Page 157 of The Fallen Fae King

I close my eyes for a moment, summoning a moth. I wait for a moment, and when one circles my head like a fluttering ghost, I whisper to her, commanding her to spy on Taran.

“The dragons treat us like beasts,” I call loudly enough to be certain that Taran hears me. “But we’re Bloods. In the name of the Shadow Devils, never forget that.”

I am shocked by the cheers that ring out, echoing up to the unblinking sun on the roof.

Ahm and Yara wander over to join me.

“Laz never told us that his brother gave inspirational speeches.” Yara spins her wooden sword in front of her with practiced ease. “Or are you just trying to piss off the fucker up in the stands?”

I bare my canines. “It seems that you do know me.”

When my moth flutters back to my shoulder and murmurs in my ear what she heard Taran and Wraith talking about, I grimace.

The dragons were discussing what the wedding dress was going to look like at the coronation in a couple of days.

My stomach drops.

My gaze darts to Taran, who is watching me intently.

His lips quirk.

He knows that I am spying on him.

Did he talk about that just to hurt me?

I force myself to smile again, but now, it feels wrong.

Fake.

“What’s wrong?” Ahm asks, alarmed.

“I am the foolish moth.” I shake my head. “Who has flown into the candlelight because I craved to feel the warmth just once, even if it wasn’t real.”

“Don’t talk like that, Your Majesty.” Ahm pulls me around to face him. “You’re getting us out of here, right?”

My eyes widen. “I am.”

Ahm is smart.

Instantly, he understands.

“Line up for inspection,” Ahm calls, which is the code we worked out for any escape attempt.

I am impressed by how calmly the Bloods pretend to drop into their ranks like this is a normal inspection.

My heart speeds up.

I keep my gaze carefully neutral, even though Taran’s gaze prickles on the back of my neck.

I stare at the guard who has just entered through the silver door and has forgotten to fully close it. There is only a sliver of light through it, but it’s enough.

It’s the only chance that I have seen.

We must take it.

I raise my shackled hands, making sure that it looks to the guard like I am simply adjusting the searing silver around my wrists, as I march to stand in front of the Bloods.

I press my right thumb against the tip of my finger, forming the shape of a tiny sun enclosed within the circle of my fingers. I hold it for a mere heartbeat, before I release it.