“Given me— I…Youbrought me here,” she gritted out, trying to keep from losing control completely, while simultaneously trying to figure out what he was playing at.
“For a purpose. Which you declined. Now I have other things to tend to.”
She could feel all the sentinels’ eyes on them, but the only thing she could focus on was Cethin. The harsh mask of indifference. Cold and unreadable. All because he didn’t get what he wanted from her.
“Fine,” she finally retorted, squaring her shoulders. “But one would think the least you could do after forcing me to your home is escort me back to town.”
“Once you cross the wards, you can use your smoke and ashes to go wherever you please,” he said dryly. “I already stated I do not have any more time to give you today.”
“AndIalready stated that my magic is not working properly without my fucking arrow,” she spat. His brow arched at the cursing, and she could swear amusement flashed across his silver irises before they became obscured by his dark magic once more. “You said last night it would take hours to walk here from the city center.”
“It will,” he affirmed. “If your power is as weakened as you claim, once you cross the bridge, you’ll find stables. The horses don’t like the trek along the steps, so they are kept on the other side of the ravine. I’ll send word to have one waiting for you.” He paused, then added. “Along with an escort.”
“I don’t need an escort,” she snapped.
“Yet you just requested thatIescort you moments ago. Again with the mixed messages, tiny fiend.”
Kailia was more than done with the king for the day. Without another word, she turned her back on him and stalked past the guards.
“Careful on the bridge, Kailia,” Cethin called after her. “The steps are rather steep, and you don’t want to meet what lives in the ravine.”
She ignored him, carefully navigating the steps of the bridge. It was wide enough for three or four people to walk side by side. Then again, four might be pushing it.
Kailia stayed in the center, fighting the urge to look over the side and see how deep the canyon went. And maybe spot what Cethin had referred to. He’d likely been running his mouth in an attempt to scare her. Keep her there longer. Coerce her into doing what he wanted.
Little did he know she’d faced far bigger monsters than whatever pets he kept in his chasm.
When she reached the other side, there was a horse and an escort waiting for her as promised. She waved them off in refusal, silently cursing Cethin. Surprisingly, they let her go without a fuss, telling her that if she followed the main road, it would eventually lead right into the city.
The walk did indeed take the hours Cethin claimed it would. She didn’t really mind though. She enjoyed the quiet moments to herself. Time to think. Time to evaluate. Time to plan.
It was well past high noon when she reached the city center where all this had started the night before. Grateful she’d eaten as much of the king’s food as she did this morning, Kailia slowed, trying to avoid being touched. It was busier than she’d expected it to be. It appeared most had spent the entire night celebrating Esbat and then sleeping off the festivities. From what she could tell, most of the bustle was people taking down their merchant stands from the night before.
She’d paused on the outskirts, observing and trying to decide where to go next, when her gaze landed on a familiar face. Not familiar in that she knew her, but familiar in that she’d seen the female before. That morning, in fact.
The female’s dark brown hair was half up, half down, and she was deep in conversation with some males that Kailia vaguely recognized. She’d seen them around Cethin at times during her scouting. Members of the Cadre. She wasn’t really interested in them though. Not right now anyway.
As if the female could feel her eyes on her, she turned, looking right at Kailia where she stood on the corner. The female—Wren, that was what she’d said her name was—gave her a tentative smile, lifting her hand in a small wave. Kailia didn’t return the gesture, and she took a step back when the two males lifted their heads to see what had drawn Wren’s attention.
They asked Wren a question, and she shook her head, saying something in return. The one with long blond hair laughed whilethe one with shorter black hair and tattoos up his neck whipped his head back to Kailia. A moment later, all three were making their way over to her.
She briefly debated trying to lose them in the crowd, or even disappearing into her power, but shewastrying to conserve it. It didn’t refill as quickly as the Fae, and she always had to be mindful of that. So she stayed put, trying to decide what this type of social situation was going to call for.
“Hello again,” Wren said as the trio reached her.
The words were kind but hesitant, likely because Kailia hadn’t said a single word to her at the breakfast table. So she definitely should say something now, but when she didn’t, Wren filled the silence.
“Anyway, did you need help finding something? Or some place? You’re new to Aimonway, right?”
“She is definitely new. We’ve never seen her before,” the blond male cut in. “Wren here tells us you were at the castle this morning. Cethin usually keeps his bedmates sequestered to his floor.”
He arched a brow, letting the words hang there as if waiting for an explanation. But she didn’t owe anyone anything, especially not a male she’d only observed from afar until now.
“Don’t be a dick, Jarek,” the other male cut in. “She wasn’t his bedmate. She had a room of her own last night. The guards were under orders to report immediately to Cethin if she attempted to leave the castle grounds.”
Kailia held back her scoff. And he’d tried to argue he wasn’t holding her hostage.
Arrogant ass.
