The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(28)

She threw the manacles aside and hurried to the window.

She was no longer dizzy, though her stomach growled, and she felt she’d swallowed tons of cotton, her mouth was so dry.

Peering out the window, she found a narrow ledge that skirted the building. Good thing she wasn’t afraid of heights. She looked down. The cliff had plenty of crags for handholds and footholds. It appeared easy enough to climb down the sixty feet or so to the base of the cliff where forest ringed the tower.

When she leaned her head farther out, she could make out another window. Another cell? Maybe the one where the dragon fae resided? She had to return the key to her and help her escape also.

Alicia was glad now for the clothes she wore. It would enable her to climb down the mountain so much more easily than if she was wearing Ritasia’s gowns.

Her heart sank as she thought about Ritasia and Deveron. Even if she escaped the prison, then what? She had no idea where she was, or where she could go. And without her father’s help, she couldn’t even return to her human world.

She climbed through the stone window and clung to the cool, rough stone face as she made her way along the narrow ledge to the next window.

The sun lightened the sky further as the cool breeze began to warm.

She could do this. When she reached the window, she listened first, to ensure no guard was in the room. Not hearing any sound, she peeked in.

In the cell, just as stark as Alicia’s, the dragon fae female reclined on a hard wooden plank. Her gaze shifted from the ceiling to Alicia as soon as she began to climb in through the window.

“Why do you come for me?” The fae hurried off the bed. “Escape!”

Alicia strode across the floor, her heart hammering with worry they might get caught. “How could I do that when you so generously aided me in escaping?” She shoved the key into the fae’s manacle.

“What is your name?” the fae asked.

“Alicia.” She opened the first of the manacles, then worked on the other.

“Alicia,” the fae murmured. “Princess Alicia.” She curtsied.

The woman had mistaken her for a princess.

“I’m Countess Salimina, at your service.”

“I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

“There is no mistake.” The countess glanced down at the floor, then took a steadying breath. She shifted her attention back to Alicia. “Meet me at the gates of Crislis Castle. I’ll escort you inside. The kingdom of Morcalon awaits you, though I do not know the reception you will get there. Still, they’ve been forewarned and will be expecting you.”

Forewarned? About her? Now what?

The countess gave another royal courtesy, then disappeared.

“Wait!” Alicia circled the floor. “I can’t travel like that.” She hadn’t expected the fae to vanish so quickly. But would the countess have aided Alicia’s escape had she known Alicia was only half fae? Or was that what the fae meant about not knowing how the dragon fae kind would receive her? Would they wish to destroy her like Queen Irenis undoubtedly would?

Voices near the cell drew Alicia’s attention. Men’s voices. The bulldog fae’s gruff voice.

She bolted for the window.





CHAPTER 15





Alicia had no idea what the forests of the fae kingdom here would be filled with, but it couldn’t be as bad as the dungeon she attempted to flee. When she dangled a leg over the windowsill, a key jangled in the lock of the metal door to the cell. She nearly fell off the ledge when she jumped through the window. Would they find her here?

She began the arduous climb down the steep cliff face.

“The dragon fae’s escaped! Check the other one’s cell!” the bulldog fae shouted.

She realized then, no one would expect her to climb out the window. She would have transported herself like the other fae did. At least that’s what the guard would assume.

A door slammed against the wall in her former cell.

“She’s gone from here!” a man shouted.

Curses followed.

“Get a dark fae tracker! They’re the only ones who can track a faery dust trail.”

They’d never find her. She smiled. No fae dust. But then her smile faded. What about the countess? Would they catch her?

She gripped the ledge as she stretched her foot lower to reach another rock jutting out—a perfect foothold.

She’d inched down eight feet maybe when a man shouted, “The dragon fae, who was being held for Queen Irenis, left no trail.”

“What?” the bulldog fae shouted. “That’s impossible.”

“Yes, it is. Quite impossible. And yet somehow she’s managed it. The other I can follow.”

“I want the one Queen Irenis is sending an escort for. She’ll have all of our hides over this.”

The other man said, “I can do nothing about the one. There is not a speck of fae dust to follow.”

“Find the other. Maybe where she’s gone, the other has followed.”

“At once.”

Alicia hoped the dark fae wouldn’t locate the countess. She assumed no one would find the half human who couldn’t leave a faery dust trail.

But she was dead wrong.

Though plenty of foot and handholds aided her long, tedious journey, her arms wearied from the climb. She guessed she’d already climbed for a good half hour when she thought she heard a horse’s soft whicker.