Keeper of Storms (The Fallen Fae #3) - Jenna Wolfhart Page 0,32

to match the white stone city of Craobhan.

He tossed the body into the fire and then motioned toward the line of warriors trembling beneath his gaze. “Next.”

Rage rose up inside her like an iron fist. He couldn’t get away with this. Someone had to do something. But every single wood fae in the camp seemed to be under some kind of thrall. They stared at their king with glassy eyes, jaws slack.

Reyna patted the dagger hidden in her waistband. If no one else would do a damn thing about their murderous king, then there was nothing to it. She’d have to stop him herself.

11

Mariel

“A letter has arrived for you. It has the seal of the Sea Court on it.” Lord Neil caught Mariel in the throne room, launching daggers at stuffed sacks lining the wall. Sweat beaded on her brow, and her entire body ached. Every morning at dawn, she took to training. One day, she would need her skills. It seemed that day was coming sooner than she’d thought.

She turned to Lord Neil, who had donned a golden cloak clasped together with a broach engraved with the Dalais house symbol: a golden crown perched on top of a bed of bones. He’d taken to wearing the damn thing all the time now, though he still refused to call her anything but Mariel.

Not until the Seat of Power was hers.

“Let me guess,” she said dryly. “They think we’re too stupid to have spotted them circling the waters outside the Bay of Wind.”

Sighing, she took the parchment and unfurled it with trembling fingers. Despite her bravado, she was nervous about the Sea Court. They’d stayed out of the war all this time, building their ships and training their warriors. They were a force to be reckoned with, and they had taken Thane’s side, no doubt. He was Imogen’s son. He was family.

Her eyes widened as she read the words. With a laugh, she crumpled the letter in her fist.

Lord Neil frowned. “Well? What’s it say?”

Mariel’s heart thumped hard. She didn’t know if she should tell the lord the truth. He had come to her aid when the Grand Alderman had seized the castle for his own, when Thane was missing, and Imogen Selkirk was dead. What would he say if he knew the real High King was on his way?

She’d have to speak as much of the truth as she could, all without saying Thane’s name.

“They want us to surrender,” she said.

He frowned. “Ha! Why would we do such a thing?”

Mariel’s stomach churned. “They don’t want the innocents to die.”

Lord Neil narrowed his golden eyes. “Ah, I see. So, it’s true then. Our High King went to the bloody Sea Court, and that’s why they’re sailing here to fight.”

Her heart sunk. She should have known he’d puzzle it out. Lord Neil was not dull-headed, not like Aengus. He’d been able to figure out Mariel’s true identity when she’d been masquerading as Eislyn Darragh. Of course he’d realize where Thane had gone. She’d suspected it herself.

“He says the realm is his. It’s his court, and his throne,” she said, grinding her teeth together. “But he doesn’t know I’m the one who holds the castle. The letter is addressed to Aengus.”

Lord Neil held out his hand, palm up. “Let me see it.”

Mariel stiffened. It was a command, not a question. He and the others had wanted nothing more than to put a Dalais back on the throne, but their respect only went so far. As long as she didn’t have the power of the seat, she was nothing but a figurehead, a symbol. She was not their ruler. Not while Thane Selkirk was still alive.

And now he was on his way to the city to take it back.

With a sigh, she dropped the note into his hand, crumpled and all. After Lord Neil read it, he scowled. “I’m not sure how the others will react to this.”

Mariel arched a brow. “The others have always been loyal to the Dalais family.”

“Loyal to a point. Sea and Ice have joined together now. Most of our warriors are in the Wood Court, thanks to Sloane Selkirk. We have fighters here but not enough. And Thane holds the power of that seat, whether we like it or not.”

She bristled at his words. “What was the point of all that ‘Dalais’ nonsense, getting rid of Aengus, all of that….why even bother if it’s Thane you want?”

He sighed and gave her a kind smile. “He is not who I