Jace leads us across an outdoor bridge to the other side ofthe castle, where the Kingsguard are lodged. The wing is more run down than the glittering quarters held by the members of court, smelling of sweat and ale. Jace stops outside a plain wooden door and pounds loudly with his fist.
“It’s me. Open up.”
“A little busy at the moment,” calls a breathless voice from the other side. Jace doesn’t hesitate before kicking in the door. I try not to swoon as it flies open and rebounds loudly off the wall behind it. I peer over his shoulder at Max—his brilliant red hair flowing down his naked back as he pounds into a female whose face I can’t see.
“Woah!” I quickly shield my eyes.
“Put your cock away and get dressed.” Jace snatches a pair of leather pants off the ground and chucks them roughly at Max’s face. He catches them and, with a frustrated groan, disentangles himself from the female.
“Bring your brother and five more men,” Jace orders. “Be ready at the stables in five minutes.” He yanks the door shut behind him, his face grave as he starts down the hall again.
I turn to Zadyn.
“Did you just get back?” I ask, looking up at him. He nods. “How was the King of Vod?”
“Just as much of a dick as you’d expect.” He slides his light brown eyes to me, offering a tiny smile. “Tonight’s the big kick-off party.”
“What do you mean?”
“In Solterre, when a king visits a foreign court, it’s tradition to welcome them with five full nights of feasts and festivities. We call it King’s Fair. Five nights of drinking and debauchery to rival the gatherings of Dionese himself.”
“Perfect timing. I’m harboring a rebellious dragon, and this place is about to be overrun by drunken members of a foreign court for the next week.” I sigh, shaking my head. “I wonderwhat made the king decide to come here all the way from Vod.”
“He’s playing the part of loyal son—guilt-stricken over missing the queen’s four hundred and fiftieth birthday. Personally, I think he’s here to push Kai down Derek’s throat for Sorscha.”
The mention of the princess sends a new wave of remorse through me. I swallow thickly. I told Zadyn I was done with Jace. That we cut our flirtation off at the knees. He has no idea that a line was crossed last night.
“It’s very likely,” I say absently.
We dress the horses, and Jace surprises me when he slides his arms around my waist. I blush, wondering what he’s doing in front of Zadyn like this, and then I realize he’s strapping a belt with a sheathed dagger around me.
Idiot, I mutter to myself.
We mount as the rest of our party joins us and ride out. Hours pass as we search religiously for any possible threat. We find nothing.
“Either Prophyria was mistaken, or whatever was out here left before we arrived.” Jace sidles up to me on his horse.
“I don’t think she was wrong. Something tells me we should trust her instincts,” I say, puzzled. “What do you think it could have been?”
“A mistake, I hope,” he says darkly.
“Your business at the border—” I eye him curiously. “What’s that about?”
He stares straight ahead as he lowers his voice.
“There have been a handful of disturbances, starting around the time of your arrival. A number of fae have been found dead at the border between Aegar and Hyrax. Mostly from the city and some neighboring villages.”
“How many?” I ask.
“Forty so far.”
“Forty?” I balk, then drop my voice. “That’s kind of a lot.”
“You think I don’t know that? I’ve had my best men looking into it. There were claw marks on the bodies—as if a massive beast had struck them down. Their blood was completely drained, their eyes turned white.”
I contemplate this.
“Sounds like a vampire to me.”
