A jolt of something fiery sparked in Cora’s chest. She breathed it away, forcing her attention from Teryn to the group of soldiers who still stood in a cluster near the felled horse. One turned around. “Your Majesty, the traitor king is awake.”
Cora’s heart leapt into her throat as she watched the men part to reveal her brother. His eyes darted wildly about as he tried to rise from his knees. A soldier had Dimetreus’ arms behind his back and kicked him in the shoulder to keep him down.
A strangled sound left her brother’s lips. “What’s happening? Where…where…” He blinked several times and shook his head. “A nightmare. No, a nightmare.”
Cora surged forward. “Dimetreus!” Another soldier stepped before her, shoving a gauntleted hand out to halt her progress. She hobbled back, eyes darting from the soldier to her distressed brother.
“Who the hell is this?” came King Verdian’s sharp tone. Cora met his gaze and found cold eyes looking back at her.
“This is Princess Aveline,” Teryn said, coming up beside her.
Verdian let out a bark of humorless laughter. “The dead princess brought back to life?” He scanned her until his eyes landed on her tattooed palms. His lips curled in disgust. “She’s a witch. Like the others. The ones with the…vine sorcery.”
“The witches foughtwithus,” Teryn said, voice surprisingly calm.
Verdian spread out his arms, glancing exaggeratedly from side to side. “Then where are they now?”
Teryn’s tone darkened. “Princess Aveline killed the duke.”
The king gave him a patronizing look. “Princess Aveline is dead, Majesty.”
“Aveline?” The voice was weak, trembling.
Cora met Dimetreus’ eyes. They were no longer cast beneath a glossy sheen. They were still shadowed with dark circles and lined with creases that belied his age. Proof that Morkai’s death didn’t immediately return his well-being.
“Dimi, it’s me,” Cora said.
“She’s working with the traitor,” Verdian said. “Take her too.”
The soldier with the upraised palm darted forward but Teryn stepped in front of her.
“Out of the way, Majesty,” Verdian said through his teeth.
“She’s no criminal,” Teryn argued. “And she’s injured.”
The king raised his brows and glanced briefly at Teryn’s torso. “So are you. We need to get you to a surgeon.”
“Just let Cora go.”
“Cora,” Verdian echoed. “I thought she wasPrincess Aveline.” He said the last part with clear mocking.
“She is,” Teryn said, his voice tinged with desperation. “Did Lex not tell you?”
The king denied it at the same moment Larylis said, “He toldme.”
“Just let her explain,” Teryn said.
Verdian shook his head. “If she really is who she says she is, she can come with us willingly and explain during questioning.” He leaned to the side and met Cora’s gaze.
Fiery rage flooded her core. She spotted her discarded bow, left beside the stallion when she’d been knocked down. Her quiver was still strapped to her back. She could dive for her bow, fight her way out. Or…
She glanced at the hillside where the Forest People were waiting. Where Valorre was waiting.
Your people…will you go with them?
She could close her eyes and try to do what she’d accomplished earlier. She hadn’t had the opportunity to revel in what she’d done. Somehow, she’d managed to step across time and space. One moment, she was trapped under the horse. In the next, she was on the rock.
Her body flooded with calm. Perhaps she could do it again. Morkai was dead. Her mission was complete. She could leave this all behind. If the Forest People wouldn’t have her back, then she and Valorre could go out on their own?—
