“You didn’t think yours was special, did you?”
Shit. Of course that’s how the curse would work. It would break for both families, not just mine. “And I have to do this task…withhim.”
“Yes,him. The only Lemuria who hasn’t fallen under the sleeping spell. I assume you know whoheis. I won’t give away his identity. Your parents have been trying to coerce this information from me for years.”
“Yes, I know who he is,” I say through my teeth. “And I have to…accomplish a task with him? We have to work together?”
She nods. “Doing something neither wants to do but benefits the other family. Yes. I said as much. And no, the benefit cannot be the breaking of the curse. The task itself must have a unique benefit for the opposite family. Are we almost done here?”
I curl my fingers into fists. The last thing I want to do is work with Thorne Blackwood. Or Vintarys. Or whoever the hell that asshole really is.
And yet…this is the only way to break the curse.
Nyxia smirks. “I told you it wouldn’t be easy.”
Stars, she was right. But I’ve already committed. I have to see this through. I must save my family. I’m the only one who can. And if I have to ally with Thorne—
No.
I won’t be allying with him.
I’ll beusinghim.
Putting it that way smooths the edges of my ire.
“Remember, you only have two weeks.”
Nyxia’s words fill me with dread. Though she’s already stated the given timeline, it means something else now that I know what I’ll be forced to do. “But I…I don’t know what task we can do—”
“Anything is fine, so long as neither of you wants to do it. And it benefits the other family.”
I shake my head. “I have to do this with him, yet I don’t even know where he is. How to find him.”
“He’s a public figure, little Briar. He shouldn’t be hard to locate.”
I want to argue. Maybe it isn’t difficult for the average person to find a public figure, but I spent my whole life in a convent. I barely know how to navigate this palace, much less this city, court, or isle. If Thorne’s gone into hiding—
The last words he said to me weave through my mind.If you seek your turn at revenge, you’re welcome to face me. I won’t hide.
I scoff. Right. Of course he wouldn’t hide. He doesn’t see me as a threat. Not even fae law can punish him for what he did, for he acted in his rights. Trickery and deception aren’t illegal.
Still…
“It might take the entire two weeks to find him. Won’t you give me longer? Or at least a hint of where I might find him?”
Her nostrils flare. “I’m already doing enough for you, and no, I cannot give you longer than two weeks. In three days’ time, my brother is hosting a weeklong public celebration in honor of the queen’s pregnancy.”
“Oh, he is?”
Her eyes deepen into a glare. “He is now. Thankfully, the king has taken a liking to parties. I can get him to agree if it’s in honor of his beloved. But two weeks is as long as I can guarantee the people will be distracted over the festivities. Any longer than that and citizens will start to suspect why the seelie court remains closed.”
Surprise ripples through me. She’s orchestrating this party…for my sake?
“Don’t look so flattered. This benefits my brother, remember? Anyhow, I suppose I can offer you one piece of advice. If you want to find your nemesis, start with his bakery. He has an apartment built above his flagship store. I doubt he’ll return to his estate before visiting. He’s well-known for his frequent visits and the individual care he pays each of his shops.”
I grit my teeth at her favorable commentary and focus instead on how I can use it as a clue. It still isn’t enough information, but at least it’s something. I bow my head. “Thank you, former Majesty.”
“Former Majesty,” she mutters. “You make me sound old. Well, I am retired, and this has been a rather unpleasant interruption in my night. If you and your nemesis fail to break the curse in two weeks, I’ll be back with appropriate transport to take your family to the catacombs. So don’t waste my time, little Briar. Good evening.”
