“I know who it is,” he said in a low growl, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. And then he swore. “You’re playing a dangerous game, lad.”
I prickled at his condescending tone. As Oberon’s eldest son, I’d been breathing in the air of this world for over three hundred years. No doubt I was older than this bastard and had done far more to affect the outcome of this impending catastrophe than he had.
“I have said everything I need to say. Now pass it on to your king, or I will return to my camp with this mortal.” I didn’t mention what she truly was. No need to go into all that.
The guard clucked his tongue while the others clustered around him. The three of them fell into a hushed conversation, and as much as I strained to listen, I couldn’t make out more than a few syllables here and there. Unfortunately, I hadn’t inherited my father’s keen hearing. Strength? Oh, yes. Healing? Thankfully. The ability to scent lies from mortals? Very much so. But enhanced speed and hearing had evaded me so far.
The lead guard broke free of the others, shot me a sharp glance, and then motioned to my brothers and sisters. “You, come inside with the girl. The others must stay outside the city walls.”
“Hmm.” I narrowed my eyes. “I think not. I’ll wait here until your king arrives.”
“His Majesty is already here,” the guard countered. “I’ll take you to him, but none of the others can join you.”
I arched a brow. “Kalen Denare is supposed to be in Endir.”
“No, he’s here,” Nellie finally spoke up, the first words I’d heard from her since we’d left camp. “That’s why I was out there by the wall. I was following them.”
“Why, in the name of the sun, would Kalen Denare leave his safe city to return to this burnt husk?”
There was very little that could surprise me. Most of the time, the mortals warned me of events ahead of time—thanks to their prophetic Druids—so I could fulfill my duties to Talaven. They hadn’t told me about this, however. A tickle of excitement went through me. I liked being surprised.
“To find your father,” Nellie whispered.
I sniffed the air. The girl was telling the truth. Interesting. My father should be long gone by now—off on a ship that would take him to the eastern realms, where he could heal from this ordeal, where he could learn to be Oberon again. That was what the mortals had told me would happen.
But I supposed Kalen Denare would not know about that, and neither would Nellie Baran.
With a slight smile, I whipped my dagger from my belt and pressed the blade to the girl’s throat. “Very well. It can be just the two of us. But if any of you guards so much as flinch in my direction, the Baran sister dies.”
Nellie growled at me. It was a lovely little sound, and I appreciated her ferocity. It was more than I’d expected from her, to tell the truth, though I’d always hoped for it. She had always seemed meek and calm compared to her older sister. But like Tessa, she had the god’s power running through her veins. She had fight in her, too. She just hid it better.
We passed through the gates, and I felt at least a dozen pairs of eyes lock on my face. Arrows would be trained on my back now. This was a risky move. Unlike my father and other full-blooded light fae, I could die by an arrow to the head. But it was a risk I was willing to take.
We marched through the streets, Nellie finally squirming against her bonds as if the closer we drew to the king, the bolder she became. I kept my hand tight around her chains and the dagger against her neck. Hatred practically boiled off her skin.
She hissed at meagain. “My sister is going to kill you for this.”
“Just like she killed my father after she thought he’d chopped off your head?”
She let out a low, dangerous laugh, her neck bobbing against the blade. “Didn’t you know? Kalen didn’t journey here alone. My sister came with him, and she brought the Mortal Blade. And if they’re in Albyria now instead of still hunting for Oberon in the mountains, that means they’ve done it. He’s dead. Byherhand, I’m guessing.”
A sharp pain went through my abdomen, and the air suddenly grew so thick, I could scarcely breathe. There was no love lost between my father and me—I’dwantedTessa to fight against him, to end his reign once and for all. He’d never treated me with anything other than distant unease. I had his horns and his eyes, but I had my birth mother’s smile. And I’d shown it to him at every possible chance. He’d been wicked and cruel. He’d entertained Bellicent’s delirium for far too long, andhewas the reason Andromeda and the other gods would return.
Still, the thought of him dead turned the world on its side. It seemed impossible. He was indestructible, unbeatable. For five hundred years, he had walked these lands, and I’d grown to believe he’d never fade.
Talaven had told me he’d live. That one day, he would heal from this. But they always communicated through gemstones, which meant I could not scent the truth from them. Had theylied?
Numbly, I followed the guards through the streets until we entered the courtyard just outside the castle. And then a furious shout rent the night as spear-wielding fae rushed toward me.
Six
Tessa
Irushed out of the tavern as Toryn’s bellow shook the stones. My chest tightened. I’d never heard him even raise his voice before, and the unbridled anger dripping from his roar felt like a punch in the gut. If something madehim, of all people, sound like that…
Grabbing a dagger, I ran around the corner, Kalen just beside me.
And then I saw what caused him so much anguish.Nellie.
