A Court of Honey and Ash (Honey and Ice, #1)

by Shannon Mayer

breath. “A woman who will kiss you and then save you in a battle is a rare thing. He should be grateful and hold you close, not push you away.” I snapped my mouth shut. He knew about the kiss too. Goddess, Faolan really was watching me. Why?

Yeah, unlike himself. But I reckon she was a it underaged… even when she eye kissed him at 16 cuz he was what, 22? And yes Boo, you’re dumb to think he wasn’t watching, at ANY time, considering what he already said to you.

“How long can you go for?” I asked. He grunted. “Longer than most.” Yup, my brain went straight to the gutter, and three little words popped out before I could catch them. “I meant running.” A laugh from him caught us both off guard. “Then at least as long as you.”

Wow…

Faolan yanked his magic away, so hard and fast that I stumbled, my breath coming fast for a reason that had nothing to do with running. “What did you do that for?” “Enough. It’s forbidden for a reason,” he growled.

🤣🤣🤣 oopsies.

Every young fae was taught that an Unseelie and Seelie union was impossible because our opposing magics would battle for dominance until one of the fae was drained and dead. Thank Lugh, Faolan hadn’t lost himself to those sensations too.

So maybe that’s why he pulled away before.

by fae. It was clearly a trap. And knowing that Yarrow prized nothing more than his position, I could guess he’d cooked up some solution to the ultimatum Rubezahl had forced on him. Damn it, this was not how I wanted to start my day.

He’s going to kill the humans and blame it on the Strays! WTF!

The fae were mixed so I didn’t need to worry about letting my indigo magic flag fly—being seen was the bigger risk.

But… aren’t you the ONLY fae with indigo colored magic?

“The Strays were behind what happened to Underhill,” a woman said. “The courts need to know. Especially since it seems you’ve gone rogue.”

And so framing them and killing humans is the way to handle that? And what proof do you have?

Goddess, there wouldn’t be anything left of the ship if there was that much power behind the blast. Then again, that was probably the point.

So then what was the point of writing that the Strays did it on the side of the boa?

I should be relieved. Except from the carnage I knew that hundreds of humans had to be dead, pulled to pieces by the blast.

I want to know how Yarrow was able to get his hands on so much of that explosive without anyone knowing.

and it quickly became clear that they’re conspiring against the courts, you along with them. Except we haven’t been able to find solid evidence of that yet.

So how did it quickly become clear then?

I circled my wrists and walked a ring around Yarrow. Drawing energy from the forest had restored me.

I could have sworn she just said she wouldn’t hesitate, but here she is having a conversation and circling him… not killing.

Coupled with the thrumming fury in my veins, I’d never been more eager to fight. To deliver real justice. Faolan was dead. It should have been Yarrow, not him. “This ends now,” I said.

Still talking but no action…

Its movements were wraith-like—unnatural—and I kept my attention on the men before me. Odd fae creatures sometimes appeared around the spring equinox, but my gut told me this one in particular probably had a darker reason to exist than most of us. This one was a fae creature the humans liked to look for on a regular basis and were deeply shaken if they ever found it.

The big foot they were looking for?

Its movements were wraith-like—unnatural—and I kept my attention on the men before me. Odd fae creatures sometimes appeared around the spring equinox, but my gut told me this one in particular probably had a darker reason to exist than most of us. This one was a fae creature the humans liked to look for on a regular basis and were deeply shaken if they ever found it.

The big foot they were looking for? Although I think it’s Faolan, following her again.

If you want, I’ll marry you. You can—”

Seriously bruh?

It was an old signal that Bres had mentioned offhandedly years ago.

I think Bres also knows more about her than he let on…

Then we were running toward each other, both of us sprinting like we were in a race for our lives.

So after near death he can do something like show feelings other than anger and brooding?

The other Unseelie left, the injured supported as they left me and Lan alone.

Logic Police. Why did they even pull them apart if they are going to leave them alone together? I mean, Lan was just kissing her very aggressively. I very sexually charged moment. Now it’s believed that he’s about to kill her. Seriously?

“You can remind yourself that I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I didn’t . . .” I whispered, my voice catching on my tangled emotions. I shook my head, I couldn’t say it, even now.

Say what????? She didn’t what??? WTH is this? It’s not like a clue was left as to what she could be regretting. He rejected her, not the other way around so that’s not it.

I was sorry that I hadn’t told him that I’d loved him since I was a child.

Seriously? When was she supposed to have told him? When she was 6? When she was rejected by him when he came to tell her goodbye at 12 years old (and called her useless) to his 18? At sixteen when he rejected her AGAIN at the bar and called her a kid?

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Sorry, can we . . . just get away from these bodies. I—”

Bodies, plural? I thought she said she’d only killed the one dude…

He glanced back, expressionless. “We need to figure this out together.” Moving toward me, he reached for my face. I shied back, eyes wide. Heart pounding.

I’m still trying to figure out the significance of that wrist kiss in the middle of a serious conversation…

Did he still know more than he let on?

Duh….

That was today? I was so out of touch recently. I couldn’t even force a smile. “Happy spring equinox, Lan.”

Isn’t this the day that Ruby said the courts will strike? Didn’t he just give her a clue?

“I think it’s best if I gather the rest of the team to deal with her. You’re too . . .” Faolan snapped, “She’s not a nobody, Maxim! She’s the bastard daughter of the Seelie king.”

I had a feeling her knew. He probably seen that blue wisp of magic at that festival where she was “pushed” into the water.

The other man spluttered in denial for some time before Faolan convinced him of the truth.

And how exactly did he do that?

“General Bres,”

General? Was that detail left out before?

There was silence for a leaden moment. “They pulled her away from a . . . heated moment,” Lan admitted. His team fell quiet.

Yeah, hello? Logic Police? I again ask how they still called it madness when they know what caused it and how easily it was stopped…WITHOUT killing her, unlike Cinthe’s parents.

I stared back at the wagon, meeting Faolan’s angry gaze for a heartbeat. Whatever. Fucking liar.

Did he lie though? I mean, he never said he didn’t know… but he did continue to call you Orphan. And you’re one to talk, Ms. Liar.

Shouldn’t this conversation be about what I’d supposedly done to Underhill?

Why would it be when he very likely knows Underhill was fake AND he knows YOU and that if he questions or accuses you in front of people, you will say things they don’t want you to say…

Bres didn’t look at me this time. “King Aleksandr will decide your fate.” “You’re taking me back to Unimak, then.” A statement, not a question.

I would have said, “So my father will kill me then.”

The king turned to face her, his face fearsome.

What?? Seriously!

“May I present my sole daughter and heir to the Seelie throne, Kallik of House Royal.”

Damn… with Yarrow had been alive for that then was promptly killed afterwards.

In a single blink, I’d gone from being offered the highest honor and position a fae could have, all the way to the bottom of the literal barrel.

It’s definitely Adair! That bish evil or something.

But death by drowning? Adair knew my fear better than anyone, having created it.

Remember that you’re fae, you said they don’t need to hold their breath underwater…

Adair stood waiting for us at the top of the platform, my uncle Josef standing next to her with an arm around her waist, comforting her.

Around her waist? She’s been fucking the king’s brother all this time! It was a coupe!