Chapter 41
Ellie
Idon’t follow the guards back to the first floor of the palace; that doesn’t seem like the best idea. As far as I know, that only leads to the throne room and the gardens where the wedding will be held, where Taran’s likely hiding in the crowd.
It’ll be easier to spot him from higher up, so I creep along the second-floor hall—if you can call it that. It’s reminiscent of an interior balcony, occasionally enclosed on both sides, forming a tunnel of smooth wood. I step lightly, praying fae ears won’t hear me padding along the floor. Assuming they don’t sense me first.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
My heart races as I peek out each window, nothing more than oblong holes in the wall, until I dead-end at another stairway. The only options are up, down, or back the way I came.
I choose up.
Even if they sense me, that’ll at least be one more thing distracting them from Taran. Which can still help, right? Though they’ll probably kill me on sight.
Don’t think about that. Be brave.
The first window on this level looks over a different side of the palace than the previous ones. Fewer fae meander through the garden, three stories below. A group of six guards marches by, armed with bone-tipped spears and bows hanging from their backs. If I make it to the next window, I’ll likely see where they’re headed.
I jump as a hand grabs my arm, tearing me away from the window, around the corner, and into a small alcove.
“What are you doing here?” Emlyn hisses, his face inches from mine. “Where’s Reid?”
“He’s fine—he’s with Aerona,” I whisper, pulling my arm free of his grasp. “They didn’t need my help.”
Emlyn groans. “So you decided to risk your life, and the entire plan, by wandering around by yourself?”
I open my mouth, but he immediately covers it with his hand and goes still, as if listening to something.Like Taran does when he’s using his land-sense.
Without warning, his lips crash into mine as my back hits the wall.
WHAT?
My hands flail against him as his tongue invades my mouth. He presses his knee between my legs, pinning me in place. My squealing protests come out muffled against his lips.
A gruff voice breaks through my confusion. “What are you doing here?”
Emlyn’s body heat disappears in an instant, with him slipping between me and the guard to lean casually against the wall. “You know how weddings are. Can’t let the happy couple have all the fun.”
It’s nearly impossible to breathe with my heart pounding in my throat.
The guard frowns, stepping aside. “Get out of here. Now.”
“Going.” Emlyn pulls me toward the stairs. Once we’re out of earshot, he wipes his mouth on his sleeve. “You better hope we don’t run into any more guards.”
I wrest my hand free; how dare he act likeI’mthe problem. “That was entirely your choice!”
“How else am I supposed to justify being where we shouldn’t?”
“Aerona was knocking them out.”
“She would.” Emlyn pivots back in the direction we came from, heading up the stairs.
When I don’t immediately follow, he lets out a frustrated exhale as he looks up at the ceiling.
“Look—if I leave you by yourself, you’re gonna end up captured or killed, and Taran will never forgive me. So you’re gonna do exactly what I tell you, understand?”
His condescension keeps my ire simmering, but it’d be foolish to leave. Sticking with Emlyn is my best chance of helping Taran. So I swallow my resentment and nod. “I understand.”
