Keeper of Storms (The Fallen Fae #3) - Jenna Wolfhart Page 0,95

of sloshing pink liquid that inexplicably appeared from the depths of her cloak. “Want some Buntata?”

“Sure,” she said dryly. “Why not?”

Reyna took the drink and tipped it down her throat. She braced herself for the burn of it, but instead, it tasted quite sweet. Like strawberries.

“You know, you didn’t need to volunteer to watch over me like I’m a small child,” Reyna said, handing the Buntata back to the cloaked shadow fae.. “I can manage fine on my own.”

“You’re hurting far more than you want anyone to think,” Nollaig replied. “You think you hide it well, but I can see it in your eyes. That magic has a hold on you, and it’s not going to let go until you’re dead.”

Reyna winced and glanced away. “You don’t know how close to the truth you are.”

“Do you know what I think?” Nollaig asked over the steady clopping of hooves.

“No, but I’m certain you’re going to tell me.”

“I think you are the Dionadair.”

Reyna snorted out a laugh. “Nice try. Lorcan told me you don’t even believe in prophecies. You don’t think any of it is real.”

“He misinterpreted me,” she said. “What I said was that I never took much stock in the Namhaid prophecy. Some of the wording is very vague, but there’s one part that’s clear as day. And that’s the axe. The one that’s gone. You don’t have it, love.”

“I keep having dreams about that axe.”

“That doesn’t make you the wielder, Shieldmaiden.” Nollaig turned toward Reyna, her face hidden in shadows. “Perhaps your dreams are warning you of what’s to come.”

Reyna shivered. “I think you might be wrong this time, Nollaig.”

“I hope I’m not,” she said with a tone of voice that could freeze the very ground beneath their feet. “Because if you are what you think you are, then I truly am afraid we’re doomed. You’re more powerful than you realize, even now. If Unseelie ever gets control of your mind, he will destroy us all.”

33

Mariel

“I can’t believe he would attack his own city.” Mariel’s brother stood beside her, staring out the windows at the burning city. She had yet to leave to join the battle. When she’d tried, the lords had blocked her way out and had refused to let anyone else in. Only Mavis had been given free rein to join her in her quarters.

They feared for their future queen’s life.

“I must say, I have misjudged him horribly,” Mariel muttered, swallowing down the bitter twang in her mouth. She thought of the letter, the one she’d allowed Lord Neil to burn. Thane had offered surrender, and yet she’d ignored it, certain he would never go so far as to kill his own people.

“You said you met him.”

“Aye.” She sighed, closing her eyes. “He seemed honorable and kind.”

“He fled the realm. He hid.”

“He was cowardly,” she replied. “That’s a far cry from what he is now.”

“We have to stop him,” Mavis said fiercely, pointing at the distant glow near the gates. “The entire city will burn down if this doesn’t end now.”

“How do we stop him, Mavis?” she asked, turning toward him. She stared up into her brother’s tense face. She thought of Drunkard’s Pit, of her old tavern she’d abandoned to come play at courtly life. And for what? To lose the entire city to an angry king who had turned out to be far more vicious than even his own father?

She had done all this to save Tairngire. Instead, she had doomed it to utter destruction.

“Aren’t there more warriors?” he asked. “Shouldn’t there be more fighters?”

“They’re not here.” Mariel’s lips flattened. “The ones we have are already at the walls. We thought it would be enough to protect us from the Ice Court.”

He pointed out at the battle. “That’s not the Ice Court.”

“That is the Ice Court. And the Sea Court. They’re both out there.”

A knock sounded on the door, but it swung wide before Mariel could cross the room to open it herself. Several of the courtiers strode inside, their faces flashing with anger.

“Mavis,” Mariel said, flinching at the fearful edge in her voice. “Why don’t you go find me some good wine? I have a feeling I’m going to want a drink shortly.”

Mavis frowned, but he did as his sister asked. As soon as he left the room, the courtiers turned on her with daggers in their eyes.

Lady Regan lifted a finger toward the window overlooking the city. “Do you know who I saw out there?”

Mariel’s heart thumped. The time had come. She had