Page 98 of Court of Winter
Shaking, I wrapped my arms around myself. Granted, I hadn’t liked how the king and Prince Norivun had been speaking of me when Norivun introduced me to his father, but the sides I’d seen of the crown prince during the past week... They weren’t that of a cold, heartless murderer.
But isn’t that exactly what he did to Mother, Father, and Tormesh? Murder them in cold blood?
That small voice of reason broke through my thoughts. My shivers increased.
“Why would anyone think that we could move?” I finally said. “The Solis fae have resided on the northern continent for thousands of winters. If we didn’t live here, where would we go?” I pictured the Glassen Barrier Islands and the Lochen fae who lived there and on the thousands of islands south of it. But our kind couldn’t live in the water, and those islands weren’t big enough to accommodate all of us, not unless we invaded their small continent thousands of millees away.
Michas straightened and leaned a hip against the railing. “Some say we should reside on the Nolus continent.” He crossed his arms and watched me carefully, and for the first time, I really looked at him.
He wasn’t overly tall, but he was broad and heavily muscled. Thick, wide wings were tucked into his back. They weren’t tall like the prince’s were, but they appeared heavy. Like all Solis fae, he had silver hair and blue eyes, but the curls in his hair were less common. His face was pleasant enough. Straight nose. Firm lips. Round eyes. He was rather attractive, actually.
Shaking myself from my trivial thoughts, I realigned myself to our conversation. “The Nolus continent, are you serious?”
“I am. Some are saying we should go south, over the Elixias Mountains to live on the Nolus continent where the climate is warm, and magic isn’t needed to sustain our food sources. My father has been pushing for support in the council.”
“But that’s not our land.”
“It may not be, but who’s to say it shouldn’t be?” Again, that carefully assessing expression overtook his face.
An icy feeling slid through my veins at what he was implying. “But the Nolus fae live there.”
“They do.”
“They wouldn’t welcome us.”
“No, they probably would not.”
The chilling feeling in me grew. “It sounds like you’re speaking of war, of taking the land by force. Is that what you’re saying, Michas?”
He shrugged and gave a lopsided smile before turning his attention back to the maze. Below, a few fae ran over the frosty cobblestones and laughed, chasing each other before dipping back into the icy topiary. “I suppose I’m simply answering your question.”
“Does the king know of this talk?”
“Of course, he does. He keeps telling my father such a move is preposterous.”
I sighed inwardly, feeling relief that the king opposed such actions. Leaning against the railing more, I asked, “Has there been support for an invasion from others?”
I sincerely hoped there hadn’t been. Such talk wasn’t just ridiculous—it was idiotic, and to even contemplate it was worrisome. We’d lived in harmony with the Nolus fae for hundreds, nothousandsof winters, despite our bordering land. And that was because we honored that border. We kept to ourselves. They kept to theirs. It was an unspoken tradition among our kind. The different species of fae stayed on their continents for the most part, too prideful to venture to other parts of the realm, as though doing so would imply their continent wasn’t superior.
Some fae, however, lived elsewhere, but I could only recall ever meeting one Nolus fairy in all of my life. It had been in Firlim’s harvest market, and that fairy had been living in the north for most of his adult life.
“There’s been support of...concern,” Michas finally replied evasively. He drifted closer and pulled his jacket around me more, his hands hovering just over my breasts. His expression shifted as his gaze stayed on my cleavage, and the heat around him grew.
I suppressed an eyeroll. Sothatwas where my time with him was going.
But I was glad for the excuse to leave. I needed to think, because what Michas had declared told me exactly why the prince had taken me. He wanted to use my magic to restore theoremnot just to keep us from starving but to prevent a war.
“I’m going back inside.” I made a move to push away from the balcony’s railing, but Michas stepped into my path.
“I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. Please, stay. We don’t need to speak of political strife.”
I crossed my arms. “The political talk isn’t why I’m leaving.”
He held his palms up, his stance non-threatening. “I’m sorry. I’ll keep my distance.” He took a step back. “But please stay. There are to be fireworks soon. The view from here will be unparalleled.”
His tone held no aggression, yet I eyed him with suspicion. “Why are you interested in me and wanting to keep me with you?”
He smiled, the look so charming that I once again felt he was being honest. “The prince has taken an interest in you, which of course, intrigues me. I personally have found our conversation stimulating. Your brashness and honesty are rare. And truthfully, Ilara, you’re an absolutely beautiful female. Any male would endeavor to keep your attention. So, will you stay?” He drifted closer to my side, not touching me again, but he was close enough that it wasn’t entirely proper. “You’re truly breathtaking. I would love for you to accompany—”