The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(31)

Yeah, right. Alicia tried to calm her rapid breathing, fearing the men could hear her heart beating if she didn’t cool it.

Silence followed.

Then the prince softly chuckled. “Why would a Denkar royal be interested in a dragon fae? They’ve hated each other forever.”

The man didn’t answer.

“Perhaps he has seen her scaling cliffs, too.”

“King Persenus wants the girl turned over to Queen Irenis. He doesn’t want any trouble with the Denkar.”

“What about Morcalon?”

“The dragon fae, King Persenus says, can deal with the Denkar over the matter.”

“That’s if we find the girl. What is her name?”

“No one bothered to find out, my lord. She’s only known as one of the dragon fae.”

“All right.”

The bells sounded through the castle.

“We will resume our search for the girl after the meal. But I want none to harm her. She’ll be great sport following our morning meal.”

Alicia narrowed her eyes. If she could, she’d vanish. Show them she wasn’t about to be their entertainment for the rest of the day.

“What if she escapes while we’re eating?”

“There’s no way out for her…not if she can’t fae transport. Unless she tries the cliffs again. And she’d never make it climbing in a gown.”

She could never have climbed down the cliffs in an hour during the meal either.

When the door shut, she climbed out of the bed.

After crossing the floor, she waited with her ear to the door. When the sound of boots tromping down the hall ceased, she ventured to open the door.

Seeing the hallway clear, she hurried back to Lady Lucien’s room. Everyone now knew she wore a blue gown. She would need a different color. She found an emerald green. She slipped into the new gown, then tucked the blue one into the chest. Returning to the dresser where she’d found hairpins, she exchanged the sapphire decorated pins for emerald ones.

And then she left the chambers again.

The castle layout was similar to Venicia. Servants carried platters of partridge on oyster shells into the great hall from the kitchen. Most were too busy to notice her but one caught sight of her, and she figured she was doomed. He appeared to be about fourteen or so, slim of build and not very tall yet. His brown eyes widened at the sight of her.

Yep, she was the escaped dragon fae prisoner all right.

He appeared scared of her, but didn’t want to let her out of his sight either. Still, he didn’t sound the alarm. Had the green dress confused him? Sure. He looked at the golden medallion encircling her neck.

He must assume she was a noblewoman of the sphinx court, not the prisoner dressed in a stolen green gown.

Alicia smiled her most disarming smile. “Late again, it appears.”

He bowed deeply. “My lady.”

What now? If she ran for the main doors, he’d sound the alarm. If she walked into the great hall, someone would realize she didn’t belong there.

He waited, watching her, holding the tray of food, delaying some courtiers their meal all the while.

She glanced down the hall and saw two very able looking guards standing at a pair of solid oak doors, most likely the main entrance to the castle. They carried lances and watched her, too.

Taking a deep breath, she knew the game had ended.

She might as well make the most of the entertainment, and do the unexpected.

With her head held high, she walked toward the entryway to the great hall.





CHAPTER 16





Deveron joined Prince Raglan at the high table in the great hall, still unsure about Alicia’s whereabouts. Raglan had alluded to her being at the sphinx royal castle, but wouldn’t say where. Ritasia, who never bit her nails, was chewing on one with gusto. Micala kept a lookout as they took their seats.

A servant filled Deveron’s brass goblet with apple-cinnamon wine as Prince Raglan said to Deveron, “You say you had tracked a Venician guard all the way from Venicia here, who had taken your cousin hostage?”

The smirk on Raglan’s lips clued Deveron in that Raglan no more thought Alicia was Deveron’s cousin than Ritasia was.

“That’s correct. And you say she’s a guest here?”

The corner of Raglan’s lips twitched and his eyes sparkled with humor. He cleared his throat. “Ahem, yes, a guest.”

In King Persenus’s dungeon, Deveron presumed. “And she’s being brought to the meal, forthwith?”

“She, well, she didn’t wish to attend the meal. So I’m sure you can see her sometime afterward.”

Ritasia grabbed Deveron’s arm and leaned over to speak to him privately. “She just walked into the hall. Over there.” She pointed a finger. “The woman wearing the…” She paused, then chuckled. “Wearing the royal sphinx medallion and the green gown.”

Deveron rose from his chair. As soon as he did, Raglan stood. All of the courtiers followed suit.

Raglan quickly motioned to his guards, but Deveron headed to intercept Alicia at the same time. Ritasia and Micala followed on his heels. Raglan hurried to match Deveron’s long stride.

“So it appears your cousin did indeed want to eat,” Raglan said, his tone amused.

The royal guards had already seized Alicia’s arms, but she didn’t struggle as Deveron expected her, too. Instead, she tilted her chin up like a determined and stubborn fae would do.