A hard lump formed in my throat, but I swallowedaround it, forcing a smile. “I know that. Like I said, I knew what I was doing.”
Stella looked up at me and squeezed my shoulder, her face softening. Though she stood shorter than me, I often looked at her as an older, protective sister. She was stern when I was playful, and her concern was often warranted.
“I have no problem with you going on missions,” Stella said quietly. “I’m just saying, the others will. You need to be careful.”
I thought of Huck, the strictest member of our little band of rebels. He was the most vocal about his objection to these missions, especially when I was the one heading them.
Not to mention Denton… He often had his reservations where I was concerned, but that was for a whole different reason.
I shook my head, trying to clear it. “It’ll be fine. We got a good stash of coin this time. Hopefully, this will be enough.”
Stella smiled again, and a dimple appeared in her right cheek. She looked me over once more. “Where’s Kendra?”
“She’s hiding.”
“I amnothiding,” Kendra objected, though she did not emerge from within my hood.
Stella and I exchanged knowing looks. Fae creatures couldn’t lie, but for some reason, dragons could.
And everyone here knew Kendra was lying.
“Aren’t you excited to see Rogun again?” I asked.
Kendra’s quivering stopped for a moment, and her snout came out as she sniffed. “Is he here?” Kendra had a soft spot for the big dragon that often slept in the woods near my cottage.
“No, but I’m sure he’s waiting for you.”
Her head popped out, her blue eyes gleaming. “Yes, I suppose Iameager to see him.”
“Then, you’d better stopnot-hiding; otherwise, he won’t know where you are. You don’t want to worry him, do you?”
Kendra’s wings unfurled as they slid out of my cloak. She shook her head, her tail curling outward as she stretched. “I amnot hiding,” she said again, more vehemently.
Stella handed me the reins of one of the horses, shaking her head as she chuckled silently. She climbed atop her mount, and I followed suit. Together, we urged the horses into a trot, weaving our way through the woods as we journeyed back home.
The sun beatdown on me like the brutal lashings of a whip. The heat was a relentless force that seemed to melt my very skin from its bones, making me yearn for the chilled wintry air of my home. The silent stillness of an icy forest. The whisper of frosty wind.
But no. I was bound to the Winter Queen, and, unfortunately for me, my current prey lived in the Sun Court.
Sweat beaded along my brow, stinging the corners of my eyes. My fae body was built for endurance, but I’d been crouching in the green foliage for hours. Not even my fae blood could endure this damned heat.
He should arrive at any moment,I told myself.Soon, you’ll trap him and be done with this assignment.
I tried not to let my thoughts roam to the forested landscape where my cabin was tucked away in the mountains of the Winter Court, isolated and undisturbed. The queen had promised I would be granted a lengthy holiday after this mission was fulfilled. And fae bargains were binding. She would have no choice but to let me take my leave.
Later,I thought.You can daydream later. For now, focus on the task at hand.
I clutched my crossbow, my hands slick with sweat. It was already loaded, the sharpened point of the iron-studded arrow ready to burrow into my target’s neck. Once he appeared, I didn’t want to waste time loading my weapon and potentially alerting him to my presence. My head throbbed from the strain of maintaining my glamour for this long. I was currently masked, the color of my skin a vibrant green that blended in perfectly with the leafy surroundings. But the energy required to keep myself camouflaged was wearing on me. If the bastard didn’t show up soon, I would have to leave and recharge my magic.
A twig snapped nearby, and my skin prickled with awareness. Someone—or something—was approaching. It was too big to be an animal, unless it was a large predator. As bored as I was, I almost would have welcomed the distraction of wrestling one of the dreaded fae beasts.
Almost.
I held perfectly still, waiting for the visitor to reveal itself.
There he was. My mark.
Sir Ethan Bloodwright of the Sun Court, heir apparent and next in line to the throne as soon as his uncle, the king, passed away. He’d made his disdain for the Winter Court quite clear in all his political dealings. The queen had no doubts that he would declare war on our court the instant he was crowned.
