He bares his teeth. “The alternative is he uses the power of your true name to force you to come. What about this don’t you understand?”
“What I don’t understand is why you’re even here. Why go through all this trouble bringing Mr. Duveau to try and get me off the isle yet again? What game are you playing?”
“I’m trying to spare your life.”
“Why?”
“I won’t kill you.” He says it slowly through his teeth, expression twisted as if the statement pains him.
That’s when I realize the truth.
“Youcan’tkill me. You made a bargain.”
He says nothing, confirming my suspicion.
“That’s why you’ve been pushing for my family’s exile when you really couldn’t care less if we live or die. What was the bargain?”
He lifts his chin. “It was a promise. Before my fool cousin Caleos left for his exile, he made me vow that if it ever came to pass that his progeny found themselves on the isle, I would see that they were treated fairly and given every chance to live well. To avoid stirring suspicion regarding my involvement with his demise, I made the promise. He left it loose enough for me to navigate, but not loose enough to be anything but a thorn in my side since I learned of your existence. He must have known even then what awaited him on the other side of exile. He knew his lover and child had survived.”
“Treated fairly?” Aspen growls. “Live well? I don’t see how you’ve fulfilled either of those terms.”
“I’ve fulfilled it enough that I’m still alive, aren’t I? Not that every deviation hasn’t caused me enough pain to wish for death a time or two. Do you have any idea the suffering Maven Fairfield’s death caused me?” He shoots Mr. Duveau a look of contempt.
The councilman, surprisingly, manages not to wither beneath his scorn.
I puzzle over his words, a ripple of shock moving up my spine. Is that what the punishment is for breaking a fae promise? Excruciating pain resulting in eventual death? Before I was willing to accept magic, I thought fae vows and their refusal to lie came from cultural conditioning. Now...I fully believe his punishment is tangible.
Ustrin returns his attention to me. “Let me fulfill my vow and get you off the isle so I can be rid of you once and for all. Not that I’ll be truly free until your sister manages to show her face.” He says the last part with no small amount of venom.
My heart leaps into my throat at the mention of Amelie. “You don’t know where she is?”
His fingers clench into fists. “King Cobalt insists he doesn’t know—”
At the wordsKing Cobalt, Aspen’s growl rumbles in his chest.
“—But he’s hiding her from me. I’ll deal with him next. He may have the council convinced, but I see through him. Even as an ally, he has much to learn about earning his place.”
I take in every word, filing them away in the back of my mind. I’m not sure what it means, but it must be significant that he thinks Cobalt is hiding Amelie from him. While I doubt it suggests noble intentions on Cobalt’s behalf, it could mean Amelie’s refusal to come to Mother’s trial wasn’t her choice after all.Not that it changes anything. Her actions still led to Mother’s death.My simmer of anger rises to a boil. I let it grow, let it burn hotter.
“Let’s get this over with,” Ustrin says, voice rising an octave. “Otherwise I can hurry your resolve. Mr. Duveau can force you immobile while your ears flood with the haunting melody of the Autumn refugees’ dying screams.” He turns his gaze to Aspen. “Would you like an invitation to the symphony as well?”
I freeze. His words suggest the refugees are close enough that I’d be able to hear them scream from here. That means we can likely find them without Ustrin’s guidance.
“No,” I say. Fear floods my body for what I’m about to say, but I call upon my fire to burn it. “We’ll get this over with, but I’m not leaving the isle unless you plan on shipping my corpse. We face each other in accordance with the Old Ways. We let the All of All choose their alpha. And we do it now.”
Aspen tenses beside me. “Evie, don’t—”
Aspen, I say his name in my head, seeking that connection through our Bond.Please trust me. Make no move against what I’m about to do.
His eyes search mine, wide with terror. I hear his voice in my mind.I trust you.
King Ustrin stares at me for endless moments until a sudden burst of laughter erupts from his lips. “Stupid, stupid girl. You dare challenge me? You dare refuse my offer for mercy? Fine.” He shakes his head with bitter amusement. “I gave you your chance. I fulfilled my vow. If you won’t come willingly, then you will come by force. And you won’t enjoy it.”
King Ustrin steps to the side, allowing Mr. Duveau to take his place and face me. Only now does his stoic expression shift into a chilling grin. “Evelyn Fairfield.” The name reverberates through my mind, my blood, my bones. “Follow me. Use your mate’s true name and order him to remain here until daybreak.”
He turns on his heel and takes a few steps away. I stay rooted on the spot, trembling as the command writhes inside me. Ustrin lets out a hiss, making the councilman whirl back around. His face pales, a look of shock in his eyes. He regathers his composure and speaks through gritted teeth. “Evelyn Fairfield.”
I hear the name, feel its power, but I’m focusing on something else. Every part of me is fueling my intent—my mind, my heart, my very soul. It grows and grows until it becomes so solid in my mind’s eye, I feel like I could touch it.
