And Fear was right. There was no way to get Tay out of here, so we had to choose our next moves carefully.
There was no maneuver that saw where Tay and I were walking back to our village side-by-side. My cheeks colored, embarrassed by my rare outburst.
I squeezed Fear’s forearm. “I’m all right.”
He nodded and released me. Ander was talking to Tay, so Fieran could whisper into my ear, “Trust me to get you through the next few minutes, and then trust me to get you both out of here.”
I nodded stiffly. “I trust you.”
“Liar,” he said again, but fondly. “The queen won’t hurt him. He’s far too useful. He controls you, and you control me.”
My brows arched.
He touched his finger to his lips in the quickest gesture, already turning into Tay and Ander’s conversation.
Ander and Fieran working together made me feel like things were truly dire.
I hugged Tay as if it might be the last time I saw him.
He laughed, staggering back a step.
“I’ve missed you,” I told him.
“I’ve missed seeing you smile,” he said, sounding more serious than I had expected. To Ander and Fieran, he said, “She used to be such a sweet girl.”
“She’s better now,” Fieran deadpanned.
He offered me his arm, and I took it.
Walking away from Tay took everything I had.
And I leaned on Fieran.
When we went back to the barracks, I asked Fieran, “When will I know what the cost is for this favor?”
“Too soon.”
“She lifted the curse?”
He nodded.
“Would she have to curse him again, or can she just…undo her removal?”
“She would curse him again.” His jaw flexed. “She’s the most powerful being in the kingdom. No one else can undo her curses.”
“What did you mean when you said I control you, Fieran?” I raised my hand to cut off whatever nonsense he was about to strew before my feet like flower petals. “I know you can’t tell me every part of your plans. Tell me what you can.”
“If all my plans unfold…you’re the reason the queen won’t rule forever.”
“Well, she’ll love hearing that if she coaxes it out of me,” I muttered. “You’re making me into the weapon of your rebellion.”
“No,” he said. “If we survive, you will change the world for mortals. You’re making yourself into the weapon of your own salvation.”
Forty-Five
The next day, we gathered in the wreckage for the selection ceremony.
The arena floor remained drowned beneath dark, stagnant water that lapped against crumbling stone. I stopped dead in the entrance to the arena as the other recruits streamed around me.
