"Even if that were true," I said slowly, each word dragged out of me like pulling teeth, "what does any of this have to do with your bargain?"
The orange light of the fire carved shadows along his left side as he faced me, the haze from the smoke giving him an almostmystical appearance. “I give you my word that, if you agree not to run, and you remain under my care during your time in this realm, I will see to it that you end up where you belong. In exchange, all your needs will be provided for, and I will allow you access to my library and archives so that you may search for the precise mirror and blade that you used to create the portal, learn all you wish of your people, and determine the extent of your abilities. We will solve the mystery of who you are.”
My head jerked back. He couldn’t be serious. Did he really expect me to accept that? “The library part sounds nice, but I’m not interested in staying in a freezing cell. Thanks, but I’m going to pass.” I’m sure his sorry ass would love for me to remain his prisoner, but I wouldnotbe going back to that.
His entire being tightened, and his nose wrinkled, returning his demeanor to the Grouch Potato he’d been before. He took a step toward me, and I prepared to fight.
The furs moved as I threw the plate to the side and prepared to defend myself. My body screamed in protest, but I refused to be taken prisoner again.
“Here I am, trying to be cordial, and you assume I’ll throw you into the same prison cell.” He grimaced and glanced at the floor. “My intention is for you to be a guest and stay in one of the guest rooms near mine.”
My stomach lurched, and for a second, guilt weighed on me. I quickly pushed it away, because what else was I to suspect, given how he’d treated me when I arrived? “It would’ve been nice if you’d includedthatin the proposal. What did you expect me to assume?”
“After saving you and bringing you here to heal, I thought I’d earned some goodwill.” He crossed his arms.
The caribou huffed loudly and shook its head while looking at him.
I held back my giggle, barely. “See, even he agrees with me.” I pointed to the beast.
He glared at the animal. “You do like to eat, right?”
The caribou grunted and then turned his head toward the wall.
In that moment, I realized how smart these creatures truly were. “Okay, so you’re offering me a bedroom at the palace and to have all my needs met, along with access to your library. What do you get out of it? You aren’t just offering this out of the goodness of your heart.”
“I’m not.” He stared at me with those gorgeous lilac eyes. “The Day Court was destroyed decades ago in an attack by the Night Court. All but those few Day Fae who were visiting or living in the other courts or who lived in the Wilds were killed. Some refugees, like Thea, live in my court. The Aurora Court, however, was plunged into an enchanted sleep spell that covers their whole land. A barrier stands between us and the entirety of their kingdom, preventing us from even entering that land. But itmustbe reached and the kingdom restored, because our realm cannot survive if things continue in this way. Our environments are out of balance. The days are short, the light limited compared to what it was. While the seasons continue, the winter is colder and longer and bleaker.”
I nibbled on my lip. “How did the Aurora Court go…to sleep like that?” It sounded similar to the story of Sleeping Beauty, but not exactly, and he probably wouldn’t get the joke.
“The Night Court began this war decades ago, after the Night King’s betrothed from the Day Court rejected him. In the attacks, the Aurora Court came to the aid of their Day Court ally, intending to cast a spell upon them that would put the Day Court in a protective slumber to protect them from the Night King’s wrath until the matter could be resolved, and to protect them from the Night King’s wrath. But the Night Court hadalready moved, and the attack was in progress, obliterating the entire Day Court and turning it to ash and cinder. The spell was reflected back on the Aurora Court, and all within that kingdom were put into a sleep. Only a member of the Aurora Court with strong magic can undo the spell. Which is why I require your help, and why the Night King will be desperate to test you and determine your value. If you can be of assistance to him, he will keep you. Otherwise, he will kill you as he has done all others he deemed useless, including other Aurora Fae.”
A shiver ran down my spine. After what those Night Guards had said, I’d rather be locked in Kai’s prison than taken to that court. At least, with Kai’s guards, I wouldn’t constantly be afraid of being assaulted or taken advantage of.
I ran a hand over the fur blanket. “He wants to wake the Aurora Court? Why? So he can kill them?” I adjusted my position, wincing at the ache in my stomach and core. I tucked my legs under myself, and the furs slid down a little, baring my still bruised shoulders.
His gaze fell to the curve of my shoulder, and his tongue darted over his lips. “No, he wants to bring balance, and if he rescues them, the Aurora Court will be in his debt. He could use that to force them to become his ally and work with him to destroy the Dusk Court—my court.”
“And you…do you want the Night Court destroyed?” I forced the words out, even though I knew it was dangerous to ask. But when had I ever cared about what was safe when it was this important? Kai had already proven himself a complicated man, but I wasn’t on board for genocide, no matter who it was against. If he’d killed his own uncle, he was capable of murdering others.
“No.” He spoke the word with such finality that it felt like a physical blow. “I do not. If I must kill them to save my people, I will. But that is not what I plan. This land needs all four of the courts alive and thriving for balance, but now…” His eyesshuttered, and his throat bobbed. “Now, at best, we can hope for some healing and warmth to return with the Aurora Court when its people are awakened. I hold no animosity toward the Night Court as a whole. King Bram was…” His gaze dropped to the fire, and the lines of his brow deepened. He shook his head, as if he’d thought better of what he was going to say. “He has changed from who he was. Heartbreak may have been the cause, but regardless, he is responsible for the death of one court in its entirety and countless lives in the other courts from the war that has followed. It cannot be permitted to continue. If I have to sacrifice his people to save mine and the Aurora Court, then I will.”
The weight of his words settled over me. I stared at him, trying to reconcile this man with his vow.
I wrapped my arms around myself. The furs pooled around my waist, except for the one I was hugging to my chest. “So…what happens if I’m not related to the Aurora Court or strong enough to help?”
Something flickered across his face. “I will see to it you get to where you belong, regardless of where that is,” he said firmly. “But I also give you my word that I will not harm you, Hannah. You are under my protection. Unlike the Night King, I won't kill you.”
I wanted to believe him, which was dangerous. Some stupid, naive piece of me that should have died years ago actually wanted to trust this brooding king. "And if I say no?" I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. "If I tell you to shove your bargain and take your chances without me?"
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, the shadows in the corners of the cabin deepened. Then he released a slow breath through his nose. "Then you would still be under my protection until the storm passes and we return to the castle. After that..." He paused, and something like pain crossed his features. "Iwould not force you to stay. But I would ask you to reconsider. Many lives hang in the balance. Not just mine. Not justmycourt. The Aurora Fae have been sleeping for decades, their cities full of children and families trapped in slumber. An entire court of people, frozen in time while the world around them crumbles. And if all others fall before they wake, then eventually, they too will die, and this whole world will be a wasteland."
Damn him for making this about innocent people instead of politics and power. I could have said no to a king demanding my obedience. I couldn't say no to helping children trapped in magical sleep, or to helping the ones in his kingdom, either. The face of that little boy whose mother had been desperately trying to reach him through the rubble flashed through my mind. “And you promise you won’t ask anything else of me?”
“I won’t ask anything else of you in exchange for this bargain. Within the week, we should be able to determine whether you are Day or Aurora Fae. It may take longer to reveal the mirror and the dagger that brought you here. I would ask, though, that you would allow me to examine your injuries again.” He gestured to my body. “The salves and tonics should have done a great deal of work in restoring you, but some of the injuries—especially to your torso—concern me.”
“Yeah, well, it’s no picnic for me either, but I’m open to anything that could help me out.” I exhaled and lowered the furs. The cool air hit my skin, raising goosebumps despite the fire's warmth. I looked down at myself, taking stock of the damage for the first time since waking. My arms showed faint yellow-green shadows where some bruising had faded, though it didn’t hurt even where my bra straps cut in a little. My legs looked better, too, the mottled patches softened to something almost normal. But my shoulders still had a number of dark marks, and my torso, hips, and thighs...
Dark purple and deep blue spread across my ribs and stomach in ugly blooms, the colors vivid against my pale skin. The bruises wrapped around my sides where the saddle horn had dug in during that hellish ride and on my left where the caribou’s straps must have pinched me more than once. More clustered along my hips where I'd been grabbed and thrown. I could see a few of the darkest ones through my light turquoise panties. It looked like I'd ridden a bull and been squashed by it. Still, it all looked far worse than it felt, which was something at least. Whatever he’d given me must have dulled the deeper aches. Aside from stiffness, I really didn't feel that bad at all.
