Reign of the Stone Queen (Stone Blood Series Book 4) by Jayne Faith

Author:Jayne Faith [Faith, Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy
Publisher: Jayne Faith
Published: 2018-12-20T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

THE NETHERWHERE SPILLED me out beneath a giant maple tree just beyond the drawbridge of the Summerlands castle. The green expanse behind me was riddled with dark craters, evidence of the continued Unseelie attack. I didn’t linger to survey the damage.

Using both hands, I reached for the hem of my skirt, hiked it up to my knees, and sprinted for the stronghold. Someone saw me coming, and the bridge began to lower rapidly. It crashed down, and I scampered across, punching through the thick bubble of the protective magical ward.

Inside, a uniformed page in the livery of Oberon and Titania’s realm was running into the foyer where I stood.

He skidded to a halt and bowed hastily. “Your Majesty,” he said. “I was sent to bring you to Oberon right away.” Before turning to lead me to the High King, his eyes flicked down to my bare feet and registered quickly-restrained surprise.

I let my skirts fall back into their intended shape and tried not to think about the soft slap of my feet on the flagstones. I probably presented an interesting sight, my dress and hair mussed from the fight, and my crown on as if I were playing Queen. Usually rulers reserved their crowns for wearing at formal events. Not that I really cared about idle gossip, but I could just imagine people whispering about how the new Carraig queen ran around with the Champion’s sword on her back, her crown on her wild hair, and no shoes.

The page took me straight to Oberon’s study, where the High King was pacing the carpet in front of his desk. He was the only one in the room.

I made a quick curtsy. “Your Majesty.”

“Finvarra used the Stone in the fortress,” Oberon said, dispensing with all niceties.

“Yes, he appeared during my coronation,” I said. I swallowed, trying to catch my breath after my dash into the castle. “I believe he tried to use it twice.”

Oberon held up a hand and looked past me. “Hold on, I want him to hear what you have to say.”

I twisted to see a slim man with long white hair entering the office.

My brows lifted. “Eldon?” I turned back around to look at Oberon.

The High King nodded once. “We have a new ally.”

I narrowed my eyes at the Fae sorcerer as he approached us. He skirted a look at me, his expression unreadable. Stopping a few feet away, he bent in a quick bow. He was here, which meant he’d abandoned the Unseelie as he’d promised, but I wasn’t sure I trusted him.

“Your majesties,” he said.

“Now, tell us exactly what happened,” Oberon said to me.

“Of course, Your Highness,” I said. “Finvarra appeared in the auditorium of the fortress during my coronation ceremony. He had an object that must have been the Stone of Fal, and he appeared to try to invoke its power.”

Oberon stopped me, asking me to describe the Stone. I gave him as thorough a description as I could recall.

My gaze found Eldon as I continued.

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