The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(22)

Alicia yanked the door open and headed out of the room.

“Alicia! Wait.”

She closed the door behind her. She would have a word with Deveron. Why did Ritasia have to act as her intermediary? Was Deveron that mad at Alicia?





CHAPTER 11





Frustrated over having no control over her destiny, Alicia had every intention of seeing Deveron and forcing him to return her home at once. She would make her mother tell her who her father was like she should have done years ago. She stormed down the hallway, wondering where Deveron could be staying. Then she saw the steward. His gray eyes caught sight of her immediately and widened, though he’d been talking to a guard.

Her skin crawled and an uncontrollable panic filled her with dread. She slowed her pace.

He headed for her with the guard at his side.

She stiffened her resolve. She would ask him where Deveron was located. Easy enough. And then the steward would answer her question in a very civil tongue. Right. There wouldn’t be any way he’d want her to visit Deveron at his guest bedchambers, not when he wanted Princess Lorelei to wed the prince.

“Alicia!” Deveron called from some distance behind her.

Relief to hear his voice washed over her like a warm South Padre Island wave, even though his voice was couched in worry.

Had he changed his mind about being angry with her over the archery competition? Didn’t matter. She was going home.

She headed in his direction, but he reached her first. Before she could utter a word, he dragged her back to her guest quarters. She tried to break free.

He tightened his grip.

“Let go of me!”

“You are never to be out of Ritasia’s or my sight, Alicia. I told you that already.”

“I’m sorry you can’t deal with my winning at the competition. Well, tying at the last of it anyway,” she said haughtily.

“You have no idea the trouble you’ve stirred up.”

“What?” Was this what Ritasia alluded to but wouldn’t speak of? What was the matter now?

They arrived back at the chambers, and he opened the door as Alicia squeaked, “Ritasia is changing!”

But Ritasia had already changed into her peach gown and was shoving her sandals on her feet.

“Thank goodness you caught her,” Ritasia said.

“Take me home,” Alicia said as he pulled her into the room and shut the door. She jerked her arm free.

“We need to discuss this, Deveron,” Ritasia said.

“I don’t know where else I can take her where she’ll be safe.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“What is the matter?” Alicia nearly shouted.

Deveron considered her, then shook his head. “You are a dragon fae. Our greatest enemy.”

“Bull. How could I be?”

“Half, I should say. It’s the only explanation. Only the female dragon fae can shoot like you can with the bow. No one who had never used a fae bow like that could do what you did. And no female fae could shoot as far and well as you, unless you were a dragon fae. It’s an inherited trait.”

Alicia sat down hard on a blue velvet chair. A dragon fae. Her father was a dragon fae?

“What if her father is someone of consequence, Deveron? What if he learns his sworn enemy has taken her hostage?”

“Mother will attempt to do the same thing. There could be war,” Deveron said.

“Why? My father abandoned me when I was five. He would never know I was with the Denkar as their prisoner or otherwise.”

“Spies are prevalent in a castle. Always. I’d bet a year’s worth of gold one is on his way to Morcalon right now with news of the female fae pretending to be a Neferon princess. Not only that, but the crown prince and princess of the royal family of Denkar guard her closely. Rumors probably already abound about your strange malady. Are we drugging you? Then as the time wears on you are your perky self again?”

“Then return me home.”

Deveron paced across the floor.

“Return me home!”

“No.”

“Deveron—”

“No.” He turned to Ritasia. “Can you ensure she stays here and changes her gowns?”

She nodded, but wrung her hands.

“Stay! We will take you from here during the height of the ball. Do not, whatever you do, stray from Ritasia.”

He stalked out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

She was not a dog. She would not be commanded to stay like a dog!

“You must get changed,” Ritasia said, in a much gentler voice.

Alicia folded her arms.

Ritasia’s voice changed. “I should have known you were a dragon fae. They’re notoriously stubborn.”

“Written from their history or yours?”

Ritasia managed a small smile. “If we are to leave here safely,” she tried again, “you must do as Deveron says.”

“Where are we going after that?”

Ritasia shook her head. “Deveron is the one who gets himself into complicated messes like these, though come to think of it, this is the worse one ever. And usually he figures a way to get himself out again. I’m sure he already has a plan.”

***

Deveron changed into a black tunic, black trousers, boots and a black wig. After tying his wig hair into a ponytail, he donned a black mask. Then he vanished and reappeared at the entrance to the grand ballroom. One good thing about fae travel, no one would have seen him leave his room while he was wearing his costume.