Trial by Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,52

could turn serious in an instant, and this was all an act. She did a better job than I ever would have.

After the ceremonies, I’d been led to my room, always under guard. I still hadn’t had a chance to speak to Tarron privately, but he’d agreed to let me attend the meeting tonight in the war room where they would plan their attack on the crystal obelisk. I wanted to be in on the action and he knew it, but he didn’t quite trust me yet.

Fair enough, since I didn’t trust him either.

After a quick meal that had been delivered by a slender Fae man, I’d reapplied my usual makeup and hair. The bouffant wasn’t quite as high as normal—just slightly higher in the front—but I liked it because it made me look badass. What had started as a disguise had become part of me.

For good measure, I pulled my zipper down to reveal a bit of cleavage, then nodded.

There. I looked like myself again. There was no point in hiding what I was, now that the king knew. If he wanted to tell the world what I was, I couldn’t use this disguise anymore anyway.

With the silence of the room pressing in on me, I couldn’t help but think about Tarron. About what he knew of me. About the secrets he still held. About the fact that I was his Mograh and we were both going to ignore it. He was struggling to, though. I could sense it.

I popped a butterscotch hard candy in my mouth and tried to resist chewing it.

A knock sounded at the door, and I went to open it. Luna stood on the other side. She was dressed in the red and gold uniform of the Royal Guard, her blue hair pulled up in a series of complicated braids.

“Don’t you clean up well?” I said.

She did a mocking curtsy, then said, “It’s time.”

She led me up through the castle, which was as light and airy as ever. There was a cool night breeze drifting through the open windows, carrying with it the sound of revelry from outside. Diaphanous window coverings fluttered in the breeze, giving the place an enchanted fairytale vibe.

A group of Fae women hurried by, their colorful gowns trailing behind them. They were the same group I’d seen before.

We passed a wall made entirely of sparkling water, and another constructed of intricately braided tree limbs. Birds nested among the branches, snoozing quietly.

Luna led me into the war room. It was long and rectangular, with a massive table in the middle. The towering ceiling was painted with scenes of battle, and the table itself was covered with a huge three-dimensional plan of the King’s Grove.

Tarron stood at the head of the table, leaning over the plan. He still wore the dirty clothes from earlier, and his eyes looked tired.

Ten Fae stood around him, all dressed in the red and gold that Luna wore. An older woman sat in one of the chairs, her pale white hair a perfect halo around her head. The silver dress she wore sparkled with light, and her hands rested precisely on the arms of her chair.

I leaned toward Luna and murmured, “This is it? There aren’t more of you?”

Luna shifted toward me to answer, but Tarron spoke in her place. Damn, I’d forgotten about his hearing.

“Twelve is the maximum number that we can protect against the crystal obelisk’s dark enchantment.” He looked at the older woman. “Arrowen is a seer. She’s able to help us plan our attack.”

I met his gaze, which traveled from my hair to my chest. Something flickered in his eyes. Interest?

Did he prefer my Elvira look?

There was no time to think of that now. I inspected everyone in the room, trying to get a feel for them. They clearly weren’t here to ambush me, so Tarron must have been telling the truth.

We were going to try to take out the obelisk. I didn’t dare mention the fact that my mother’s signature was similar to the one that the obelisk emitted. If I found something, I found something. But no way in hell I’d admit to that.

“What have I missed?” I asked.

“Not much.” He pointed to the map. “We were discussing how the troops would provide backup as I go to deploy the bomb beneath the crystal obelisk. I need to get to the base of the Unseelie obelisk, or it won’t work.”

“The Unseelie Fae will defend their incursion,” Arrowen said. “You can expect them