Page 2 of Fae Games

I gave the other pair a cursory glance. The Duke of Easterly had the same green hair as Lady Salix, and his taller mate looked as willowy as her daughter. The Duke of Southane’s skin was nearly as pale as Prince Caulden’s with hair the color of flames, and her mother’s mahogany skin was a darker shade than Lady Gazania’s.

“Your Majesty.” The fifth duke wore the white uniform with a flat cap embroidered in gold. Gold piping decorated his uniform along with an array of medals on his lapel. He took off his cap and bowed low. “How may I be of service?”

My brows drew together. He was the only male without a mate. Helen had mentioned that her father was the leader of the king’s guard, but she hadn’t mentioned not having a mother.

“Arrest those girls for disobedience.” Queen Titania pointed at the Fated.

Each girl clasped their hand to their chests and turned pitiful gazes at their parents.

“Sire?” Helen’s father frowned at the king.

“Your daughter made a serious accusation.” King Oberon stood. The faerie had a similar broad six-foot-four frame as his sons, with a well-muscled physique under a tailored burgundy jacket and tight breeches.

Despite the severity of the situation, my eyes lingered on the thick organ bulging through the thin fabric.

The king walked around the crowd of newcomers to where the Fated huddled together like cornered rats.

The Duke of Medietas glanced around, presumably for signs of Helen, but quickly turned his gaze back to the king. “What did she say?”

“Did you know Helenium lost her powers the day before fate marked these girls as my sons’ mates?” asked the king.

I sucked in a shaky breath. This was all very well, the investigation against how the girls stole Helen’s magic, but my friend was a light faerie with no power in an institution filled with monsters deemed too dangerous and wicked to occupy even the deepest level of the mound. They could have ripped her apart by now.

A burst of panic urged me to speak. “Those four threw Helen into the Dark Fae Prison. She’s innocent, vulnerable, and needs to get out.”

“Silence,” hissed Queen Titania as forks of lightning filled the sky.

Fear rippled through my gut, turning my blood cold. I wrapped both hands around my quivering torso and said, “Please. I know I’m speaking out of turn, but we have to rescue Helen.”

“She’s right.” Prince Caulden stepped forward from my right, where he and his brothers had remained silent since the Fated had banished Helen instead of me. “Helenium was our friend. We can’t leave her to suffer in Dubnos.”

Prince Rory nodded. I was guessing whatever his mother had done to silence him was still in effect.

“We didn’t want to condemn poor Helenium,” said Prince Bradwell.

No. I clenched my teeth. He and Prince August had wanted to banish me. Swallowing back the bitter taste forming on my tongue, I straightened my posture, ready to argue my case. Right now, I would agree with anyone if it meant setting Helen free.

King Oberon turned to the Duke of Medietas. “Is there anything we can do to retrieve your daughter?”

The Duke’s shoulders slumped. “Not until the next new moon. It’s the only time the magic of the pyre stones becomes strong enough to raise a pathway to Dubnos.

“What about the bargaining circle in Hope Woods?” I asked. “Weren’t there dark faeries operating from it? They could have been inmates of the prison—”

“Is that where you sacrificed Helen’s magic to make your wings glow?” Lady Gala placed her hands on her hips. “You know more about dark magic than the average cast-off.”

“I wouldn’t jest about your crimes,” growled the King. “What you’re accused of amounts to treason, and the moment Helenium returns to offer her statement—”

A scream filled the air. I whirled around to find the Duchess of Nevermore flailing face-down on the chamomile lawn.

“What is it?” The queen rose out of her throne.

The parents gathered around the fallen woman, staring down at her as though she usually fell prey to public tantrums. But there was something in her screams, a guttural, stomach-wrenching desperation that made my skin crawl. This was no ordinary diversion. She was in genuine pain.

The Duke of Nevermore threw his arms in the air. “Send for a healer.”

“Mother!” Lady Gala rushed forward, but the Duke of Medietas grabbed her around the waist. The girl struggled in his arms, trying to get free. “Let go of me. I have to help my mother!”

My throat dried, and I swallowed hard. What the hell was happening now?