A Forest of Stars (Court of Starlight and Darkness #1)(8)

“Just tell me what’s happening.”

“Okay, pay attention, because I’m not going to repeat myself. And no questions. We can’t be late for the first day.”

I nodded, knowing that my eyes were probably as wide and crazy as a lemur’s.

“We’re in the Court of Starlight and Darkness, competing to be the queen. There will be over a dozen competitors, all incredibly skilled and super determined to win.”

I blinked. She was going to lay all that on me and I wasn’t supposed to ask questions?

“There will be a series of trials, each more difficult and deadly than the last. And only one of us will ascend to the throne beside Lore, King of the Court of Starlight and Darkness.”

“The guy with the silver hair and the black cloak,” I said.

She nodded. “That’s the one.”

“Why the hell would anyone want to be his queen?”

Her brows rose. “Because then she’d be queen.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t understand my idiocy and stood. “Come on. We’re late, and for someone clever enough to hide their ears, I feel like I’m answering too many questions.”

She pulled me up and dragged me behind her.

Confused, I patted my ears. They weren’t hidden, but… “You’re the second person to comment on me hiding my ears, but I’m not. They’re right here.”

She turned and frowned at me. “I can see clearly enough that they’re hidden.”

I pointed to them. “Nope, they’re here. Right in front of you.” My gaze moved to her. “This has to do with the fact that your ears are pointed, doesn’t it? Everyone in the bar had pointy ears, too.”

“Pointy ears?” She pushed me back off the path and into the woods, her voice lowering to a whisper. “You didn’t hide your fae ears with magic?”

“Fae ears?”

Her face twisted into a grimace, paling slightly. “What are you?”

“Um, an online writer. Movie reviews, mostly.”

She frowned. “I mean, your species.”

“Human. Duh.”

“Human?” Her jaw slackened. “Not fae?”

“Fae, as in fairy?”

“Yeah, fae as in fairy.”

“No, I’m not a fairy because fairies aren’t real.” And yet, I was standing in a place that felt like it was pretty damned magical.

“Fae. Not fairy.” She dropped her head back again and sighed. “I cannot believe my luck.”

“Your luck? At least you want to be here!”

“And you don’t.” She scrubbed a hand over her face. “And you don’t know any of the rules.”

“The rules?”

“This is a hidden society. Of course there are rules. Rules you don’t want to break.” She dropped her head back and stared up at the trees. When she looked back at me, she appeared worried. “I don’t understand what’s going on or why you’re here if you’re clueless, but I do know that you’re in danger. Like, way more danger than any of the rest of us.”

Cold rushed over my skin. “Explain.”

Worry twisted her features, and it was obvious she was worried about being late. She really wanted to win this competition and helping me would screw her over.

Shit.

I needed her as an ally.

“I’ll help you win,” I said. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Fine. But like I said, only because you’re desperate and I’m not a total asshole. Follow me, do what I do, and for the love of all that is fated, do not tell anyone you’re human.”

“Or what?”

“They’ll kill you, dummy.”

“Kill?” I squeaked.

“You’re not supposed to know fae exist, but somehow, there was a mistake and a silly human like you ended up in the realm of the most secretive and powerful fae in the world. In other fae realms, it might have been different. But not with King Lore. He’s famously ruthless and will protect his people at any cost.”

“Including my life.”

She shrugged and made a cutthroat gesture, grimacing as she dropped her head to the side.

Shit.

“We can’t be late for the breakfast,” she said. “It starts the entire challenge, and I will not miss it. But when it’s over, we’ll figure out what to do with you. Until then, just keep your mouth shut and follow me.”

I nodded, then touched my ears. “But what about these?”

“People assume you’re hiding them with magic. Some fae do that, especially if they live among humans. Let them think that. Once I’ve won and become queen, I’ll help sneak you out of here and get you home.”

I nodded frantically. “Yes. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Come on.” She jerked her head back toward the path and headed for it. “We need to hustle. We’ll go over the rules later, just stick by me.”

I followed her down the path, trying my best not to trip on the roots that snaked across the path.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Meria. You?”

“Sia. Why do you want to be queen anyway?” I asked.