“I’ve gotta ask.” I picked up a remote control I spotted on the bedside table and spun it in my hand. “Did everyone here have to go throughthat?”
She nodded emphatically. “When we decided to become the Court of Wraiths, we all did a trial to prove we belonged here. That said, most of the original trials were easier. It all depends on your gift. And outsiders have it the worst. Sorry aboutthat.”
“Lugh was the one who decided to form the Court ofWraiths?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “It was a group decision. We want to do our own thing and not answer to the Morrigan. You must feel the same way, or you wouldn’t have gone through the trial,right?”
I swallowed. I hated speaking against Clark, even if it was a lie. “Why else would I behere?”
She gave a satisfied nod. “Then, you’ll fit in here just fine. Though...I should warn you. Some of the fae here can be kind of...difficult with outsiders. It’s only because they don’t know you. They’ll come around intime.”
Great. So, this was the Court of Mean Girls. Just what Ineeded.
“Hmm.” I dropped the remote on the bed and glanced around. “Why all the secrecy? I mean, I get that you made a court that you wanted to hide from the rest of the fae, but you seem to have gone to a lot of trouble just forthat.”
I hoped I wasn’t pushing it, but I didn’t see how I’d ever get the answers to my questions unless I asked. Sure, hiding an entire damn court with its own damn king was a pretty big deal. But there seemed to be more going on here. Lugh was hiding something big. I was certain ofit.
Saoirse’s purple eyes flickered, and she took a step back toward the door. “You’re part of the Court of Wraiths now, Moira. That’s going to have to be enough forawhile.”
I frowned. “What does that evenmean?”
“We don’t know you yet,” she pointedout.
“Yeah, but I just went through a dangerous trial.” I gestured at the tiny window I could never escape. “I’m in this thing, one hundred percent. I even signed a bloodcontract.”
“And that will have to be enough,” she insisted. “You’ll find out more when Lugh decides you’re ready. I can tell you think he’s a cruel king, but you don’t know what he’s been through...nevermind.”
I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but she shook herhead.
She pushed open the door, and then paused. “You’ll find a shower room in the door to your left. In the cupboard beneath the telly, there are shelves stocked with snacks and a mini-refrigerator with drinks. If you need anything, dial zero on yourphone.”
Before I could say another word, she quietly shut the door behind her. A lock tumbled into place. My heart racing, I crossed the room and tried thehandle.
The Court of Wraiths had locked meinside.
* * *
Aknock soundedon my door. Groaning, I turned to my side to glare at the clock. It was six in the morning. My entire body ached from the previous night’s fight. My skin felt raw from where I’d been bashed against the stone walls, my throat was on fire, and I had a headache straight out of the underworld. Fae heal fast, but we’re not invincible. It would take a few more hours for all my bruises to fully mend, and another day for me to feel like my normalself.
Before I could stumble out of bed, the pesky knocker opened thedoor.
Lugh strode inside, looking frustratingly perfect. His raven hair was freshly-washed, damp curls dropping onto his forehead. I could tell he’d shaved, but he’d left enough stubble to highlight his sharp jaw. His dark eyes raked over me, alert andunbothered.
If I’d been more awake, I probably would havegaped.
“You’re still in bed,” he said with an air ofdispleasure.
I sat up and brushed my matted hair out of my face. I’d taken a long, hot shower before crawling into my bed last night, damp hair tied back in a loose bun. The strands were dry now, but they had escaped from the elastic in the night. I didn’t have to look in the mirror to know I had the worst case of bed headimaginable.
I blinked up at him through fuzzy eyes. “Sod off. I’m knackered. It’s not even daylight yet, and I spent my night trying not to die. If a girl deserves a lie in, it’snow.”
“You won’t be punished because I realise you’re accustomed to life as a solitary fae, where you can do whatever you damn well please.” He sniffed. “But here, in the Court of Wraiths, we don’t waste our precious time withsleep.”
I arched a brow. Or I at least tried to. It was probably more like a half-assed wiggle. “Oh yeah? Then, what do you waste your precious timewith?”
Because as far as I could tell, the Court of Wraiths merely specialised in making my life a living hell. And that didn’t require getting up at the crack of dawn. All they had to do was toss me into the vaults with the Sluagh...and someoneelse.
That got me thinking a little more clearly. What the hell had even happened last night? There’d been some other mysterious fighter in the vaults. Someone with a spear. I wanted to ask Lugh about it. Surely he’d know if someone else was inside of his castle, fighting thosecreatures.
