“That did it?” I sit back, my mind a little woozy, and I close my eyes.
“Done.” She nods with satisfaction. “Did it so well you don’t even need a charm to strengthen it.”
“Thanks.” I open my eyes, then blink a few times. “Wow. I can see.” I look around, then at Grimelda. “You’re even prettier now.”
She strokes her hair and bats her white lashes. “Oh, tell me more, darkindle.” A faint wave of her fingers sends another burst of magic through me, then she winks conspiratorially. Did she give me something extra?
“What was—”
“You’re covered in shadow.” She nods. “The sun can’t hurt you. As your spool unwinds, perhaps you can unwind another.” Her sly gaze flickers to Solano, then back to me. “My work is done. Where is my payment?”
“Very well.” Solano’s tone is clipped. “Brock will see your account settled.”
My gaze can’t seem to stop darting here and there. I can see the detail in the rough wooden walls, the dust floating through the air, the dirt between the table slats. My eyes don’t hurt anymore. “You’re amazing, Grimelda.” I can’t believe the colors, the depth of the hues.
“I might take you with me, my lovely.” The witch leans closer. “Into the coven where no male can lay claim to your body or your heart. Free with the wild wind and the shadowy things that prowl the night and stalk the day.”
Solano grips under my arm and pulls me up. “We’re leaving.”
Grimelda snickers. “Until we meet again, darkindle.”
“Um, bye,” I try to wave, but Solano hauls me out into the tavern proper and closes the door.
“What was that about?” I pull my arm away from him, and once again, the entire tavern goes silent, all eyes turned toward us. Oh, by the Spires. I just snapped at the day king and defied his touch. No wonder they’re staring. Am I going to be punished? I look up at Solano, his jaw tight, his eyes fierce. Instead of reprimanding me, he simply takes my arm again and escorts me—more gently now—from the tavern.
The music and chatter starts up as soon as we’re out in the street.
“She was enthralling you.” He finally lets go, and I find I wouldn’t mind having his hands on me again.
“What?” I cock my head.
“She was making you think she was pretty and, and—” He runs a hand through his golden hair. “Good. But she’s a witch.”
“She’s not good.” I put my hands on my hips. “She’s neutral. Just because some witches come from the Spires doesn’t mean they’re all bad.”
“You shouldn’t be fraternizing with her kind.”
“Her kind?” Ire ripples up my spine like a blue flame. “Fraternizing? You shouldn’t be fraternizing with me! I’m a lowly changeling, after all. And you’re the one who brought me here to meet with her!”
“Yes, meet with her, not let her charm you and flirt with you.” He peers down at me with the sort of heat that makes my knees go weak. And then I realize why he’s acting this way.
“Are you jealous?”
He throws his hands up and makes a pfft sound. “Of course not.”
“You’re acting jealous.”
“A king isn’t jealous of a consort.” He shrugs. “You’re just the first of many.”
“Right. You’re building a harem.” I nod, agreeing easily as he proves my point. “So, you have no room to get jealous over my previous friendships with witches and my supposedly flirty banter with Grimelda.”
He holds up a finger. “That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s what you said.” I want to turn my back on him, but even I know that sort of insult wouldn’t bode well for me, especially not when an entire contingent of Dayland soldiers are watching our exchange with interest. Instead, I look up at the sky and take in the utter wonder of the world beyond the barrier between our realms. The sky is blue there. Literally blue. How? Our sky is always drawn in shades of gray and black. But theirs is an utterly fanciful color, as if painted by a child on a whim. And the sun, that burning orb that ruins the perfect dark with its bright rays, it seems to taunt me from its place in the heavens. But I can see it all now, the glow of the day realm, the bizarre colors the light lends to every little thing including the reddish dirt beneath my feet, the gray of the cobblestones, the deep green of my dress, and the fascinating gold of Solano’s eyes as he continues to glare at me.
He tried to hurt me with his words, but I turned them back on him. If I’m to be his consort, then he needs to get used to it. He should’ve picked Lysetta if he wanted an easy time of it. I shrug internally.
“She is paid, my lord.” Brock strides past and gives me a hard look.
“Let’s go.” Solano gestures toward the carriage.
I’m happy to oblige, given the way I’m feeling. If I stay in his scowl much longer, there’s a very real chance I might do something I’ll regret. Even though he’s tense, he helps me into the carriage, his warm hand on mine. But then he slams the door harder than necessary and strides away.
A temperamental king. No surprise there. The high fae enjoy feeling superior, and I suppose they think their emotions take precedence over all others.
I throw a deep emerald pillow against the carriage ceiling.
At least I’ll be protected from that oppressive orb in the sky. I settle as the carriage begins to rock again. I think nasty thoughts at his kingliness, but then I consider the fact that he didn’t have to hire the witch to cast a protection ward over me. I’ve heard plenty of tales about past kings who took changelings to the day realm and let them die. We always assumed those were just stories, but now that I’ve spoken with Grimelda, I realize they’re true. Without a ward, the day realm would be the end of me.
My anger fades as I realize Solano just saved my life. But I keep it on a low simmer. After all, he did steal me from my home to make me his sex slave. That’s definitely not getting him any points with me. But I’ve had worse. All changelings have.
The carriage continues on, the cobblestones making the ride noisier. When we reach the barrier, a thrill of excitement runs through me, though the edges are darkened with dread. Will the sun still burn me, turn my eyes to ash, and bleach my bones?
After a moment, we start moving again, and the odd magic of the barrier rushes through me like I’d just touched one of the shimmering will o’ the wisps.
I close my eyes against the sensation, and the horses around me nicker as they feel it, too. When the sensation begins to fade, some of my tension eases.
Then, I open my eyes and gasp at what I see.
8
Solano
Emma’s leaning so far out of the carriage that I ride closer to make sure she doesn’t tumble down. The day realm’s power flows through me, and I can feel every bit of my magic humming in my veins. As the king of the Daylands, my power grows exponentially when I’m within the realm.
“It’s so colorful.” Her eyes are open wide, taking in every blade of grass, each leaf, each bit of sky. “We don’t have this in the night realm. I mean, we have colors, but they’re all so soft. These are—” She squints as she stares at a bright orange solar flower as we pass. “So intense.”