I’m pulled up by my arms. Ropes are roughly bound around my wrists. Two guards heave Dayton up. “Careful with him. He’s injured.” The soldiers ignore me.
“Take them to the dungeon,” Princess Niamh orders. She turns, her dark red cape snapping in the moonlight. “And kill the beast.”
“That is your son!” Kel cries. “That beast is Farron. You cannot kill him—”
Niamh’s face flashes with heartbreak and horror. “If this is true,” Niamh says quietly, “then he has fallen to darkness. He is a shame to his people. To his home. To me.” Her eyes shine and her lip quivers. “I wish I had never passed on Autumn’s Blessing, for then such evil would never have come to Autumn. With his death, I could take back the Blessing to protect our realm.”
The wolf trembles, its own eyes blazing. Then it sprints away from the burnt library.
One of the soldiers raises a bow, arrow notched, but Niamh waves him down. “Let the beast go. We will hunt it in due time.” She turns and stares at us. “We have enough executions to worry about.”
66
Rosalina
“Oh!Ican’twatch!”Astrid throws her hands over her face. “Describe what’s happening.”
“Well,” Marigold leans her busty body over the balcony, “everything is particularly icy. And, oh dear….” Her voice drops sensually. “Oh my my my.”
“What could possibly make you say that?” I run up beside them.
“The master and the other princes… They’re being handcuffed.”
“Marigold!” Astrid scolds.
“What? I can’t help it. Danger really gets the juices flowing, if you know what I mean.”
“Marigold,” I sigh, “wealwaysknow what you mean.”
But hey, we all deal with terrible situations in our own way, and I’m not one to judge. Because this is the most terrible of all terrible situations. Farron has fled, and the princes are in chains.
A clattering sounds from outside my room. After Kel literally jumped off our balcony, I felt my energy return slightly. I’m not sure if it was because of whatever fire passed between our mate bond or if my body kicked me with a shot of adrenaline, but I’m grateful for the boost.
Cracking the door, I peer out into the living chambers. A host of guards searches the area. They bust into Ezryn’s room. I quickly close the door and lock it, though I doubt that’ll do any good.
“I think you’re about to change your opinion on handcuffs, Marigold,” I hiss, “because we’re about to be in some.”
“Oh goodie.” She winks, then frowns. “Though it’s not as fun if I’m clothed.”
“We need to think. We won’t be able to help anyone if we’re caught.”
“Marigold and I can turn into our animals to hide,” Astrid suggests.
“That might work for a bit.” I kneel and place a palm on the floor, trying to feel for the thorns. If only I hadn’t forgotten my crown on Caspian’s betraying head. They felt so easy to connect to in the Below and at Castletree. But Castletree was already rife with briars, and there had to be some reserve of power in the Below I was pulling on, a supply I can’t reach here.
My hands drift over the rose necklace at my breast. Maybe…
A commotion sounds outside the door: the clash of metal, a guard crying out, the clunk of armor hitting the ground. Astrid and Marigold both gasp. My heart pounds, but I steel myself. “We have to see what’s going on—”
The door caves in. Astrid gives a loud peep and transforms into a white hare. I catch her in my arms.
But standing there isn’t the host of Autumn soldiers.
“Billy and Dom?” I gasp. “Papa?”
“Looked like you were in need of rescue.” Billy grins.
“Oh well, well, well.” Marigold bats her eyelashes. “I’ve always wanted to be saved by a strong hero.”
