“I can and I will. The decision is made.”
“But I’ll get hurt.” How could he think this was in anyway a good idea to settle this?
The King shrugged. “Such is the price to be paid.”
That was her part of the punishment. Her stomach twisted and turned to water. “What about our deal?” She’d been so close to having everything she wanted. Her father’s pardon, freedom from the King’s interest, and she’d fucked it all with one stupid dance. A dance she wanted to relive again and again.
He glared at her. “It can wait until after. I will not have the Hunter preying on what is mine.”
She bristled. She was no man’s property to be claimed and protected. “I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s.”
“You accepted a seat at my side, my hand for the dance. When the King of Annwyn extends you that honor, you do not bite that hand by then accepting the favor of the Hunter.” He leaned closer, the antlers dangerously close to her face, and lowered his voice. “Just because you weren’t in my bed doesn’t mean you weren’t fulfilling the role of mistress.” He leaned back in his seat. “And even if you win our little wager, that doesn’t mean you won’t continue fulfilling those duties until I am relieved of my crown.”
She’d expected there to be an edge of bitterness, but there was none. It sounded almost like relief. Was he just waiting for all this to be over? Then why continue the charade and put her through hell? She glanced at Felan. Because he wasn’t ready. He had no human wife and no heir. Damn them all. But if Annwyn fell, there would be no mortal world—at least not as she knew it.
Felan bowed. “Would you like me to help in any way?”
The King glanced at her. “Escort Lady Taryn to her chambers and confine her there until the hunt. I wouldn’t want the quarry slipping out of Annwyn.”
She opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. At least if she were in her room, she couldn’t get herself into any more trouble. As she left the hall on Felan’s arm, she gave it one final glance. A beautiful, alien party. No matter how hard she tried, she’d never fit in; she was a human in fairy skin.
“I’m going to die tomorrow.”
“No you won’t. One arrow wound won’t kill you.”
“You know this from experience?”
“I’ve witnessed a similar hunt before.”
Taryn raised her eyebrow. “Swear to me that you will make sure I live.”
“You will not die. If my father wanted you dead, he’d throw you in the river or simply exile you to await death with your parents.”
Her heart clenched. She had failed her parents; her father wouldn’t get his pardon and everything had been for nothing. She’d fallen for the one man who could destroy her and he had—not with hate, but love, and that hurt worst of all. “I was so close.”
“I know.” He voice was strained. “You still are. This is a small delay.”
It didn’t feel very small, and neither of them could afford the delay. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “Don’t apologize when you don’t mean it.”
They walked up the stairs, the festival still going. People danced and the King sat alone at the table. The most powerful man alive in any world and he was also the loneliest. She glanced at Felan. Human women would fall over themselves to be with him, but would they want him if they knew what they were coming to and what was expected of them? When they realized Sulia wanted to get her claws into the Prince?
“How will a human woman ever get used to this? I’m fairy and I hate it.” And yet on the surface it was so pretty; unfortunately, she didn’t have to scratch too deep to see the ugly reality.
Felan didn’t answer straight away. He was staring down at the party. “There will be changes. Somehow we have lost our way and the Court has become corrupt. In part I blame my mother. She thrived on the hostilities and the plotting scheming. Kill or be killed.”
For a moment Taryn said nothing, but if Sulia had her way, everything would continue as it was. “Change would be good, but there are some who seek to keep things the same.”
He glanced at her. “You have news for me?”
Taryn looked at the party but couldn’t see Verden. Did he blame her? He was as much at fault. She needed to speak with him but knew that was impossible.
“Sulia longs to be your mistress.”
Felan nodded. “I know. I let her think I am partial toward her without ever committing. I would have to count my fingers after leaving her chamber.”
She was sure that was supposed to be a joke, but Taryn couldn’t laugh. She pitied the woman who had to sacrifice her soul to keep the magic of Annwyn alive. “You will break your wife’s heart.”
“No I won’t. Not again.”
Taryn was tempted to ask more, but from the set of his face, it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss. “Sulia also wanted to know who you are seeing and when you plan to wed.”
Felan cursed in a language she’d never heard. “You side with her?”
“No, which is why I’m also telling you this. She is crossing the veil…I think to get pregnant.”
She’d never seen the Prince anything but in control. But beneath his luminescent paint, he blanched. “She told you this?”
“Hinted.”
“It could be a trick to see if you would tell. If you did, she will be expecting me to react.” As he spoke, she could see a thousand thoughts flickering past his eyes, as if he was trying to work out every possible play and outcome. “Curse her to the river.”
If he was worried, should she be terrified? What was Sulia planning? “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Retire to your chambers and prepare for tomorrow. I will get you at dawn.” He called over a couple of shadow servants. “Don’t try to leave. Please, try not to piss my father off again.”
She smiled at his choice of words. “It wasn’t deliberate.”
“I know, but every upset steals time I don’t have to spare.” He held aside her curtain so she could step inside. “Rest. It will be a long day.”
Then she was alone. For a moment she couldn’t move. She didn’t know what to do. Tears formed and she pressed her palms over her eyes. She wasn’t going to cry. Not yet. Then when? How bad did things have to get? The paint on her face smudged onto her wet hands. She needed to clean up, to remove all signs of the dance even though she wanted to hold on to it.
Verden with his horns, his body hard against hers and the whisper in her ear. She bit her lip. Had he known that they were being watched? No. She’d seen the shock on his face before it was masked. The Queen had set them up.
At least she wasn’t being turned into a shadow servant.
Because being turned into a doe and being hunted was so much better.
She shook her head. Felan wouldn’t let her die. But the King had made promises too. If Verden won her, would he keep them? She didn’t know what she wanted. She just wanted it over. She drew in a shaky breath. Felan had a Queen in mind. There wasn’t long to go.
She cleaned off the paint and took the leaves out of her hair and changed into pajamas, a reminder of her life in the mortal world. She sniffed the fabric and tried to remember what it was like to make herself tiny and be a Brownie in the changeling’s house, sleeping on the sofa or watching TV until late. Her life had been so simple.
She lay on the bed and listened to the music and noise of the party, voices and the stamping of feet. She didn’t want to be there if Verden wasn’t there. Was he also under house arrest? She curled into a ball and tried not to imagine dying with an arrow through her heart.
Chapter 19
“I’ve never actually done this before.” Felan held a knife in one hand and a small carved deer in the other.