The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(33)

Deveron looked back at Raglan, waiting for a good response to Alicia’s pointed words.

Raglan shrugged and pulled his bird apart with his fingers. “I knew nothing of the two dragon fae females locked in our tower. My father, I was later informed, had the women confined there.”

“Where is your father?” Deveron asked, hoping that since he was not at the meal, he was away on a trip and would not cause trouble when Deveron spirited Alicia away from here.

Raglan made a face.

Deveron nodded. “Seeing Princess Zena again.”

“Yeah, well, she’s too young for him. Barely older than me.”

Deveron shook his head. Then he sipped his wine. “I’m taking Alicia from here.”

“What will I say happened to her? The courtiers will all know. Your mother’s escort will begin to track your trail.”

“Will you help us?”

The prince leaned forward and looked at Alicia, who licked butter off her fingers. “I can see why you’re attracted to her. But maybe she doesn’t want to leave with you, if I could offer her a safe place to stay here.”

“I thank you for your offer, Prince Raglan,” Alicia said, “but Deveron promises to take me home as soon as he can.”

Deveron looked at her, wondering where she ever came up with that notion. Then he realized, he didn’t want her to go home at all. His mother would undoubtedly disallow his visits to Alicia in the human world…and though he might venture to see her infrequently, his mother would more than likely put a stop to it. The thought of Alicia being confined in his mother’s prison, or worse, instantly came to mind again.

“When we saw her climbing down the cliffs, my first inclination was to call the guards. Instead, we watched the very entertaining young woman to find out what she’d do next. She’s very resourceful. I still haven’t learned how she got out of the cell in the first place.”

Everyone looked at Alicia.

She shrugged. “Fae magic.” She smiled when everyone studied her.

Deveron wondered though if perhaps her abilities were starting to appear early. His cousin had already witnessed Alicia’s invisibility abilities. What else could she do now?

“Anyway, leave it to say the other dragon fae and I aided one another. I’m not sure she would have aided my escape if she hadn’t thought I was a princess though.” Again Alicia smiled. Her green eyes sparkled with jollity, but it was her comment that forced Deveron’s heart to skip a beat.

“Princess,” Ritasia said under her breath.

Deveron stared at Alicia, totally disbelieving what she’d just revealed. “You can’t be.”

“I know.” She chuckled with glee. “Don’t look so shocked. I told her she was mistaken.”

Raglan cleared his throat. “Jeez, we had one of their royals locked up. And here we’re supposed to be neutral. My father will have a conniption.”

“You sure did! The countess was pretty perturbed…let me tell you. She’ll return to the dragon fae and the word will get out—,” Alicia exclaimed.

“A countess?” Raglan’s voice had raised a notch. “What was a countess doing spying on us?”

“A spy?” Deveron asked. “What is going on? The royals don’t handle such dangerous missions.”

“What about Alicia? Was she spying on the Denkar?” Raglan asked.

Alicia raised her brows as she waited for Deveron’s response.

The tips of his ears burned. “No. We met under rather unusual circumstances.” He couldn’t tell Raglan that Alicia was half human. He had no idea what the sphinx fae did to half-fae and half-human creatures.

“Princess,” Ritasia said softly, either reminding him of Alicia’s importance with the dragon fae, or not believing the young woman could be a princess either.

Alicia might be a princess, but she was still half human. He tapped his knife on the table. “Her mother will go before the dragon fae council. Don’t you think?” he asked his sister.

Ritasia sighed deeply. “I don’t know. Most fae kingdoms handle matters in a similar manner. But we have no knowledge of dragon fae politics. None of our kind has ever married into their kingdom. If her mother was a princess, this would change the situation significantly. The dragon fae might not have the same kind of loyalty for their own people, especially under the circumstances.”

He knew Ritasia was referring to the fact Alicia was half human. If her mother was a royal, but lived apart from her family all of those years, she might not be able to solicit their help now. She might even have been disowned.

“What circumstances?” Raglan asked.

A young boy dashed across the hall and handed a message to Prince Raglan. He read it, then stood abruptly. “The feast ends now.”

He grabbed Deveron’s arm as he and all of the courtiers stood. “Your mother’s escort arrived at the outer gates. I must make arrangements to leave the castle in my father’s steward’s care. Then I will go with you and Alicia, wherever you intend to take her. I haven’t had this much fun in years.”

Deveron took a ragged breath. He didn’t want Raglan to join their party, especially not if the sphinx prince had some notion he wanted to keep Alicia at his castle, too.

“It’s too dangerous. Even Lorelei tried to have Alicia poisoned.”