Page 45 of Court of Winter

“There was nothing further we could do.”

My eyebrows pinched together.Nothing we could do.He was right. Obviously. Yet the need I’d felt to go to that male...

I shook my head. Madness. My life had descended into absolute madness. I brought a hand to my forehead and finally looked at the small courtyard. “Where are we?”

“Within my private wing.”

The courtyard was a perfect square. The castle’s tall walls rose three stories on each side. Spires and turrets that soared to impossible heights hovered in the distance, but the courtyard was too narrow for me to see much of the castle past that.

Abangcame from my left, getting a jump out of me, and then several fae bustled into the courtyard from a door near a silent fountain. Trickling snowflakes cascaded over its sides.

“My prince,” they all said, each bowing low, one even getting on his knees despite the wet snow. All of their heads dipped simultaneously.

“Patrice, Balbus, Haisley,” the prince replied. “I assume you’ve been well?”

“Of course, my prince, we’ve all faired fine.” The balding fairy with the round belly straightened. Wisps of white hair clung to the sides of his head, the top as shiny as ice. He hurried to take the prince’s cloak and gloves. “The court’s been eager for your return, my prince. Lord Crimsonale was just announcing to everyone that you’ve returned.”

The prince’s jaw tightened. “I’m sure he was. I know I took longer than anticipated. Has my father been notified of my arrival?”

“He’s being told as we speak, my prince,” Balbus replied.

“Undoubtedly, the king will want to see you within the hour,” the skinniest male added, the one who’d dropped to his knees in greeting. “He’s been asking daily if anyone’s heard from you.”

The prince’s expression grew impossible to read.

“I told him how you dislike mistphasing back to the castle each night, my prince,” the portly fairy added. “That you prefer staying among our fae to better understand our vast continent during your overland tours. The king wasn’t happy, but he accepted that.”

“Thank you, Balbus,” the prince replied.

I clasped my hands in front of me, as my thoughts returned to that dying fairy. I couldn’t help but wonder how he faired.

Thankfully, the prince’s servants seemed caught up in the crown prince’s arrival, and since my illusion-hidden hair didn’t draw attention, and none of the servants had noticed my wingless back yet, nobody paid me any attention.

I mulled over what had happened, but then the prince gestured toward me.

“Patrice, Balbus, Haisley, may I introduce Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory. She is my guest and is to be treated as such. I would like her time with us kept discreet. None of you are to speak of her to anyone else in the castle, especially Lord Crimsonale. Is that understood?”

“Of course, my prince,” they all replied in unison.

The balding fairy stepped forward and brought a fist to his heart in the Solis traditional form of greeting. “Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory, my name is Balbus Greenthorn, son of Harrivee Territory. It is a pleasure to serve you.” He dipped his head again as the other two also came forward.

“Patrice Hollarhan, son of Osaravee Territory, at your service.” Patrice brought his fist to his heart, then inclined his head but didn’t get on his knees—not surprisingly—as he had for the prince. He was the youngest of the three with a thin, wiry build and medium-sized soft-black wings.

“And I’m Haisley Bottomale, son of Prinavee Territory. How do you do?” Haisley said in a nasal tone as he rested his fist over his heart. He gave me a pleasant smile and then bowed as well.

“Nice to meet you all,” I replied and brought a fist to my chest. It wasn’t lost on me that not one of them commented on my wingless back.

The prince stepped closer to me, his hand slipping to my waist. “I would like Ilara placed in the Exorbiant Chamber. Please have it readied immediately.”

I stiffened just as the three servants bowed before departing.

The prince hastily removed his hand and stepped back. He opened his mouth, then closed it. A low growl vibrated his chest as he looked away.

My entire body heated at his nearness and...how he’d just touched me so intimately.

“How—” I cleared my throat. “How do you expect to keep my imprisonment here a secret when the entire capital just saw you fly me here?”

“The capital saw nothing, but unfortunately, all of my guards and Lord Crimsonale did.”