Dinner was a buffet of breads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meat. So much meat. The wine flowed freely, and the servants brought out sweet pastries, candied fruitsโฆ It was the kind of meal Iโd
dreamed of in my village. I didnโt taste any of it.
The queenโs ladies ignored me. Lisveth attempted to start a conversation a few times, but I was distracted, and she quickly gave up, likely tired of my one-word answers.
When my mind slowed enough, I listened to the ladiesโ conversation, mentally taking notes of everything they were sayingโeven as I felt Lorianโs eyes on me.
The five other ladies had been accompanying the queen for years. Lisvethโs mother had been one of the queenโs close friends, and sheโd died from fever shortly after Lisveth was born when the healer hadnโt arrived in time to save her life. Lisveth was the youngest of us all at just sixteen winters, and the queen treated her almost like a daughter at times.
Caraceli was the woman whoโd once been in charge of the queenโs fire and was closest to Katinaโthe woman the queen had found at the market.
The woman Iโd arranged to return to her village.
When Katina arrived home, she would find her parents in excellent health. Caraceli seemed to hate me even more than Madinia, likely because Iโd taken her friendโs place.
Caraceli and Madinia also hated each other. Madinia seemed to hate everyone, but occasionally when the queen wasnโt looking, sheโd call Caraceliย fire girlย with a smug smile.
There was a reason no one seemed to like Madinia. And it wasnโt just because her father was apparently so close to the king.
Pelopia and Alcandre were sitting at the other end of the table, murmuring quietly to each other. I hadnโt yet learned how theyโd come to be in the queenโs employโlikely Auria could tell me later. Both had nodded to me, but other than Alcandreโs comments about Gromalia, theyโd stayed quiet. Likely because neither of them wanted to attract Madiniaโs ire.
I could still feel Lorian watching me. How exactly had he ended up here? My heart thumped faster at the memory of the fae heโd met with near the Gromalian border. I needed to know what Lorian was planning and how his plans would affect my own.
I risked a glance over my shoulder when the room went quiet. The queen had gotten to her feet. With a few murmured words to the king, she walked toward the door.
โDo we need to follow her?โ I asked.
Lisveth shook her head. โThe queen likes privacy after one of the kingโs dinners. And sheย especiallyย enjoys being alone after the castle balls. Weโre allowed to leave whenever we like.โ
I studied the others at the kingโs table, ignoring Lorian, who was deep in conversation with King Sabium. โWho are the other people sitting with the king?โ I asked quietly.
Lisveth smiled. โTheyโre the kingโs patriarchs. They own huge swaths of land, depending on how much of the kingโs favor theyโve courted over the years. Down the end of the table is Patriarch Kofod.โ She nodded toward a man with a mournful expression who looked drunk already. โNext to him is Patriarch FarrowโMadiniaโs father.โ
I studied the man. Madiniaโs mother must have been a beauty, because other than their red hair, the two had no other similarities that I could see. I glanced at Madinia. She raised one eyebrow at me.
Patriarch Farrow was sitting next to the king. A powerful man, indeed.
The Gromalian prince sat on his other side. โAnd next to theโฆprince?โ โPatriarch Thueson.โ She smiled. Thueson had wiry white hair that
stood out from his head as if he couldnโt help but run his hands through it. He looked deep in contemplation as he studied his plate. โHeโs a nice man,โ Lisveth said. โMy father was rarely at court when I was young, and Patriarch Thueson always had a piece of honeyed fruit for me.โ She leaned close and lowered her voice to a whisper. โHe hates court. Heโd much rather be managing his lands with his husband, but the king enjoys his company and often insists he stay here. Next to him is Patriarch Greve.โ She nodded toward a man with a thin, sharp nose and a sallow complexion. Something like fear darted across her face, and I opened my mouth, but Lisveth turned back to face the table. Clearly, she didnโt want to talk about it.
I waited a few more minutes, but none of the other ladies showed any signs of retiring. Finally, I pushed back my chair.
โIโm tired,โ I said.
Lisveth smiled at me. The others ignored me. โGood night.โ
I practically ran from the dining hall. I hadnโt seen Rythos or the rest of the group, but if Lorian was here, I had little doubt they were around somewhere.
Someone took my arm, and I stumbled. Then I was being swept into an empty room.
Lorian glowered down at me. My stupid body wanted to arch against him. Clearly, all the stress was impacting my mind.
โYou were supposed to get on a ship,โ he growled.
I took a deep breath, and his enticing scent wound toward me. He smelled wild, like the forest, and it reminded me of sleeping outdoors beneath the stars. โIโm going nowhere until Asinia is safe.โ
He went still in that strange way he so often did. โYouโre risking everything for a woman who is probably dead already?โ
I sniffed. โI donโt know how to explain friendship and loyalty to you.
You either know what those things are, or you donโt.โ
The ghost of a smile crossed his face. We both knew he was intensely loyal to his friends. โTell me.โ
โItโs simple. Sheโs my best friend. More like a sister than a friend. And I know, without a doubt, that if I were the one whoโd been taken, sheโd do the
same for me.โ
โYet neither of you knew the other had power.โ
Something Iโd avoided thinking about until I could talk to Asinia.
โOur friendship had secrets. But none of that matters now. The question is, what the hell areย youย doing here?โ I hissed.
He just raised one dark brow. โHow about you tell me how a villager gets a position as one of the queenโs ladies?โ
โAs soon as you tell me how a mercenary has a seat at the kingโs table.โ He gave me a slow smile. โI never said I was a mercenary.โ
Of all theโ โYouโre not from Gromalia either!โ
โAccording to whom?โ He had the audacity to look affronted. โThe idea ofย youย being a prince is ludicrous.โ
โAlmost as ludicrous as a villager being a queenโs lady?โ I sneered at him.
โAlthough, for a savage villager, you certainly manage to outshine the other ladies,โ he purred.
โDonโt try to distract me.โ
He grinned down at me. โBut you make it so easy.โ He reached a hand up to play with the curl that had been left free over my forehead. โI like your real hair better. And I miss those strange eyes.โ
โStrange?โ โStrangely beautiful.โ
Something had sparked in Lorian since Iโd seen him last. He was almostโฆcharming. Was it because he was close to getting whatever it was heโd come here for?
His hand slid to my chin. โI missed the rest of you too. The way you scowl at me when I say something you disagree with. And that face you make when youโre wondering what Iโd look like naked.โ
My heart thundered, an entirely unwelcome awareness flooding my body. โI donโt wonder what youโd look like naked!โ
โAh, you wouldnโt need to wonder, would you? Because you watched me bathing at the inn, you wicked thing.โ
My cheeks blazed. I thought back to the way heโd stretched, as if on display. Because he had been. This man was a predator at his core. Had I really thought he hadnโt felt my eyes on him?
This conversation had quickly slipped out of my control.
Lorian shifted closer to me, leaning down to sniff at my neck. I pulled my head back and planted my hands on my hips. โWhatever youโre doing here, stay out of my way.โ
His expression turned serious. โOnly if you restrain yourself from spying on me.โ
โFine.โ
He stepped back, his eyes still intent in that strange way.
He cursed, and then he was kissing me. His lips caressed mine achingly slowly. As if Iโd stopped time for us. Warmth traveled through my body, my limbs strangely languid. One of his hands slid to my ribs, right beneath my breast, and I wanted to arch my body, wanted to writhe until he was touching me higher.
He slowly lifted his head. His expression was cold, but his eyesโฆ blazed. โUnless you want to end up in my bed, stay away from me.โ
Of all theโ
I shoved against his chest, and he took his time stepping back. โThat willย neverย happen,โ I hissed, ignoring his low laugh. I stalked out of the room.
Tibris was waiting for me in the servantsโ hall near my chambers. โIs everything okay?โ
I leaned close, keeping my voice to the barest whisper. โLorian is here.โ
His face twisted into a deep scowl. โTheย mercenary?โ he whispered back. โDid you know about this?โ
โOf course not. I donโt know what heโs up to. I swear.โ
I could see Tibris mentally calculating what Lorianโs presence meant for our own plans.
โHow did he get in here?โ
โYouโll love this. Heโs pretending to be the Gromalian prince.โ
Tibris let out a choked laugh. When he realized I was serious, he sighed. โStay away from him, Pris.โ
โOh, I will.โ
โThe dungeon guards are already drunk. It seems they took advantage of the distraction in the castle. We should go see Asinia now.โ
Shame stabbed into my gut. Iโd been busy kissing Lorian, while Asinia and Demos were waiting for us. โI need to get some food for her and Demos.โ
He held up a sack. โThe cook likes me.โ
โWhy am I not surprised?โ
โYou look good, Pris. Royal.โ
While I hated the thought of lookingย royal, it was exactly what we needed. โThank Vicer for me. I need to check on Wila.โ If she would even be willing to speak to me. โSheโs the reason the plan worked.โ
Tibris was right. Both guards were slumped against the wall, one of them with his eyes at half-mast. It was difficult to pull the thread of my magic to me today, maybe because my mind was circling through so much information. But I managed to pause time long enough for us to sneak past the guards and make our way down the stone steps.
After experiencing a royal dinner, the dungeon seemed even worse. The scent of excrement and hopelessness was heavy in the air.
โSetella,โ a voice whispered, and I whirled. Wila was in one of the cells closest to the stairs. She had a black eye and a split lip.
โGo work on Asinia,โ I told Tibris. His gaze flicked between Wila and me, and I just nodded at him. โItโs okay. Go.โ
Fury burned through me as I knelt outside her cage. โThank you.โ
โYouโre welcome.โ
โMy real name is Prisca,โ I whispered. It was the least I could give her.
Wila studied me. Her eyes were strangely clear, and she seemed older than her years. โPrisca. I like it. Vicer may not have told me who you were, but I figured it out. I hated you at first, you know.โ
โI know.โ
โI thought you were just another girl playing at being a rebel. Weโve been fighting back for years, and you thought you could stroll in here and change the world. It made me want to hit you.โ
I smiled. โI canโt blame you.โ
Wila smiled too. It must have hurt her lip. โBut I was watching every move you made. You know, all this time, none of us ever tried to get that close to the queen?โ She waved her hand over my new dress. โYouโve been here mere days, and today, we could have killed her if weโd wanted.โ
โI wanted to.โ It was terrifying how much I wanted to. Iโd changed so much since Iโd left my village, I barely recognized myself.
โI know. So did I. I would have listened to her screams and laughed and laughed.โ Wila smirked. โBut youโre thinking bigger. And thatโs why I agreed to do this. Because youโre going to make them pay.โ
Her confidence both strengthened and terrified me. Gods, I hoped I could be the person she thought I was.
โI will. How long did the queen say you have to stay down here?โ โIโm not getting out.โ
โWhat?โ
She just ran a hand over her face.
Fury blazed through me. โIโll get you out of here with the others.โ
She slowly shook her head. โNo, you wonโt. The king intervened. He wasnโt pleased with hisย belovedย coming so close to harm. Iโve been sentenced to die two days from today.โ
The dungeon did one slow spin around me. Wila was still talking, but all I could hear was my blood rushing in my ears.
โThen Iโm getting you out tonight,โ I said through numb lips. โNow.โ
โYou know you canโt.โ Tears glistened in her eyes now. โItโs okay. Iโve been in this castle for over a year, and I havenโt done anything greater than passing on information to Vicer. And not one scrap of information has saved a single life. This was something I could do thatย mattered.โ
I clutched the bars between us, staring at her. โYou canโtย give up.โ
Tears dripped down her cheeks. โThey took my brother,โ she told me. โWe were born minutes apart. I was away from the village that day, and I ran. By the time I got to the city, heโd already burned. I never got to say goodbye. Never got to thank him for being the best brother I could have hoped for. The king took him from me without a thought. Because if his people found out just how many of us have magic, and why, all his lies would begin to fall apart. You have a brother.โ Her gaze drifted behind me in the direction Tibris had gone.
โI do. And my brother wouldnโt want me to throw your life away.
Neither would yours.โ
โIโm not. Youโre going to free them, I know it. Promise me, Prisca. Promise me youโll free them. And one day, youโll come back and burn this fucking place to the ground.โ
There was only one thing I could say. โI promise.โ
A scuff sounded to my left.
My hand instantly went to my dagger, and I turned. Prisca stood in my room, her face pale.
โUsing your power to sneak into my rooms, wildcat? How very
scandalous.โ
โI donโt have time to play.โ
Her eyes met mine, and I experienced another jolt at the color. I loathed the change. But more importantly, those eyes were desperate. Desperate in a way that filled me with a strange disquiet.
โWhat is it?โ
โYou asked how I ended up as one of the queenโs ladies. I worked with a woman named Wila. She dropped a lamp on the queenโs dress. A lamp with fae fire. I froze time long enough for it to catch and for the queen to assume the people surrounding her did nothing.โ
Her face had gone even paler, as if admitting to her deeds was sucking the life from her.
โAnd then you put the fire out, drawing the queenโs attention for your bravery and fast instincts.โ
โYes.โ
I studied her. Sheโd glanced away with that word, shifting on her feet. โYouโre not telling me all of it. From what Iโve learned of the queen, she usually keeps no more than six ladies at any one time.โ
She stuck her chin out in that stubborn way she had, and I raised one eyebrow.
โYou arranged for one of those ladies to disappear, didnโt you, wildcat?โ โI didnโt kill her,โ she said quickly. โSheโs traveling back to her
village.โ
โYouโre a better schemer than Iโd anticipated. Congratulations. That doesnโt explain why youโve come to me so distraught, directly after we agreed to pretend the other doesnโt exist.โ
โWilaโฆIโd thought she would be embarrassed. Maybe demoted. But they took her to the dungeon.โ Her voice broke, and something in my chest wrenched.
I sighed. โTheyโre putting her to death, and you want me to intervene.โ โThe king heard what happened and decided to use it as proof of his
love,โ she spat. โHe sentenced Wila to death. She dies at sunrise, two days from now.โ
โWhat exactly is it you think I can do?โ
โAnything.ย Please,ย Lorian. Iโm begging you. If I take her now, theyโll start an investigation and increase security. Then I wonโt be able to get Asinia out. Sheโs still too weak to travel.โ
My jaw clenched. She was asking for my help.ย Begging. And I couldnโt give her what she wanted. What she needed. A strange kind of powerlessness punched into me. โI canโt.โ
โLorianโโ
I held up a hand. At some point in the past few weeks, dulling the hope in Priscaโs eyes had turned from an absolute necessity to a living hell.
โLet me tell you how executions happen here. The prisoner is led out the back entrance of the castle while blindfolded. Denied even the sight of one last sunrise. Theyโre surrounded by guards at all times, dragged to one of the many squares in the city that were designed exactly for this purpose. Even if I could create a big enough distraction to get her free, the city gates would immediately be shut. Every man, woman, and child who attempted to leave would be searched. The violence would become inescapable until she was found. Many other innocent people would die.โ
I knew all about the prisoners in this castle. Knew what happened to them. Every excruciating detail. And at some point, this vexing woman had become too important to me. Important enough that the thought of her going ahead with such plansโand taking that long, lonely walk to her executionโฆ
I would do whatever it took to make sure that didnโt happen. Even if it meant I had to tie her up and hide her in a closet.
Prisca swayed on her feet. Her face had turned ashen. I took a step toward her, attempting to steady her. She flinched.
I forced my hands back to my sides. โComing here was a mistake,โ I said. โYouโre not the only one with people you need to protect. I canโt help you.โ
She stumbled back toward the door. Her eyes met mine, and for a single moment, the amber shone through whatever charm she had in place.
โOf course you canโt. Youโve proven you have no concerns about leaving women to die. I donโt know why I expected anything more of you.โ She turned and stalked out.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a low laugh.
Because despite everything Iโd just said, I was going to try to get the maid out.
My door opened shortly after sunrise the next morning. Daselis swept in, throwing open the curtains.
โThe queen expects her ladies to eat breakfast with her this morning,โ she said.
โI can get myself ready.โ My voice was hoarse. After Iโd begged Lorian for help, Iโd cried myself to sleep.
Daselis just stalked into the bathing room. Water began running directly after, and I forced myself to get out of bed.
โAre you okay?โ Erea whispered. โYour eyes are all swollen, your face blotchy.โ
โIt must be difficult landing such a coveted position,โ Daselis said, stepping back into the room, her voice heavy with sarcasm. โBathe.โ
I didnโt have it in me to argue. I made my way to the bathing room, stripped, and slipped into the bath, my mind whirling.
Iย hatedย that Lorian had sounded so assured. That every word heโd said had made perfect sense. Iโd known since Iโd seen Asinia in the dungeon that Iโd need a better strategy than โuse my power to freeze time and sneak her
out of the castle.โ But the thought of Wila dying because of my stupid planโฆ
I couldnโt let her lose her life that way. Iย wouldnโt.
Someone knocked on the bedroom door. Either Erea or Daselis must have opened it, because I heard murmuring. Erea poked her head into the bathing room.
โThat was a messenger. Instead of eating in the queenโs rooms, youโll be eating at a formal breakfast with the king. He has an announcement.โ
A headache had begun to pound behind my right eye. But I nodded, stepping out of the bath.
โYou need to hurry,โ Daselis said.
I was barely present as they helped me dress. My mind returned to Wila in that cell again and again. The bruises on her face. The freezing air. And the thought of her being taken from that cell, only to die. There had to be a way to get her out. If Lorian wouldnโt help, Iโd try something else.
I just needed a big enough distraction that I could buy Wila a day or two.
โTime to go,โ Daselis said grimly.
Ereaโs hands fluttered from where sheโd been fixing my hair. โIt looks perfect,โ I told her.
Getting to my feet, I made my way down to the royal dining hall. The last people I wanted to see were the king and queen. Although today, the thought of seeing Lorian was just as distasteful. The other ladies were already waiting, the same seat empty. I sat in it and glanced at Lisveth.
โIs this something that happens often?โ
She shook her head. โUsually, the king doesnโt rise for another few hours.โ
Obviously being an evil bastard took it out of him. โDo you know whatโs going on?โ
โNope. Want some breakfast?โ
My stomach was churning too much to eat. I shook my head, and she sighed. โYou barely ate anything last night either. Are you feeling okay?โ
โIโm fine. I just donโt like big meals in the morning.โ A man I didnโt recognize was sitting at the kingโs table. A man with sharp features and cold gray eyes. โWho is that?โ
โRothnic Boria. Heโs the one who used his magic to create the horseless carriages. Heโs one of the kingโs favorites, and everyone at court is desperate to see what he does next with his magic and genius mind.โ
โAnd the man beside him?โ
โHis son Davis. Heโsย obsessedย with Madinia, but she has been ignoring him for years.โ
Davis was handsome, although he had a weak jaw. But his eyes were even colder than his fatherโs, and something about him made me shiver. Maybe he was the perfect match for Madinia. Although I wouldnโt wish someone with eyes that lifeless on anyone, even her.
We all stood as the king and queen walked in together. Behind them, Lorian strolled, his lithe movements making him seem less of the giant brute I knew him to be and moreโฆelegant. Heโd disappointed me. Not only because heโd refused to help, but because Iโd gone to him when I should have known better.
Lorian was surrounded by men dressed in Gromalian green. His gaze slid to mine, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. His eyes were empty, his expressionโฆapologetic.
Dread swept through my body in a wave.
The king stayed on his feet, so everyone else did too.
โYouโre probably wondering why weโre eating together this morning. Some of you may be aware that my queen was almost gravely injured yesterday. Iโm pleased to announce that the woman responsible was executed this morning.โ
My vision narrowed. I clutched at the top of my chair. No. No, no, no, no, no.
Lorian was staring intently at me. I knew that look. It was the same look heโd given me every time he was about to berate me, about to order me to hold it together. I sucked in a deep breath, the backs of my eyes burning.
Donโt fall apart here.
โWhile she was put to death, she screamed a name that one of my guards recognized.โ
The thought of Wila screaming as she diedโฆ My knees went weak, and I was instantly covered in a greasy sweat.
The king was sweeping his gaze over the entire room. โThat name belonged to her brother. One of theย corrupt.โ His voice lowered to a hiss. โThe corrupt had infiltrated this castle.โ
Murmurs sounded as the nobles processed this news.
I stayed very still, ignoring the instinct to make myself as small as possible. That would only draw attention.
โDue to this event, my assessor will be examining every servant in this castle and the grounds.โ
Lisveth leaned close. โIโm glad we donโt count asย servants. The kingโs assessor is scary.โ
I gave her a nod. Tibris would be okay. He wasnโt a hybrid. But he needed to get a message to Vicer. He still had another rebel in the castle, and they needed to get out.
The king was still talking, his cold gaze moving to our table. Lisveth straightened.
โThankfully, another maid was nearby and saved my queen,โ he boomed. โOne loyal to the crown. I have learned she has been rewarded with a temporary position as one of the queenโs ladies.โ
The kingโs eyes met mine.
Smile like your life depends on it. Because it does.
I beamed, lowering my head in a bow. I could feel the courtโs eyes on me. All of them judging, weighing.
โNow, eat,โ the king said. โAnd let us celebrate the burning of yet another of the corrupt.โ
โPromise me, Prisca. Promise me youโll free them. And one day, youโll come back and burn this fucking place to the ground.โ
I looked over my shoulder at the king, who was smiling at Lorian.
Burn this fucking place to the ground.
I sucked in a steadying breath. Just a few minutes, and I could fall apart. โI donโt feel well,โ I murmured to Lisveth. โIโll meet you in the queenโs
quarters.โ
Pelopiaโs eyes widened. โThe queen wonโt like that.โ
โShe wonโt like it if I disgrace myself here either.โ I smiled to soften my words, and after a moment, she smiled back.
I could feel eyes on me as I walked out of the hall. I made it as far as the closest storage room before I fell apart.
Slumping to my knees, I stuffed my fist in my mouth, sobs choking me.
My fault. Iโd thought I could do this. Thought I could stroll into this castle and free the kingโs prisoners. Instead, Iโd gotten a good woman killed.
Strong arms surrounded me, and I lashed out. The guardsโ But I recognized that scent. I stilled, and then I swung my fist. โYouโll have to do better than that, wildcat.โ
Howย dareย he? โDonโt fucking touch me.โ
โIโm sorry, Prisca.โ His voice was grim. โWould you believe me if I told you I tried?โ
โNo.โ
I was fighting him, rage burning through me as I hit and clawed. I made contact, and he cursed, catching my hands in his.
โLet go,โ he growled. โJust fucking let go.โ I bowed my head.
Lorian pulled me close. I lashed out at him again, and he ignored it, his arms tightening around me. I sobbed, great big gulping sobs that choked me until I could barely breathe. Lorian was silent, but one of his hands gently stroked my back.
This place was worse than I could have ever imagined.
Lorian began humming, his hand still slowly stroking my back. I kept crying.
Eventually, I wore myself out. Sniffling, I wiped my face on his shirt. He let that go.
The song was a tune Iโd never heard before. Something strange and different. I finally lifted my head to find him gazing at the ceiling. His eyes met mine, and they blazed with barely suppressed wrath as he peeled me off him as if I were a kitten, his hand on the back of my neck. A tiny white line had appeared on his cheek. He was clenching his jaw. Lorian wasnโt unaffected at all. He was just as furious as I was.
โI tried,โ he said. โThe kingโs spies learned that I had asked about the woman whoโd tripped near the queen, and they reported back to him. If anything, I hastened her death.โ
Fresh tears flooded my eyes, and Lorian sighed. โIโd tell you not to blame yourself, but both of us know it wouldnโt help. If you want to blame anyone, blame me.โ
A group of women walked past the door, laughing and gossiping. How could they act like nothing had happened when an innocent woman had lost her life?
Because she wasย corrupt. Just like me. โWhy are you really here, Lorian?โ
His face closed off. In a swift movement, he clutched me to him once more so he could stand, dragging me to my feet. โBecause the king took everything from my family. And now Iโm going to take everything from him.โ