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Castle Gracewood, the city of Sinshell, and Castle Errin.
The latter was a little optimistic and possibly u
They did not strike. Their ilk slunk in the shadows and skipped over skirmish.
And they said we, the Fae, were creatures with no morality.
“Luckily for Scythe,” I murmured absently, my eyes dragging from Castle Errin and sweeping over the woods and river into the land beyond. “That is often what happens.” How the Gracewoods had shared their land with mortals for all these centuries was something historians failed to explain in thorough detail.
They said that ten ships entered the harbor many a year ago, intent on exploring a realm other sailors had passed on their journeys. A realm shielded in fog and mist with sand more gold than that of any coin.
Rather than battle with them, the weaklings of our kind—the gold Fae—had invited them to stay and sold off a portion of their land in good faith. In hopes of garnering trade opportunities with more of the human filth across the sea.
The opportunities indeed came, and with them, the humans bargained their way into more land from the Gracewood line, their kingdom now taking up nearly half of Sinshell—and renamed the southeastern corner of our continent after their first king—Errin.
Yes, it would prove interesting to take back that which never truly belonged to the mortals. However, I could not foresee how doing so would benefit us too greatly. For they indeed had helped the continent of Nodoya and its two originating kingdoms to grow in wealth and opportunity.
“King?” Fang lobbed a peppered nut at the map. “Stars, have you been smoking the hazel?”
He knew better than to ask such a thing, so I needn’t have bothered answering and instead scrubbed my fingers over my chin. “What of the crossover?”
“We could use it again, but wouldn’t your swan have informed her mother or somebody of its existence by now?”
Doubtful. “Send your legion there at first light to see if it remains.”
Sharpening his favored dagger, Fang nodded. “And how does she fare after her journey in the maze?”
“She was having tea with the elves when I found her.”
“What?” Fang barked with a laugh.
“You heard me just fine,” I grumbled and knocked the placeholders from the map. They rolled across the table into the Night Sea.
“Well, well,” Fang drawled and tossed the rock he’d been using to the table. “I do believe this swan most certainly likes to keep you on your toes.”
“She ca
Flames danced higher in the sconces on the wall, no daylight visible in the windowless room that had been spelled to keep anyone in the dungeons down the hall, or anywhere else, from overhearing.
“Have you thought about doing something nice for her?”
I scowled. “I saved her from being mauled by the human swine, did I not? Then put her up in lavish accommodations with three meals a day.”
Fang bit his lips, then released them with a grin. “Maybe you should gift her with something she likes then?”
“What’s not to like about her rooms?” Blinking once, I wondered why she wouldn’t have appreciated my rescue and all I’d given her since, then demanded, “And why would I do that?”
The asshole laughed, then sobered upon realizing I’d meant every word. “Oh, my fucking stars.” Straightening in the chair, he clapped his hands between his spread knees and bent forward. “Okay, first you need to find out what she likes, what makes her happy, then give something to her with an apology for taking her away from her new elven friends.”
“Why the fuck would I apologize?” I asked, incredulous. “She is mine, not theirs.”
“The golden ones are… different.” He nodded. “From what I’ve seen and heard anyway. So I wouldn’t think the swan is too fond of being treated as though she were property.”
“But that’s exactly what she is,” I said, confusion causing my fingers to buckle as my claws threatened to erupt. Safely delivered and secured—she would forever belong to me.
Fang stared at me for moments that only incensed, then shook his head and stood.
Gritting my teeth, I spat out, “Regardless of the fine print, she likes frivolous bullshit like flowers.” I flung a clawed hand at an empty cup and saucer on the table, then leaned over it. “And fancy tea and pretty ideals such as peace.”
Fang lifted his shoulders, eyeing my black claws, then let them slump as he meandered to the door. “So give her flowers and fancy tea.” With a look over his shoulder that I couldn’t decipher, he said, “We both know you ca
He’d been gone a while before I finally retracted my claws, leaving gouges in the map and the wood beneath it.