The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(37)

Right. As soon as…

Or did the king, her grandfather, already know she was half human? He had to. That’s undoubtedly why her mother had run away from home.

And here to think Alicia believed only her father had run away from them. Who would have thought her mother had left her own family? Because she fell in love with a human. But why hadn’t her mother returned home with Alicia when her father abandoned them?

A sickening feeling worked its way into the pit of Alicia’s stomach. Her grandfather wouldn’t wish to welcome Alicia since she was half fae. Maybe her grandfather had changed his mind after her mother had been gone for so many years.

Still, Alicia couldn’t shake the feeling that she was now being escorted into the Roman legions arena where a lion would soon attack her and chew her to pieces.

Guards stood on either side of the gates to the castle, pointing their lances forward as if in salute.

But as soon as Alicia and her escort stepped inside the courtyard, guards rushed forth to close the gates. Just as quickly, others bolted out of the guardhouse, carrying shackles.

“Go, Deveron!” Alicia shouted, her heart tripping with fear.

“I promised to protect you.” Before he could transport her, two guards yanked him away from her, breaking their physical contact.

She assumed he was trying to take her from there, but couldn’t in time, and then, though he could have still managed to save himself, he stayed for her sake.

She fought the tears that welled up in her eyes. Angered he wouldn’t leave, then try to come back for her, she slugged one of the guards who snapped the special manacles over Deveron’s wrists.

The guards began to drag him toward one of the towers as two others grabbed her wrists, pulling her away from him. “No!” Alicia screamed. “He brought me here. Free him at once! Without his aid, I’d still be at the sphinx castle.”

Her words fell on deaf ears. Some smiled at her comments, others frowned.

Grotto motioned to another guard. “Go ahead and manacle her, too.”

“No,” the countess said, blocking the guard’s path, who took a step in Alicia’s direction. “She’s underage. She can’t fae transport.”

So Alicia was to be a prisoner.

The countess spoke to Alicia next. “Come. I’ll take you to my chambers where you can wash, tidy up a bit, and then I’ll escort you to see King Tibero.”

“With a guard escort,” Grotto said.

The countess glared at him.

Alicia watched the direction the guards took Deveron, the northernmost tower. Somehow she had to see her mother. Maybe she could help Alicia to free Deveron. He glanced back at her before the guards shoved him inside the tower. She lunged after him, dragging her own guards a step or two before they had her under control. Her heart sank to see him shackled and roughly treated especially when she had been the cause of it. And now she felt useless to help him…for the moment.

“What about my mother?”

The countess guided her across the courtyard and into the main entrance of the castle. She led her into a hall and up a broad flight of stairs next. “I’m certain you’ll get to see your mother at the nooning meal.”

“But she’s wearing a retaining collar,” Grotto said, following behind them. “To think the king’s only child would have to be prevented from using her fae magic to escape her kingdom again. And to think the king still has a soft spot for her even after she disobeyed him and married the sphinx fae.”

Alicia stumbled on the stairs as her heart nearly gave out. Her father was a sphinx fae?

The guards tried to lift her, but Alicia’s legs had turned to rubber again, and she collapsed, unable to go any further.

“What’s wrong?” the countess asked. “Your face is as white as the full moon. Oh was it the fae transport that unsettled you so?”

Alicia didn’t want to discuss her father in front of Prince Grotto, not when he was obviously angry with her for turning up at Crislis Castle and ruining his chance at ruling the kingdom. Though she doubted the king had it in mind that she would rule in his place when the time came.

Her head swirled with confusion. She knew her father was a fae. But she’d never guessed her mother was also. Now that meant she wasn’t even half human?

“Princess?” the countess said, trying to help her up.

Alicia’s stomach revolted. “I’m going to be sick.”

“Carry her to my bedchambers,” the countess ordered one of the guards.

The man lifted Alicia off the stairs and carried her the rest of the way up and then down the hall.

Tapestries of dragons and dragon fae hung against the stone walls. A gold carpet ran the length of the hall. And from the ceiling, crystal chandeliers lighted their way.

“You look awfully pale,” the countess said as she ran her hand over Alicia’s arm. She motioned to another guard. “Tell the king Princess Alicia is unwell. We may take a bit longer to see him.”

“Yes, countess,” the man said, then stalked back down the hall to the stairs.

“She is faking it,” Grotto said.

“Her cheeks have lost their color and her skin shimmers with a faint perspiration. Even a fully-grown fae cannot fake those kinds of symptoms.”

She preceded Alicia into her bedchambers. “Lay her on my bed.”