Faye stretched a hand out across the bed, alarmed when she didn’t see Lori lying beside her. The bedding was pushed back, cold and unoccupied. The faerie glanced across to the old, creaky camp bed Indi had erected earlier that night. It was also vacant. It appeared Faye was the only faerienotsharing someone’s bed this evening. She flopped down onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.
Indi’s relationship with Prince Oriel was another mystery. The young faerie was very coy and seemed unwilling to divulge any details. Clearly if she was sharing his bed, there was a sexual element to their relationship at the very least. Faye wondered how much further than that it went.
She shouldn’t have been surprised that Lori had left her behind to be with Lephas, and yet a small wave of sadness engulfed her. Faye turned her head and gazed over at the empty spot to her side. She supposed this was how it was to be from here on in. Lori had been the brave escapee, fleeing her tyrant father into the arms of a handsome demon, who worshipped the ground she walked on. Faye was the misguided little sister who had foolishly left her entire life behind – and for what? Faye could not see an upside for her. Lori had Lephas and a new life to start living. Faye had nothing. She was destined to be the lonely tag along.
She missed Sivelle, her horses, Yorrin… Faye pressed her lips together firmly. Life in Awrelwood had been far from perfect, and her father’s instability had frightened her no end, but Faye had been content there. For the most part, at least.
She had never desired a wild, whirlwind life as Lori had. Faye had busied herself with her horses and kept her nose out of her father’s business. When he had mentioned the possibility of Faye’s own marriage, to be arranged a few years to follow, she had gone along with it. She was a princess, after all – wasn’t that to be expected? Whilst Faye had been under no illusions that the man she would marry would not be her first choice, or even her second, but provided he was kind to her and Yorrin still willing to see her, Faye hadn’t been overly worried.
What in Hestaesia was she going to do now?
The fire flickered and dimmed further. A cold chill crept down Faye’s spine and she sat up, pulling the sheets from her legs. She couldn’t allow that fire to die, this room was dark enough already.
She yelped with surprise when she saw a large, dark figure hunched beside the fireplace. The fire burst into life once more, bright lilac flames casting pretty pink and purple hues all around the room.
“Did I wake you?” Raxx’s deep voice asked, as he got back to his feet and turned to look at her.
Faye blinked with surprise before covering herself up with her blankets. She only wore her shirt and undergarments and was now painfully aware of how exposed she was.
Her all-too-familiar embarrassment came flooding back and Faye evaded the demon’s gaze. She and Raxx hadn’t spoken more than a few angry words to one another since that fateful evening when she had attempted to kiss him. Shame scalded her insides still.
“No,” she muttered. “I was already awake.”
Raxx didn’t reply, just moved to a dark corner. When Faye was brave enough to glance across at him, she was unnerved to see his black eyes watching her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, self-consciously fluffing her hair.
“Your fire was almost out.”
Faye paused thoughtfully. “How would you know that, unless you were already in here? How long have you been watching me?” She scowled.
“Not long.” Raxx ran a hand through his hair and turned away from her to look into the fire.
“You were watching me sleep? That’s creepy, Raxx.” Faye shivered.
The shadow demon didn’t respond and the princess felt her ire beginning to flare once more. Raxx had a real talent for getting under her skin. A long moment of silence elapsed before he finally spoke.
“Lori is in the front room with Lephas.”
“I figured as much,” Faye replied. She tried to fight the bitter tone in her voice, but Raxx glanced across at her curiously.
“I take it this doesn’t surprise you?” he asked.
“Not in the slightest.” Faye pulled her knees up and hugged them to her chest, her envy and sadness building once more.
“I suppose it hasn’t crossed my lovesick sister’s mind that I have inadvertently cast myself out from everything I have ever known for her. She’s got Lephas and the new, exciting life she always wanted. What have I got?” Faye’s voice cracked and she swallowed.
Raxx’s leathery wings shifted at his back, loud in the quiet room. If he empathised with her, his emotionless face didn’t show it. Faye scowled as her vision began to waver behind hot tears. She fought them back.
“Don’t,” Raxx grated.
Faye looked up and sniffed. “What?”
“Don’t get upset.”
Faye let out a short laugh. “That’s easy for you to say. How else should I be feeling about all this? Everything is great for you, too. You get to take back not one, but two faerie princesses to your king. How do I know what’s going to happen to me and my sister when you demons take us back to Banesteppe, hm?” She pinned Raxx with an accusing glare. He looked back at her, but his eyes narrowed a fraction.
“Things are hardly great, princess.”
