Husband,
I cannot go on pretending, not after what you did against my own people. I wish you respected me enough to stay your hand.
It is better this way, to remain with our own folk.
Skadinia.
This was wrong. I blinked for a breath, then another. Tricksters, schemers, thieves knew how to note the slightest detail. To miss something could mean failure, capture, or death.
I took in the room.Notice the details, find what is out of place.
I shook my head, crumpling the parchment. “This is not from Skadi.”
“How do you know?” Frigg asked softly.
“She hates being called Skadinia. It is not from her. Where is my wife!” My shout rattled dust off the rafters.
“Prince.” Tait tucked his small clock back into his pocket, and tilted his head toward the foot of the bed.
I crouched down. “Dammit. Dorsan.”
The guard was pale, cheeks sunken, and a sleek dagger pierced his body. No blood, only scorched flesh surrounded the wound.
“This is an elven blade. We saw them in the battle.” My eyes darkened until the room was filled with shadows. “They’ve taken her.”
Numbness flowed through me, until I moved like a haunt in the darkness. No thought, only action. Fear, heady and cruel, clouded all rationale. Nothing mattered, no life, no plan, nothing, until Skadi was back in my arms.
“Jonas.” Sander took hold of my arm. I hadn’t realized I’d already made moves into the corridor. “Stop.”
“Do not tell me to stop. I will not leave her to them, Sander.”
“You’re not doing it alone or you’ll never get her back.”
“Natthaven fades. They will hide her away. We don’t have time to waste.”
“I will go to the Ever,” Tait said, a new darkness to his voice. “Merfolk can track the isle. You know the king and queen will stand with you.”
All I could offer was a nod of thanks before Tait shoved past me toward the stairs.
“Hearttalker,” Mira blurted out.
Tait paused on the first step.
Mira cleared her throat. “Take care as you go. The elven could be patrolling the seas, and I still must be taken home. It was your task, after all. So . . . don’t be foolish and die.”
The sea fae studied her for a breath, then quit the room with a mute nod.
I reeled back on the others. “I need to get after that damn isle. Now.”
It was taking too bleeding long to get free of this kingdom.
I tried to see the progress, but everything moved in a blur.
From the tides, fae of the sea stepped onto our shores—sea singers who could tempt unsuspecting souls into their clutches with their voices, sirens who would do the same, but bury their bones in the deepest abyss. Dark longships were arranged along the docks.
Curious folk watched from tenement windows, cottages, or from inns and taverns as guards and their two princes tossed any blade we could find into the ships.
“Falkyns!” Von shoved my shoulder.
