When I can no longer bear the heat from stewing in my thoughts, I finally get up. The best thing I can do is confront Davien. The sooner we’re together, the sooner things will feel as though we’re back to normal. We can shrug off whatever happened last night as the oddity it was and move along.
“It’s normal, really. Two people, our age, obviously attracted to each other. These things happen. There’s no reason to read into it or make matters awkward. The itch was scratched, we’re done,” I murmur to myself, trying to find my own encouragement as I dress.
The flowing fae fashions are no longer odd to me. I’m more and more accustomed to showing my shoulders and arms than ever before, though I’m still mindful of my back. I wonder what my sisters would think if they could see me now, flowing sleeves and plunging necklines I’d never dare to wear back home. I stop and stare in the mirror. My skin is bright and dewy. My cheeks are rosy and lips full. The longer I stay here, the more and more I look as though I am a part of this world.
I wonder if there could be a way I’d never have to go back. If the king’s magic can keep me, a human, alive here, then maybe there’s something Davien could do for me that would allow me to stay and live out the rest of my natural life. I frown at myself.
What am I thinking? Live out my life here? In Midscape? Among fae and their magics? What place is there for a human like me? None.
Moreover, that would mean I’d have to live out my days in the same world as Davien. I’d have to watch him become king, watch him marry and sire heirs from afar. Or worse, as a lover relegated to the auxiliary corners of his life. No…a life back in the human world would be far better than that. In fact, being a world away from him might not be enough.
I emerge from my room and head downstairs. To my surprise, Hol, Shaye, Giles, and Oren are all clustered at the usual table. Maps are scattered between them, dotted with scraps of paper that look like memos exchanged by pigeon. They all look at me at once.
“Vena wanted you,” Oren says. “Davien is already there.”
I hesitate, picking up on a strange feeling in the air. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Go on.” Oren tries to give me a reassuring smile but there’s too much worry twinging his black eyes.
Dread fills me as I stand before Vena’s doors. I hesitate just a second, seeing if I can overhear any talking from within. But the doors are too thick. I give a knock.
“Enter,” Vena calls.
Sure enough, I find Vena and Davien within. But they’re not alone. The Butcher from before, Allor, is there as well. She leans against one of the walls to the side, arms folded.
“What’s happened?” I ask as they stare at me. My eyes lock with Davien’s. Worry twists his face, scrunching his brow. A terrible silence continues to tighten the muscles in my chest to the point that it hurts to breathe.
“Well if neither of you are going to tell her, I’ll—” Allor starts.
“King Boltov is sending an army to Dreamsong.” Davien’s rumbling voice only makes the words more ominous.
“What?” I inhale sharply.
“Word has finally reached him that I’ve returned…and that you are with me.”
“Does he know of the magic?” I whisper.
“He knows everything.”
“There was a spy among us.” Vena curses. “He must have slipped through our wards at the beginning of the celebrations to deliver word.”
“What does this mean?” I had prepared myself all morning to face Davien, but not like this. While I was dancing last night, a king was plotting my death.
“It means the king knows you have the magic he needs to never be challenged again.” Allor wears a wicked smile when she speaks. “So he’s coming to kill you for it.”
And here I thought the worst of my problems today was facing Davien.
