Page 60 of Royal Hunt
“Why aren’t they on fire too? The ones who started it all?”
I jerked as Anna came up behind me, clear tear tracks prominent on her soot-covered face. She held her arm close to her chest, covered up in rags and bandages.
“I bet they will. It’ll just take longer because they’re more powerful. I’d bet anything,” Nessian grunted, sending nasty glares at the two remaining fae.
“Then it doesn’t matter who takes them,” I replied wearily. “If they will both die anyway.”
Nessian sighed, then turned. “Think the staff has deserted?” Nessian nonchalantly asked Ellis.
Ellis blinked at the non-sequitur, attempting to limp forward on his own. “I don’t know. Let’s go find out.”
I frowned. When the barrier had broken, most of the crowd had run. Had they gone home? Or were they merely hiding, waiting to see what would happen next?
“Wait.” Nessian made us pause, scrutinizing Ellis’s appearance.
I winced. His tunic was torn and hanging together by a few scraps. His back and legs were covered in burn marks, and his skin looked as thin and brittle as paper. Dark bags hung his eyes, which blinked dully up at both of us.
“Here. Wear my coat. Let’s clean off your boats.”
Nessian disrobed and threw his much cleaner jacket around Ellis’s shoulders. It was too big, but it looked a far sight better than what he had. Nessian bent down to wipe his boots off, and the girls fussed about his hair. I watched them from the side, unsure how to help.
“You must be firm. You might even have to be cruel.”
Ellis closed his eyes, but nodded.
“This is the best I can do,” Nessian said unhappily, drawing back and taking in Ellis’s entire figure.
I jerked, remembering something.
“Here,” I insisted, my hand plunging into the deep pockets of my ruined dress. My fingers curled around the hard edges of the crown that had been nestled safely in the fabric this entire time.
The metal was warm from my body heat as I held it up for everyone to see. I handed it over to Nessian, who grinned toothily.
“Ah, perfect. This will help.”
Nessian was taller than both Ellis and I, and efficiently arranged the crown between Ellis’s dark curls.
“There. A king ready to take back this court.”
Nessian and I stepped back with his sisters. They looked so hopeful. Were they looking at the same man I was? Ellis looked royal enough if you could get past the translucent skin, the dark bags under his eyes, and the fact that he looked like a small breeze would knock him over.
He’d never regain control until he got his strength back.
I sighed.
“Give me your sword.” I gestured to Nessian and Lily. They gave me odd looks, but I held my hands out expectantly.
“What are you—”
“He’s going to need some muscle behind him, and it can’t be you guys. Ellis, your job will be to stand there and look as tough as possible. If someone needs to be punched out, I’ll do it.”
Nessian laughed. “You’re going to act as his guard?”
I shot him a look. “No, but I’m going to bluster around a lot and bully people into submission.”
They all stared at me.
“What?” I asked, exasperated. “It’s a better plan than expecting him to bust down doors.” I shot Ellis a wry look, noting how he was gazing at me with a smirk on his face.
