“In return for my patience and generosity, the soldiers are mine.”
“W-what will you do with them?” I stammered, desperately glancing at Hippolyta, whose mouth had formed a hard, resolute line.
Titania’s answer sent a shiver down my spine. “I learned long ago that fear is the only way to keep humans out of the Arden, and so…I willmakethem afraid.”
I looked at the prisoners, clutching onto each other in terror. People who had been wrongfully taken from their homes and stripped of their dignity, then used as pawns in whatever sick game Johar and Osric Scarlett thought they were playing. Even Helena, the Prince’s own daughter. I could not even comprehend a man who had no love for his child, who would imprison and abuse her, then send her to be devoured by the forest. If I had believed him to be corrupt before, now I knew him to be truly evil.
Then, my eyes shifted to the Iron Fist—healthy, well-fed young men whohadto have known what sort of cargo they were transporting. Men who could have chosen any other profession besides aiding a false Prince in his reign of terror. Men who could have liberated their prisoners and helped them to safety before we even arrived, but chose not to. Locksley Abbey had taught me that every life held value, that mercy and forgiveness were my duty. But when I looked at Quince again, when I thought about poor, sweet Lidy, murdered in the streets for the crime of being a sick child, rage poured through me like molten iron. I remembered Devil’s words from that day in the clearing:Stop following rules that no longer apply to you. Embrace your desires.
I was no longer Marina of Locksley, but nor was I a daughter of the Arden. At least, not yet. The Abbey’s lessons, their rules, were all but worthless in my new world, and the only desire I felt now was for justice—a reckoning for every atrocity the Iron Fist had committed against my friends, my people.
“Very well,” I said, pulling my shadows away. “You can have the men, and the wagons. But I take the gold, and the prisoners. Two of whomwillbe staying in the Arden, confined to the Hollow, and under my protection.”
Titania glared and asked, “Which two?”
“Celia.” I nodded toward where she stood with Larch. “And this girl.”
Helena looked up at me, her big, blue eyes full of fear and confusion.
“Who is she to you?”
“She has ties to the royal family, and could have information pertaining to Simeon’s investigation. You want to protect the Arden’s magyk? You will let her stay, at least for the time being.” I folded my arms, signalling that it was my final offer, and prayed Titania would relent.
“And the human gold?”
“It will be used to help these people, and others in Nottingham,” I said curtly. “That is all you need know.” There was a long, tense silence, where the only sounds were Helena’s soft sniffles and the anxious snorting of the draft horses. Heat radiated from Devil’s hand where it pressed into the small of my back. I desperately wanted to seek reassurance by taking his hand, but stayed stock still. When I glanced at Hippolyta, she gave me a tiny, affirming nod, then gently touched Titania’s shoulder and said something in the fay language. Titania listened closely, keeping her eyes on me.
“We have a bargain,” said the faerie queen at last, putting her hand out. I took it hesitantly and there was a subtle flash of light, then she turned abruptly and walked away.
“Get them all out of here quickly,” Hippolyta muttered before following her.
But I could hardly move, wondering what I’d just agreed to. Luckily, Devil did not share my existential crisis, and began barking orders. Aliena shepherded the prisoners over to the second wagon, where they were directed to climb inside and sit amongst the chests of gold. I kept one eye on Titania and her soldiers, who were dragging the unconscious guards around to the back of the empty wagon and throwing them unceremoniously inside. While Jon helped Aliena onto the officer’s palfrey, and the rest of Devil’s friends began melting back into the trees, Larch and Celia climbed into the driver’s seat of the wagon we were taking.
“May, we should leave,” said Devil quietly as Titania’s wagon, which her soldiers had now sealed closed, began echoing with muffled voices. The guards were beginning to wake up, I realized, and I shook my head.
“No. Whatever she does now is on my shoulders, so I…I have to watch.”
“Then I’ll stay with you.” Devil waved to Larch, who just nodded and snapped the reins. Looking dour, Jon led Aliena’s horse and they all moved away along the deer track, heading for the safety of the Hollow with Quince, Helena, and the other prisoners.
I watched them go for a moment before turning back toward the other wagon. Titania stood in front of the four horses, using her magyk to weave some sort of barrier behind them. My stomach lurched violently when I saw one of her fay soldiers painting words onto the lead horse’s flank with what appeared to be ahelmet full of blood. Slowly, holding tight to Devil’s hand, I moved forward so I could read Titania’s message:
The Arden suffers no man.
Her soldiers finally stepped back, looking solemn, as she pressed her forehead to the nose of each horse, whispering words I could not make out. The animals began to walk slowly along the track, heading south of their own accord, and I released the breath I’d been holding. But before I could turn away, before I could feel any kind of relief, a vast fireball erupted beneath the wagon, and the screams began.
Chapter forty-two
Utterly & Absolutely
The sounds of earlyevening filtered into my room on a cool breeze—the patter of light raindrops, a few notes of faint birdsong, and the softwhooshof Devil’s wings as he landed on my balcony. A moment later, his warm hand slid up my back, then over my shoulder, and he laid down behind me on the bed. When his arm wrapped around my middle, I covered it with mine and leaned back into him, but kept my eyes closed.
“How do you feel today?” he murmured against my neck.
“Better…I think.”
“Are you ready?”
“No.”
