His normally calm smile vanished, and he moved closer. “What?”
Could I trust him?
Images of Kane slaughtering the young priest, even the redcap gnome, gave me focus. It didn’t matter if both of those acts were in some odd defense of me. Taking another life shouldn’t be such a thoughtless act.
No, anyone who took a life without hesitation had to be hiding darker truths.
Gideon angled his body to shield us from the guards. He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I am an ally. I promised I would help free you if you help me.”
“I need more than that.”
With a sigh, he released my hand and nodded at me to follow him toward a row of lavender. The purple flowers sprouted from a long row of clay pots.
Gideon brushed his fingers along the petals. “Not everything grows in the mountain. Our kingdom can be cruel to many delicate things. It’s important that we continue to keep our trade routes open to all races, humans included.”
His gaze flitted to me. “Kane would have us all hiding in these forests, cut off from everything else. We are fae, bound to all lands. We were never meant to stay here, not all of us.”
Curious, I glanced behind us to see if the guards were watching before sliding closer to Gideon. “So why are you here?”
“That is a story for another time. Just know that there are many fae who believe we should strengthen our alliance with humans, and we can’t do that with a king who hates them.”
“But he married one,” I mumbled, getting more confused.
“Yes, and now the humans can’t sway him with anything, but enough questions. We’ve talked too much. Will you help me?”
He gripped my hand, a desperate plea in his eyes.
The warmth in his grasp filled me with courage.
My throat tightened as I whispered, “I have Kane’s diary. Someone left it in my room.”
Gideon froze as his eyes widened. Was that fear for me or something else?
He glanced at the door, but the guards had their backs to us, facing the corridor. “How did you get that? I didn’t even know he kept one.”
“I think he was sent to the realm of the dryads when he was younger. I think his mother sent him there and—”
Gideon put a finger to my lips, my heart racing at the wild expression in his stormy gaze. “Not another word. It’s not safe to speak here.”
Concern furrowing his brow, Gideon eased me deeper into the atrium where massive ferns filled huge clay vases. “We need to speak outside of the castle. I’ll arrange a visit into town, an expedition where you can meet the people, and I know for sure no one can hear us speak.”
“Why? What’s so bad about reading his diary?”
“Our king never speaks of his past and is very adamant no one else does either. Fae have been killed for asking too many questions. If Kane finds out you have his diary, you’ll meet the same fate. Whoever left it for you to find wants you dead.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Kane
In a normal marriage,I would have been waking up beside my new bride, marveling about the previous night. Instead, I sat playing a game with the human king, avoiding the mess I’d made at the palace.
King Henry stared at the board between us, thinking about his next move. We had been at this for almost an hour. It was more than just a game, rather a show of wits, and we had yet to discuss the real reason for me being here—the origins of the dead human found in one of my settlements that looked eerily like my new bride.
“I think I have you this time.” King Henry picked up the knight and moved it closer to my dryad.
I leaned back, glancing at his servants and guards that hovered nearby. We were outside, near a perfectly manicured lawn. I never quite understood why humans needed to cut their grass and kill all the wildflowers.
Another sign of their need to control.
