Page 17 of Chosen By the Fae King
Aeryn
The following morning, as I entered the common room for the second time in as many hours, I could feel the tension crackling in the air like a live wire. It put me on edge.
Magic and aggression mingled, leaving a bitter taste on my tongue as I scanned the room. A hushed murmur of whispers floated through the air, only adding to the unease that settled in my chest.
“What a difference a day makes,” Sofiya quietly observed, her eyes wide with concern.
“Day? We were just here having breakfast an hour ago. It was quiet and uneventful.”
“That's true. Now it looks like they're ready to duel. They also seem to be forming groups.”
“Of course they are,” I muttered, clenching my fists. “It's every female for herself in these trials, but there's safety in numbers. Trust me, there's no true loyalty among most, if not all, of them.”
I steered us along the wall, away from the others. Together, we stood to the side, observing the contestants. I'd assumed they would have had some degree of loyalty to their own sect, but it didn't appear that way.
Zoriyah, who I suspected had powerful fire magic, was holding court in the far corner with several others. One of them, Dori, was talking animatedly, her arms moving about fluidly to emphasize words. The din of the room made it impossible to hear what she was saying.
Dori's long, flowing, blue-gray hair reached nearly to the floor. The bluish undertone of her pale skin marked her as a water fae. In fact, the way her satiny silver dress billowed with her movements, she looked as though she were floating underwater.
Fire and water typically didn't mix. As soon as I had the thought, Zoriyah shot me a quick look. Unlike yesterday, her rose-gold curls were pulled up in an intricate braid, making her face look more severe.
Dori continued with her theatrics and rudely pointed to someone sitting on the couches not fifteen feet from her.
A short maniacal laugh drew everyone’s attention. Mirrelle, who I'd met this morning at breakfast when she'd asked me to pass something across the table, rose to her feet, as poised and regal as any royal.
When the fabric of her black skirt fell to either side of her hips, I realized she was actually wearing fitted pants with an attached train. I'd heard blood fae made interesting fashion choices.
But really, I was envious. Why hadn't I been given trousers?
While we waited to meet the king last night, a few things had been added to my wardrobe. I assumed it was the same for the others.
Their outfits seemed to fit their styles. So why wasn't I given something I would have chosen for myself?
Except for the underthings, of course. Those I would definitely choose for myself. In fact, I might steal the lot to take with me when I returned to Greenhollow.
Mirrelle's scarlet irises glimmered like rubies in the light. “Careful, Dori, or I'll start to think you don't like me.”
Dori's upper lip lifted. “I don't like you, demon spawn. You disgust me. Your kind are more animal than fae. In fact, I think I'll kill you myself to keep you off the throne. Nox will thank me for the favor.”
The corners of Mirrelle's dark red lips stretched. “Oh, I think Nox likes me just fine. If I were you, I'd worry less about my dietary needs and more about that rotten fish smell you project.”
Nervous gasps and a few snickers filled the stunned silence. Dori's pallid face turned puce.
“Perhaps,” the blood fae continued, “that's why the king didn't partake in anything you had to offer last night. I'd say you were out of the running before it even began. How disappointed your brother will be. Tell me, is it true Derrin threatened to turn you out because he worried no one would want to marry such a malodorous wisp of a female?”
All around, subtle shifts in body language and furtive glances were telltale signs of the brewing storm. A number of fae moved away from the angry pair.
As if on cue, Dori approached Mirrelle with a sneer, her voice dripping with venom. “You'll be dead by morning, whore,” she promised, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Watch your tongue, sea witch,” Mirrelle shot back. “I won't be so easy to eliminate.”
While blood fae didn't have much in the way of offensive magic, they did have extreme strength and an uncanny way of protecting themselves from attacks.
My heart pounded in my chest, torn between stepping in and keeping my distance. If I intervened now, I'd risk drawing unwanted attention as well as physical harm. But how could everyone just stand idly by while these two tore each other apart?
“Let them fight,” a cold voice interrupted my thoughts. “It's what they're here for, after all.”
Magic cocooned around me as shadows formed into the shape of Nox leaning against the wall near my shoulder. His flint-colored eyes danced with amusement, a distinct contrast to the last time I'd looked into them.