Seekers can’t survive in the Daylands. It’s impossible. They turn to dust, the sun the only foe they truly fear. But if they’re able to enter this realm, and to do so in great numbers … But the legions needed to spirit away an entire village—the seeker population in the Nightlands isn’t so big as that, is it? Moonhollow only had rare occurrences of seeker attacks. How could there be this many living right under our noses in the night realm? I chew over these thoughts as Solano’s grip on my hand tightens.
“Abomination.” Grimelda splays her claws as she approaches the cage. “What magic have you stolen for such a hex?”
“You don’t know?” The seeker smirks. “Can’t you feel it?”
She stops and goes so still she seems to be part of the stone. “Youtook her.” She flies at the cage, reaching through the bars to shred the seeker.
He backs away, a cruel laugh in his throat. “You’re just as beautiful as your mother.”
She curses in the Old Language and rattles the cage, magic swirling around her with the promise of destruction.
“Stand down.” Solano’s voice, filled with command and fire, shakes the entire throne room. The power in him ripples through me, our hands still joined.
Grimelda points a long claw at the seeker. “You will give me my mother.”
He sniffs. “You even smell like her. I bet you taste like her, too. I haven’t had her in quite a while. She’s a bit drained, you see. Not the same. Not even close. But you—” He grins, his fangs lengthening. “I could fuck you and call you by her name.”
Her screech is like the death cry of a wild thing, and I think she might break through the bars.
“Silence!” Solano sends a blast of heat through the cage, and the seeker howls as its skin bubbles. “Back away, Grimelda. This is what he wants.”
“I want his organs.” She shakes the bars, but Solano sends more heat, and she has to jump back to avoid the flames. She wails again, tears in her eyes. Her rage is borne of sadness, of grief.
I reach for her, taking her clawed hand in mine. She jerks her head toward me but doesn’t pull away.
“Watch him,” Solano tells Grimelda. “Tell me of any lie.”
Approaching the bars again, the seeker looks at us with black eyes. His stance is bold despite his injuries and Grimelda’s rage. Healing skin whiter than mine, hair darker than night, and fangs that could rip flesh from bone with ease—the seeker has malice in its blood. He was likely once a handsome high fae, his body strong and face pleasing. But now he’s a creature that preys on the weak, a monster who will drain this world dry to keep itself alive. His eyes flicker to me, then back to Solano.
A smirk quirks the corner of his lips. “Majesty.” He cuts an overdone bow.
“How?” Solano’s crown lights, the filigree sparkling like starfire, and he moves his hand to my arm, keeping me back as he approaches the cage.
“How am I doing? Is that your question?” The seeker shrugs, his broken wing brushing the silver bars. “Could be better. I’d much prefer a comfortable bed with a tasty changeling to warm it.” His gaze flickers to me again.
The cage lights, its bars glowing with fire. A pained cry rises from the seeker, who folds his wings closer to keep them from the flames.
“You will speak to me and look atme. Not her.” Solano’s voice is thunderous, and I shudder at the sheer power in it.
“Apologies, my lord.” The seeker’s voice still has a sharp edge, but he eyes the flames with true fear.
“We can think of endless painful ways to make you talk.” Brock glares, his ire darker now, as if he was already smoldering and the seeker is more fuel on the fire. “I’ll enjoy each one.”
“Tell me everything, or I will let Bladin peel your skin off one strip at a time and Grimelda will feast on your organs.”
The seeker tsks. “That’s a long, long story. I was born to—”
“Bladin.” Solano gestures to the warrior, who cracks his knuckles and smiles with grim determination. “Get to work.” Turning to me, he pulls me close and speaks in my ear. “Return to your chambers. Wait for me there. You don’t need to see this.”
I tend to agree with him, especially when Bladin pulls a long blade from his belt and walks toward the cage. “All right,” I say with a shaky voice.
Grimelda squeezes my fingers and releases them. I have no doubt she doesn’t want to miss a moment.
Solano gestures to the captain. “Anolius, escort her to her chambers.”
“My lord.” Anolius nods, and Solano brushes his lips across mine.
Then I’m hurried from the room and into the white hallway.
