lied. “She did. Have things changed since you last saw her?”
Sulia shook her head. “Too bold, child. It is enough to know I don’t wish you or your family ill. Others do. Be warned.” Then Sulia was moving on, leaving Taryn standing there.
That went okay—maybe.
It could have been a whole lot worse.
Sulia was going to help with dresses and such, and she owed her mother. Or Sulia was lying and just taking the opportunity to meddle. Yeah, that was far more likely. Fairies didn’t have friends. They had a web of promises, lies, and lovers. Where did Verden fit?
One of his white dogs sat in an archway, waiting for her to follow. Or at least she hoped that’s what it was doing.
She glanced at the hall filled with beautiful fairies, a rainbow of colors dancing and drinking even as flower petals drifted to the floor. Soon there would be no flowers decorating Annwyn. Her parents didn’t have forever to waste like these fairies had. She had to act, and at the moment, that meant seeing Verden, accepting his offer of help, and crossing the veil.
Chapter 5
Verden leaned against the tree, waiting for Taryn to appear. Would she see his hound and let it guide her? Only if she really trusted him. If she didn’t, he still needed to make sure that she got what she was here for.
Just beyond the rustling of the leaves he heard the lapping of waves that shouldn’t exist. He felt it in his blood that something was wrong with Annwyn. Part of him wished Felan would get his act together. The other part wished the King would find a way to reconcile with the Queen, but maybe that moment had passed. If it had, his role as Hunter had also passed. Once Felan was King, everyone with ties to Gwyn would find themselves demoted at best. Banished more likely. The idea of being cut off from the magic of Annwyn was akin to imagining life without an arm or leg. It was why he was doing his best to be friendly with Felan without betraying the King, but every day that knife-edge became sharper and finer.
What was taking Taryn so long?
Had the King coaxed her into a dance? Was she now gladly in his arms thinking of ways to get her father’s pardon while the Queen watched?
He curled his fingers, remembering the warmth of her hand against his, and the light in her eyes as she’d danced with him—she needed to learn how to hide what she was feeling. Too many people would see too much.
The white dog came strolling across the grass a moment before Verden saw Taryn emerging out of the gloom. He straightened as she approached, his heart beating faster, as if it were him being hunted.
The dog dropped at his feet, tongue lolling. Verden bent down to scratch its ears, then dismissed the animal. He wouldn’t need it in the mortal world. Where he was going, there would be no other fairies.
He gave her a half bow. “I’m so glad you were able to join me.” There was only the lightest touch of sarcasm. He wasn’t used to being kept waiting.
“It took me a while to work my way out.” She paused and he knew she was deciding what to tell him. She was learning, but in that heartbeat, he didn’t want her to learn; he wanted her to remain uncorrupted by the Court. “I had people to speak to.”
“Lots of people will want to talk to you. You are new.” And he wasn’t the only man watching her with interest. However, unlike a fairy, she wasn’t throwing herself at the King—not that many had done that in recent years. The Queen had a habit of making would-be mistresses vanish. “In the coming days, you will need to work out your alliances. You need people who will help you.”
“Like you,” she said with one eyebrow raised, as if she didn’t entirely trust him yet.
He smiled, but he knew it held no warmth. Did she have any idea how quickly he could destroy any hope she had of getting that pardon? One word from him to the King and that would be it. He doubted even Felan could fix that damage, but that would help no one.
While he could
Sulia shook her head. “Too bold, child. It is enough to know I don’t wish you or your family ill. Others do. Be warned.” Then Sulia was moving on, leaving Taryn standing there.
That went okay—maybe.
It could have been a whole lot worse.
Sulia was going to help with dresses and such, and she owed her mother. Or Sulia was lying and just taking the opportunity to meddle. Yeah, that was far more likely. Fairies didn’t have friends. They had a web of promises, lies, and lovers. Where did Verden fit?
One of his white dogs sat in an archway, waiting for her to follow. Or at least she hoped that’s what it was doing.
She glanced at the hall filled with beautiful fairies, a rainbow of colors dancing and drinking even as flower petals drifted to the floor. Soon there would be no flowers decorating Annwyn. Her parents didn’t have forever to waste like these fairies had. She had to act, and at the moment, that meant seeing Verden, accepting his offer of help, and crossing the veil.
Chapter 5
Verden leaned against the tree, waiting for Taryn to appear. Would she see his hound and let it guide her? Only if she really trusted him. If she didn’t, he still needed to make sure that she got what she was here for.
Just beyond the rustling of the leaves he heard the lapping of waves that shouldn’t exist. He felt it in his blood that something was wrong with Annwyn. Part of him wished Felan would get his act together. The other part wished the King would find a way to reconcile with the Queen, but maybe that moment had passed. If it had, his role as Hunter had also passed. Once Felan was King, everyone with ties to Gwyn would find themselves demoted at best. Banished more likely. The idea of being cut off from the magic of Annwyn was akin to imagining life without an arm or leg. It was why he was doing his best to be friendly with Felan without betraying the King, but every day that knife-edge became sharper and finer.
What was taking Taryn so long?
Had the King coaxed her into a dance? Was she now gladly in his arms thinking of ways to get her father’s pardon while the Queen watched?
He curled his fingers, remembering the warmth of her hand against his, and the light in her eyes as she’d danced with him—she needed to learn how to hide what she was feeling. Too many people would see too much.
The white dog came strolling across the grass a moment before Verden saw Taryn emerging out of the gloom. He straightened as she approached, his heart beating faster, as if it were him being hunted.
The dog dropped at his feet, tongue lolling. Verden bent down to scratch its ears, then dismissed the animal. He wouldn’t need it in the mortal world. Where he was going, there would be no other fairies.
He gave her a half bow. “I’m so glad you were able to join me.” There was only the lightest touch of sarcasm. He wasn’t used to being kept waiting.
“It took me a while to work my way out.” She paused and he knew she was deciding what to tell him. She was learning, but in that heartbeat, he didn’t want her to learn; he wanted her to remain uncorrupted by the Court. “I had people to speak to.”
“Lots of people will want to talk to you. You are new.” And he wasn’t the only man watching her with interest. However, unlike a fairy, she wasn’t throwing herself at the King—not that many had done that in recent years. The Queen had a habit of making would-be mistresses vanish. “In the coming days, you will need to work out your alliances. You need people who will help you.”
“Like you,” she said with one eyebrow raised, as if she didn’t entirely trust him yet.
He smiled, but he knew it held no warmth. Did she have any idea how quickly he could destroy any hope she had of getting that pardon? One word from him to the King and that would be it. He doubted even Felan could fix that damage, but that would help no one.
While he could
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