Page 77 of Court of Winter

CHAPTER20

Sandus flew fast and hard as his affinity magic heated his muscles until his wings flapped faster than the eye could see. Night had fully set in, and clouds drifted in front of the moons. Wind pummeled my face as the guard’s beard tickled my forehead.

A million questions swirled through my mind as salty air whipped around us, but I didn’t have time to voice any of them. Only minutes later, we landed on the cobblestone streets of Barvilum. The crowd parted for us, everyone backing up. I brought a hand to my head, my heart racing, just as a gasp came from the crowd, and then another.

Lord Sillivul crossed his arms and nodded in approval, a smug smile streaking across his face.

A female fairy pointed toward the sea as a hand covered her mouth. Another shrieked as her eyes grew wide.

I turned to the ocean, and my stomach plummeted when I saw what all of them were gaping at. Just off the shore, floating shapes appeared on the water’s surface, but I still didn’t want to accept what they were.

Bodies.

Dead Lochen fae floated in the sea’s waves just beyond the council building’s shores. Dozens and dozens of them appeared, face down. Lifeless. Dead.

“The prince killed them?” I whispered. Horror seized my insides.

“He was doing his duty, as is expected of him,” a male called from behind us.

Sandus whipped around. “Lord Crimsonale?”

An older fae male stepped through the crowd.

“What are you doing here?” Sandus asked in a deadly quiet voice, his words as cold as ice.

A pit formed in my stomach as nausea rolled through me. So much death, but when Lord Crimsonale took another step closer to us I shifted my attention away from the dead Lochen because Lord Crimsonale was staring right at me.

He looked as I remembered him in the brief encounter we’d shared on my first day arriving to the castle—a portly figure, a balding head, and gray hairs lining his temples.

A perverse smile twisted the Osaravee Territory archon’s lips, and my skin crawled. There was something about the older male, something in his eyes that caused my insides to wither.

“Here you are at last.” Lord Crimsonale crossed his arms as he assessed me. “I told the council that the prince was keeping a female confined in his wing, but the king thought I was speaking nonsense. Yet, you’re exactly as I remember you.” He cocked his head. “Tell me, what have you been doing in the prince’s private wing during the weeks he’s been gone?”

“You don’t have to answer that, Ilara.” Sandus’s nostrils flared.

“No?” Lord Crimsonale cocked his head. “I am a council member and the archon of Osaravee Territory. I hold more authority thanyou.” He sneered at the guard, and even though Sandus was taller than him, it was as though he gazed at the guard down his nose. “So tell me, Ilara, was it? What have you been doing in the prince’s wing?”

I licked my dry lips “I—”

“How did you know we were here?” Sandus cut in. “Did you follow us? Prince Norivun won’t take kindly to that.”

Lord Crimsonale shrugged. “I was merely investigating. I knew sooner or later she would have to leave his walls, and considering the prince is being quite secretive about it all, I figured eventually she’d have to join you when you left.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and then he made a flourishing bow in my direction, bringing a fist to his chest in traditional greeting. “How do you do? Lord Crimsonale, baron of Highsteer Castle, councilman on the king’s council, and son and archon of Osaravee Territory.”

As a territory archon, he would automatically sit on the king’s council, which meant he was right. He had more authority than Sandus. If Lord Crimsonale ordered me to go with him, I would have to.

A shiver danced down my spine as I nodded in response and brought a fist to my chest, but I was loathed to give him my full name. “How do you do?”

Lord Crimsonale eyed me curiously. “I’m sorry we haven’t become acquainted. I’m sure the king would also be curious why he’s unaware of your stay in his castle.” He cast a shrewd look at Sandus just as the crowd pointed toward the sky. My heartbeat skyrocketed when I spotted the prince and his guards flapping toward us. “But I’m sure he will look forward to introductions at the much-anticipated ball this weekend. Do come, Ilara. After all, once I tell the king of you, that you’re real and of flesh and blood, he’ll insist you attend.”

“The ball?” I asked dumbly.

Before he could clarify, the prince landed right beside me, and positioned himself between me and Lord Crimsonale, as a snarl cut loose from his throat. “What are you doing here?”

“He followed us,” Sandus answered. “He’s curious about Ilara.”

Prince Norivun’s power rumbled the cobblestone street as he took a step closer to the lord.

Lord Crimsonale’s throat bobbed as he took a step back.