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“It’s no mistake, priy. If Sai invited you, he trusts you. And if Sai trusts you, I do. Please feel welcome here at our table.” She turned towards me and the jewel on her forehead shifted as her eyes welled with candlelight.
“Thank you, Maharani.”
She smiled back in that sincere, sharp way she had.
While meeting Elisa was the biggest moment of change in my life, being welcomed into Sai’s family and his life weaved through that time. I’d never known family before I met them, and I was grateful every day for the stroke of fate that allowed our paths to cross. I didn’t doubt for a moment that Sai’s mother would fight for all of us if we got ourselves stuck in the Seelie palace, but I knew her well enough now to understand the concern and stress that missive would bring her.
I parted my lips to speak, but Sai pulled the magic of his ward back and shifted away. Conversation over, I guess.
I tucked against Elisa, treasured the warmth and comfort of her and listened to the rumbling of the wheels as they hit a smoother road. When we trundled over a bridge and passed into the Seelie borders, the cold hit like a knife, slicing through me. We couldn’t have dressed like we were prepared to go into Seelie territory, of course, but damn it was cold. My breath left me in a fog as Elisa shivered, and I pulled her tighter.
The cart lazily made its way through the outskirts of the city, jostled over cobblestone paths, and finally arrived through a gate into the palace grounds before making its way around the back. Guards opened the cart and gestured to a door in some mud flecked back corner of the palace where frosted weeds grew up along the gray stone that led to a dark staircase.
“Mighty convenient to have direct access to the dungeon.” Orman hopped down and pressed a finger into his ear, whirling it around before wiping it his shirt. “Not nefarious of your King at all.” I struggled not to roll my eyes. Yes, having such easy access to the dungeon was typical Seelie behavior. Saints knew they regularly arrested beings—fae and humans both—who were never heard from again. But we weren’t supposed to draw attention. Orman only minimally followed the rules on good days, though.
“Keep your mouth closed, elf,” a guard said. They all had their hands near their weapons, their zevars glimmering with magic. I twisted my lips around to keep a smirk off my face. They were wise to be wary. We hadn’t actually fought at all. If we did, they’d need a great deal more than twenty guards. We put up a bit of a tussle—jabbing elbows and jerking away from their holds—on our way down the stairs to give them the show of fighting, but none of us would unleash our skills yet.
We stepped down into the dark, dank space, fighting the guards all the way. My guard clouted me against the head, and I clenched my teeth to stall myself from pommeling him. I could probably take him with my hands tied. The Seelie guards had training I didn’t, but I bet it didn’t stand up to a scrappy street kid’s need for survival. They finished ushering us into a cell which clanked shut with a simple lock.
The guards disappeared back up the steps, the lights they’d carried disappearing with them.
It couldn’t be this easy.
Elisa reached out to the bars, whimpered, and stumbled back a step. I caught and steadied her. She raised a trembling hand before her face and then curled it into a fist.
“Are you all right, Lis?”
“I’m okay,” she whispered. “But this metal… hurts to touch. It feels cold, like it has no life. I’ve never seen something like this before.”
I looked back at Sai who sucked air over his teeth. “Let’s hope Luz is successful then.”
I groaned.
That was the plan for now. We didn’t really have other options.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
LIRA
We approachedthe craggy gray stones of the palace. Hundreds of flags rippled in the wind along the edifice as the sun spilled brightly over the puddly lawn. I readjusted on the horse. My body was sore from the ride, but my heart hurt worse.
There wasn’t time to reflect on that anymore as we dismounted and followed Prince Lennox and his guards through the massive front doors and into a hall lined with plush crimson carpet and arches that led to various richly appointed spaces. The walls were decorated with the mounted heads of creatures I’d never seen before. They looked like deer but had massive horns that whirled around in spirals.
Lennox stopped in front of another set of colossal wood doors. The molding on top was carved into briars wrapping around a fence. Guards bowed and opened the doors. We passed them and stepped into a vast receiving room with marble floors and dozens of life-sized ivory statues carved with such detail I slowed to take them in.
Luz nodded towards Lennox, and I startled, realizing I’d stopped to stare. I continued until we reached the end of the room where a man sat, a crown on his golden and gray peppered hair, a thick sapphire velvet cloak resting on his shoulders.
Lennox and Luz bowed, and I joined them.
“Lennox,” the King said.
“Father, the pursuit was successful, and we also rescued a Seelie fairy that Prince Sai and his team had captured.”
The King’s blue eyes flicked to me, and my mouth went dry. The stone at his throat—a rich navy color—lit up as he skimmed over me. Luz had expected him to assess for any hints of glamour or magic. They’d also fed me the story I was supposed to share with him. I wasn’t sure I’d have the words.
God, what happened if I fumbled on this, and they suspected me? I’d end up in the jail alongside Sai and his team. All I’d wanted was to get away and live a simple life and now I’d caught myself between two princes and got myself trapped inside the Seelie fairy palace. I apparently had elemental magic, as well. Whatever the hell that was. Nothing good from the way Sai had reacted over it.
“Are you all right?” the King asked me.
