“We went into the Dryad Realm,” I said.
“You did?”
I nodded. “There's something wrong there. There was a storm and Kane said storms don't normally happen and when we came back days had passed.”
“The king has visited the dryads, but it has never been for this long.”
“He was frantic when we returned. He said that time has changed again.”
I almost told her the rest of what I knew, but I kept those secrets to myself, unsure of how much I should share.
“Well, you're safe now,” Liora said, pulling away. “Are you hungry? Do you need anything?”
“It's only been a day for me. I'm fine.”
“Good. Then we should return you to your chambers at once.”
The door opened. Liora and I both turned to Gideon, who stood in the doorway, his face taut with worry. “I need to speak with the queen.”
“It's all right, Liora. I'll be out in a moment.”
She bowed and pulled her hood back up, cloaking herself as she slipped past Gideon and closed the door on her way out.
“You've been gone for days,” he whispered, rushing to my side.
“I know. What has happened?”
“Much.” He glanced back at the door before continuing. “The book you found explains everything.”
“What did you learn?”
“The Lich King was the one to make Kane immortal. I wasn't sure what it all meant at first. The note inside had spoken about a way to protect him, and then the book the note was in talked about phylactery gems. They are more rumors than truth, and how this book ended up in my aunt’s possession is a truth we will never learn, but… the gems are said to hold one’s soul, making them immortal.”
“Why would she leave that in her room?”
“I don’t know. In the hope Kane would learn the truth himself? If Kane’s immortality is connected to a phylactery, all we need to do is find the gem and we will have the power to control him. I've tried to use magic to find it but have been unsuccessful. My aunt would have hidden it where no one could find it.”
“Where?”
“I have an idea. I knew my aunt very well. She didn't trusteasily. Her inner circle was small, containing only her pixies, her head guard, Tallis, and the dryads.”
“You think it's in the Dryad Realm?”
“And now you know how to enter it. Kane said a phrase to open the gate. Do you remember it?”
Glancing at the candles and sculptures, I searched for a sign on what to do. Ella had warned me not to trust Gideon, but she had no loyalty to me. She would do anything to protect her king.
Still, things had changed between Kane and me.
I recalled that moment in the glass workshop. How gently he’d tended to my wounds, and how he had shared a part of himself, even though I didn’t think he intended to.
Could a monster save a fragile creature like Toki?
Or was his hatred strictly for humans and not fae?
Am I too eager to see the good when there may not be any?
That simmering hate for Kane had dimmed, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go behind his back. “Gideon… I don’t think I want to be a part of this anymore. The king and I—”
