The tiniest thought appeared in my mind:What if Eira’s plan worked?
What if Calista was de-throned? Imprisoned? What if she was prevented from ever controlling people again?
If I were truly free… what would I do with that freedom? As much as I wanted to disappear in my cottage in the mountains, I somehow knew I couldn’t run away. Not when Ihad seen just how cruel Calista could be. Not when I knew that humans and unseelie were suffering so much.
“I’m sorry,” I said again, more solemnly this time. “You’re right. I’ve been a complete ass. I will… try to be better. I promise.”
Dangerous words to utter around Eira. But this time, I meant them. I wasn’t making a bargain out of necessity or coercion.
I wanted to be different from Calista. Different from my father.
Eira nodded, her expression still tight. “Thank you. And… If we make it through this alive, I promise not to have you executed.” She made a face, then added, “Well, at least not immediately.”
I snorted. “Wow. What a generous gift.”
“I know. I’ll make such a magnanimous queen.”
“Can you two please leave?” Mauro growled. He was reclined in the snow with his paws covering his snout. “I’m not sure I can endure another second of this.”
Before Mauro could make another comment about flirting, I nodded and jerked my head toward the woods. “Let’s go. We’ll assemble our glamour on the way.” I cocked an eyebrow. “Unless you still don’t trust me.”
She eyed me up and down with pursed lips. “We’ll see.”
With that, she strode past me with a jaunty lilt to her step, Frisk trotting beside her. My eyes were drawn to the sway of her hips, and something hot burned in my chest. Had her curvesalwayslooked that appealing? And had she always walked like that?
Realizing I was staring, I averted my gaze and hurried after her and Frisk.
Frisk kept watch ahead of our steps and warned us when we got close, but it was unnecessary. Even from a distance, we could make out the hurried footsteps and cacophony of voices that echoed through the trees. I knew the village of Tolston well; I had often traveled through it on my journeys. Ordinarily, it was a humble, quiet hamlet.
But as Eira and I approached the edge of the wood, the village was almost unrecognizable. The buildings and cobblestone roads were the same, but the area was filled with soldiers in full armor, swords and metal clinking as they walked, barking orders at the townsfolk. Villagers bustled about, hurrying out of the way of the militia men. Soldiers burst into homes without warning, tossing belongings about as if searching for something.
I exchanged an alarmed look with Eira.She banished me because I stole something from her.Was that what the soldiers were looking for?
More importantly, why did they think the stolen object washere? Had word spread that Eira was making her way to the palace? If so, wouldn’t the soldiers have tried to intercept us on the mountain?
Something wasn’t right.
“Glamour,” I muttered to Eira.
She nodded and withdrew behind me, most likely to hide her secretive magic. But it was just as well; I would prefer her to remain behind me anyway.
I searched within myself for my magic, which had grown sleepy and dormant from disuse during our days of travelingthrough mountains and forests. A low hum emitted from within my chest, and I focused on it, drawing it out. My skin prickled as I donned my most comfortable glamour—that of a tall, stocky farmer with sandy hair and tan, calloused skin. This was the glamour I often wore when traversing through Tolston. In fact, some of the villagers would likely recognize me.
That could work in our favor, if I was a trusted townsperson.
I glanced behind me, but the princess was nowhere to be found. Eyes wide, I scanned the trees behind me. She and the fox had completely disappeared.
What the hell?
“I’m here, hunter.” Something sharp flicked my nose, and I winced.
“Damn you,” I grumbled, and her chuckle echoed in my ears. I wanted to stay and scrutinize her glamour—blood and ice, how did she do that?—but we needed to move quickly. “How far away is your contact?”
“Stella lives on the other side of the village,” Eira whispered.
Well, shit. “Is she expecting us?”
“Yes. But we have a contingency plan in place for situations like this, when things get dicey.”
