Page 36 of Invoking the Blood
Faye forced several deep breaths, steadying herself. Sparrow was alive. She clung to that knowledge with strangled desperation as tears pricked her eyes. Her queen abandoned her. She couldn’t phase and was held captive in Hell. There would be no escaping him. Faye blinked the tears back grasping at what little choices she had left. He held her hostage but she would never break.
Sadi tugged the sleeve of her robe. “We can talk over a meal. You must be famished.”
She was starved but remained silent. The Familiar woman wearing her face, took a seat at a square table and crossed her legs, waiting for Faye to join her. Faye remained at the window glancing over the luxurious room that dwarfed her cottage. Was Sparrow at their kitchen table now? Worried sick. “Can I write a letter? Send word to my sister and tell her I’m alright?”
“I’m sure…”
The Shadow Prince appeared in the room, glaring at her. “No.”
Sadi exhaled, and her shoulders slumped. “Rune, be reasonable.”
He ignored her and silently stalked toward Faye. “If you disrupt my dealings a second time, I will revisit your lover and return with the piece I carve from her.”
Faye drew a shaking breath, squeezing closer to the wall at her back. She stared up at him into his cold, pale blue gaze. “Please don’t hurt my sister.”
The hard set of his eyes eased a touch, and he took a step back. “Sister.”
Faye nodded, squeezing her arms to her side. “The blonde I was with when you found me. She’s my sister.”
Rune glanced Sadi’s way, grating, “See that she eats,” before vanishing from the room.
Sadi sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “You’re handling your stay poorly.”
Faye observed her, she seemed decent if not sane. “I don’t want to stay here.”
Sadi smiled at her, patting the table for Faye to sit across from her. “You’re a guest in our dark court.”
Faye straightened her robe and took her seat, surrounded by carved expensive furniture arranged with rugs to define the space. A large bed, plain in comparison to the other room she’d been in, was covered in thick ivory blankets. Blue and gray pillows decorated it. Faye turned her attention back to Sadi. “Your court is beautiful, but I would like to go home.”
Sadi placed a black stone on the table and touched her finger to it. “Please bring us a selection.” Faye schooled her expression as the Familiar spoke to the air before slipping the stone into her corset between her breasts. She smiled brightly at Faye, leaning back in her chair. “You’ll enjoy your stay once you understand court protocol. Court life is very simple. Touch is an invitation. A strike allows him to engage you physically. Using magic allows him to do the same. A romantic touch is an invitation to your body.”
“He touched me without invitation and brought me here.” Faye hoped using her own words would help her understand the Shadow Prince wronged her.
The Familiar drummed her long nails on the table. “That was rude of him.”
Faye bit the inside of her lip.Kidnappingwas rude. A chime sounded startling Faye, and several dishes appeared on the table. Meats, breads, and vegetables were arranged beautifully. A three-tiered plate setting was filled with the same pastries Sparrow had stolen from the ball. Faye’s mouth watered at the feast before her. She swallowed, making no move for it.
Sadi poured herself a flute of dark liquid and held the bottle out to Faye. “Sweet wine?”
“No, thank you.” Faye leaned forward, adding softly, “Can I ask you something?” Sadi nodded, sipping her wine. “Why are you glamoured to look like me?”
Sadi dragged the pointed claw of her ring down the side of her cheek. “I’ve never worn a glamour in my life.”
“We must be related.” Faye studied her with new eyes. She never imagined she would be part Familiar. Maybe more than a part, it would explain why her ceremony failed. Their altar was in Chaos— though that was the extent of Faye’s knowledge.
“I’ve bore no young, but Familiar trade partners often. My father shared many beds.”
Sadi spoke so easily about her father’s infidelity as though it were an idle conversation. “This doesn’t upset your mother?”
“Why would it? She joins when the mood strikes her.”
Faye flushed. Familiar were strange, but she knew promiscuity wasn’t isolated to a race. The darker the court, the more debauch they became. Faye pushed the thoughts away, focusing on her bubbling excitement at the prospect of a family, or at least a part of one. “Who’s your father? Do you have any other family?” They could be more distant relatives.
“Morbid is my father.”
Faye’s mouth slacked. “The Familiar King?” At her nod Faye began piecing the Shadow Prince’s court together. She should have seen it sooner but was too blind with grief. Three houses made up his court, each ruling a realm. Faye didn’t dare to hope to have a tie to the Benevolence house, but why else would they be so similar. “Could you look into me and see if I’m tied to your father?”
Sadi hesitated.