“I’m not being claimed,” Kaelan said.
Honey’s eyes began to leak again.
“I don’t want to claim you,” Magda said. “Remember? I promised. And I keep my word.”
“You don’t have to claim him. You promised your mother wouldn’t claim one until you became Radiant anyway. The family knows this,” Damion said. “But so long as you have a Prince by your side, the family will have no choice but to support you.”
“There are ways, Damion, you know that,” she said. “If they really don’t want me—”
“Do you think anyone really supports Lavana?”
“I don’t know. God, I hate this. I’ve been back home less than a week and I’ve already been tortured and starved and stalked... and nymph-slapped.”
“I’m not agreeing to this,” Kaelan said.
“You must,” Honey said. “She can protect you. And if she becomes Radiant, then she will have a chance at the Crown. The Elf King wants you dead. The only way you’ll be safe now is with your own kind.”
He clasped her hands between his. Magda bit her cheek and turned away. If the Elf King really was hunting Kaelan, for whatever reason, then it was all the more dangerous for him to be with her. Combing the brambles as the sunlight gave over to starlight, she saw no movement except for ghostly fairy flashes. But she hadn’t seen Endreas before either. If he was eavesdropping now, it was too late. He would already know Kaelan was the one his father was searching for. That is, if Kaelan was the one prophesied, which she wasn’t entirely convinced was true.
“Where is this Ouda?” she asked.
“She wouldn’t see you,” Honey said, nose wrinkling.
“We don’t have time,” Damion said. “We have to find the Enneahedron.”
“I want to speak to Ouda too,” Kaelan said. “I refuse to believe that I am no longer safe. Lavana’s capturing me doesn’t mean anything. I was not being careful...”
Honey was shaking her head, but he grasped her arms.
“I love you. Nothing will change that.”
“You’re fooling yourself, Prince,” Damion said. “No offense, nymph.”
Magda resisted the urge to smack him. “Damion—”
“Stay out of this,” Kaelan snapped at Damion.
“You think that you love this bee-weed?” Damion flung his hand at Honey.
Honey’s lower lip trembled.
“Damion,” Magda said more strongly.
“Fine.” Damion said. “Let him find out the hard way.”
“Find out what?” Honey said.
Magda put her hand on Damion’s chest. “Don’t—”
“You are very pretty,” Damion said to the nymph. “But you are no Rae. And you never will be.”
“That’s enough.” Magda gave him a firm push.
Honey wrapped her arms around her slender waist, hanging her head.
“Where is this Ouda?” Magda asked.
“Not far from here,” Kaelan said, matching her tone. “To the west.”
