Hadn’t Felias told me thatheis on the side of the fea?
“Youareworking with the feyn,” I say, a chill creeping up my spine. I curse myself for not finding a way to bring my daggers. “Why haven’t you told them about me?”
Or has he?
“Because,Tha’haynah, as I’ve said, I side with the fea. And whether you’ve realized it or not, youare here for them.”
Even if I don’t want to end him for the risk he poses to my life, I certainly want to do so for the riddle he dangles like a fat bunch of carrots before a gluttonous pony.
Tell her. Tell her or send her away.Awri’s voice crashes into the sudden tempest of my mind. Whatever the man is hiding from me, they all already know.
The general jogs up beside me and I flinch when he reaches for my arm, my mind caught up in the fearful vortex of all that my future might hold. His brow draws down, and I force an apologetic smile at him and squeeze his hand.
“Would you mind giving us just a few more minutes?” I ask.
He nods, falling back with Riah without another word. I shake my head and smile a small smile, pondering how the general would have responded to the same request last week.
I frown at Felias when he chuckles. “Couldn’t keep yourself away from him, could you? I must say, when the fates aren’t busy muddling my own life, I find that they have quite the sense of humor.” He sighs exasperatedly. “Your attachment to the male is of no consequence now. I have a feeling we are all set on a course we have little control over.”
I ignore his rambling, sure that what little time I have with the man is soon to end and ask, “Why do you say that I am here to help the fea?”
“Because you are,” he says simply, and I have to resist the urge to strangle him.
“You know what I am,” I say, a thinly veiled threat.
Drakai. The word goes unspoken, but I can tell by the disbelieving smile on the man’s face he knows exactly what I mean.
“Or are you something else entirely?” He poses the question with a smirk.
“Tell me what you think you know,” I demand.
He shrugs but then his smile fades and he cringes under my glower.
“I only know what the sisters told me the night you arrived. They expected you,Tha’haynah, they accepted you without hesitation or introduction, and now, even the fea in the northern woods have begun to whisper about your arrival.”
“I need to see the sisters.” If he can’t—or won’t—answer my questions, I am sure they will be somewhat more forthcoming.
He nods. “I’ll tell them.”
“Thank you.”
I glance back at the general. His eyes bore into me and my stomach pitches. He knows something. He doesn’t trust me, he told me as much, but he’s been keeping things from me as well.
Felias leaves without another productive word. We exchange a departing embrace and reassurances that we will see each other soon, though I’m not sure either of us really believe that. Everything is about to change. Not a single word he had spoken was necessary for me to know that simple truth.
CHAPTER 33
THE A’KORI PALACE
Present Day
Ihave hardly seen the sisters since I brought Eon’s mate back from the ship. I expected it, knowing they would likely be busy tending the male. But the sisters have never liked to be seen, not by others. And I can’t help but wonder how much of their absence has to do with the fact that the general moved me into his room.
Whatever the reason, I don’t doubt that Felias will tell the sisters about my request to see them. I doubt even less that they will come and find me as soon as he does. The sprites may be mischievous, but they have always been honest and never withheld anything from me. Not that I know of.
When I insist on spending the day in the garden, out of the confines of the palace, the general doesn’t argue like I expect him to. He simply moves his war room meetings to the grounds nearby.
I can’t help but laugh when four large males drag a long table onto the grass and supply chairs for all those that filter in and out of attendance. It’s a curious sight, female and male alike streaming through the throng of blooms in full military uniform and regalia.
