Queen of the Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,17

me.

“Here, eat.” His voice sounded from behind.

I whirled around to see him carrying a tray laden with food toward a table near the wall.

“I’m good.” I stuck out my tongue to show him the candy sitting there.

His eyes flickered with heat. After the briefest hesitation, he spoke. “That doesn’t count. Eat real food.”

“You don’t have to take care of me, you know.”

“Maybe I want to.” With that, he turned away and laid out the food.

Holy fates, he was just going to drop that bomb and pretend he’d never said an insane thing like that?

I walked up to him, curious.

Before I reached him, there was another knock on the door. He left to open it, and I grabbed a sandwich from the tray. There was a bowl of fruit, and none of it looked like the Fae fruit that would make me feel compelled to stay here forever.

Aeri entered behind Tarron.

“Well, did you learn what you needed to?” she asked.

Tarron looked at me like he’d been wondering the same thing all along and was confused as to why I hadn’t mentioned it.

I wanted to remind him that he’d been kissing my face off the whole time.

I swallowed the bite of sandwich. “Sort of. I know that she’s after the Eternal Flame. And it’s something important.” I met Tarron’s gaze. “Your people seemed to know something about it in the vision I had.”

He nodded. “Aye, that’s possible. I’ve heard it mentioned before.”

“Well, my mother is after it, and she’ll use it to destroy your kingdom. From within.”

He nodded. “We need to see how the preparations are coming for the upcoming attack.”

“Potential upcoming attack.” I would stop this. Though I was getting more worried about that. The more time passed, the more likely it seemed that it might happen.

In which case, I really needed to tell Tarron about my vision of his death.

He nodded. “Potential attack. We’ll meet with the Court Guard, make sure everything is going according to plan, then we’ll see what we can find out about the Eternal Flame from Arrowen the Seer.”

“Then we’ll hunt down my mother and kill her.” Saying the words turned my stomach.

It was necessary, but hell, it sucked.

Why was this my life?

It had been going so smoothly before.

Aeri reached for my hand and squeezed, as if she could read my thoughts. She didn’t remember her mother, and right now, I was envious. Far better for her to be a mystery than a murderer.

Tarron led the way through the castle, and Aeri and I stuck a few feet back, whispering about the Fae we saw and the fantastic architecture. The whole place still blew my mind. The sheer size and graceful elegance of it was astounding. I preferred my Gothic townhouse in Darklane, but the wide hallways and towering ceilings of Tarron’s castle followed a close second.

It lacked the musty coldness of most castles I’d been to, probably a combination of the fact that it was currently occupied and Fae sensibilities. Because the realm was protected and hidden—for the most part—the castle was more like a fabulous residence than a stronghold. Enormous windows dotted the hallways, each of them glassless to allow a lovely breeze to flow through. Diaphanous curtains floated on the wind. The air smelled fresh—of flowers and cool water.

“They must never have bad weather,” Aeri muttered.

“I think they control it somehow. The Fae are great with nature magic.”

“Good point.”

I looked out the window, spying the rolling hills of the Seelie kingdom, each speckled with the glowing lights of houses. The Unseelie realm had been beautiful in its own way, too. A darker half of the same coin.

Finally, we reached the war room.

Tarron led the way into the long, rectangular space that was full of waiting Fae. As soon as they spotted him, they surged to their feet, eyes alert. Each one—except for the old seer Arrowen—wore a uniform of gold and red that was perfectly pressed. Arrowen’s silver dress sparkled like stars. It really looked quite fab on her. Maybe I should try silver.

In unison, they all bowed low. The sense of respect on the air was so strong that I thought I could grab it and hold it. I’d missed this bit when I’d come to the war room last, because Tarron had already been here.

“You may rise.” Tarron stalked toward the table that was covered with a massive three-dimensional model.

The Fae all straightened, looking at him with varying shades of respect or deep fear. No matter what, this group would follow