Wrenley raises the bow. Faustrius stiffens.
Dayton moves in front of Farron, but Fare steps aside and glares at Sira. “You will not like what happens if you shoot that arrow at me.”
A smile curves on her lips. “You may have stolen a piece of our magic, princeling, but you’ll fall as easily as any mortal to the Bow of Radiance.”
“I’ll retrieve Kairyn,” I say, then to my mates in our minds:Trust me. I have a plan.
“Be quick, little dove,” Sira sneers. “If you tarry too long, you might return to one fewer high prince.”
I run. A guard, no doubt sent by Keldarion, trails me as we descend deep into the dungeon.
Kairyn stands in his cell, knuckles wrapped tight around bars. “She’s here, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” I say solemnly.
I thought my mind would clear when I laid eyes on Wrenley again. I’d feel justified in my righteous anger or be flooded with forgiveness. Instead, my heart feels like it’s thumping with a thousand different rhythms. Is that even my sister when she’s being controlled so cruelly?
But the emotions that play across Kairyn’s face—his strange, new face—are easy to read.
Confusion, pain, relief, but most of all…love.
“Is she okay?” he asks.
“No, none of us are,” I tell him. “But if you trust me, I have a way we can save your mate.”
Kairynand I return to the throne room, his hands chained before him. He drew a hood up to cover his horns.
He didn’t believe it at first—that they could be mates, that there is great power within that connection. We only had the short walk up from the dungeon for any explanation.
I hope it’s enough. We have one shot.
“You do know how to take orders.” Sira raises a brow and gestures for Wrenley to lower the bow.
I stay close to Kairyn as we approach the throne, studying my sister’s expression, looking for a flicker of any sign she realizes Kai is in the room with us. Faustrius walks toward him.
“Remarkable,” he murmurs. “He survived. So strong. I sense the power radiating within him.”
“Alright, you’ve seen your new pet,” Sira says. “Back to what’s truly important.”
Gently, I nudge Kairyn. It’s time.
“What would you have of us, Sira?” I say, drawing her attention.
“Finally, someone with reason.” Sira claps her hands together. “Did blowing a hole through the Summer Prince get you to understand how precarious a position you’re in?”
“I’m listening,” I say.
Sira stands, the ends of her dress melting into smoking shadows that roll down the stairs in a fog. “You can watch one by one as your mates are killed by the Bow of Radiance, or you can kneel and swear fealty to me.”
“Even if we kneel, our people will never accept you as queen,” Farron spits.
“Well, you’ll have to try hard to make them. I’m not so naive as to trust any of your words. Those of the Below know all too well how the surface dwellers will never accept us.” Sira casts a look at Faustrius. “This is how it’s going to go,” she continues. “You kneel and swear a bargain to obey and worship me as queen of all the Enchanted Vale. Any treason would result in the death of your mate, Rosalina, who will be the first to bind herself to me.”
“You’re mad,” Keldarion growls. “That is a fate far worse than any death.”
“I’ll kneel,” I say.
Immediately, my mind is filled with my mates’ protests, but I reply,Trust me, before I block them out.
