I jump down, stalk past him, and wrench open the carriage door as my guards arrive and surround us.
Lunarie and Gwenarie yelp. Emma’s scent is inside, her fear like a fine sheen of cold sweat.
Gwenarie tries to recover. “Solano, what are you—”
“Where is she?” My voice is harsher, deeper. The feral is awake, the monstrous creature in my breast threatening to break through and rip Gwenarie apart. She may be my mate, but she’s taken something precious from me, all the same.
“Who?”
“Don’t toy with me, foolish female.” I grip the carriage so hard the wood begins to crack. “What have you done with her? One more lie, and I will drag you out.”
Her eyes widen. “How dare you! I’m your betrothed, your mate, and you speak to me with such—”
I reach in and grab her arm, then yank her from the carriage and throw her down into the muck beside the road. “I warned you, Gwenarie. Now tell me where she is.”
She gasps and looks at the mud on her hands, then up at me. “I did this for you. Forus. With her around, you couldn’t focus on your future. Her nightling witchery turned your head, and I had to do something so you would focus on your true mate.” Her eyes water, tears running down her mud-splattered cheeks. “I will bear your children. I am your queen. She is nothing. You and I are forever. Don’t you see? With me at your side, this realm will prosper forever.”
In her way, she thinks she speaks the truth, that getting rid of Emma would smooth Gwen’s transition as my queen. But she’s only sealed her fate. Gwen will never be queen. I can’t trust her, almost can’t bear to look at her.
Fire crackles around me in a maelstrom that grows wider with each of my breaths. “I will not ask you again.”
“She sold her.” Lunarie’s smaller voice warbles behind me.
“Sold her?” I turn back to the carriage as a blast of heat explodes from my hands.
“Yes.” Lunarie nods, her eyes big.
“Who bought her?” I will tear them limb from limb.
“Lunarie, don’t!” Gwenarie screams. “Solano, you and I are forever. This consort is nothing, no one.”
“One more word, Gwen.” I pull a roiling ball of pure sun into my palm. “One more word, and, mate or not, you will be no more.”
Lunarie’s eyes water. “She sold her to Varan.”
31
Emma
The rocking of the carriage is familiar. The locked doors aren’t. I kicked and fought and screamed as Varan carried me through the trees. No one heard. No one came. And I can still hear Gwenarie laughing about her triumph, the sound burned into my mind almost as viciously as the scars on my back.
“Let me out!” I beat on the door again, banging and yelling until I’m hoarse. But the carriage continues on. At least it’s dark in here. I sit on the floor and put my face in my hands. Maybe I’m being taken back to the Nightlands, back to Mama who can scold me for failing at being a consort. Maybe this will turn out fine.
I laugh into my palms. Nothing ever turns out fine. Not where the high fae are involved. I’m so stupid for believing Solano’s lies. He was just pulling me along, toying with me and hurting my friends. My stomach churns at the thought, and I still don’t want to believe it. Gwenarie could be lying, but why would she? She sold me to Varan to keep me away from the palace, away from Solano. I’ll never see him again, so she had no need to lie. I nibble my lip. Then again, she’s just cruel from top to bottom. I can’t tell who to believe. My mind is muddled, but my heart returns to Solano, to his dreams of being a strong king in a fair, peaceful realm.
The carriage jostles, and I bounce to the side and knock my head on the wall. I sit up and rub the spot. The pain only adds to the ache in my side, and despite my attempts to be tough, I feel tears welling in my eyes, the bridge of my nose stinging.
“You will not cry,” I tell myself and tilt my head back. “No crying.” The words do no good, because a tear travels down my cheek. I wipe it away and try to focus on the daylight pouring through the cracks around the doors. Maybe I can find my way back if I can see some landmarks.
Getting down on all fours, I wince at the pain from my ribs, but crawl to the biggest crack and squint to see what’s outside. Green. Lots of green. A field of some sort of crop that waves in the light breeze. We’re climbing up a gentle slope, but I can’t see what’s ahead of us. The field of green goes on for long minutes. I try to keep watch, but the pain in my side burns brighter and brighter until I have to give up and sit down. Only then can I breathe without feeling as if a dagger is embedded between my ribs.
I wipe my face again and try to think of a way out of this predicament. Nothing comes to mind. I suppose I have to hope for an opening once Varan releases me from the carriage. I have no weapon, but I will use every bit of fight I have left to try and escape.Solano will come for you, my heart tries to whisper. I shut that down, because what if Gwenarie was telling the truth? I don’t want to believe it, but I can’t go back to such a monster if it might be true. No, I have to save myself and strike out for the Nightlands.
After what feels like another hour or so, the carriage slows to a halt.
I get to my knees, my hands up, ready to attack. The door opens, and I leap out, my nails flying, my teeth bared, but a high fae catches me with ease and slings me over his shoulder. I scream at the pain and try to wriggle away, but he holds me fast and carries me into a gray stone house. With an unceremonious hmmph, he drops me onto a sofa in a dusty sitting room and stalks out.
Looking around, I can’t believe the idiot left me alone. I stand, only to find myself sitting again.
