Page 4 of The Fae Lord

“Just walking,” I answer quickly. “Nowhere. And everywhere.” I smile slowly and sip my coffee. “Within the bounds of the shield, of course.”

Briony grimaces and sips her tea, then grimaces harder.

“Has Finn spoken to you about our next steps? I tried to talk to him about it, but he is reluctant. He says he is still thinking, and waiting on news from the elves.”

“The elves...” Briony rolls her eyes. “They have never been trustworthy. I still don’t understand why–” her words are broken off when Finn appears opposite us. Striding in front of the fire, he looks angry, his steps wide, his stance stiff and forceful.

He doesn’t even look in my direction, just marches over to a small group of Leafborne and grabs one of them by the throat. Hauling them to their feet, he stares down into their face and spits, “You accuse us of being unfair?”

The Leafborne, Pen, tries to pull away, but Finn is athletic and strong, despite his small wings. The piercings on their tips jingle as he draws himself taller and wider.

“No, I . . .” Pen replies shakily.

Finn’s jaw twitches. “If you accuse the Shadowkind, you accuse me. I am their leader.”

I sense Briony twitch a little beside me. Was she aware that’s how Finn had declared himself?

“I apologise,” Pen says tightly. “I only thought –”

Finn lets him go. His eyes soften, and I see an almost visible wave of regret wash over him. He shakes his head, then puts a firm hand on Pen’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I apologise, Pen. Tensions are high. I am as hungry and tired as the rest of you, and as frustrated by being stuck here for so long with no progress. I overreacted. Please accept my apologies.”

Pen nods but narrows his eyes at Finn as if he doesn’t quite believe him.

I stand and walk quickly over, thrusting my cup into Briony’s hands so mine are free.

“Not now, Alana,” Pen snaps. “I don’t need you manipulating me into not being angry with your boyfriend.” He glances at my fingers as if I’m going to attempt to cast a spell on him right this second.

“That’s not what I was trying to do. I was simply –”

Pen shakes his head, looks at me with disgust, and turns to walk away. The other Leafborne are muttering. Maura is the only one who continues to stare at me. I desperately want to let my gates down and search her feelings; to see if she really still hates me, despite everything. But if I do that, she’ll know. She’ll sense it, and I will have proved them all right.

They believe their thoughts aren’t safe around me.

I can’t do anything to fuel their fear.

As I inhale sharply, pain lodging between my ribs, Finn puts his hand on the base of my spine. “Ignore him. Ignore all of them. They’ll see what you are eventually.” He kisses the side of my cheek. “They’ll worship you eventually. You’ll see.”

I lean into him and sigh. He smells so good, and he feels so warm and familiar.

He is the only one who has truly seen me for who I am. He gives me exactly what I need, whenever I need it.

I owe him the truth about Eldrion, and the tunnels, and the visions.

But what if telling him means losing him forever?

TWO

Eldrion

The elf is sweating. Beads of perspiration drip down his pale face, and he grimaces as I lean in closer.

“Fuck you, Eldrion,” he spits.

My eyes flash. Anger settles deeper between my ribs. He knows where they are. The elves know everything. And he will tell me before the day is out. Or he will lose his life.

I stalk away, slowly, rolling up my sleeves.

It’s dark, and it stinks in this hellhole of a place.