AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That doesn’t sound like it would work in my court.” I sighed, fighting the eye roll.
“Oh, it works, but you may need to give it time. You know, I do like this little “Nymphs” plan of yours. Very smart, but don’t drag us into it.” His eyes were half-hooded, tired even, as he watched the people moving about his city.
He coughed, something in his throat gurgling. Ottack’s arm fell from my shoulders and he arched his chest toward the window even further. I turned, surprised by the stealth in the movement.
“That’s why no one likes you, father,” Maggie hissed into his ear. “It’s a cutthroat world. You taught me that.”
Ottack moved his lips, blood brimming against them as they slowly turned into a smile. Maggie snarled, pulling the dagger from his back and dragged it across his throat. Blood sprayed with her movements, splattering against my jacket. Ottack’s’ body bent at an angle toppling, toward the ground. He thudded loudly, face down in a puddle of his own blood at my feet.
I sighed, stepping away as the uneasy feeling I knew would come arose. “You didn’t have to get blood on my perfectly fine suit.”
“Shut up,” she said, turning at the sound of the guard.
He stood frozen, holding my teacup, one hand still stirring the sugar in, his mouth wide open. “Princess Maggie?”
“What did you see here, Collin?” She brushed loose strands of hair out of her face while she waited. “I’ll give you a hint.” Tap. Tap. Tap. Her nail clinked on the end of the dagger, showing him the emblem.
“An assassin?” he squeaked.
“That’s right.” Her smile spread over her face, melting like butter in the sun. “You stick to the story, you can retire from the guard, and your family will be taken care of for the rest of your life and your children’s lives.”
“I don’t have children,” he said, numbly setting the cup down.
“Well, when you do, I’ll extend the offer.” She forced a fake smile. “Dace, if you will.”
I pointed my face at her, unable to look back down at the man who had just attempted to give me advice. The smell of his blood was quickly evaporating into the air, filling it like a strong perfume. We didn’t have much time before the guards outside caught on.
Magic gripped us both as I brought her back to the bathroom. I didn’t steady her this time or stay to talk. Nausea was curling in strong, beating waves inside of me, threatening to rise up. My power felt like it took seconds longer as I pulled myself back into the tea room. The guard stood as he was, blinking at the spot where Maggie had been, but no longer was.
“Is she...?” he stalled.
“She’s alive. Down the hall by the bathroom.” I walked over, pulling my teacup from his hand and taking a small sip. “I should have had you add whiskey.” I frowned, setting it on the table. “Now, it would be wise of you to play dead.”
“I don’t know how?” he said frantically, looking around the room like he meant to hide.
“Well then, please forgive me for this, and do make sure to take some sort of pain relieving herb later.” My knuckles struck his temple, his body crumpling faster than Ottack’s had as he fell.
All that remained was my part in this deception. And I had to pull it off. I picked my cup back up off the table. “A shame to waste a fine tea,” I muttered then flung myself forward with a startled yelp. Glass shattered, the tea seeping out onto the floor.
And the door burst open.
Chapter21
Ryker
Red and yellow leaves rustled with each gentle gust of wind that lifted my hair from my shoulders. The breeze carried the scent of a crisp autumn day and a hint of cinnamon. King Windre’s kitchen doors were propped open, allowing the room to cool, while also giving us a whiff of what was to come after dinner.
Small trails were carved through a large garden where fresh produce and a few flowers were grown. Tall bushes had been trimmed into large, perfect ovals and occasionally you’d find a bench tucked into their shade. Stones lined the paths, keeping our shoes from getting covered with dirt. These footpaths ran all through King Windre’s ginormous garden.
Fae fire lanterns hung from metal poles and were periodically mounted along the back of the castle. A large dance floor extended from King Windre’s ballroom and met the beginning of the vegetation we now wandered through.
This castle wasn’t made to house the Nymphs like his second home was. Everything here was as you’d imagine a castle to be, perfect and polished. Nymphs roamed through the courtyard or created social circles on the edges of the ballroom floor, nowhere really feeling quite right to train.
I crossed my arms over my torso, hugging myself, as a particularly cold wind made the excess fabric of my shirt billow and wave. Hattie pulled her sweater tighter to her body. Being away from my sister for all these years, and then again as our paths continued to part, made our relationship feel…a bit distant. I’d brushed over that fact as soon as we’d come back together after our separation on the Day of Ruin, thinking that we’d be as close as we once were. We were close and we did love each other, but at times something still felt lackluster. It probably boiled down to the fact that we’d just become different people with different experiences. Maybe it was because we were both building other relationships before we really tried to build this one back up.
“Thank you for coming out to walk with me.” Hattie looked my way quickly, before pointing her nervous gaze back to the ground.
“No, I’m thankful you wanted me around,” I admitted. “With Dace away, I’m all fretty and nervous.” Occasionally, while I sat in our guest room, I’d smother myself in the blankets just to breathe in his scent, which only made my body tense with worry.
