Free Daughter of the Red Dawn (The Lost Kingdom of Fallada) by Alicia Michaels Page B

turned just in time to see Titus’ naked body disappe aring into the confines of a coa rse wool blanket. He watched Selena intently, his ethereal eyes practically glowing in the moonlight streaming through the opening above them. Titus drew in great gulps of air, as if struggling to breath. His chest heaved and his nostrils flared as she took a tentative step toward him.
    “Selena,” he said between breaths . “ Where are we? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
    “I’m fine; it’s my grandmother you hurt. ”
    “ Damn it! I’m so sorry.”
    Selena could see that he truly meant it as he sunk to his knees on the floor. He pulled the blanket more tightly around his shoulders and sighed.
    “We’re on board The Adrah and on our way to Fallada,” she said. “Do you know who Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are?”
    “Of course I do. Everyone in Fallada does. I’m certain they mean to turn me over to the Fae once we reach Goldun. It’s no more than I deserve.”
    Selena crouched beside him. “Maybe they won’t. If you tell me why you did it, maybe I can reason with them. I know you didn’t want to, Titus. I saw it in your eyes right before you attacked me.”
    Titus shook his head. “I didn’t want to, but I had a choice. I thought I didn’t, but maybe I made the wrong one and now Eranna will kill me because I could never hurt you.”
    “Please, just tell me. I don’t know how much pull I have in Fallada but they say I’m a princess. I might be able to speak on your behalf or something.”
    Titus smiled. “Yes , you are a princess, inside and out. How could you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?”
    Selena shrugged. “I’ll find a way for you to make it up to me, wolf boy. For now just tell me what kind of trouble you’re in and I will do everything I can to help you.”
    “It’s my parents, Selena. I’m sure by now the Grimm brothers have told you of the conflict between the Werewolves of Mollac.”
    She nodded. “They said that the wolves are divided, pack against pack, some on Eranna’s side and others running away . They say that because y our eyes are red, you are one of Eranna’s drones.”
    “That is only partially true,” Titus said. “I became one of her servants, but only to save my family. We had plans to leave Mollac once we realized that Eranna had grown too powerful to avoid any longer. Some families offered their services to her to save their own skins, or because they really believed in what she was doing. The others escaped to Goldun to find refuge within the realm of the Fae . My family left too late and we were captured by Eranna’s other hunters. She has taken my parents and sister prisoner . She promised to free them if I traveled to the world of men and killed the princess of Damu. That’s you, Selena. You know the rest.”
    Selena felt pity and fierce protectiveness washing over her. She couldn’t explain it but something inside of her roiled savagely at the thought of Queen Eranna using Titus the way she had. Something in her wanted nothing more than to see the woman thrown down from her iron tower in disgrace but there was only one way for her to see it done and Selena wasn’t even going to consider it. Joining the war was out of the question.
    Get Gram healed, go home, she reminded herself inwardly.
    “You should tell Wil and Jake your story. They may not be so quick to turn you over to the Fae if they know the truth. In fact, I think the Fae should be able to help you find your family.”
    Titus shook his head, his eyes wide. “Eranna keeps them prisoner in her iron fortress. No Fae can enter.”
    Selena lifted her head, resolution gripping her in an unstoppable hold. “Then I will help you.”
     
    ~*~
     
     
    “Princess, it is out of the question.”
    “Says who?”
    “Say I, and Queen Adrah when she learns of your plans. You are far too valuable to Damu and all of Fallada. You cannot go traipsing about Eranna’s lair looking for a family of Werewolves , when you