Free The Darkling Lord: Court of the Banished book 1 (Annwyn Series 4) by Shona Husk

come. She had been Eyra’s Lady long before she’d become Felan’s spy. If Shea hadn’t betrayed her, she would never have started spying…and she’d have ended up backing the wrong contender for the throne. Shea really had done her a few favors. No doubt he’d be annoyed if he realized he’d inadvertently helped the wife he’d hoped to cast off.
    “And where are the other women?”
    “They were encouraged to leave Court.” Felan had made it clear that all who had supported Sulia were unwelcome, but he hadn’t gone so far as banishing them. As a shadow, she’d thought it weak. Now she wasn’t so sure. Perhaps by letting them go, he was showing that he had nothing to fear. She hoped he was right.
    Henry took a step around her and she was forced to turn to keep him in sight. She didn’t like that he was able to make her do anything even if it was a ploy to show he had power. She could’ve ignored him and stared straight ahead, but she had to win his trust. Had to become part of his inner circle. She wasn’t even touching the inner circle yet. She was merely being shown the edges.
    “He exiled those who fought directly against him, no one else.” She’d seen no sign of those exiled fairies here in Detroit—had Felan been fearing that? Perhaps the exiled were avoiding the area because there were so many Greys.
    “I have seen no Court fairy here since I arrived in Detroit, and yet you came here.” Now it was Henry who wanted answers.
    “I heard about you and I was curious.” That was the truth. She took a step toward him. He didn’t step back. “An adult darkling? You are unusual.”
    He didn’t move and he didn’t respond. She couldn’t tell if she was getting to him or not. But if he couldn’t kiss a human without them losing their soul…perhaps there was a way to get close without needing to be in his inner circle. Pillow talk could be more useful than what was said in a strategy meeting.
    Her fingers traced up the front of his shirt. “And now that I am here, I find myself even more intrigued. The ambition of a fairy with heart of a human…it is an interesting combination.” Those words were all truth. Seducing Henry would be a delight.
    “Ambition is not just a fairy trait.” He covered her hand with his. His skin was cool. His fingers and the back of his hand were covered in fine white scars.
    “Maybe not, but it’s one we admire.” She took another step closer. Now they were toe to toe, with their hands trapped between their bodies. “One I admire.”
    Would he break the contact first? Would he realize that she was playing him or be drawn in? It would be no hardship to kiss him. Her heart was beating too fast, but she was too experienced to let desire show. This certainly wouldn’t be the first time she’d used sex to either seal a deal or gain a favor. Did he realize how hard fairies gambled? Or what he had to lose?
    She leaned a little closer, her nose almost brushing his. He didn’t smell like a fairy. Fairy men tended to smell of leaves and summer…or cold and winter, depending on the season. Darah inhaled. Henry smelled of something different. Skin and something spicier.
    Something that made her heart a little erratic. She wasn’t supposed to feel attraction. This was about trapping him and learning more about his plans. He wasn’t fairy and he could be lying. Humans lied. Greys probably lied. His lineage was dubious at best, deplorable at worst.
    “You like my plans?”
    “I like the size of your plans,” she whispered against his lips.
    He laughed, soft and deep. “I can tell when I’m being taken for a ride, Darah.”
    His words were like a slap. It was all she could do not to flinch and pull away. He was a darkling. He was mortal and afflicted with a soul; he shouldn’t be immune to her.
    Henry’s fingers brushed her cheek. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it anyway.”
    His lips touched hers. It was barely a kiss, as if he were afraid that he’d