The Lost Fae (The Twisted Crown #3) - A.K. Koonce Page 0,41

dips, his voice raspy with sleep. He narrows his gaze on me.

"I ran into Captain Beatrice and her crew in the hallway."

I lower the sword and prop it against the door frame. I hug my arms across my chest, chewing my lips as Lincoln glares at me with his unapproving look. He takes a swaggering step forward.

"Oh? How did that go?"

"Fine."

"I'm offended you didn't bring me along." He takes another step closer and reaches for my arms. He undoes the hold I have on myself and examines me from head to toe with a calculating eye.

"I didn't want to wake you," I whisper, though there isn't any reason to be quiet. "You were very exhausted."

"And now I'm very annoyed." He moves quickly, inhaling sharply as the gap between us shrinks. Both arms plant firmly on either side of me. The tip of his nose runs along the tendons in my neck, his lips grazing over my jaw before he stops with his mouth by mine.

I peck his lips quickly, dropping down and side stepping him. "Relax. I used to do it all the time."

He spins around to watch me without hurry. "When? Where?"

"In the Shadow Court. Cordelia's castle." I kick my boots toward the dresser. "I'd like you to remember that we would have never met if I didn't go snooping around someplace I wasn't supposed to."

"That’s different. Your Fae blood was called to the court. This... this is reckless."

"And sexy?" I lift a brow.

"Don't change the subject." But it's too late, his voice is husky. The smell of him, the smell of his want, is growing stronger.

"I like the way that turns you on." I bite down on my thumbnail and look up at him from under my lashes.

In true Lincoln fashion, he's quick to restrain himself. His shoulders straighten and he clears his throat, even going so far as to turn and look away from me.

"Anyways." I roll my eyes, offering him the slight change of subject. "That’s not the point. I have to tell you what I saw. I don't know if it means anything, it could mean nothing or it could mean everything."

"That line leaves a lot to the imagination." Lincoln relaxes ever so slightly, tilting his chin as an invitation for me to continue.

I take a minute just looking him over, memorizing his features. Though I know that if this information doesn't help us get out, then I'll have all the time in the world to look at Lincoln and only Lincoln. Which isn't such a bad thing...

Not the point. Get to the point.

"The queen," I start slowly, "and all of her little troll minions are behind the castle. I don't think she saw me and I think," I motion toward Beatrice's sword, "I have it on good authority that the pirates won't say a word. But Miss Anastasia was bathing in a fountain."

Lincoln's brows pinch together. "And?"

"And she was guarded by all those troll statues while doing so."

"Is there more? Because so far I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to be getting from this little trip of yours."

I clasp both my hands in front of me, stepping toward the fire for some warmth. The pallet of blankets is wholly disturbed by the way Lincoln had rushed out of them. In the back of my mind I know that I need sleep, that rest would do me good, but excitement pulses through me keeping my thoughts trapped in a tornado of good and bad.

"I have a theory. Because as I was trying to figure out why she was bathing outside in a fountain instead of inside, I realized that every time the water fell over her features her body looked... younger."

"Like she's hiding her age? Under makeup or something?" Lincoln catches my gaze as I stare at the blankets. He crouches and spreads them evenly back out. He stays squatted and looks back up at me.

"No." But maybe? I didn't even think about the illusion of makeup. Was I so eager to find something to hold against the queen that I jumped to conclusions? Maybe she's just that young because of the same thing that has kept these pirates alive... time is different here. "It looked like her body was aging in reverse. The slight wrinkles she had were gone. Her skin was glowing with youth. Hell, I'd even go as far as to say that her boobs became just a bit smaller and perked up."

"Magic?"

"I think...if it's something that's just as lost as