The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(41)

“It remains until I’m assured the two of you are not leaving here.”

“I promise I’ll stay.” Alicia assumed it was her grandfather’s greatest wish. She couldn’t help but be pleased to find she had more family. Especially one so exalted as her grandfather, king of the dragon fae. And the notion she could be queen…

She smiled.

Then she tried to win Deveron’s freedom again. “But, Your Kingship, my friend has been unjustly imprisoned in your dungeon. He must be released at once.”

Prince Grotto rushed into the chambers, then quickly bowed to the king. “He’s the crown prince of the Denkar, Your Kingship. Prince Deveron is the one we now have imprisoned in our dungeon.”

The king shifted his attention to Alicia. “I thought you said he was of the sphinx fae. Is this true? That’s he’s of the Denkar?”

“Yes, it is,” she said. Though she meant for her words to be stronger, they sounded incredibly meek. Would they kill him?

She couldn’t allow it.

“What were his intentions toward my granddaughter?” the king asked Grotto, as if the prince would know better than Alicia.

On the other hand, he might not believe her. She spoke first anyway. “Only honorable. I asked him to bring me here to find my mother. He did so even though he knew he’d be imprisoned. I had no other means of getting here. I tried to get him to leave without me, but he feared for my safety.”

Her grandfather frowned. “With your own kind?”

“He vowed to protect me always. He had made a promise.”

The king rubbed his chin.

“Oh, Alicia,” her mother said under her breath, her voice filled with sadness. “What have you done?”

What had she done? She had done nothing! But found her mother and…and…

The king looked at Viviana, then said, “Everyone leave the room but my daughter and granddaughter.”

As soon as everyone vacated the chambers and the guard shut the door on their exodus, the king turned to Alicia. “History seems to be repeating itself.” His tone was grim.

Her mother said, “You must wed whosoever your elders—in this case your grandfather and the parents of the male fae—deem fit. Don’t make the same mistake I made, Alicia.”

Alicia couldn’t believe her mother’s words. Did she not love her father any longer?

“You mean that I am a mistake?” Alicia asked, her brows deeply furrowed as she nearly growled the words.





CHAPTER 20





A resounding repeated banging at the countess’s chamber’s door forced King Tibero to shout, “Who is interrupting me now?” The door opened only enough for a man to poke his nose in. “My lord, a woman, claiming to be the princess of the Denkar, and a man, claiming to be the prince of the sphinx fae, have come seeking Prince Deveron’s release. The woman says he is her brother, and her mother, Queen Irenis, is being made aware that we have taken him prisoner.”

Alicia folded her arms. “Just what I’d said, if anybody would bother to listen to me.” And to think someday she’d rule the place. She’d certainly make some great changes.

Before the king could say a word, another man leaned in through the doorway, opening it wider. “Sire, six Denkar fae have just arrived at our gates. They say their crown prince is here, and they demand to see him at once.”

The king’s chest rose as he filled his lungs with air, then answered. “The afternoon feast is nearly served. See that these guests are taken to my solar. Have Lord Jessup provide wine for them until the bells ring for the meal.”

“And the prisoner?”

The king ground his teeth as he looked at Alicia. She attempted her most pleading, woeful look. It almost always worked with her mother.

His hard face softened.

She curbed smiling, not wanting to risk him changing his mind.

“Take him to my throne room. But remove the shackles first. Tell him he will have an audience with me before the meal. That he has nothing to fear. After feasting with us, he’s free to leave.”

“Can I go to him, too?” Alicia asked, trying to hide the enthusiasm in her voice in case it irritated her grandfather.

“No.” He motioned to his men. “Go, do as I say.”

When the men closed the door, the king shook his head as he gazed at Alicia. “You are just like my daughter when she was your age.”

Then he stalked out of the room. He turned to Viviana. “Return to your chambers until…” Then he reconsidered. “Join me in my throne room with my granddaughter.”

Within minutes, the king sat on a golden throne, encrusted with gems of every conceivable color. A long blue runner led to the dais where the two thrones sat. The other was just as ornate, just as decorated, but vacant.

He patted on the empty seat and wiggled his finger at Alicia. She whispered to her mother, “Why don’t you take the seat there?”

“He is punishing me for running away. It won’t always be like this and when you are queen, you will treat me well.”

“But you should sit upon the throne.”

“Go, before my father throws a tantrum.”

Alicia smiled, not imagining an old man could do such a thing. Then she reconsidered. A king throwing a tantrum could be an awful situation for the ones he ruled. She hugged her mother, then walked down the carpet. The throne room soon filled up with courtiers, the ones dressed in the most elaborate gowns and tunics most likely the higher lords and ladies made their way to the front of the crowd.