“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Anya. Yours?”
“George,” the man replied. “George O’Connell.”
Anya smiled that knowing smile once again before turning her beast and striding off across the horizon. George could not look away, not even after she became nothing more than a tiny dot amid the dunes.
He had the very distinct feeling his life would never be the same.
CHAPTER 1
Dayton
Damocles would never have let this happen.
When my brother was High Prince of Summer, the streets of Hadria were filled with laughter. Stalls were packed with fresh fruit, clothes, and pottery, and sand would settle between the cracks of the cobblestone streets from fae returning after a day of swimming in the turquoise ocean.
Dried blood is the only thing that stains the stone now. Probably from someone who was beaten last night for disobeying theEmperor’smandatory curfew.
Throwing up my hood, I dart out of the alley and onto the main strip. There’s a flow of fae heading toward the Sun Colosseum. Those without necessary jobs are required to attend the games.
Kairyn’s games.
The thought makes me sick.
The air feels thick as soup and sweat drips down my brow. Between the cramped rows of people, it’s nearly suffocating.
“Keep moving,” calls one of the armed guards lining the streets.
Kairyn doesn’t have his toxic plants here to control the people of Summer. He’s probably too far away from his realm for that magic to work. But a few thousand Spring soldiers, former Queen’s Army, a fleet of airships, and an entire horde of fuckinggoblinswill do the job just the same.
“Clear the streets,” one of the goblins calls. “Emperor Kairyn is coming. Clear the streets!”
Fae scurry away from them in fear. Goblins, creatures of the Below, now dictate orders tomypeople.
Gritting my teeth, I follow the crowd and make my way to the Sun Colosseum. Its tall columns rise before me like a mountain. I duck behind one of the huge marble pillars. I know I should get back to my lodgings, but it’s so different now without Farron. With justher—
“Prince Daytonales,” a voice hisses. I turn to another cloaked figure and pull them deeper into the shadows.
“Not so loud, Claudius.”
“Apologies, m’lord,” Claudius says. He’s a young fae with dark hair and a cunning smile. He runs one of the fish stalls on the wharf, which are still allowed to operate, though it’s a cover for his other activities. One of my few contacts in the city, Claudius is a dealer of secrets and he has become invaluable to me these last few months. “Another update on your sister. A sailor reports that he saw her ship around Veritas Bay, not two days past.”
My relief at Delphia being sighted alive mixes with the worry of her being so close to the capital.Don’t come back, Delphie. There’s nothing you can do.Stars, there’s nothing I can do.
We learned that Delphia had escaped with Farron’s sister, Eleanor, when Kairyn first attacked the city. Reports said they initially tried to fight back, but between his fleet of airships and three armies, Summer hadn’t stood a chance.
Not to mention, Summer doesn’t have a High Prince on the throne.
My throat tightens as I ask the next question. “Any news on the Golden Rose?”
Claudius tilts his head, giving me a sad smile. “Nothing besides the whispers of hope. There have been no sightings and the guards won’t talk. If she’s in Summer, it’s a place even I don’t know about.”
My heart constricts. When we first left Spring months ago, Farron had been able to follow the tug of his mate bond in the direction of Summer, but then the pull had suddenly vanished.
He doesn’t think she’s dead. We know Kairyn and his crony, the Nightingale, have used suppressant magic like this before but the scary thing is, he hasn’t felt a flicker, not for the three months we’ve been here.
My hands curl into fists.I’ll find you, Rosie. I promise.
