Bite Of Winter (Fae's Captive #3)(6)

“Never speak to my mate again. Don’t even look at her.” I sheathe my blade.

Para clears her throat. “Your rooms should be ready. Please follow me.” Even her tone has softened. “This way.”

I keep Taylor at my back, hemmed in between Gareth and me, as we leave the waterfall chamber and enter an even larger one. A city slumbers here under the dark stone ceiling that soars away high above us. Thousands of homes are carved into the walls and along the floors as far as I can see. Several of them seem abandoned, but the ones nearest the ground level are occupied, light and voices humming along the rock. More buildings line the cave floor, some of them large enough to hold hundreds of fae—gathering places and possibly businesses. Stone bridges criss-cross the cavern and foot paths wind up each side. An entire civilization lies hidden beneath the red wastes.

“How many people live here?” Taylor stops and stares down from our bridge high above the stone buildings below. A handful of children, lesser and high fae, play amongst the ruin of a dwelling beneath us, their laughter high and ringing as they chase each other. But their clothes are shoddy, their bodies thin, and one of them has a cough that would concern any parent.

“We used to boast great numbers. After the conflict that ruined these lands, we rebuilt and thrived underground.” Para follows her gaze to the children. “But when the war with winter ended, not enough of us came home. What little farming we were able to do along the banks of the Misty River was pillaged by the high fae at Byrn Varyndr. Now, we have very little. We’re able to trade with the gems we mine, but we can’t support ourselves without turning to …” She chews her lip. “Other avenues.”

“You mean brigandry.” Gareth crosses his arms over his chest. “Vundi bandits.”

“We must survive however we can,” Para snaps and turns on her heel.

“Has anyone ever told you you really have a way with females?” Beth cuts in front of Gareth and keeps pace with Para.

We turn sharply to the right and enter another, smaller room, this one lined with fine, if worn, tapestries.

“These are your rooms.” Para leads us down a corridor and into a round room with a fire pit in the center, the smoke escaping through a chimney hewn into the rock above. Divans, pillows, and a dining table fill the space, and doorways lead deeper into the stone maze. “There are two bathing rooms and two bedrooms. Will this be sufficient?”

I have no doubt these are the finest apartments the Vundi possess, but my approval is contingent on my queen’s. “Taylor, are these to your liking?”

“It’s lovely. Thank you, Para.” Taylor feels the nearest pillow, its silky crimson fabric highlighting her small, fair hand.

Gareth strides down the first hallway, doing a sweep.

“I’ll have food brought in and return when the council is ready to speak with you. Until then, please make yourselves comfortable. Cenet will stand watch outside your chambers should you need anything.”

Beth plops down on a deep emerald divan. “I’d say this arrangement is better than being eaten alive by wind wights, right?”

“We went from enemies to honored guests.” Taylor shakes her head. “I don’t understand this place.”

“We’re still enemies.” I follow Gareth, checking every shadow and hallway. “Be on your guard.”

“Hospitality is a big deal among fae.” Beth takes on a conciliatory tone with Taylor. “When Gareth said that stuff about the snobby high fae treating them better, that’s pretty much as if he smacked the Vundi across the face with his glove.”

“Oh.” Taylor hovers around the entry to the hallway where I am, as if keeping me in her view. My chest expands a bit, but I keep up my search. I must know these chambers are safe before I can let her wander.

“That tradition is why they went all welcome wagon on us?”

“Welcome wagon?” Beth asks. “You and your weird human sayings. But, yes. Now they have to play nice or have their honor besmirched forever.” She adds an echo effect on the last word.

“Forever?” Taylor laughs lightly. “Seems sort of harsh.”

“Turn away or mistreat a guest—that stuff sticks with fae. You’ll see. And they live a long time and have memories that only fade a little. They can pretty much recall anything. When they sleep, they can access memories.”

“I had no idea. That explains how Leander’s English improved so quickly overnight.”

“Yes.” Beth prattles on as I finish my sweep.

Once satisfied that the rooms are safe, I return to the common area with a tantalizing bit of information for my mate.

“Taylor.” I can’t keep the purr off the ‘r’ of her name. Not when I’m about to give her this gift.

Her breath quickens as she turns toward me. “Safe?”

“Safe.” I pull her into my arms and lean down until my lips are grazing her rounded ear.

She clutches my biceps in surprise, and then that sweet scent of hers perfumes the air and pulls my feral side to the fore. “What—”

“There’s a bath. Hot water. Fine soaps.”

Her tiny nails dig into my arms. “Are you shitting me right now? Because if you are, I might kill you.”

“No, I’m not … shitting … you. But—”