Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“I don’t think so. The temple doesn’t seem to like what he does.”
“He destroys souls.”
She nods. “No one can know exactly, but there are dark rumors that the wizard has taught our king new ways to find magical energy in hopes of getting back inside his temple. I believe some of the lesser Fae still find ways. They enter to help the rebels. The king guards the lands around the palace vigorously, but it is said there are tunnels he has not found, and that is how they get in. Please do not tell him.”
“I would never tell him,” I vow. “I need you to understand that the lesser Fae are important to me. In my time I am their high priestess, and I love them. I honor them. What your king has done to you and them is evil. I will do anything to help you, but from what I understand there is no rebellion among the palace staff. Not among the sidhe. Could anything cause them to risk rebellion?”
She nods slowly. “Yes. I think what happened last night might sway us. Especially since that magic seems to have dimmed the king’s spells that keep us quiet and submissive.”
“What happened?”
A smile crosses her face. “The temple is alive again. We felt that sweet magic flow, and it filled my soul. I woke in the middle of the night and I felt…love and hope. I cried. I have not been able to cry since the king forced this curse upon me.”
I didn’t realize it went beyond ensuring obedience. He shut down their emotions? They haven’t had emotions in years until the night before when they felt the marriage of a god to his goddess.
“One more thing, Your Grace,” she says as I hear shouting out in the hallways. She leans forward. “I have heard rumor that there was a theft last night.”
Shit. All eyes will be on me then. “Of what?”
“The Goddess Chain,” she whispers as the floors shake lightly, a sign that someone is coming. “The one he should have offered Zandra.”
We don’t have much time left. “Do you know anything about my husband?”
Her lips curl up. “I know the guards are surprised at how little damage their torture did to him. They are not warded in the dungeons. They felt the full magic. The guards ran fleeing because they were in a full lust. Still, the injuries they gave to the Green Man should not have healed the way they did. And I heard Ostara was not there this morning at all. They fear the king’s anger at losing her.”
The door begins to open, and I whisper to her. “Pretend you are normal. Don’t let him know you can talk freely.”
Devilshea strides in, his face an arrogant mask.
I turn, offering him a deep curtsey which also gives him a good view of my breasts. “Your Majesty.”
He stops, and I can sense his irritation. “You…you look lovely this morning.”
“I want to know where she was last night,” a distinctly unwelcome voice says. Myrddin steps into the room, and he looks to Grenelda. “You, girl. Where was she last night? She is your charge, correct? You stayed in the outer rooms in case she needed something.”
The king sighs. “I didn’t want her to think I didn’t trust her. The guard on her door told me she did not leave.”
Grenelda stares at the wizard, a blank look on her face. “Yes. No. I was in the servant’s quarters.”
The words came out like she had to push them.
She’s good at this. Thank the goddess.
“I was in this room all night, Your Majesty. I did not leave,” I say, telling him no lies.
The king sighs. “It appears there was a theft last night, and the wizard believes it was you.”
“I know it was her.” Myrddin looks a bit ruffled this morning. Like something’s thrown him off his game. Whatever it is, I’m here for it. “She is a known thief in her timeline. She stole the Goddess Chain, and she’s going to use it to some nefarious purpose.”
Now I’m a little confused, and it’s time for some honesty since the sucker is still around my neck. I pull it from my bodice. “I have worn this for years. You accuse me of stealing something that belongs to me.”
The king stills, his eyes on the chain. “It is similar but not exact. The one that belongs to me is slightly larger, and the crescent moon is done in silver, not gold.”
“Of course not. You took the other one,” Myrddin accuses. “I believe you stole it from its place in the library and you found a way to smuggle it to your son. He is using it to transform the temple.”
Myrddin doesn’t know everything. He is of the inner planes, a child of a human and a demon. He has been the mentor to the King of the Sword since there was first a king. He doesn’t understand Fae magic. He probably thinks it’s too soft to harm him. I pull the chain over my head. “I did not leave this room, and this is my Goddess Chain. I was given it by Declan Quinn in the name of his mother, Miria, the Queen of the Seelie Fae. I have worn it since our wedding night. Your Majesty, do you want me to give it to you? I am certain the wizard will tell you I am wearing the proof of my crime. I’m sure I changed it just enough to fool you. I can’t defend myself in any other way.”