“He really does have a nice horse,” Pharis said in a blase tone. “Too bad he has no idea how to ride it.”
I was speechless myself. The power I’d just seen my escort display was terrifying.
It had been as easy for him as speaking. He’d simply ordered the proudest man I’d ever known to publicly humiliate himself and had received unquestioning obedience.
Though I was thoroughly horrified and intimidated, I was also grateful. Dardick wouldn’t be bothering me any more, I had no doubt of that.
And my reputation was saved—for now. I still had to make it into the village and into my home without being seen in the company of a High Fae man.
It was dark out except for that hazy moon. Pharis slowed Dargan to a walk then a stop before we reached the first house on the village road.
He dismounted and helped me down. “We’ll walk from here so no one hears Dargan’s footfalls. Which cottage is yours?”
I pointed toward the end of the row of homes, all of them dark and still. “It’s there, but I can go alone. I just want you to know I appreciate—”
Taking my arm, Pharis started walking. “We’ll walk from here,” he repeated and gave Dargan a command to wait in place.
Keeping my voice low, I argued, “This really is unnecessary. I can literally see my home from here.”
“I promised my brother to deliver you safely to your door, and I always keep my promises,” he said, his handsome face contracting in a scowl. “If you’re worried about being seen with me, don’t. It’s dark, and I’ve put the shadows in place around us again.”
We walked in silence to the end of the collection of cottages, stopping at mine.
Pharis gave it a bewildered glance. “Is this the whole thing? You live here with three other people?”
“Yes, quite happily,” I snapped, “which is more than I can say for some of the residents of your palatial home.”
There was a spark of amusement in Pharis’ eyes, and then they changed, looking rather sad actually.
“You’re right.”
His tone and expression grew serious. “You must never return to Seaspire, never go into the royal city.”
“I know. I—”
“I’m not sure you do,” he interrupted, gripping my upper arms and staring down into my face intensely. “You shouldn’t even go to the Rough Market again, where you might be spotted and recognized. Most importantly, you should never—never—try to contact my brother… or youwillregret it. Do you understand?”
I nodded, the gravity of his tone sinking in and coating my bones. “I understand.”
Pharis looked around at the dark, quiet street. “I’m not even sure it’s safe to leave you here this close to the palace. My father wants you, and he always gets what he wants.”
The King’s glamour. Stellon had told me his father was a Compeller, that people gave him whatever he wanted whenever he wanted it, even against their own wills.
Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, Pharis pulled out a small bag, placing it firmly into my hand. It was surprisingly heavy and made a clinking sound.
“What’s this?” I asked, though it was obviously a bag of coins.
“For travel,” Pharis said. “If I were you, I wouldn’t get too comfortable here. The King may never learn of your part in the Earthwife’s plot, but hewilleventually learn of your identity and whereabouts—somehow. If I were you, I’d take my family somewhere else, as far from Seaspire as possible. And be wary. Always on the lookout.”
“I plan to. And I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I’ll keep my head down and take care of my family, whatever it takes.”
He nodded, that fervent blue gaze nearly hypnotic.
“Good. And I’ll take care of the witch. I’ll also burn the drawings Stellon did of you so no one can use them in any search that might arise.”
I winced, feeling tears spring to my eyes and a painful lump growing in my throat.
“Tell him… tell him…” I shook my head. “Nevermind.”
