“And then something unthinkable happened. Something I’d never witnessed in all my centuries of existence. Runes started breaking.”
Uther straightened. “Breaking?”
Kairos nodded. “Failingwas the word they used, but noble homes were losing family heirlooms that should’ve been impossible to steal. Priceless artifacts were appearing in human markets. Which was…interesting.”
Uther grinned. “Someone was robbing the fae blind.”
“And walking through runes like they didn’t exist.”Kairos’s eyes glittered. “Vaeron was paranoid. He ordered an investigation.”
Uther crossed his arms. “So he sent you.”
“His chained dog. He thought I had no will of my own.” Kairos bent his head at me. “Then one night, I sawher. Running from a manor, bag full of stolen goods.”
Uther leaned forward. “Then what?”
Kairos’s hands flexed. “I let her run. Lied to Vaeron. Hid what she did. Because if this girl had learned a way around runes, maybe she could break my deal.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “Wait. You lied to the king?”
His eyes met mine. “Yes.”
He’d done that for his freedom—but still, he’d risked everything to hide me. Something tight and uncomfortable lodged in my chest.
“So…when Henrik tried to read my mind, the light broke. Was that you?”
His mouth thinned. “I didn’t want you captured.”
Elwen pressed two fingers to her lips.
“They got her anyway.” Kairos grimaced. “Vaeron sentenced her to die at my hand.”
“Fuck,” Uther swore. “Then what?”
“I dragged her to the block. Showed her the rune on my gauntlet, hoping she’d understand.” He rubbed his face, his expression pinched. “We were in front of the king, the entire court was watching.”
He pointed at his wrist. “And then she touched the gauntlet. I felt her manipulating the rune. Snapping what bound my limbs, and suddenly, I wasfree.”
Elwen’s eyes widened.
“Then I killed them all. Vaeron. His queen. Every nobleand cleric. I didn’t stop until the throne room was drowning in blood.”
“Leaving Vaeris free to take the throne.” Uther leaned back, whistling low. “What happened next?”
Kairos gestured at me. “Took her with me, and we fled Skalgard.”
“A human who can break runes.” Uther shook his head. “Binding magic that controlled one of the most powerful fae alive. You realize how that sounds?”
“I know.”
Uther’s gaze cut to me. “No offense, love, but I need to see it for myself.”
He reached into a small pouch and pulled out a leather shackle. A rune glowed on its surface as he set it on the table.
“We use them to restrain enemies. They’re strong enough to hold a Sanguir warrior. Break this, and I’ll believe you.”
The shackle’s rune pulsed with a sickly orange hue.
“Go on,” Uther said softly. “Prove it.”
