“Stay.” Solano holds a hand out, and Brock stops, then backs down despite the thunderous look on his face.
“I will find this evil, and I will root it out.” King Solano approaches the lesser fae with the broken wings. “We are all part of the day realm. We are all one people.”
Someone in the crowd snorts in derision.
“One people?” The broken-winged fae shakes his head. “We die. You do nothing. We work. You take everything we make. The nobles are the only ‘people’ the day realm recognize. Your father—”
“I’mnotmy father.” Solano’s tone takes on an authority that seems to give the angry farmer pause. “And I swear by the magic, that I will destroy whatever enemy targets my people.” He holds his hand out, and the lesser fae is truly off balance now. In the night realm, high fae never make promises to lesser fae or changelings. One high fae soldier explained it to me thusly: “Why make an agreement with a dog? The beast can’t understand it.”
My nausea finally passes, and I stand straighter as the farmer considers the king, then reaches his hand out and grips Solano’s forearm. Orange sparks bind their forearms, the sun’s heat flashing between them as their agreement is inked in magic.
I look at Solano with new eyes. Maybe he’s different. Maybe he’s not some playboy king who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
“Thank you.” The farmer seems just as stunned as I feel.
Solano nods, then breaks his hold. “My soldiers will help with the funeral rites and stay to assist in sorting out the damage. The rest of you,” he raises his voice to the crowd. “Your king will see this through. I have freely made this vow, and I intend to make good on it. More troops, more supplies, and more involvement from the Shard of Day are just the start.”
They whisper amongst themselves, and it’s as if someone opened the flue and the chimney smoke escapes into the open air. The temperature cools, and the farmers disperse somewhat, many of them helping with the remaining fires and others joining the mourners.
I lean against the charred fencepost as the sun bathes my skin in warmth despite the chill that’s settled inside me at the grim scene. The sun’s heating sensation is odd, nothing like the glow of the moon, though I feel no pain. Grimelda is as good as her word—the ward she placed on me is a perfect barrier. The tickling sensation of light along my skin is made even odder when Solano approaches, his gaze still intense as he looks me over.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.” I wipe a shaking hand across my clammy forehead. Here in the sun, his eyes are a deep bronze fleck with lighter bits of gold, and his skin is yet another shade of gold, warm and inviting.
“You don’t look it.” He takes my elbow and escorts me back to the carriage. “You look pale—” He amends, “Paler than usual.”
I glance down. I suppose I do stand out, my skin parchment white and my hair a deep red. It couldn’t be more obvious that I’m a nightling, especially when compared to the tan farmers and the glowing king. I’m a silver coin in a bucket of gold; shiny, but out of place.
Helping me into the carriage, he follows and closes the door, then sits heavily on the bench, sending the pillows scattering. With a gentle pull, he sits me in his lap.
“This is forward.” I don’t know what else to say, mainly because I want his touch after the horror I just witnessed. Those poor farmers, and I can’t even think about the children.
“Shh.” He wipes a tear as it rolls down my cheek.
I didn’t realize I was still crying. “I’m fine. I’m not the one who should be sad. Those farmers—” I gesture out of the carriage. “They knew them. The parents and the—” My throat closes up, and I swallow hard.
He pulls me to his chest, and his arms go around me.
Why does this feel so good? And why does he care enough to comfort me? After all, I’m just a toy for him to use and toss aside. That’s why I’m here. I let myself relax against him.
“Why are you doing this?” I close my eyes and breathe in his clean, summer scent.
He radiates strength and heat. “It soothes me as much as you.” His voice is low, conciliatory.
“Oh.” I smile a little at that, mostly at his honesty.
“And you looked like you might faint,” he adds.
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m fine. I’ve seen plenty of things in the night realm. It’s just that there were …”
“Children.” He presses his lips to my hair. “I know.”
“You really don’t know what’s happening?”
“No.” His thumb moves in little circles at my waist and sends goosebumps racing across my body. “If I knew, I’d flay the perpetrators alive and only burn them to ash once I’d elicited every scrap of suffering they can offer.”
I shudder. The power he wields—he could do just what he says.
