Dark Waters by Liia Ann White Read Free Book Online Page A

before
sitting up.
    “We should get ready. The sooner we get going, the sooner we
can be free.”
    Adora tried not to focus on the
hurt and annoyance at Randor’s dismissal and got
herself dressed. She found a combat outfit she left in the safe house in case
of emergencies and equipped herself with all the weaponry she could find.
    Randor conjured up his own spare
clothing, choosing an outfit almost identical to hers. He wore fitted pants and
a long sleeved shirt, all black, with scabbards and sheaths for knives and
blades that she didn’t realise he’d had on him earlier. He looked absolutely mouthwatering .
    No time to get caught up
again. Keep discussing the plan.
    The two of them leaned against the back of the lounge,
finishing off their quick breakfasts while triple checking their arsenal.
    “So those who attacked you yesterday…”
    “Were sent by the Unseelie queen,”
he answered her question before she asked it. “Elves and Fae . Some of whom I used to fight alongside.”
    Hurt flashed in his eyes momentarily. She was about to reach
out and say something comforting but his eyes glazed over with a cold harshness
that she only recognised because she had the same expression. He was ready to
fight. Pushing off the lounge, she stood, one hand on the scabbard of her
sword, the other hanging loosely by her side as she clenched and unclenched her
fist.
    “So we enter the castle, then what?”
    His lips twitched as he obviously recognised her stance.
“First of all, I have to take your sword. If we enter the castle and you’re
armed, they’ll know something’s up.” Begrudgingly, she unhooked her belt and
handed it and the sword to him so he could don it himself. “The Unseelie queen has apparently had Maleficent, her witch, searching
for us. It’s the only explanation I have for why we were attacked immediately
after stepping through the portal.”
    “Or your elf friend isn’t as trustworthy as you thought.”
    It was harsh, but it needed to be said. Randor nodded, the only acknowledgement he gave that she’d spoken as he continued his
thoughts.
    “Maleficent is too powerful to hide from so I say we just
come out guns-a-blazing so to speak.”
    “ Gunsa what?”
    “Sorry, human term.” He cleared his throat and continued.
“The queen’s expecting me to deliver you to her, so I say that’s what I do.”
    Adora’s heart dropped. She stared at
him as hurt filled her chest, causing magic to brim on the surface of her skin.
    “ Adora ,” he said, his voice calm
and soothing, “I’m not going to turn you in.”
    He took a careful step toward her and held his hands out.
    “I mean we go in with a plan. If we can wipe out Maleficent,
we’ll be free to leave without being tracked.”
    She eyed him suspiciously, releasing her magic to return to
a calmer stance. “And how do you propose we take out the most powerful witch in
existence?”
    “We need someone you can trust. Someone
who will be unrecognisable to the
Unseelie Court
.”
    “The only person I trust, other than myself, is standing in
front of me.” It pained her to say it out loud. Adora had never truly trusted anyone apart from her mother and, now, Randor . Even her father had proven he put his and the
kingdom’s needs before that of his only offspring. He’d been doing that for
decades.
    “Princess.” He closed his hands around
hers and brought them to his mouth, kissing the back of each. “You have me now.
That’s all you’ll ever need.”
    “I hope you’re right,” she almost whispered.
    “You trust me one hundred per cent?” She nodded. “Good,
because you’re not going to like what I’m about to suggest.”
     
    ****
     
    To say she didn’t like what Randor suggested was an understatement. It went against everything she’d ever been
told to go along with his plan. Randor planned to
take Adora to the Unseelie queen
with
Kiel
in
tow as backup. The problem being that the elf could quite easily turn around
and throw both