Page 65

Roar nodded. “That’s true, but the turns since the rebellion have been relatively uneventful and fae do love a bit of drama. I’m sure most think that King Magnus is prepared to tear apart alliances set by King Falk as best he can. A promise of courtly drama and the fact that the common fae will be allowed to view some festival events, makes this an exciting time for them.”

Any change from the normal monotony of daily life had always been welcome in the Blood Court. Well, as long as that change didn’t include pain or death.

“Oh! Lady Neve, look away! You—” Clemencia’s tone sounded frantic.

Just then, something caught my eye out the window. I pointed at a hulking creature with the characteristic small head of a troll. Or, most likely, a half troll like Althea as he was out and walking in the sunlight. Leaving a brothel. “You have got to be joking me!”

Clemencia groaned, and Roar leaned closer. His pleasant scent of snow and pine filled my nostrils, and I drew in a deeper breath.

“But that brothel sign says they only have faerie whores, and he’s so big.” I crossed my legs. “At least five times bigger than you, Roar! That’s too big!” Horror laced my tone at the thought of that enormous creature and a smaller fae like me being intimate. He’d split me in two!

“He did.” Roar did a terrible job of hiding his amusement.

“I told you not to look!” Clemencia wailed. “It’s not proper for a lady to see such things.”

If only she knew the horrible things I’d seen.

“I’ve seen brothels before.” I frowned. “Though, I have to say, seeing someone that large exit one advertised as having only faerie whores is a little disturbing. Do they allow giants inside too?”

“All types of fae do what they have to do to survive.” Roar leaned back. “I assure you, the brothels here are well-regulated. No one is forced, and both the brothel masters and the city sex workers make decent coin. If the fae in that establishment couldn’t handle the half-breed, he wouldn’t have been let in.”

“Hmmm, it’s still disturbing to think about the size difference,” I murmured, though the idea still turned my stomach.

“If you wish to worry about fae being forced, then worry about the royal harem.”

I blinked. “Are you serious?”

“As a dwarf working Zuprian steel. King Magnus did away with many of the Cruel King’s practices, but he kept his harem. Expanded it, even.” Roar lips curled in disgust. “Many attractive fae have no choice when they enter his ‘pleasure stables’. Nor do they have a choice when the king gives nobles their time and their bodies.”

Already, the Aabergs left a sour taste in my mouth, but the more I heard, the worse things got.

We rode the rest of the way through the city in silence. As the castle neared, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It intrigued me how the palace clung to its past, hiding parts of itself. Had anyone ever stumbled across those hidden places and kept the castle’s secret?

My musings quieted as we stopped before the palace gate. The royal soldiers seemed to have been waiting for us, because they announced Roar’s name and raised the gates quickly.

As we glided inside the palace grounds, the soldiers accompanying us fell back, allowing for the lord’s sleigh to be on full display. Already, the displays of wealth and power that Roar had assured me would dominate my time at court had begun.

One more peek out the window left me somewhat disappointed. This area looked so plain, like a regular courtyard. Washer fae carried baskets, soldiers patrolled, and a few stable hands escorted horses—nothing out of the ordinary. After the magic of the city, the yard of Frostveil Palace was bland by comparison.

“Wait until we get inside,” Roar assured me. “There will be much to see.”

I turned. “It’s like you can read my mind.”

“Oftentimes, you wear your questions on your face. Remember that.”

And work to hide them came the unspoken warning. In places like this, knowledge was the best armor.

The sleigh slowed to a stop, and I turned to the warden, my pulse thrumming with excitement.

“You look perfect,” he assured me. “If you’re ready, I’d like for you to exit first.”

“Won’t onlookers be waiting to bow to you?”

“They will, but I wish for them to view you first, my lady, my fiancée.”

Clemencia sighed and smiled, and I forced my lips to curl upward. He wanted an entrance. Though I didn’t love the spotlight thrust upon me, I’d do as he wished.

I stood, and by the time I’d straightened my dress, a servant waited at the door.