Page 2

Lonan

“ T hat absolute fuckwit,” I growl. I rub my forehead. This King will be the death of me. Or I him, I sincerely hope . I sit up and level a glare at Lilac, her cropped purple hair in disarray.

“Sir, I am certain,” she answers as she straightens under my scrutiny.

I glower at my lieutenant, annoyed that she would consider my frustration to be doubt in her. “I believe you. What I cannot believe is that Alder would be so stupid.”

“I was there myself when he gave the order,” she defends, clasping her leather-clad hands behind her back.

A frustrated sound escapes me. “I do not doubt you, Lilac. You are one of my most trusted advisors. It simply makes no sense. Even if the King is a moron, his advisors are not.”

I sit silently, considering. “Has he gone rogue?” I ponder the idea.

But at that moment, Caspian strides in. The tall Fae tosses back his luxurious black hair. He’s a shifter. And an asshole. But one of my best friends; he’s my third in command.

His eyes meet mine and I can immediately see his worry.

“What is it?” I bark. “I have enough clusterfucks in the air right now.”

“A girl was found near Thistle Grove keep.”

“And why is this my concern? Return her to her village.” I snarl, turning back to Lilac.

Caspian blurts, “She’s not local.”

I slowly turn to face him as I sit in my chair at the head of the heavy wooden table. I lean back and put an ankle on my knee.

He continues, “And she’s part human.”

I frown. It is not uncommon of Fae to have human blood, even though the Veil Stones no longer work. However, it is uncommon in this part of Faery to be descended of humans, rural as we are.

“A spy then?” I raise an eyebrow. “Kill her.”

“She claims to have knowledge you could use. She begs sanctuary.”

I look at Caspian like he’s gone soft in the head. My ranking officers should know better. “I’m not a church nor an orphanage. Kill her. ”

I stand, and I tower over Lilac, who is tall and slender, like women of her species. She takes an unconscious step back.

Caspian locks gazes with me, defiant. “She says she was one of King Alder’s maids. I think you should speak with her. Kill her after, if she’s lying.”

A grunt escapes me. Caspian must have a good reason for bothering me with such tripe. “Fine, throw her in a cell. I’ll meet with her when it is amusing to do so.”

His head bows and he spins, black cape twirling as he marches out of the room.

I WALK THE RAMPARTS , using the time moving and the fresh air to think. Lilac is trailing me, her hand on her short sword and her glare menacing. That’s her resting face though. I pause to speak with a few of the guards, but complete my circuit quickly.

“Go home,” I toss over my shoulder as I take the stone stairs to the keep. “Your wife must be anxious to see you after your time away.”

Lilac catches up with me and tilts her eyes to me. “Rosetta will wait; she understands my duty.”

“No woman, regardless of species, is patient when it comes to her beloved’s safety.”

Lilac snorts in a very un-flower-Fae manner. “And you’ve had experience with this when, Lonan?”

I roll my eyes as I walk towards the small but well stocked market. “Plenty of experience with women,” I mutter.

“Yea, the horizontal variety,” she chuckles.

“Off with ya,” I huff.

She chuckles and turns, obviously ready to see her wife. “I’ll be back in the morning. We’ll figure out the next steps.” Her voice is reassuring.

I frown. I dislike that she feels she needs to reassure me. I stride through the empty marketplace. I head for the only pub in Thistle Grove. The wooden sign, with a carved and painted fiddle, swings lightly in the cool fall breeze.

I pull open the door and the light, warmth and chatter of the Disappointing Fiddle sweeps over me. Perfect .