Page 107 of A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic 2)
“I don’t have the wrong idea,” I say softly. “I know you only have eyes for Shaye.”
“What happened to her? And to Davien?” he finally asks.
My lower lip quivers, but not from the cold. I fight for every word. I made my choice when I left Davien behind. I have to stand by it now even in the face of—no, especially in the face of—his staunchest allies.
“We made it to the keep last night.” I shake my head and backtrack a little bit. “We were attacked not long after you vanished. It was Allor.”
“I knew it.” He curses under his breath. “She got me first.”
“How’d you escape?”
“She wasn’t after me, so she didn’t pursue when I disengaged, but I was hoping to lead her away from the three of you.” He shook his head. “It looked like she had a glass shard of some kind. Perhaps an old Aviness relic she was using to navigate the fog.”
I look at the necklace. Allor said she was the one to find it. I’d bet she found it while looking for a way through the fog for Boltov. All along she’d been playing us…and we let her. Rage warms me more than clothes or Giles ever could.
“I saw her go after you and couldn’t follow. She caught up to you, then?”
“Yes. Shaye engaged with her; she fought so that Davien and I could get away. My horse was killed in the fight. Then we made it to the keep…”
The memories of last night flood me. It seems impossible to think that just a few hours ago I woke up in Davien’s arms. That this is the same reality as was then. It should be impossible for one person to feel so full and warm then feel so cold and bitter in the same day.
“We made the ritual work.” I finally uncurl my fingers from around the necklace. I have to physically move one or two with my other hand because my grip has locked up. “All the magic is out of me now, and in this necklace. But then, right as I went to bestow it on Davien, there were more Butchers. We fought. We were going to get away… And then… Giles, it happened so fast. He was there with me on the horse, and then he wasn’t. They surrounded him. He told me to go.” I meet Giles’s sad eyes. “What was I supposed to do? I know how much this means to him—to all of your people. I couldn’t let the Boltovs get it… But that meant… That meant…”
“It’s all right,” he whispers. His arm tightens around my shoulders, pulling me closer. The embrace is warm and secure in a wholly different way than Davien’s. “You did the right thing.”
“Why do I feel like I betrayed him?” My voice cracks. “Why do I feel like I’ve condemned him to death?”
“We won’t let him die.” Giles has strength that I could only dream of possessing right now. It’s the strength of a man who didn’t see multiple Butchers descending on a lone fae.
“Won’t Boltov kill him?”
“Oh, most certainly.” A shadow crosses Giles’s face. “But not before he makes a mockery of Davien. Boltov won’t give him the honor of a clean death. Davien has eluded him too long for that. Boltov will make a statement before killing him—he’ll want to make killing the last Aviness heir public. He wants people to know the deed is done so none will ever dare speak out against him again. And that’ll be his mistake as it will be what gives us the time to infiltrate the High Court.”
“Do you really think all that’s true?” It fills me with a glimmer of hope that almost feels dangerous to possess.
“I do. But first, how do you feel?”
“What?” How I feel is hardly a problem.
“You don’t have the magic anymore. Have you begun withering?”
“I am exhausted,” I admit. “But I think that’s to be expected.”
“True…”
I shake my head. “I feel fine. Well enough to continue on.”
I have to. I won’t let him tell me no. The realization that I am willing to give my life for the fae hits me harder than expected. I swallow down the initial rush of fear and steady my breathing. I’m going to see this through to the end. I’m going to see Davien on the fae throne with the glass crown. Or I will die trying.
Giles gives me a skeptical look.
“I don’t think I’m withering yet. I still have time here,” I insist.
“All right. But keep an eye on it,” he relents. “Either way, we need to head back to Dreamsong. It’s the closest path across the Fade if we need to bring you back. Moreover, the supplies and allies we need are there. Hopefully we’ll run into Shaye on the way, or meet her there. But if not, then we’ll save her too.”
“Would Boltov also let her live?”
“For a time, and for a similar reason as Davien—he would want to make an example of her, of the horrors that befall a Butcher who would dare break rank. I imagine her torture would be less public, but no less severe.” Emotions are straining the edges of Giles’s face, causing his mouth and brow to contort. His usual levity has been crushed under immense weight. I know exactly what he’s feeling.
