Page 42 of The Gilded Fae (Royal Fae of Rose Briar Woods 2)

My eyes follow Frederick and Sabine as they dance, and a frown tugs at my lips.

Movement nearby catches my attention, and I turn toward it. Alaric weaves through the crowd, likely avoiding the unattached court ladies’ advances. When he spots me, he comes to stand by my side, and his eyes follow mine.

“What’s Queen Marison’s daughter doing in Davon?” he asks.

I glance toward my friend, surprised he’s already figured out Sabine’s identity. Though I suppose I shouldn’t be, not considering who he is.

When I don’t immediately answer, he says, “She’s the girl you spoke of? The one you met before you were taken captive?”

Huffing out a long breath, I nod. “She is.”

“You forgot to mention she was a princess of Faerie.”

“It must have slipped my mind.”

Alaric laughs. “Not likely.”

Still watching Sabine and Frederick, I say, “Her voice is something, isn’t it?”

“She’s dazzling.”

I look at Alaric from the corner of my eye. “Can you imagine her on the stage?”

He frowns. “Whatever plans you’re concocting, leave Sabine out of it. She’s not a safe plaything.”

“I’m taking her home tomorrow,” I answer resolutely.

Surprised, he turns to me. “Into West Faerie?”

I shake my head, watching Sabine as she laughs at something Frederick says. “I’ll take her as far as Kellington. She’ll have to cross the border herself—I won’t return.”

“If you’re apprehended, the ring won’t save you,” he reminds me. “It blocks the illanté tether, but it offers no physical protection.”

“I’m aware.” I glance at the gold band he gifted me while I was a thrall in captivity, my mind going to dark places. I roll the spelled ring around my finger. “What happens if one of your kind were to wear the ring? I don’t think you ever said.”

Alaric frowns, his eyes moving to my hand. “Though it’s harmless to humans, the enchantment will latch onto a Faerie’s magic, clinging to it like a magnet.”

“Is it dangerous? Painful?”

“No,” he says slowly. “But it prevents the wearer from accessing their powers. It binds them, rendering them useless.”

I rub my chin as I think about it. “Say you put it on; why wouldn’t you simply take it off?”

“It’s like a lock—once it connects with your magic, you’d need the Faerie who created it to remove it. They’re the only ones with the key so to speak.”

“And you created this ring, didn’t you?”

“I did…”

“So you could remove it.” I look at him, my mind moving at a feverish pace. “You’re certain it wouldn’t hurt her?”

“Alex,” Alaric warns.

Immediately, I drop my hand, dismissing the unsavory thoughts that have infiltrated my head. “Idle questions, that’s all.”

“They were too specific to be merely idle.” Dropping his voice, Alaric says, “Do not attempt to take revenge on a member of Fae royalty. It’s a death sentence. Worse—you'd beg for death once they got their hands on you.”

I wave the thought away with a laugh, pretending I wasn’t actually contemplating abducting the heir of West Faerie.