Page 25 of Fae Farewells

“You two should go inside as well,” Valano told Stone and York.

“No. The guards won’t know who they are, and—”

Six guards breached the shadows, none looking enthusiastic about their assignment.

I grabbed Barbie from behind, pulling her against my chest in an attempt to contain her. I knew she could break my hold, though I was hoping she would think twice about potentially hurting me. That doubt was the only way I’d be able to keep my grip on her.

“How am I just supposed to stand here and watch?” she murmured before turning her head to follow their movements.

With my arms wrapped around her chest, I could feel the fury shaking through her body. Her shoulders were tense as she ground her teeth together.

“Prince,” the commander said, bowing his head. “The Winter queen has sent us to take you in. There is an outstanding warrant for your capture.”

Vaughn held his hands out as he greeted them. “Take me in, Thatcher. I won’t fight this arrest.”

The man—not a fae—sighed, locking cuffs onto Vaughn’s wrists. But they weren’t rough with him like I expected.

“Get the fuck off me,” Novak snarled.

Stone and York struggled to pull the vampire back, to restrain him. It was clear he hadn’t understood the warning from our fae. We all heard him yesterday; that didn’t make this any easier, though.

Barbie turned to glance at the vampire, barely whispering, “This is his plan, Novak.”

Palmer touched the vampire’s forehead as he growled, “Fuck—”

And then Novak dropped to the ground, completely unconscious.

“Sorry.” Palmer shrugged. “I didn’t know how else to get him calm. It’s the same spell I used on Levi, so we’ve got about ten minutes.”

“No. That’s okay.” Barbie patted my arm, and I reluctantly released her. “I’ll calm him down when he wakes up. While we wait, let’s make sure our bags are ready.”

She glanced around, then found Vaughn’s grandfather. “Valano? Do you need help with anything before we leave?”

“It’s just cups, Princess. I can get them on my own. Go. Get my grandchildren out of the dungeon and kill the queen.”

“Vaughn isn’t the only one?” she asked, a deadly seriousness making her voice low.

“I don’t know, but an old king can have his suspicions, can’t he?”

“In my experience, old kings are always cautious but curious creatures. That’s what keeps you alive.”

Valano patted her hand. “You even sound like Lucifer.”

“He is my grandfather.”

“You’ll need his tricks.”

She smiled, a baring of teeth laced with poison. “I hope I do.”

“Barbie,” I softly whispered. “Think about what Vaughn told you. Don’t jump yet. We have to be smart about this.”

“I know, Briggs. I’m not going to do anything rash. Everything I do will be well thought out.”

“We don’t need Novak awake to point out the lie in that statement,” Stone said nonchalantly.

“We have a plan.” Barbie rolled her shoulders back. “It would have been easier to walk in and kill her. But she’s too protected to do that. Now she’s taken my fae, and she’s got my parents.”

York huffed out an exaggerated breath. “Sometimes I worry when you get that bloodthirsty but logical expression.”