Page 52 of Royal Hunt
“Please, oh wise fae princess, tell us of your mighty plan.” Nessian wiggled his eyebrows at Pari, who wasn’t quick enough to hide the quick flick from the corners of her mouth.
“Just . . . tell the humans we all need to sleep near each other tonight. Make a circle, put the sick one and the humans in the middle. I’ll take care of the rest.”
The heirs didn’t like that. I could tell from the looks on their faces. Worry tinged with fear. I glanced back at Ellis, who hadn’t woken up at all since his impressive magickal feat. I found myself constantly checking on him, ensuring his chest continued its steady rhythm of rising and falling.
The others spent the day strategizing and sharpening weapons. Even the nobles filtered over, curious to hear the heirs and Pari talk about possible scenarios and what to do. I didn’t participate. I stayed glued to Ellis’s side, my hands nervously balled in the furs next to him.
“Is uh . . . is he alright?” Worn boots stopped next to me, and I glanced up to see Gregory, standing sheepishly with a hand behind his head.
I blinked, realizing my eyes were watering. I felt as exhausted as Ellis looked, which was funny since I hadn’t really done anything. Except worry constantly.
I swallowed. “Yeah, uh, well . . . no. He’s not well.”
Gregory bit his lip, his eyes running over me. I tried in vain to stop my hands from vibrating. Maybe I should take a nap.
“Eve . . . you’re not well. Maybe take a break? I’ll, uh, sit with him.”
I had to hide an inappropriate snort, because Gregory looked distressed at the very idea.
“No, thank you. I was thinking of napping myself, actually. Pari says we’re in for a tough night. Best get my rest now, right?” I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but I could only grimace.
Gregory deflated visibility, looking at the ground. “Yeah . . . I guess.”
He shuffled away, heading toward a group of two nobles chatting almost amicably with Mixen. Out of all the heirs, he seemed to be the one who got along with the other humans best. Too bad we wouldn’t survive any of this to enjoy our newfound tolerance of each other.
I flopped down in the furs, wiggling under Ellis’s arm and resting my head against his shoulder. It was still cold, after all. I yawned loudly as Pari sniggered at something Viana had said. I drifted off.
* * *
When I opened my eyes next, it was dark. I stiffened immediately, remembering what Pari had said about the possibility of a night slaughter. I sat up abruptly, my neck and back twinging in protest. Hands came around my waist and held me tight, fingers digging mercilessly into my hip bones.
Ellis was awake.
“Hey,” came Viana’s voice. “Pretty quiet so far. Seems like Pari kept her word. She went over and chatted to them when the barrier fell. Whatever she said, the fae kept quiet and aren’t attacking us. Go ahead and sleep.”
Viana turned halfway toward me, the dying light of the fire throwing half of her face into sharp relief. She couldn’t see Ellis’s hands around me, covered by furs and the darkness.
I nodded and slowly sank back down. Viana stood, stretching and heading off to walk a perimeter around us. There were many more sleeping lumps around us than normal; everyone must have heeded Pari’s advice about sleeping together. A rush of gratitude hit me; most of the humans were in the center and the heirs were on the outer edges. How much longer would any of them live? How much longer would any of us live? What if the fae were just getting us to relax, and planned to strike when we were least expecting it?
I hoped Viana would get some sleep as well.
I slipped back under the furs, and as soon as I was horizontal, Ellis’s arms pulled me close into his chest. I turned into him, not wanting to disturb anyone else.
“Are you alright?” I whispered against his chest.
“Areyou?” he fired back, his voice gruff and raspy from sleep.
“I’m not the one who’s sick. What you did—”
“You were afraid. I felt your terror just now.”
I curled my hands around the soft linen of his shirt. It was filthy, just like the pathetic remains of my dress. Like us.
“Pari had mentioned . . . it’s foolish. Nothing is the matter,” I ended lamely.
A deep, rumbling sound emanated from his chest. One hand ran gently through my hair, the other running up my side. I stopped breathing just as his nose came down to nuzzle against my neck.
“Don’t lie to me,” he intoned, his grip tightening.
