The Fae King's Ruin

The King's Invitation

Aislin’s following days were filled with nothing but drafting a bunch of laws while, week after week, she hauled herself to the Silver Hall to submit them for consideration. And every week, she would be frustrated because no one seemed to be able to agree on anything.

As a result, the Great Council had a terrible backlog of resolutions they still needed to sort through. Positions, committees, and even the plans for an internal ruling body were still in the process of deliberation that was going at a snail’s pace. No one wanted to give an inch and none was as willing to compromise as she and King Avery did.

Truly, the King did not seem that much better off than she was. Each time a nobleman would come up to the middle of the room to argue against or propose something, the smile on his face would settle a little until Aislin noticed it was gone completely. His golden eyes, however, would still hold a never-dimming light in them, like a lion simply watching and waiting.

For what, Aislin did not exactly know, and a part of her didn’t want to. Except curiosity always got the best of her, especially when the way he stared made her throat effectively dry up.

Another Great Council meeting was called to an end, leaving Aislin more drained than she probably should have felt. She quickly gathered up her scrolls, brushing her fallen hair away from her face and looking forward to the dinner and warm bath that her maids would no doubt have waiting for her. She’d gotten close to them, indeed closer than she ever thought she would be with anyone in the palace. They were nice to her and treated her like she supposed they would any other royal.

Aelthrys walked up beside her. “Should I escort you to your rooms, or do you want to be left alone again?” he asked quietly, a small smirk curving his mouth while a brow was lifted in question.

“I’ll be fine,” she said. Aislin disliked how she was already being followed by at least three guards assigned to her; she did not need to add her cousin to that list. Glancing over his shoulder, however, she noticed one reason to keep him around. “But be a lamb and do me a favor. Kindly steer dear Uncle Elrin away from me.”

He pursed his lips, the amusement fading from his silver-cored eyes. “He’s been trying to get an audience with you for three weeks now. Whatever trash you think he’s going to say, you ignoring him sends a message in and of itself, Aislin.”

“Not today,” she insisted. “I don’t want to deal with him in any shape, way, capacity, or form. So, if you please, keep him away for now.”

“Oh, dear. I hope that it isn’t me you’re talking about, Your Grace.”

Aislin and Aelthrys stiffened. Her heart stopped beating in her chest before picking up its pace in double time. She turned, unable to mask her surprise as she faced the King who had mirth written all over his face.

For five long seconds, all Aislin could do was stare at him as she was struck by his features all over again like the first time. She had already forgotten how his dark blond lashes were so long, and how there seemed to be an inherent gravitational pull that sucked in everyone around him with just one look at those tawny eyes.

An electric current stirred underneath her skin, her powers responding to her high emotions. With shaking hands, Aislin touched her iron manacles and made sure that they were still around her wrists before she sank to a low curtsy.

“Your Majesty,” she murmured, dropping her eyes to her feet. “Of course not. Your presence is always welcome.” She wanted to add how it was impossible for his presence not to be wanted in his own home but she kept her tongue wisely glued to the roof of her mouth.

The King’s smile widened, showing all those pearly whites. Aislin took an inconspicuous step back. “That’s a great relief. I almost thought I blew the opportunity to get to know you completely. And then when I overheard you…” He shrugged, cheeks tinging slightly with pale gold as he reached up to scratch behind his ear. “Ah, well, I’m rambling. I’m sorry.”

Then, as if he just realized he was there, he nodded to Aelthrys. “General.”

Her cousin bowed. “Your Majesty,” he greeted her back, his voice quietly carrying reverence. She was unsure if he was being sincere.

King Avery’s smile suddenly turned apologetic. “You must forgive me that it has taken me this long to initiate a conversation with you. It is entirely my fault and I shall make no excuses for it,” he said with a small bow that made Aislin look to Aelthrys helplessly. He added, “Please allow me to remedy that. I would like to invite you both to dinner tonight if that’s alright with you.”

Aelthrys bowed his head graciously. “We would be honored to accept, Your Majesty.”

Brightly glowing golden eyes turned to her. Aislin tried to blink but found that she was wholly and embarrassingly transfixed by them.

“And you, Princess Aislin?”

“I— Yes,” she murmured, blushing. Glancing at Aelthrys, his brow flicked up almost imperceptibly, but she ignored it.

The King grinned. “Perfect. I’ll have someone escort you. If you’ll excuse me, I shall see you later.”

In a perfect gentleman’s form, King Avery reached for her hand and kissed the back of it with surprising tenderness. Her eyes rose from the spot she’d been looking at on the floor and connected with those soulful, golden eyes. Aislin tried to swallow but couldn’t for her throat felt drier than cotton.

“I look forward to dining with you this evening,” he murmured.

A subtle shiver ran down Aislin’s spine as his hot breath washed over the skin of her hand, the tingling sensation remaining even as the King gently dropped her hand and turned to walk away without another word.

As she stared after him, Aislin realized this was the first time in years that she had been this affected by someone. Her palms were slick and sweaty, her head was swimming from the lack of oxygen as she held her breath during those few final moments, and most of all, she could feel her powers pounding against her veins.

Aelthrys coughed, clearing his throat and Aislin looked up at him again.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded, licking her dry lips. “I just—” Aislin took a sharp inhale of air to steady herself. “That was unexpected, was it not?”

He raised a brow. “How come? We live in his home; he was bound to play host to us at one point, even if it has taken him ages.”

That was true, but Aislin still shrugged. “At best, we’re unwanted house guests.” She looked around, the Silver Hall already deserted except for the two of them. “What could he possibly want with us now?”

“Maybe he actually wants to welcome us into his home, Aislin,” he replied drily.

“Are you not the one who told me that I should look at things from all sides?”

Aelthrys shook his head, a smirk tugging his lips lightly upward. “I’ll escort you up, and you tell your maids to find you a gown that fits you and your station well. Come on.”

With a huff of frustration, Aislin followed her cousin. He had so obviously taken his time to memorize his way around the sparkling palace, something that Aislin had not gotten around to doing just yet. Come to think of it, she had not bothered to ask her cousin just what it was that he did most days. All she knew was that he was getting all sorts of information about her people for her while she was here in Alfheim.

“Aelthrys?”

“Hmm?”

“What are the terms of our stay here, exactly?”

A pause.

“We were prisoners once we surrendered after Drakos was killed,” he said, his voice betraying nothing of what he felt about that part of their recent history. “That meant we were confined to only certain parts of the palace. But now, we are delegates that represent the Unseelie Fae. Although that certainly gives us more freedom to roam about, we can’t simply leave.”

“Even to visit Mhoryga?” Aislin huffed as Aelthrys continued his long strides. “Aelthrys, we have been away for more than three months. The people need to see us. It is our home. We have a right—”

He cut her off with a soft glare. “We lost that right the moment your brother took the Queen of All Magic to Mhoryga as a captive. He all but signed all of our death warrants, even yours when you fu*cking disobeyed my orders to stay home.”

Her teeth ground together as tears pricked her eyes. She remembered all the letters Aelthrys sent to her at Cetha while she was preparing to attend the festivities in the capital. They were vague about why she had to stay in their fortress home, away from court, but the warning in them was clear as day.

At first, she had chalked it up to Aelthrys’ overprotectiveness when it came to her and not the war that was being waged by her brother. They had grown up together, closer than she was with her own brother, and so Aelthrys felt that Aislin was his responsibility.

But she didn’t listen to Aelthrys’ warnings or the rumors that the war was going to end in their favor because her brother had captured a very important and high-ranking prisoner. The city of Cetha had gone lonely and bland with all of the nobles making their journey to the capital for the festival. And although she disagreed with such a barbaric celebration, all of her friends were there and she did not want to be left as the odd one out.

And so she went to the capital, meaning to stay for only a couple of days but ended up as a prisoner in a foreign land.

She supposed Aelthrys was right and she would not have been in this position if she had stayed in Cetha as planned. Aislin would die, however, before she admitted this to him.

Without another word, she narrowed her eyes at her cousin and turned her back on him, keeping her chin high and not once looking back. It was a good thing that she already knew where she was and that she did not have to look like a fool by hesitating between corridors. Once she found her room, she tossed her scrolls aside and shut the door a little louder than she should have. Inside, Periwinkle, Ola, and Willow jumped in surprise, pausing from tidying up her already clean room.

“Your Highness!” Periwinkle exclaimed, her expression flickering with worry. “What’s wrong?”

Aislin swallowed, shaking her head before saying, “I need water and a dress for dinner with the King. Will you be able to provide me with both?”