Trial by Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,18

form a dome, and fairy lights sparkled among them, creating a blanket of light overhead.

High in the trees, viewing platforms nestled amongst the branches. Each one was filled with a Fae family, and it didn’t take me long to find the king’s platform.

He wasn’t there, but it was the fanciest of the lot—built of the pale branches that were so common here. Silver ornamentation decorated it, twisting through the branches. A massive silver stag’s head was mounted to the front of the platform, the horns curving up and around the back.

“He’s into stags, huh?” I asked.

“All of these Fae are, not just him. Glorious creatures.”

“Sure.” I was more a dog and cat person, but I’d never met an animal I didn’t like.

There was nothing inside the circular arena except grass. Around the edges were two dozen small platforms situated equal distances apart.

The girl pointed. “I bet we’re supposed to stand on those.”

From what I could tell, none had a tactical advantage over the other, so I chose the closest one and headed toward it, saying over my shoulder, “Good luck.”

“You too.”

The girl picked a platform farther away. I turned my attention to the rest of the contestants. There was a lion shifter with the trademark wild golden hair and cunning eyes. Something about the face was always distinct. It wasn’t easy to recognize them, but I’d dated one for a while. A decent guy, besides the faint animal smell.

Next to him stood a vampire—that one would be fast. She had a slender, eerie beauty and long fangs that she didn’t try to hide. They normally stayed up in the mouth when the vampire was trying to appear normal, but not this lady. She was ready to show the world what she was.

In fact, most of the people here were posturing. Trying to look tougher than they were. I preferred for people to underestimate me before a fight.

A gong sounded, loud and clear through the forest. Birds chirped and the fairy lights at the roof of the dome zipped around more quickly.

I looked up toward the king’s platform. He was there.

Impassive, cold.

He looked just as he had when he’d come to my shop, only somehow more regal now. His bearing was straight and his shoulders broad. He was bigger than the figures who surrounded him, who weren’t small either.

That had to be his Court.

There were at least eight of them, Fae of both sexes standing slightly behind him.

The king’s gaze traveled over the contestants, bored.

If he’d seen me, I couldn’t tell.

I watched, my breath held, as his gaze moved from platform to platform. When it finally fell on me, he tilted his head. My heart leapt into my throat and my skin chilled. Heat followed, the memory of the kiss blasting into my mind.

Shit.

Did he recognize me?

No. My makeup and hair went a long way toward disguising me. Not to mention my tits. He’d looked at those quite a bit, though subtly. I looked totally different now. And the spell was working. I’d seen the tattoo on my chest. Could feel it inside me. He couldn’t sense that I was his Mograh.

Interest seemed to flicker in his gaze.

No. That had to be my imagination.

I looked away from him, determined not to show my interest.

At the top of the arena, a blue light glowed. A woman appeared, a beautiful Fae with pale blue and black hair. She floated high on gossamer wings of deep blue, her dress sweeping down around her form in a swirl of silk and sparkles. The glitter seemed to be made of light and magic. She lowered to the ground.

With a sweeping gesture, she spoke to the crowd. “Welcome to the Trials of the Fae. A competition of strength, wit, and magic that is sure to delight your senses. For the first time in five years, we gather together to watch the best of the supernatural world compete for glory and honor.” She smiled. “And prizes.”

Her gaze dropped to us, and she spun in a graceful circle as she spoke to the contestants. “You have come from all over the magical world to compete in a competition that will require the best of your magic, strength, and cunning. Some of you will die. Some will be maimed. Such is the cost of competing for the honor of victory within this realm. But if you win! Oh, if you win…” She smiled mysteriously, and I just wanted to shake her so she’d spit it out. “You will win the