Page 65 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Meara

M eara sat curled up on a hard bench in the back room of the alehouse. Harin had spirited her in and then left her while he entered the main tavern and secured two bowls of stew. Meara thanked him and devoured hers.

Unsure what to do, she wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the dark window. The shock of battle had yet to leave her, though it was late enough to be early the next morning.

Harin made no effort to hold a conversation. She got the feeling he was helping her out of obligation to Luce, but perhaps he was unsettled with her charges of treason. No matter. She trusted his loyalty to his friend.

Exhaustion tugged at her, drawing her eyes closed and relaxing her tense muscles.

She would have missed the shadows forming in the center of the room, if it wasn’t for the distinct feel of magic building.

She sat up, hands going to her belt where a weapon should have waited.

Gritting her teeth, she watched the darkness grow until a fae male stepped through it.

His tan skin was darker in the dim, his black hair an indistinct mass. While her hair looked like a raven’s feather, his looked like the abyss. Eyes like onyx jewels regarded her.

“You must be the girl that needs my help,” he said with a sly smile.

“Lord Sigmis,” she said in greeting. He dipped into a shallow bow in reply. “Thank you for your help.”

She wanted to jump back and run, but she also felt in her bones that Luce was trustworthy, and if he called Sigmis his friend and wanted her to go with him, then she should.

She had few other options: imprisonment, fleeing to the human lands, looking for another fae court to give her sanctuary. Trusting Luce seemed like the best choice. Nodding, she stepped forward and accepted Sigmis’ outstretched hand.

His shadows felt different than hers. Hers buzzed with energy, and his felt like they would steal energy from her. They felt hungry. She tensed as he drew her forward and into darkness. Cold washed over her.

When the darkness lifted, she stood in a wide space. It could have been a throne room if there was a throne, but it was simply empty. The floor was black stone with glass set into it. Her eyes widened. Beneath the glass, something moved. It was fiery and bright, and she realized it was molten lava.

Her gaze shot to the window. Black rock stretched out from his home before the landscape melted into snowy hills and forest. They were within a mountain filled with lava.

“Is your home on a volcano?” she blurted, shock overriding her good manners.

Sigmis shrugged. “It keeps us warm.” She gaped at him. He strode across the floor away from her without another word.

“Wait, what do I do?” she asked, jogging to keep up with his fluid gait. He ignored her, and she bristled.

When he opened the dark wood door, it revealed two people standing on the other side.

One was a younger version of Sigmis, with a charming boyish quality to his face.

He grinned at her. Beside him, a young woman clung to his arm.

Innocent eyes framed in dark lashes looked up at her from a pale complexion.

Blood red hair hung around her shoulders in loose waves. Princess Elysia.

Meara stopped mid stride and stood frozen, staring at the pair. Elysia did not look like a prisoner. A healthy flush filled her cheeks, her eyes sparkling. It was nothing like the withdrawn princess she had seen those weeks ago in Dornadan.

“Princess,” she croaked.

“Oh, you know who I am!” she exclaimed sweetly.

A dozen questions rushed through Meara’s head, and she struggled to sort through the conflicting thoughts. Beneath it, anger swirled, growing.

Kyrell pushed past his older brother. “Come along, you must be exhausted. You should rest.”

At his side, Elysia reached out and took her hand. “I heard what you did for my people. Thank you for trying to protect them. ”

Meara flinched. She had failed in that goal, and it was the last thing she wanted to discuss. Instead, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Elysia’s brows furrowed as her head tilted. Intervening, Kyrell waved his hands to move them forward. “Come along, there will be plenty of time later to talk. It’s past time for bed.”

Numbly, Meara followed his instructions and began walking. Elysia walked beside her, stunning with a delicate slope to her nose and dark lips that curved in a cupid's bow even when she smiled.

From the glances Elysia exchanged with Kyrell, it was clear they were in love, and Meara’s stomach clenched at the revelation. How could their love possibly be worth the war they caused? Her jaw clenched, keeping those thoughts inside her head.

They led her to a small bedroom, and Elysia drew the curtains to shut out the stars. “You should sleep as long as you can. We have plenty of time to sort things out.”

“Yes, thank you,” Meara said.

Kyrell bowed slightly. “Until then.”

Once the door was closed, Meara sank onto the bed. Despite her spinning thoughts and worries over her sister. Exhaustion dragged her down, muffling her anxieties until she lay on the bed and let sleep drag her under.