“And that is?” Prentis prodded.
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
He sighed. “You’re going to have to tell Lady Axlya about all this anyway, if you want her to help. You might as well tell me first. In fact, I wish you had earlier, while we had more time. I could have given you advice, although I don’t know what I’d be giving you advice about. You haven’t even told me what you want her help with.”
My fingers itched with the urge to rake my hands through my hair, but I couldn’t muss it up, so I buried them in the layers of my skirt instead. “And you haven’t told me why you want to help me. In fact, you didn’t tell me you wanted to help me at all. You’re only taking me to Lady Axlya because she ordered you to.”
“Yes, but I’m not an idiot, Adara.” Prentis’s voice tightened with impatience. “You’ve killed the king of Ediria, and while your only ally is formidable in his own right—” he glanced out the window at Einar, who was riding alongside, wings tucked in against his back and hidden beneath a cloak, “—he’s not enough to protect you against the entire realm. You need the support of my house, of my aunt, if you want to take the throne.”
I laughed. “Who said I wanted the throne?”
Prentis gave me an incredulous look. “Are you saying that you don’t?”
We entered the tunnel then, briefly plunging the carriage into darkness. Grateful for the distraction, I turned to look out the window, not sure how to answer that. Light from the torches set in intervals along the tunnel walls streaked across my vision as I thought about how to answer Prentis’s question. The throne was obviously my birthright, and with Nox in possession of Kaipei and General Slaugh by her side, I knew taking it was my best chance to make sure it stayed out of the wrong hands. But at the same time, I knew I wasn’t qualified to rule a kingdom.
“It’s complicated,” I finally said, because that was the truth. What had started out as a mission to rescue my mother had turned into a quest to save the kingdom. I hadn’t counted on being embroiled in political machinations, or having to master new powers, or even fighting the king, never mind the shadow entity who had taken his place and stolen my mother’s body.
To my horror, tears began to sting at the corners of my eyes. I blinked hard, swallowing against my tightening throat, and Prentis’s gaze softened.
“I know it’s complicated,” he said gently. “And I know you must have been through a lot. Were you able to rescue your mother, at least? Was she still alive when you killed King Aolis? Who is she?”
“Her name is Gelsyne, and she is still alive, but I wasn’t able to help her.” I hung my head, the shame and horror of it all washing over me again. “And if Lady Axlya doesn’t help me, I will lose her forever.”
“Gelsyne?” Prentis echoed, sounding shocked. “Not the same Gelsyne who served as Olette’s lady-in-waiting?”
“The very same.” I gave him a shaky smile.
Prentis opened his mouth to ask more questions, but we emerged from the tunnel, light bursting in through the carriage windows once more. My heart beat faster as I pressed my face to the window, as close as I dared without ruining my makeup so I could watch as we rumbled through the castle gates. The gates were adorned with House Usciete’s crest—a waxing crescent moon with a wave drawn inside of it, and water droplets splashing out from its center. That same symbol was prevalent everywhere as we pulled into the bailey, including on the uniform of the footman who helped us out of the carriage.
“Welcome back, Lord Prentis,” a tall fae dressed in a household uniform greeted us. “Lady Axlya is pleased at your timely arrival.” His gaze flickered to me. “I take it this is the Lady Adara?”
“Yes,” Prentis said. “And her protector, Einar,” he added as Einar appeared at my elbow. “Adara, Einar, this is Roch, Castle Usciete’s steward. He will take care of your needs while you are here.”
“A pleasure.” The steward’s lips thinned as he glanced at Einar, taking in his golden eyes and clawed hands, but they curved into a solicitous smile when he turned to me. “Since you’re already dressed and ready, I’ll take the three of you to the audience chamber while the castle staff deliver your bags. Lady Axlya and the court are waiting for you.”
12
Dune
“Do you know why you’ve been summoned, cadet?”
Dune blinked, caught off guard by the question. He stood in the throne room at Kaipei Castle, hands clasped behind his back, trying not to shuffle his boots or show other signs of awkwardness as General Slaugh scrutinized him.
“I was only told I was needed for a sensitive mission, Sir,” he said honestly. His commander had received a missive at the training camp two nights ago, and the two of them had ridden hard, arriving at Kaipei only this morning. They’d barely handed off their horses before a guard had ushered Dune to the throne room, leaving his commander to cool his heels in the great hall.
Dune had to hide a smirk at that. The commander was already annoyed that he, a cadet who had been in the army for less than a week, had already been selected for an important mission. He had to be fuming out there at being kept completely out of the loop as to what the mission even entailed after riding at a breakneck pace to escort Dune here.
“Good,” the fae standing next to Dune murmured. “So no one knows about the nature of the mission, then.”
Dune startled as he got a good look at the fae. “Gelsyne?” he asked, voice pitched high in shock. Her coloring was different, and the outfit she wore was far more seductive than what he was used to seeing on her.
But there was no mistaking the fae who’d served as Fenwood’s healer for as long as he could remember. The last time he’d seen her, she’d been unconscious and in chains, in the custody of General Slaugh’s men.
“What—” he began to ask.
“Gelsyne has seen the error of her ways,” General Slaugh interrupted. “She thought she was doing the right thing by keeping Adara hidden, but now that Adara has murdered King Aolis in cold blood and thrown the kingdom in chaos, Gelsyne is committed to bringing her foster daughter to justice.”
“Too right,” Gelsyne said. She bowed her head, folding her hands against her thighs. “General Slaugh could have had me executed, and that would have been just and right. But he’s allowed me to serve the throne instead. I can only hope that I can make up for what Adara has done.”
