Renel waves a hand. “Not deceive, just make her interested in getting to know you.”
This talk is revolting. I glare at Renel. “Ziven’s not like you, who likes to make empty promises to women.”
Renel widens his eyes. “Tarlia, I’m fae. I can’t possibly make any false promises. Can’t even lie.”
“Yet you see no issue with it.” My voice has a desperate pitch that I hate.
Renel places a hand on his chest. “I’m not suggesting any lies or deception. I’m not saying he should tell her he loves her. You know what? Nevermind. I guess we’ll beg or something.”
“Much more honorable,” I snap. “And why don’tyoupose as a potential husband?”
“I’m no king. The sad truth is that when you have no power, nobody wants you.”
Iwant Renel, want him more than I can even admit to myself. A crazy, pointless wanting that’s pushing me to the brink of madness, and yet I shove it all down and say, “Because you want the wrong people.”
He snorts. “I’ve noticed that.”
Ziven frowns at us. “You two should really talk, you know?”
I glare at him. “Wearetalking.”
“No, you’re arguing.”
“Let’s go,” Renel says. “We don’t want to get there too late.”
The steps are steep and narrow, with no guardrail, and I imagine that this would be a great place to murder someone. At least both Renel and Mirella have a deal preventing them from harming each other and I don’t need to fear any dead travel companions.
As I climb the steps, dread slowly fills my chest as I wonder whether this is truly a friendly court and if this queen will betray us. I wish I was in the safety of the island, but at the same time, Renel has a point that if we can get to this old library, at least we can try to dosomething. I suppose my safety isn’t his priority—which is fair, and yet still stings.
The path widens and we come to an open door which seems to lead to the inside of the hill. Six fae guards with spears stand on the other side, then two more jump down in front of us.
“Renel from the Crystal Court,” one of the guards says, “Queen Berta welcomes you.” His tone isn’t welcoming at all.
The next thing I notice is that two of these guards are holding me by both arms.
My first thought is to slack my body, bring these guards to the floor with me, then try to escape, but then Renel mutters, “Stand down.”
He’s looking at Ziven, I guess because he’s the only one of us with magic. His tone is calm, so I trust him and don’t try anything. And then, it’s true that escaping through those narrow, thin steps, would be almost impossible.
The guards pull us into the inside of the castle, which looks like a cave with mossy stone walls, then take us to the back and down a flight of steps, to a sort of hallway. There, they tie somerope around my feet, making tight knots around both my ankles. I could fight back when they’re doing it. Perhaps I should, and yet what gives me pause is Renel’s calm.
Finally, we’re pushed into some kind of wooden stall.
Renel shuts his eyes tight. “Shit.”
The hint of panic in his tone chills my body. We’ve crossed the Shadow Lands together and I know that it takes a lot to rattle him.
Whatever it is, it’s bad.
AZUR
The Witch King is calling me, his pull stronger than ever. In the milliseconds it took me to transcend, shadows encircled me, pulled me, took me. Had the aim and will in my heart been a little weaker, I’d be a tool of that horrific old fae now.
But no. I resisted, resisted and now I’m diving into the ocean, led by a sliver of unwavering faith—Lidiane’s faith—except that it’s mine now.
My magic is drained from this simple transcending, just from fighting that ghastly pull. I can’t pass out from fatigue, I can’t. If I do, I’ll die here.
Still, I have to use most of my remaining magic to conjure a bubble of air and keep it around me as my body submerges in the Grand Ocean, near the Golden Sea.
