My heart sinks, and I gently pull my hand from under his.
Maybe in another life, Franco and I could have been something. Or even in another time. If Aspen and I are unable to mend the rift between us…
I can’t finish that train of thought. Instead, I smile at the prince. “Goodnight, Franco.”
He returns the grin, blinking slowly as the Midnight Blush begins to take hold. “Goodnight, Evelyn.”
I move away from the bed, and one of the moth fae flutters over to me. “We’ll watch over him tonight,” she whispers.
I give her my thanks and continue to the door, only to come to a halt. In the doorway stands Foxglove, expression forlorn as his eyes rest on the sleeping prince.
“Oh, were you coming inside?” I ask, nodding toward my patient.
He shakes his head as if to clear it. “No, I came to find you.”
I join him in the hall, but as we turn away from the door, his attention snags once again on the room.
“Are you sure you didn’t want to—”
“No.” A blush creeps up his neck as he pushes the bridge of his spectacles.
I can’t stop the grin from stretching over my face. “You fancy Prince Franco, don’t you?”
His expression turns wistful. “He’s just adorable, Evelyn, how could I not?”
“Are you...well acquainted?”
“We’ve hardly spoken a word. I doubt he knows I exist. Besides, I can admire him from afar, can’t I?”
I chuckle. “Yes, I suppose you can.”
“Now, enough about that beautiful prince. I came here to talk about you and what happened with King Ustrin.”
“Did you witness it?”
“I watched everything from the observatory and nearly died when I saw what that guard did to the prince. It is a crime most foul for a fae to use iron against another.”
“I was shocked to find a fae could use iron at all.”
“As was I. It’s nearly debilitating to so much as touch iron. I’m certain even sheathed, it leeched strength from that guard. I hope he was gravely afflicted.” His words carry venom, and I can’t help but feel the same. The guard went immobile after he stabbed Franco, making me wonder if he survived the act at all.
“How did King Ustrin come to own an iron blade anyway?” I ask.
“It’s likely a relic from the war. We stumble across such weapons, often buried in some forgotten area. You can usually tell by the dying earth surrounding it. However, with all the deserts in Fire, it may have been easier to go undetected for much longer.”
I nod, but my mind lingers on Foxglove’s mention of the desert. I’ve never seen desert lands and always imagined them with equal parts fascination and terror. If I take the Fire Court as my home, that desert will belong to me.
“More pressingly,” Foxglove says, interrupting my thoughts, “we should talk about the bargain you made. I couldn’t hear the words spoken from the observatory, but Lorelei told me what was exchanged. How you sacrificed our great plan to save the prince. I can’t say I blame you. I’d have been tempted to bargain for the fair prince’s life, but...we came so far.” His shoulders sink, expression crumbling.
“I’m not sure I did sacrifice our plan, Foxglove.”
He furrows his brow. “How do you figure?”
“Well, I’m not clear on how this all works, so you must correct me if I’m wrong. When I made the bargain, I told him I’d attend my mother’s trial. I have every intention of fulfilling that promise as stated.”
“But you told him you’d accept exile too, did you not?”
“I told him I’d accept exile without argument if the human council allowed us to leave unharmed. Well, I can’t accept my exile if it isn’t offered, and if the council agrees to my bargain, then they won’t offer exile.”
