“Not you, Kenzie.” I lifted my chest. “Your match will be one of mutual regard.”
Her happiness meant more to me than my own. I’d known all along that I would not make a love claim. It wasn’t common to find that kind of marital bliss in Faerie. My attraction to males had further sealed my doom. I’d accepted that bitter fact years ago.
Kenzie stopped and grabbed my hands. “I would wish the same for you, Brother.” Glancing at the nearest guard down the hall, my sister returned her attention to me and lowered her voice. “I am not entirely blind.”
Ah, is this where she would reveal her knowledge that she knew me to be irrevocably gay?
Voices echoed off the walls, startling Kenzie. She jerked back as though she might be caught doing something she oughtn’t.
I recognized some lesser gentry headed our way, speaking at high volumes. One of the males, Leland, had a large estate with beautiful gardens near Ashcraw.
As the group neared, Leland’s eyes lit upon me and Kenzie. “Did you see what happened?” Leland must have taken my inquisitive squint as a negative. His white eyebrows lifted into his white hair. “Someone just tried to kill Prince Lark.”
His words formed claws that ripped across my chest.
“Is Lark okay?” I demanded.
“Fine. The harpoon hit someone else.” Leland’s brows twitched.
Harpoon?
Kenzie blanched.
“Who tried to hurt him?” I asked.
“No one recognized the male. King Liri took him to the dungeons.”
“And where is Lark?”
“I imagine he’ll return to the elven realm soon.” Leland snorted. “His father’s come for him.”
“Which one?” I don’t know why I asked. It didn’t matter, only that I was obsessed and wanted to know everything when it came to Lark Elmray.
“Which one do you think?” Leland returned. “His silver-tongued sire.”
Lyklor then. He was the only Fae I knew of who had pierced his tongue with an iron ball, giving himself the ability to lie. Once done, it could never be undone. It also rendered him untrustworthy, something nobles and citizens alike spoke of incessantly. Whenever Lark’s fathers were ruling, Ryo was the king who negotiated treaties and deals. Lyklor always looked so cool and comfortable with who he was. He genuinely appeared to not give a shit what anyone thought. I envied that. I’d never felt that free, not even for a second.
“Thank goodness Lark wasn’t harmed,” Kenzie said.
Leland shrugged. He and his group moved ahead of us, voices booming, then fading. My heart rate steadied. Lark was fine, and he was leaving Faerie. That was that. It was for the best. Perhaps I could resign myself to Pervinca if he wasn’t constantly flitting around, tangling golden threads around my heart.
My parents had a masquerade ball planned at Ashcraw in two weeks. They expected me to propose to Pervinca at the party. Without Lark there, I could do it. I could fall on my own sword.
So dramatic, I admonished myself.
My life would hardly change. Pervinca would come live with me in our private wing of Ashcraw. We would exchange brittle banter, avoid one another as much as possible, and find comfort in the arms of friends and lovers.
Kenzie clutched my robe. “It’s a good thing we left the ball early,” she said.
I stared at my hand, remembering Lark’s face against my palm. His cheek must have stung afterward. I’d rather that he had slapped me. I felt nothing in my hand. It was numb.
Lark Elmray would leave Faerie. And I would marry Pervinca.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lark
“You are returning to Pinemist with me,” Father said.
“No, I’m not.”
We stood at a stalemate inside the family parlor with Uncle Liri, Aunt Sarfina, and Folas. Aunt Hensley wasn’t aware of what had happened and Uncle Liri wanted to keep it that way. His mate had retired earlier to the guest wing of the castle with her entourage—mortal friends here by choice—to play silly party games that always had them erupting into fits of giggles.
Dad was being a real dick. After returning from the dungeon, he’d led me to the parlor and announced that I was leaving. He didn’t bother sharing anything he’d learned from my attacker. I folded my arms.
“Elmrays don’t run from trouble,” I stated.
Uncle Liri smiled at me approvingly. Aunt Sarfina nodded her agreement.
According to my father Ryo, Aunt Sarfina and Uncle Liri used to hate one another. It was difficult for me to imagine when all I saw was a pair of siblings thick as thieves when it came to parties, which they loved to throw and attend, congratulating themselves after every event. They were always complimenting one another on their outfits and fussing over mine. It’s like they were sharing joint custody of me or something.
Their favoritism was awkward enough that I made a point of visiting without the rest of my family.
My father’s face darkened. “Trouble,” came his icy response. “That rogue tried to kill my son.”
“Why?” I demanded. “I deserve to know.”
Uncle Liri swept his long white hair over his shoulder and took a seat in a tall-backed chair, crossing his left leg over his right. “His intention was to harm, not kill.”
“Well, that makes it all better, then.” My father rolled his eyes.
“Why?” I asked.
My uncle sighed blandly. “He said it was a warning that if I don’t lower taxes, more dissidents will come after you, your brothers, and sister.”
I flung my arms apart as they erupted into flames. Wings of fire appeared to spread at my sides. My pupils felt like burning coals scorching my eyes. “I will burn the flesh from his bones until he tells me the names of his conspirators.” I hardly recognized my own voice. When it came to my family, I would do anything. This was the sort of task my fire magic was made for.
“You know I admire your zest, Nephew, but your father already ended the swine.” Uncle Liri grinned.
My mouth gaped open and flames dwindled when I turned to face my dad.
Jaw firmly clenched, Father’s nostrils flared before he spoke. “We got all the information he had to give, and then I stabbed him through the heart. I wasn’t going to leave him down there to escape.”
Uncle Liri shrugged at the blatant jab. “He wasn’t worthy of a place in my little menagerie.”
“A dungeon is not a petting zoo,” Dad gritted between his teeth. He stepped toward me. “Lark, we’re going home.”
“I am home,” I said. “I will not flee Faerie. How would that look?”
Aunt Sarfina swooshed over to my dad and offered him a placating smile. “Lark’s right. If he left the realm after an attack, it would make him appear weak. The scoundrels already call him a halfling. Do you want them calling him a coward, as well?” The voice that had started out soft hardened with accusation by the time Aunt Sarfina reached the end.
Uncle Liri glared at my dad.
Father’s fingers drummed over the thigh of his bleached jeans. I recognized the signs of him thinking. Relenting. “What am I supposed to tell your mother?” He pursed his lips.
“Luckily, you are here and not Ryo. Tell her whatever you need to.” Uncle Liri smirked.