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Nua laughed, face softening with affection. “Yes, Gillie would be a bit useless at being authoritative, I think.”
“He’d probably suggest rubbing whisky on their gums to get them to sleep.”
Nua spluttered with laughter, gently bumping his shoulder into mine. “Whisky is his answer to most things.”
“Or mushrooms.”
“Yes, and those.”
“When I have a bit more time, I want to go foraging with Gillie on seelie. I’ve read the book you got me, about all the mushrooms that grow here. It’d be fun.”
Nua’s face brightened. “He’d love that. And you’ll have time. Things will calm down soon, Ash. You’re just settling into the role. It’s only been a few weeks.”
My gut twisted with nerves at the thought of the overwhelming task that lay ahead of me. Years and years of being king. Of ruling the seelie Folk. My only plan before the fae took me was to find any job I could, not even necessarily one related to my degree. I hadn’t thought about my life beyond that.
And I hadn’t really thought about the long term when I’d killed the Brid and become king. Not that I’d known I was going to take her power. But in the time that had followed, I’d been more focused on Lonan and less on the fact that I was actually a fucking king.
Now that I was settling more here, no longer hiding from the Carlin or trying to navigate my way around the Brid, my focus was having to shift. I’d made a vow to myself to be better than my mother had been.
I intended to keep it, even if the weight of the monumental responsibility on my shoulders weighed heavier and heavier every day.
Chapter Five
Lonan
“They’ll be fine, lad.” Gillie clapped me on the shoulder as we watched Ash and Nua vanish from sight. “Nua knows the forest like the back of his hand. And he’d do anything to keep Ash safe.”
I believed him. Nua already had. He’d given up his title, his whole life, his future kingdom to keep Ash safe.
I still wished I was going with them so I could protect Ash myself. But I had goaded him into that foolish bargain. I had made my own bed, and now I had to lie in it. Alone.
“Fancy having dinner later to wallow together about our missing men?” Gillie chuckled, squeezing my shoulder before letting go. “A few drinks, maybe.”
“Yes,” I said immediately, already feeling on edge here now that Ash was out of sight. Gone. Gillie was now the only other person in this entire place that I felt even remotely comfortable with.
“Alright, sounds good.” His voice was cheerful, but I could hear the thread of unease still colouring it. He glanced once at the doors before giving me a smile. “I’m going back to bed for a while. Come and find me later if you want company for sword practice.”
“I will.”
I stayed where I was as he turned and left the front hall, but then the weight of the seelie guards’ eyes began to press on me. Spinning on my heel, I strode back towards our private chambers, trying not to show how tense I felt being here without Ash.
Jora was hurrying down the hallway as I made my way back to our bedroom, her eyes tired and hands still fiddling with her long braid. She stopped at the sight of me, dipping into a tiny bow.
“Prince Lonan.” Her voice was still croaky from sleep. “I know King Ash left early this morning. I wasn’t sure if you’d want your breakfast now.”
I stopped. I had no plans. I never had any plans. I just filled my days with sword practice until I was too tired to do much else.
Giving her a nod in thanks, I said, “Yes, I would.”
“Of course. In your room or the dining room…?”
“The dining room, please.” I started heading towards it but stopped, turning back to her. “Who else knows that King Ash will be gone for a few days?”
“Just the staff.” She paused, shooting me a nervous smile. “It won’t go beyond the palace walls.”
I gave a stiff nod, already regretting asking the question in case it made me seem… vulnerable. Ill at ease without him here.
A single unseelie in a land filled with Folk who hated me. I should have been used to it—I was hated by all the other unseelie Folk too. But here, I was unprotected. I wasn’t feared as the Carlin’s son, as her assassin. As a prince.
