“Is there something you want, Kai?”
“Yes. I want to know what you’re really doing here.” He takes a step closer, and I am forced to tilt my head to look up at him.
“The king wants me here. You’re the foreigner,” I say casually.
“My mother is the queen of these lands.” A secretive smile works its way over his lips, like we’ve just shared an inside joke.
“And yet you’re just the second son,” I lilt, sounding a lot more confident than I feel. Desperate to avoid the scrutiny of his stare, I pull the hood of my cloak over my head. “No kingdom of his own to toy with, so here you are to toy with ours.”
He chuckles darkly, waggling his finger an inch from my face. “There’s something different about you.”
“You barely know me.” I wave a dismissive hand as I shift on my feet. “I bet you say that to all the ladies.”
His eyes gleam as he says, “I don’t need to know you to know that you aren’t like us.”
My heart plummets anxiously. Kai is smart. It would be too easy for him to catch me in a lie and unravel the fragile story we’ve fabricated aroundLady Serena Accostia.
I lean in close to his face, just a hair’s breadth away, and tauntingly whisper, “You’re insane.”
Without another word, I brush past him, beelining toward Zadyn and Jace by the mouth of the cave. They turn to look at me as I approach.
“Kai knows something is up,” I breathe, my eyes darting back and forth between the two males.
“What do you mean?” Jace asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
“He knows I’m…different. He’s suspicious.” They both crane their heads toward Kai in the most obvious way. “Well, don’t look now!” I hiss.
“I’ll find out what he knows,” Jace says coolly, eyes still fixed over my shoulder. “You need to focus on the ceremony. Go in there with a clear mind and level head when you enter that cave. If you drink the tea in a state of paranoia?—”
“I’ll have a bad trip?”
“Something like that.”
“Is Kai participating, too?” I ask, stopping him as he moves to step around me.
Jace nods, glancing down at me. “Yes. Truly, there is nothing to worry about. Kai may be a hothead, but I’ve known him a long time. He’s not a bad guy.”
“Can we trust him?” Zadyn asks Jace.
“Yes.” A peal of bells chimes from inside the cave. “It’s starting soon. You should head inside.”
Jace strides away as I cast a rueful glance toward the cave's entrance.
“You can do this,” Zadyn encourages, taking hold of my upper arms.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” An unsteady laugh works its way up my throat as the cloaked fae begin to filter inside.
“You puke and shit yourself.” His smirk succeeds in easing some tightness in my chest. “I’ll be waiting for you out here.” He smooths his hands over my arms, and I force myself to swallow.
I turn and file into the torchlit cave beside the cloaked fae nobles, taking in the rough-hewn cavern adorned with soft carpets and throws. A large cauldron occupies the center of the space, heating over a pit of green flames and filling the air with a pungent scent that reminds me of frankincense.
The High Priest waits beside the fire, his flowing white robes stained green by its soft glow. Once we’ve all settled onto the floor cushions, he lifts his arms to the heavens and begins to chant in an unfamiliar language.
Ancient Fae.
I turn, expecting to see Zadyn standing behind me, but all I see is the dark of the night beyond the mouth of the cave. I face forward again as everyone draws back their hoods. Glancing around the circle of about thirty fae, I notice a few familiar faces—Kai, of course, as well as Cece and Ilsa. Neither seems to notice me.
The fae bow their heads and recite a collective prayer. My mouth moves with them, forming ambiguous shapes in attempt to blend. When I catch Kai watching me closely fromacross the circle, I quickly tear my eyes away to stare at my crossed legs.
