Page 89 of Their Trials

A sense of foreboding rode me hard, setting my nerves on edge as we drew closer and closer to Cashel Rí. Despite everything having gone nearly perfect, aside from the pixie attack, I still couldn't shake the feeling of the other shoe waiting to drop.

My gut churned in anticipation as we passed through the gates, the orb following behind us dutifully, ensuring our arrival was noted by all those who cared to watch. It had followed us the entire way. The only area it hadn't was the domain of the Lady, where everyone experienced whatever she chose to impart to them.

I couldn't help the doubt that tickled the back of my mind when it came to the Lady, but she had seemed completely loyal to my father. However, I was not my father. Which meant she had absolutely no ties to me other than the ones she chose. Instinct told me to suspect her, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't see an angle that she could play.

Her animosity toward the Queen was truthful; of that, I had no doubt. It was everything else that had me second-guessing whether or not I could call her an ally.

“Wanna talk about it?” Baer asked as we neared the stables.

I looked around, my pointed glances communicating what I couldn’t do openly. “Not here,” I whispered back to him.

He simply nodded. “When you're ready, we're here.”

I smiled sadly. How many times had I wished for someone to lean on? Despite knowing that no one else was dependable or there for me, I still couldn't help the craving for that one person who would be there for me. And here I was, with four devoted men who would do whatever it took to ensure my safety. Just because I had only been physical with two of them didn't mean that I didn't see a future with all of them. We just had to find our way.

Being that my final two consorts were just as damaged as I was, I knew that it would take time. Inevitably, we would all end up with each other if only we could allow ourselves to reveal our vulnerabilities to one another. When that happened, the rest would fall in place.

We approached the entrance to the castle after surrendering our horses to the stable hands and I ensured that Meadow would receive extra oats. After everything we had been through, she had earned it.

The door swung open wide as both of our groups prepared to enter, planning on retiring to our rooms for the night and addressing the Court in the morning. However, a steward stood on the other side, and I knew that tonight would not be over anytime soon. “The Court awaits both Chosen in order to celebrate their successes,” the steward said, the words stilted and clearly not his own.

I bit back the sigh of frustration that tried to escape me. I wanted my bed, not the circus of Court. A warm hand engulfed mine, squeezing reassuringly. “Just a little while longer,” Baer whispered so only I could hear him. I leaned into him slightly, needing his strength if I was to make it through this spectacle without any issues. I had known that something was waiting for us upon our return, the sense of foreboding making sense now.

Charity's group took the lead, but before I could pass through the doorway, Brannoc stood in front of me. “Something is wrong.”

I laughed darkly. “Yeah. I feel it, too, but it's probably just the fact that we have to face the Queen. For which I'm sure she won't be happy at our success, but honestly, there's not much she can do, right?”

“I wouldn't be so sure,” the Raven said, but he backed off, seemingly appeased by my explanation for the feeling of doom that we both felt.

Baer squeezed my hand again, and we made our way toward the throne room with the steward leading the way. Charity and her men were already out of sight, while Lennox and Arryn flanked Baer and I, with Callum falling into line behind them.

When I glanced around as we reached the ornate doors to the throne room, two guards prepared to swing them wide as a steward announced us, I saw no hint of Brannoc. Somewhere along the way, he had done what he did best, disappeared into thin air.

I knew it was for the best, yet the sense of foreboding only grew now that he wasn't near. A part of me wondered if my men could feel it too or if it was just the Raven and me. Then again, they all seemed to be on high alert as they took their positions next to me.

Holding my head high, I nodded slightly to the steward, indicating I was ready to make my entrance. As soon as the doors swung wide, the glittering lights and precious stones threatened to blind me. Fighting the urge to block my eyes, I kept my focus in front of me as the steward announced us to the Court.

Applause burst forth, threatening to bowl me over by the sheer force of the sound that ensued. Nearly everyone who was present applauded our success, and I couldn't help but wonder if their reactions were just for us or if Charity had received the same response.

Something told me that we were alone in the adulation. Instinctively, I wanted to duck my head, not used to receiving such accolades, but I fought the urge. I would not show weakness among this den of vipers. They cheered us now, but I could sense they would just as quickly turn on us if we stepped wrong.

My eyes finally met the Queen's, where I held her gaze briefly in defiance before slowly dipping my head in deference like what was expected of me. That brief glimpse told me enough, though. She was not happy. And she had something up her sleeve for tonight.

Chapter Forty Four: Brannoc

After warning Rhowyn, I disappeared into the shadows, falling back on my training. The air tingled with the sense that something was very wrong. While Rhowyn tried to brush off our unease, we both knew there was more here than we could see. The air practically vibrated with it, as if it, too, was holding its breath, waiting for what was about to come.

I should have parted ways with Arryn and his Chosen after delivering them to the Gwyllion, but there was something about the human girl that drew me in like a moth to the flame. She was dangerous, holding a power deep inside her the likes of which I had never seen before. And yet, she was shackled, bound by things outside of her control.

Despite being ensnared by the magic of others, pulses of her magic called to me. Just the hint of her magic that I could feel told me that she was unlike any other fae. She was so much more. Avalonia, help those who found her bad side when her powers were finally unleashed.

Unable to resist the pull, I stayed with the rag-tag group, watching. At each challenge, Rhowyn met it head-on, overcoming obstacles as a human that many fae had failed at before her. She was humble and kind, taking in the other Chosen and allowing her to tag along. The way she balanced her men, giving them what they needed while also not afraid to ask for what she wanted. A part of me had immediately been ensnared by the contradiction she presented. Humble yet confident. Kind but fierce. Strong but able to lean on others when she needed it.

She was destined to become our Queen, everything that the fae needed without even knowing it. After watching her survive the pixie attack, I vowed to myself that I would protect her and her consorts. My long life finally had purpose again.

Which was why I followed them as they made their way to the throne room, keeping to the shadows. I reached out my senses, listening to the conversations that swept through the room. The plots and scheming were all clear to me, as if spoken directly into my ear.

My magic shied away from the Queen, her own magic twisted and wrong, immediately repulsing my own. I watched as Rhowyn made her entrance, keeping my awareness on the Queen. Every twitch of her muscles as she pasted on her false smile at Rhowyn's success was made evident from the shadows where I watched.