As she fidgeted against the bindings, she felt something in Savine’s coat pocket. Something hard and round.
The relic.
She needed to work the magical bowl out of the pocket and within her grasp. She began working on her gloves, trying to slide the bindings off the cuff of her leather gloves so she could free her hand.
But she also couldn’t let Darby know what she had. She had to continue to keep them all distracted. The Hunters had formed a semi-circle around them, desperate and hungry looks glowered at Avery.
“So what? You’re going to kill me?” Avery asked as she tugged a finger out of the glove.
“I would never risk that. You wear a crown, probably a false crown, atop your head, but I won’t risk my soul, or the souls of the Hunters in killing you. You aren’t worth the risk.”
“Then what? Toss me through the portal and hope for the best?”
A few fae around her chuckled. Darby parted her teeth in a sharp smile. “You’ll be convinced to take your own life on the other side of this portal.”
Avery’s heart thudded in her chest. She needed to buy herself some time until she could get the relic in her hand and draw up its power.
She tugged one glove off. The cool snow buried her fingertips. “So you’ve known all along about the Hunters?”
Darby’s eyes glowed with malice. “Of course I have. Kings have known of this portal for centuries and I suggested the idea to King Jasper.”
“But how would you know that I’d go through the portal? Did you hear the prophecy too?” Damn, this prophecy seemed less of a secret and more like a well-known statement at this point.
“Jasper trusted me enough to tell me the prophecy, and after he thought about the humans who crossed through the portal, he began to realize the prophecy pointed to twin witches. I assumed the Goddess would mark them out as a warning, and I was correct in my predictions. Once I shared this knowledge, he trained the Hunters to seek you out.”
Avery’s mind was rattling. How could Darby have deceived them so thoroughly? How was she even capable of such lies?
“I thought you were loyal to Savine? You’ve betrayed him by working for Jasper all these years!” Her frustration mounted, but she didn’t stop working on her bigger purpose: getting herself free. She twisted her arms and shifted enough for the heavy fur coat to fall to the side. The pocket was almost in line with her hand.
“Iamloyal to King Savine. I never wanted anything more than to see his mother happy and free. She never had that privilege, and now supporting her son as king is my gift back to her. Jasper was a terrible, cruel ruler. But, once Savine fled, I never let Jasper doubt my loyalty to him. I knew my job was to secure a place for Savine to return to. That included keeping it safe fromanythreat, even a disastrous match with a human like you. Now it’s time to be rid of you forever.”
Before Avery could respond, Darby motioned to the Hunters behind her. Their grasp on Avery was tight as she twisted and tried to get loose, but there was no way she could get out of this.
The portal’s high-pitched hum grew louder. Avery gulped the last few breaths of air in Aeritis, trying as she could to wriggle enough to knock the relic out of the coat pocket.
Just as she was ready to give up hope, the wooden bowl fell to the blanket of snow below.
Chapter 42
Morgan
Morgan’s eagan banked to the right and began its descent into Orofine. Its golden-brown wings tipped so far that she worried she could roll out of her saddle. But she held tight, even as her heart thudded against her chest and her stomach churned with worry. She knew Rylo needed help, and she was willing to seek it for him. After all, it was the least she could do for him. She also wanted to see Avery. Knowing Avery was here, Avery wasQueen,that was the only thing keeping her from panicking as she flew into the land where she was only known for murdering their former monarch.
As they flew lower, Morgan noticed guards on the expansive treehouse, drawing bows and arrows toward their eagans. The archers didn’t hesitate as they released their arrows into the sky.
“Susan!” Morgan shouted. Morgan let her magic build up into her fingertips as she released her shadows out into the early morning sky. Darkness roiled out of her as Susan let out a wall of water, crashing against the arrows.
The eagan Morgan rode let out a piercing scream as it made its descent to the ground below. Guards were gathered at the same place she landed during the last time she came to Orofine.
Suddenly, Susan’s voice boomed out as if she were using a microphone. So she had been practicing new spells without Morgan.
“We come seeking peace as emissaries of King Rylo. We are here to see Queen Avery on urgent business. Do not attack us and we will have no reason to harm you.”
Morgan gritted her teeth. Her eagan landed with a graceful swoop. She looked up, expecting to be surrounded by guards, but they all hung back as they made way for one man she’d recognize anywhere to make his way through his warriors.
Savine walked with a confidence that made Morgan roll her eyes. He was wearing a thick fur coat and leather pants. His leather boots barely sank into the fresh snow that covered the flat expanse in front of the treehouse palace.
“Morgan and Susan, what a surprise.” His tone was as cold as the frosty wind on her face.
