“I’d heard the Orean queen slipped out of her tower,” he says, tilting his head in thought. “Funny. You were happy enough to stay in it when fae illusion had you thinking it was filled with music and flowers, weren’t you? Once the accommodations were less than opulent, you were certainly quick to leave. Tell me, how did you escape?”
My eyes are hard as steel. “I walked out the front door.”
“Hmm.” His eyes flow over me, head tilting. “Our beloved king had to return to Annwyn for the time being, but he requested I bring you back to him, so I’ve come to find you. Quite convenient that you’ve shown up like this and that you aren’t already dead.”
Shards of fear stab into my stomach at the thought of being forced to leave with him. What if he drags me off and then Dommik never knows what happened to me?
I shake my head in defiance. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I tell him, though my voice wobbles, betraying my fright.
I know I’m outnumbered, that my people are too weak to help defend against these fae, but I won’t yield and go with him. I have a responsibility to protect everyone behind me.
“I thought I’d have to spend longer tracking you down,” he muses, as if I didn’t speak. “Just as I thought it would take longer to force our first meeting and get you to listen to me. Once I knew you were the royal we needed, I stayed in Highbell for weeks, trying to come up with a plan to get to you. It was pure luck that you left your castle that day, wasn’t it?” He lets out a prudish laugh. “It was so easy to manipulate you. Must have been ordained by the gods and goddesses.”
“Your fae gods have no foothold here,” I spit.
A spiteful look crosses his face, making his fae beauty fade, sharpening his features with hate instead. “Orea doesn’tdeserveanything of the fae. Not our gods, and not our magic.”
“And yet you wantourland,” I snarl back.
Pruinn shrugs. “The superior species should have it. And we will, thanks to you.” He tilts his head to motion toward me. “Tell me, how have you healed after willingly giving us your blood to rebuild the bridge?”
My hands curl into fists at my sides, fingertips digging into the gashes that are filled with frost.
He smiles snidely. “Thought so.”
I can feel the tension in my people. Perhaps they’re judging me, hating me, feeling betrayed even as they’re forced to cower behind me in fear.
My heartbeat thrums wildly, but I stand my ground. I imagine this is what it’s like for prey to be cornered by a predator. To know you’re under threat, that your life is on the line. That one wrong move will find you clutched between deadly jaws.
“Shall I read what your greatest desire is now, Malina?” Pruinn taunts as he pulls out a scroll from his pocket. The same one that showed me a map of Seventh Kingdom. The same one I was fool enough to fall for. “Shall I see where it leads you this time?”
“I don’t need your charlatan tricks to show me anything,” I lob back, my body shaking with anger, more snow collecting in my hands. “My greatest desire is to undo what I’ve done and rid Orea of every single fae. Starting withyou.”
He looks over his shoulder at his group. “I’ll take the Orean queen. Kill the rabble behind her.”
My arms fling out protectively, as if to block my people from the threat. “Don’t touch them!”
A fae with spiked silver hair behind Pruinn lifts his hands, and I instantly recognize the purple sparks of electricity that start to form in his hands. The hair on the back of my neck lifts, worry gathering between my tightening ribs.
This is the one who attacked the city with his lightning. Crumbled buildings, charred people alive. Left gaping pits of smoke in his wake.
But a fae to the right with a thick black beard steps forward also, jerking my attention toward him while the lightning fae seems to build up his power.
The bearded fae points his hands to the buildings beside us. Wooden boards suddenly yank from the walls as if he’s gripped them with invisible fingers and suspended them in the air.
My eyes widen, everyone behind me crying out in alarm that makes me stiffen. Makes me hate how terrified they are.
I turn to Pruinn, my harshness traded for pleading. “Please,” I blurt out, my head shaking back and forth, my expression pinched in panic. I can hear Neira crying and her mother trying to comfort her. Can hear whimpers and rushed prayers coming from my people. “Do not do this. They’re no danger to you! Just let them go.”
He tsks. “Does a master leave the roaches to crawl through his house?” he counters, nose wrinkled in disgust. “Of course they’re no danger, but we do not leave pests to run rampant.”
My eyes flick to the magic wielders who stare me down. Their powers are paused. Threat lying in wait.
“Sir Pruinn…” I say, trying to ingratiate myself to him, pleading once more. “Please.”
“Oh, Queen Malina,” Pruinn singsongs with derisive pity. “We both know everyone behind you is going to be killed. But I’ll offer you one thing, in respect of your royal status.” He takes a step forward and holds out his hands. “Come with me now,and you won’t have to watch. I’ll spare you that. Your people are going to die regardless, but you won’t have to see.”
He thinks that’s a kindness? He thinks that’s a bargain I’m willing to strike?
