A Thief of Nightshade(58)

Aislinn was sprawled on the floor next to Aubrey, looking wayward and dejected.

He rolled over and Given caught sight of his paw and what they’d done to him. She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until she exhaled loudly.

“You’ve brought company.” The Goblin King turned from Ian. “Show yourself or my pleasantries end here.”

She looked to Ian for instruction and he nodded, clearly displeased by her slip.

She reluctantly uncloaked herself, ignoring the shock on Aislinn’s face.

“Those lips and playful brow. Where have I seen them?” the King mused as he sauntered to her.

She stilled as he traced her cheekbone with the pad of his index finger.

“You will remove your hand from the Princess,” Ian said tensely.

The

Goblin

King

immediately

acquiesced as though Ian had threatened him with fire if he did otherwise. “The daughter of Queen Saralia,” he said in awe. “You do favor her somewhat.

Sweetly so. No wonder you look familiar.”

Given felt sick at the thought of resembling her mother in any way, but the feeling only worsened as Ian continued to address the King. This is not how she’d intended to tell Aislinn who she really was.

“We have been sent by her Majesty to take your guests back to her court. She sends word to meet her there in two days.”

Aislinn was trying to get up and though he didn’t have human features, she could see the fury in his face.

“Just as they were led to you,” Ian continued, “her Majesty fully intends to keep the rest of her promises. Have you cords to tether his limbs?” Ian motioned toward Aislinn.

The King looked unsure; by his stance, Given gathered that her uncle wasn’t saying in jest that Cedrick was a formidable opponent, which brought to her mind serious concern for how they were going to get out of Koldavere unscathed.

“There is no need for physical restraints.” Given knew she sounded cruel and pitiless as the words passed over her lips, but Ian didn’t have the magical abilities that she had and she felt she had no other choice but to use them, regardless of how much pain doing so brought her.

“He is Ellohim. I can bind his will.”

Well, at one point she’d been able to.

Whether she could now or not was up for grim debate. What she posed was a fairly complicated spell and she was nowhere near where she needed to be for that kind of concentration. And even if she were lucky enough to pull it off, she had no way of knowing how long it would last.

Aislinn had made it to his feet and was steadying himself, seemingly for a rash and uncalculated charge, when Given stretched her left arm toward him and whispered the words quietly. He fought her the whole time and the revelation of her perceived betrayal grew clear as day in his eyes. He hated her, just as she had feared.

The Goblin King closed Aubrey’s eyes with a gentle sweep of his hand and at his command she fell limp. He scooped her into his arms and handed her to Ian.

“You will not allow her to wake before the coronation or your life will be forfeit.

Saralia’s protection or not.” Cedrick clenched his jaw as he awaited Ian’s response and Given could see that at any moment now he could realize how ridiculous this was, their showing up so unexpectedly, or he would remember perhaps her mother saying that she had no children.

“I will make sure,” Given said, “that Aubrey is returned to you, your Majesty.

She will never know Jullian as he once was, only as the Fae King. You have my mother’s word on it and you have mine.”

Given felt the anger radiating off a very still and physically calm Aislinn.

Cedrick smiled, his fears soothed.

“Then give her Majesty my deepest gratitude. I will meet with her in five days’ time.”

“Follow us.” Given spared only a brief glance at Aislinn as she curtly ordered him from the room.





Chapter Twenty-


One


GETTING OUT OF KOLDAVERE AND

GOBLIN Keep wasn’t nearly as easy as Given and her friend seemed to think it would be. Which, for whatever reason, amused Aislinn. He followed them because he had no other choice and even if he’d had other options, they had Aubrey.

After several trivial scraps with the locals, where Given showed a completely unforeseen talent with a sword, they finally met another Fae who looked like Given’s friend.

A tall, thin Fae with curly brown hair nodded to Ian and bowed to Given, which made Aislinn feel physically sick.

“Princess, Ian. We’ve blocked the north and east woods. Your mounts are tethered to a tree a quarter mile from here. You should be able to make it back without interference.”

Given looked visibly relieved to hear it. “Thank you. I fear for Aubrey, Cale. Take her to my uncle. He’ll know what to do.”

Aislinn’s emotions were so strong that despite whatever spell Given had used on him, he shook in anger. As the Fae took Aubrey into his arms and shape-shifted into a Griffin, the thought crossed his mind that were he able, neither Given nor Ian would have eyes after he was through with them.

“I wouldn’t unbind him if I were you,” Ian said snidely, indicating that they should keep walking.

Aislinn was on all fours and Given had paced her walking to be between him and Ian. He growled low, knowing this would only prove Ian’s point, but he didn’t care.