Vale of Dreams (Fey Academy for Spies, #2)

by C.N. Crawford

Auberon is not Mordred’s son.

In fact, he loathes Auberon. Auberon was the son of his archenemy, Merlin, but used magic to convince people he was the true heir to the Fey throne. In reality, Nia is Mordred’s heir in the House of Morgan, condemned to destroy Avalon Tower. This means her lover Raphael has her on his kill list, but he just doesn’t know it yet. She is not, in fact, Prince Talan’s sister. Mordred offers to help her find Raphael in Auberon’s torture dungeons—if only she will help him destroy Avalon Tower once and for all—just as the prophecy has predicted.

“There’s only one woman for me, and she is a figment of my imagination, a voice in my thoughts.”

Talan sighs in his sleep and rolls onto his back. He sits up in bed, his hair tousled, eyes sleepy. “Are you awake again, Nia?” he asks softly. “You were wrapped around me the entire night.” “I was not.” “You were moving your hips against me in your sleep.” A flush spreads across my cheeks. “Well, I was asleep, and I was dreaming you were a horse.” “I dread to think what you do to horses. And they say I’m depraved.”

“Nia,” he says softly. “If you want to keep your secrets, you can.” “Why?” “Because I trust you.” I blink. Strangely, my eyes are misting. “Why would you trust me?” “I don’t know. For some reason, I feel like I know you.”

Tears blur my vision, and I stumble over to Viviane, sorrow pulling me apart. Her body is a mess, cut in countless places. Her pale blue eyes stare vacantly at the sky. Blood streaks her face, and I close her mouth, her eyes. I choke out a sob. I hated her when I met her. She hated me. Then, somehow, she grew to be one of the people I trusted and admired the most. And now, after giving Camelot everything she had, she’s gone for good.

“We have only hours left, you know. The moment my spies received word that you were returning through Corbinelle, I sent for Jasper. ” He stares down at me, and the fresh scent of jasmine soap coils off him. “A few hours left until what?” “If you’d been here, Nia, I could have filled you in. You missed Arwenna’s sham trial. She’s already been found innocent of an assassination attempt.” My jaw drops. “She shot the crown prince with an iron-tipped arrow. Why would they find her innocent?” He shrugs. “We had no proof, and Auberon needs her money. You were our only witness, and you were gone. Her family is wealthier than mine at this point. My father is demanding that I marry her tomorrow. He’s hungry for the considerable dowry she’d bring, since he ran out of money to pay his soldiers long ago. He needs funding desperately. But I’m not letting it happen. We cannot let her get that close to the throne. And you shouldn’t want it to happen, either. If she gets that much power, she will tear you to pieces like a child pulling off a moth’s wings. And that’s why you need to get moving, my beautiful mistress. Jasper will be here any minute to get you ready.” I blink. “For what?” “He’ll be designing your wedding dress. I can’t marry Arwenna if I’m already married.” He’s searching my face, but I’m not sure what he’s looking for. “I’m afraid we only have a few hours until we wed. Nia, this is the only way.”