“Hadria is lost, but so is Sira’s army,” Delphie says.
I strain, moving my stiff body to look out the round window. The airship hovers above the sea. Only the highest peaks of the Soltide Keep are visible above the waves.
“The people are safe,” Delphia says. “The sirens spoke to me. They’ve given them shelter in Aerantheis.”
“We’ll rebuild it, Del,” I say, touching her face. “I’ll call the sea back and our people will return. Hadria will feel the sun’s warmth once again.”
“I know, brother.” She curls into my embrace.
“The Huntresses have returned to their base,” Ezryn says. There’s an edge to his voice. “They await Summer’s command for our next move. They’ve promised their aid to those who serve the Golden Rose.”
“Our next move,” I repeat, and then it hits me all at once. I scan the room once again, but the desperate ache in my chest is confirmation enough. “Rosalina?”
“Sira took her,” Ezryn snarls.
More footsteps echo on the metal, and another figure strides in. Long black cape glistening, Caspian raises a brow at me, before turning to the group. “I have a way to get ourmate to safety, but you aren’t going to like it.”
Our mate?Ourmate? Rosalina is mated to a prince from each of the realms and the Below, while her own ancestry is that of the Above. The stars are cruel in their mischief.
Really, ofallpeople … it had to beCaspian?
The Prince of Thorns crosses to the window, gaze faraway. “I’ll tell you where you’ll find her. Fair warning, it’s going to be awfully cold. You might want to bundle up.”
CHAPTER 122
Caspian
Mother doesn’t intend to lose her little Rose again. She’s crafted a cell deep in the Below for the daughter of the Queen. Long rows of metal bars seal her away in a cavern made of crystals that shine blue, pink, and purple.
Sira hasn’t infected these ones with the Baron’s magic yet, though I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Regardless, they do a good enough job of leeching magic. I barely feel a whisper of my shadows this deep, never mind trying to summon a thorn here.
My heart races. I don’t have much time. When Sira next visits the Baron, will he reveal what Farron and I have done? Does she already suspect?
Rosalina sits with her head in her hands, long brown hair spread before her. She wears only a short white shift, feet bare.
Hands in my pockets, I stand before the entrance to her cage. “Hello, Princess.”
Rosalina lifts her head, and her gaze softens as she looks at me. She scrambles to the bars and wraps her hands around them. “Cas, you came. Tell me, please. I feel Dayton again. How is it possible? Am I going mad?”
Nausea roils in my stomach. “Farron saved him.”
Though saved isn’t the word I would use forthat.
Relief paints Rosalina’s face, and she rests her head against the bars. “Oh, thank god.”
“Anyway,” I say, placing my stolen key in the lock of her cell, “I’m here to rescue you.”
Rosalina steps back as I enter. She raises a curved brow. “Forgive me, Cas, but wouldn’t a rescue attempt have us leaving this cell?”
I close the door behind me. “Sira has a thousand guards stationed between here and where we’d first start to feel a semblance of magic.”
“Then how are we going to escape?” Rosalina says, breath wispy.
Lightly, I touch the frosted thorn bracelet at my wrist. “They say a bargain is one of the most powerful forms of magic in the world, and the stronger the love, the stronger the bargain. Rosalina, I did love Kel. I loved him like the night sky must love the moon, to have been denied forever the promise of sunlight, yet still get to gaze on something so bright. Even now, every part of me aches for him, even though our love has always been a constellation of unattainable dreams. I love him because of it and despite it.”
Her lips part, and she takes a step toward me, lightly touching the bargain bracelet. “You believe that love is strong enough to reach even down here? Strong enough to send me to Winter?”
“Yes.” I drop my forehead to hers. “We can do it however you like. I don’t think we’d even have to take off our clothes and—”
