Dying in three days was really the most likely scenario. Daneira had no motivation to release me, and I would not marry her. Besides finding her entirely repulsive, I was already married. And I refused to do anything to jeopardize Auria’s access to my magic.
A few hours later, a soft set of footsteps tapped on the stone corridor. A maid walked right up to the door in front of me. She was taller than most maids, had adark mole above her left eyebrow, and radiated magic. She had to be a high noble—no other fae would possess so much power.
But she curtsied like a maid and met my eyes. “Her Majesty, Queen Daniera, insists you maintain your strength so you are not withered for your wedding.” She extended her hands through the bars. One held a goblet with some kind of wine and the other held a small platter with a chicken wing on it. Her slender wrist fit through the bars easily, but she had to tip the plate to get it past the prison door.
I would not eat the food. I’d ratherwitherthan be poisoned. “I will be dead in three days. I have no motivation to eat or drink first.”
She lifted her hands higher. “Nevertheless, the queen insists.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I could grab your wrists, trap you against this prison door, and refuse to let go until you provide a key.”
She set the plate and goblet on the ground. “It wouldn’t work, even if I had a key on me.”
“Of course not,” I muttered to myself. “I’m magically bound.”
“And I’m magically protected,” she retorted.
Magically protected? I raised a brow. That was different.
She snapped her finger and a flicker of flame danced on her hand.
I lowered my eyes. “Why is a high noble posing as a maid? Did you think I would not notice?”
She pointed her gaze at my wrists. “You are wearing magic-cancelling cuffs.”
I lifted my chains up in front of her. “They block my ability to use magic, not my awareness of it in you. Are you here to poison me?”
She fisted her hand, and the flames disappeared. “My story is my own. The queen sent me with your victuals. Enjoy.”
She stood up and marched away. Her refusal to answer my last question told me everything I needed to know about myvictuals.I dumped the drink out and shoved the meat between the bars before hunger drove me to try either of them.
Chapter 29: Auria
North Wind ran like the wind. Maybe it was his unicorn heritage, but I felt perfectly safe in his saddle, despite the fact that he ran so fast that my cloak hood and hair flew behind me, whipping behind us. South Wind ran a few paces to our right, just as fast.
The wind was terrible, but my horse radiated heat. I leaned closer to his body and spent the hours trying to think of a bargain or a challenge that I could beat a fae queen at. When the sun was well past its height, the inside of my thighs started burning. I tried sliding my hand in between my leg and the saddle like a cushion, but it didn’t help. I leaned forward and touched North Wind’s back. “Can we stop for a short break?”
A few paces later, he stopped.
Ivodar pulled up next to me. “Is there a problem, my lady?”
I shook my head. “No, I just need to stretch. I—” My face flushed. Was this a normal problem for riding?
“You’re sore.” Ivodar figured it out.
I winced and nodded.
“That’s to be expected. Grab your salve, and I’ll help you down.”
Brielle’s salve! It all made sense now. I pulled it out of the bag and jumped off North Wind at the same time Ivodar hopped down. I landed in a crouch—apainful crouch—and straightened up. “I can jump down. It’s mostly just falling. I might need help getting back up, though.”
Ivodar nodded and turned away from me. “Rub that cream anywhere that’s sore. I’ll grab a snack while we’re stopped.”
* * *
We were riding hard again in less than ten minutes. Every muscle in my body was tired, but Ivodar thought we would reach the footbridge by nightfall if we could maintain this pace. And that meant one more step closer to Bylur.
The hours passed in a blurry haze. I couldn’t think about bargains and challenges anymore because my mind turned to mush. I’d just been awake for too long to do anything that required logic or reasoning skills. When North Wind stopped, I didn’t know if it was because he thought it was a good idea or if Ivodar had called out to him.
