Page 54 of Royal Hunt
“Pari thinks if we’re honest about the magick, the other fae will want to work with us so they can get theirs back as well. Then together, we could break the connection to the fae world and stop the games,” Ellis answered.
I made a face. “I could see them working with us until the very moment they have magick. Then blasting us to kingdom come.” I stared at the fire and flicked my gaze to Pari.
“Wouldn’t they want to go back to your world? I wouldn’t think they’d want to be trapped here with us lowly humans.”
Pari’s shoulders sagged, and she stared off into the fire. “You don’t know what it’s like on our world. It’s beautiful, yes. But there is no escaping the slavery. It’s everywhere and shoved in our faces. The high fae are only five percent or so of all of us, and they’re the ones who keep ninety percent of the slaves. They dole them out as gifts and we must appear grateful. The high fae will not give up their own slaves.”
She paused. “But here? We see how you are free. Your species can be awful to each other, but… I don’t know. It isn’t right to keep you hostage. Being here is confusing.” Pari leaned in closer as if the high fae were listening. “And there are rumors that the high fae are doing more. That they’re … controlling magick.”
She leaned back, crossing her arms against her body. “So you see, I think this is important to share.”
Viana ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “We can’t give away one of the extremely few advantages we have. We can’t.”
Ellis looked torn.
“Why haven’t they attacked tonight?” I asked directly, looking to Pari.
The pink fae sighed. “One of their leaders owed me for saving his life in prison. I cashed in the favor.”
Viana stiffened. “Why would you do that for us?”
“I think you already know,” Pari countered.
“Just … let’s get through tomorrow’s game,” I suggested. Pari looked ready to argue, so I jumped ahead. “I think we should give the fae a chance, but right now they outnumber us. Let’s wait until things settle after the next game. Then we’ll ask the other humans and get their thoughts.”
Now Viana looked ready to throttle me. “I know kings and queens are used to making all the decisions,” I argued, “but this is bigger than all of us. They need to have a voice.”
Viana scoffed. “There’s a reason kings and queens make decisions. It’s because the masses are mostly idiots.”
The insult slid off my back. I didn’t disagree, but that wasn’t the point. “Just wait until the next game.” I eyed everyone around the circle. “Deal?”
They wouldn’t meet each other's eyes, but they all muttered an agreement.
“Deal.”
Now we just had to survive the next game.
Eighteen
“Welcome to day three of the Royal Hunt!”
Cassus’s voice pounded into my head, jolting me awake. I tore off my furs and glanced up to see thousands of eyes watching. The crowd was already roaring from outside our pit, and adrenaline flooded my veins. Knowing that those eyes had been watching me while I slept filled me with unease.
I jumped to my feet and gave the sky a rude gesture before I knelt down to shake Ellis awake. “Ellis, quick. The games are about to start.”
I shook his shoulder hard, but he didn’t respond. His head rolled back limply, and a slice of fear pierced my heart. “VIANA! VIANA!”
The queen of the Eastern Realm came running, her eyes wild. She took one look at my desperate face and Ellis’s still body, and dropped to her knees next to me.
“Have you given him any of the drink since last night?” she asked clinically.
I shook my head.
“It seems a few of our contestants are a bit sleepy this morning. Shall we encourage them to get moving?”
The roar of the crowd felt like a punch to the gut.
“Grab his legs. I’ll get his arms,” Viana commanded. I scrambled to obey, happy she was here and just so thankful someone could help me.
