled, and it wasn’t right.
That night, I lay in bed, the curtains wide open. The moonlight fell into the room, a silver stream of light. I couldn’t sleep.
I climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the door. When I opened it, Zita stood outside, dressed in leathers, a sword strapped to her hip.
“You’re not supposed to be awake,” she said.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was hoping it would be you out here.”
Rainier had ordered warriors to guard my door. It had felt wrong when he’d suggested it—not only was I human, below the other Fae warriors on the food chain, but I had no magic. Now, I wasn’t only treated as a warrior; I was being guarded as if I was more important than the rest of them.
“What’s on your mind?” Zita asked.
I hesitated. Bessie was on my mind, and so was Lucia. But no one knew about Bessie’s death. Rainier and Nylah had asked me to keep it under wraps. They didn’t want a mass exodus of servants who fled the palace. I wanted to sound the alarm, but Nylah wanted to find out what was going on before we got everyone on edge.
It didn’t sit right with me.
“What do you think about the future queen?” I asked.
Zita frowned. “She’s powerful enough to rule at the King’s side. It’s a good match.”
“Do you like her?”
She shrugged. “I don’t have to like her. I don’t answer to her.”
“So, you don’t like her?”
Her eyes were dark in the night. “You should be careful what you say.”
“Why does everyone tell me that?”
“It’s for your own good. Lucia is your queen, or she will be someday soon. You can’t turn against her. We’re the elite guard. Treason means death, you know.”
I nodded. I just didn’t understand why everyone was so protective of Lucia.
“You should get some sleep. We’re training hard tomorrow. I hear you’re joining us.”
The training schedule. I’d never looked at it after what had happened to Bessie.
“Goodnight,” I said.
