I knew Castletree was weak, but how can we be losing an entire wing? Could it have been the Prince of Thorns? Did he sense Dayton’s magic was diminished and launch an attack?
Then, as if he can read my mind, a tangle of thorns sprouts in the entrance hall. The Prince of Thorns appears. But he’s not alone. His slender fingers grip tight to the arm of …
Keldarion.
“What is going on?” the High Prince of Winter growls.
There is only one way to fix this.
Fire licks up my arms as I stalk forward. “The Summer Wing is collapsing, and it’s his fault!”
I lunge at Caspian, but Keldarion steps between us. “No, it’s not.” He grips Caspian roughly by the back of the neck, pulling him close. “I know you’ve been using your thorns to keep Castletree standing. Now, save it.”
Caspian’s expression goes from startled to wistful as he stares across at Kel, then drops his eyes to the storm that is Rosie. “I can try. But it’s not going to be easy.”
“When is anything involving you easy?” Keldarion says almost softly.
Softly, in a tone I haven’t heard directed at Caspian in over twenty-five years.
“This is such a fucking mess.” Caspian stalks forward and rolls up his sleeves. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him look so angry, his face contorted in a sharp scowl before shifting into a wide-eyed stare. His gaze is trained on Wrenley. “Housing Kairyn’s acolytes now, are we? I thought I was the only monster allowed in Castletree.”
Wrenley says nothing as she watches the Prince of Thorns with an almost bemused expression on her face.
Caspian makes it to the top of the stairs in two bounds, and his eyes widen as he stares down the corridor of Summer. He stretches out his hand, perspiration dotting his brow. “I can’t keep it standing. It’s too far gone. All I can do is buy you a little time.”
Castletree shakes, and another torrent of water rushes from the Summer Wing.
“Dayton!” I yell.
Caspian grits his teeth, thorns coming up to twine around his legs and keep him steady. He curls his fingers, lavender eyes closing.
Is what Kel said true? Have Caspian’s thorns been helping us all this time? The thought is so wild I can barely process it.
There’s a growl, and the Summer Wolf rushes out, laden with more staff. His legs shake and he collapses.
“Is that everyone?” I yell.
“I think so,” Eldy calls back, looking over Marigold’s shoulder as she makes furious checkmarks on her notepad.
“Farron, help!” Astrid is in front of me, holding Zearia. A nasty gash runs down her leg, bleeding fast.
“Lay her down.” I kneel on the ground, trying to steady my breath and concentrate on the healing magic Ezryn taught me.
Keldarion runs over to me, gaze fixed on Rosalina. “Tell me what happened.”
“Rosalina and Dayton just arrived. And … we were talking—” My words jumble as soon as they leave my mouth. “Rosalina just fell to her knees like this. I don’t understand what’s happening to her. The Summer Wing started to collapse. Dayton’s magic is so weak, perhaps that’s why.”
“This isn’t just the Summer Prince’s weakness,” Caspian snarls from the top of the stairs. “The Queen created Castletree. Rosalina’s magic is affecting it.”
“How is that possible?”
Keldarion steps toward her. “Because Rosalina is the Queen’s daughter.”
CHAPTER 17
Rosalina
I’m back in my prison, being swept out into the open sea. I’ve never been lost in a storm this wild.
