End of the Forest (Fae and Shadow Book 1) by Zora Fox

Author:Zora Fox [Fox, Zora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

17

The sheets had been changed in my absence. No sign of Endymion’s struggle with the shadows remained. I stayed in bed late the next day, muzzy from the drinks at the party.

My betrothal party.

Memories came back in pieces, but sharply, with no ambiguity. I buried my face in the pillow when I recalled how desperately I’d wanted to kiss the King, to nip at his neck, to feel his tongue urge against my closed lips. The memory came back with such force that I had to force down residual desire.

That desire died when I saw my book was missing. Finally leaping out of bed, I tripped over to the little table where I kept it. Tales of Orlando and Genevieve wasn’t tilted against the side or underneath the bed. I searched everywhere I could think of, including the wardrobe. The book had vanished.

No one would have thrown that book away and no one else would take it without permission. I ground my teeth. Endymion somehow had my book.

Why could he possibly want it? His mysterious missions couldn’t require it. And were those missions? They related to the war, but how? If his trip this time had been a battle of some kind, he wouldn’t have gone alone. His subjects didn’t know about the shadows, so that meant he didn’t bring many with him on these secret journeys. He did, however, bring my large book with him, it seemed.

My curiosity and annoyance burned by the time the attendants came in. They offered me their congratulations on my engagement. I tried to smile, but only managed a grimace.

Once in the circular bath, I asked Neoma, “Is the King gone this morning?”

“His Majesty left last night.”

“Did he say where he was going?” I realized this information might be something I, as his betrothed, ought to know, but I pressed on. “Or did he say when he’d return?”

“Not to worry,” he replied, running a sponge down my back. “The King is rarely gone long.”

What that meant in terms of Fae lifetimes, I didn’t know. “Not long” could mean a year.

“I am glad he has found someone again that he can love,” one of the other attendants commented.

“Yes. Soon the war will end. We’ll all be free,” I said. Already, word was spreading outside the palace that the prophecy needed no more sacrificed maidens. The young women of Selene could live in peace. I rallied, glad for the reminder of why I had proposed this otherwise foolish plan. I didn’t trust myself when I was with the King. As long as I was careful, this ruse would continue to help those I cared about.

“And the King has not been happy,” Neoma added wistfully. “He has kept to himself ever since the Great Sleep.”

“You were there?” I asked. They looked too young to have lived over a century ago, but then, so did Endymion. Hungry for answers now that this unexpected avenue had opened wide, I continued. My suspicions felt somewhat flimsy in the light of

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