Grim lines drew his expression down. “I am also sorry, High King. I would prefer to be in your debt as well, and I hope you will someday be pleased with my work.”
He did not wait for a prompting to speak to me. “I, too, am sorry for how we treated you and appreciate your grace. I…” His eyes darted to the king, but only for a moment. “I would like to attempt a degree of recompense by protecting you while you are here.”
My brows shot up, and he explained more. “There are a lot of people who are… worried about a fae being here, in Sirun. People do stupid things when they worry, and the king can’t make you safe all the time. But I could spend most days as a bodyguard. Even if you’re in the dungeon—”
The king cut him off. “She will not remain in the dungeon. That was a poor choice on my part, and I will not risk her safety here again.”
Oh?
“Soooo,” the young man—elf—asked me, “would you let me help keep you safe?”
“I could help too!” Jolter seemed almost jealous that he hadn’t thought of the idea. “Nobody would bother you with both of us around.”
Koan shot Jolter a glare, and then raised his brows toward me. I didn’t really like the idea. They both seemed penitent, but I didn’t trust them at all.
Did I trust the king? Drekkan by day and elf by night?
All that I could trust about him was that he had a distinct senseof honor and justice—it had shown itself in both of his forms. And he had promised me safety unless Alastor returned. I could convince myself to trust that one thing because it was so tied to his stringent honor.
“So be it.” He interrupted my thoughts by deciding the matter for me. “You may guard the door to her room.”
I crossed my arms. He shouldn’t get to decide things like this for me.
Before I had time to say anything, he spun around and swept down the dungeon hall. When nobody else moved, he paused and waved at me. “Come.”
Chapter 4: Aedan
The half-fae, half-human rushed to keep up with me. She didn’t walk at my side, but she didn’t walk behind me either—more like half a step behind me while mostly at my side.
The twins actually dedicating any of their time to her safety would solve several problems at once. They would finally be occupied with something they considered important that didn’t annoy me, and she… she would be safer. Despite their frequently obnoxious behavior, the two elves were generally popular and well-liked. Having them on her side would go a long way to discouraging others from tormenting her.
My next announcement should help as well.
A few moments before we reached the dining hall, she gasped and stopped abruptly. She clutched a hand to her chest, but I did not sense any pain or fear. “What is it?” I asked.
She rubbed her chest slowly. The effects of the magic-cancelling cuffs should be wearing off, but they should nothave hurt her.
Of course, I’d thought that about another fae once too.
“I…” She tipped her big, blue, vulnerable eyes up at me. “I…” She blinked twice and shook her head. “It’s nothing. Where are we going?”
I started walking again. If she would not be forthright with me, I needed to take care of business. “To the dining hall. I’m going to introduce you better than I did this afternoon.” I tried to gauge her reaction without staring at her. She hadn’t said ten words since we’d left the dungeon, but she had been extremely bold and verbose while we’d been down there.
She was unpredictable, and I didn’t like that. She also challenged my decisions and authority, and I didn’t like that either.
And she was fae, a fact that I disliked more than any other. It made everything she said duplicitous, and I was not accustomed to tracking so many hidden meanings.
I needed to remind myself of all those reasons when her blue eyes tugged on my emotions. I only promised her safety if her brother stayed away, and I could not let any lovely eyes create feelings that might compromise those conditions.
I took her through the side door that opened to a small anteroom. A curtain separated us from the back of the raised dais in the dining hall. The dull pulse of dozens of conversations thrummed against the fabric, announcing hundreds of diners still enjoying merry company.
“Come,” I told her just before sauntering through the curtain’s opening and strolling past my table to the front of the dais. Mylo, Fagan, and Aunt Acantha still sat there talking, but they—and every other elf in the hall—silenced themselves, rose, and bowed as I approached the edge of theraised platform.
My impertinent prisoner stood behind me. I stepped to the side and gestured for her to move forward.
Her body stiffened, but she shifted next to me. Some three hundred faces stared at her with varying degrees of horror, anger, and hatred. A handful might have been curious, but there was nothing friendly in them.
I projected my voice magically, letting it carry a deep, serious tone to every ear without losing any potency from yelling. “Elves of Sirun. This fae is here under my protection. If you are concerned about her behavior, you may come see me, but if any of you take it upon yourself to make her uncomfortable or afraid, you will suffer my wrath.”
