“How could you say that?” I spat.
Erissa shot me a warning look. “Quiet, girl.”
All this time, Lukas said nothing, choosing instead to stare blankly at his goblet, as if he’d heard all this before. It took everything within me to not reach for his hand across the table, but Arenn’s heavy palm pressing into my thigh served as a reminder for what would happen if I tried.
“It’s strange,” Lyssandra mused as she rested her chin in her palm. “I thought I’d feel happy once Ikelos was dead… But instead, I feel—” she yawned again – “empty and…” Her eyes flickered shut for a moment before they snapped open. “What?” she gasped, snatching her goblet. “What isss in this w-wine?” But I could hardly understand the slurry mess of words that fell out of her mouth.
Erissa grinned wildly. “Special Corlixin sleeping powder. Courtesy of dear Naria’s medicine collection.” She tossed me awink.
“You poisoned me?” Lyssandra whimpered, clutching at her throat.
“Oh no, dear,” Erissa chuckled. “I take some every night to help me sleep. I just gave you about five nights’ worth.”
Five nights wouldn’t kill her, though she’d probably spend the next few days in bed.
I blinked as the realisation in my mind washed away some of the rage. So that was why she poured the wine onto the floor… A distraction?
“I truly am grateful that you murdered my husband,” Erissa carried on. “It feels like a weight the size of the realm has lifted off my shoulders. But I’m afraid I can’t have you killing my son. As much as he’s always reminded me ofhim, my son is innocent, and so is Princess Naria.”
“I was never… going to… hurt her.” Lyssandra’s head lolled with sleep.
“Oh Lyssi,” the Faery Queen wept. “Whatever happened to my sweet baby girl?”
When her eyelids finally fluttered shut and her body slumped back in her chair, a silence fell over us all. But it lasted for barely a moment before King Bevan shot out of his seat.
“Guards!” he barked, as several faery men rushed into the room. “Take Lyssandra to a spare bedchamber. Bind her with iron chains – make sure they are iron!” he insisted. “And then lock the door. I want at least two guards outside her room at all times.”
“Yes, sir!” The guards obeyed, swiftly lifting the sleeping faery out of her chair.
The King then swept his gaze over to his son, who was lounging lazily in his seat beside me.
“Arenn, go with them,” King Bevan ordered. “See to it that they bind her in the correct chains. We can’t risk her using any ofher abilities again.”
“Can’t you just trust your own guards?” Arenn complained, reluctantly heaving himself out of the dining chair.
The King shook his head. “We can’t let there be any more mistakes. Your mother and I didn’t know how strong she was before. But we’ve all seen it now. She has the Divine Gift, and more power than any of us. The whole realm will suffer if she overwhelms us for a second time.”
I didn’t have a chance to ask what he possibly meant by ‘Divine Gift’ as Arenn huffed and then offered his hand out to me. “Let’s go, human.”
At his words, Lukas shot up, now free of the chains that had bound him before. “She’s not going anywhere with you,” he stated, anger biting at his tone.
“I suggest you sit back down, princeling,” Arenn growled.
“My father is dead,” Lukas answered coldly, “therefore I am no longer a prince.”
Arenn scoffed. “Prince or not, Naria and I are still engaged. By faery law, that means Iownher.” I opened my mouth to protest, but one sharp look from the faery prince forced my lips to clamp shut.
Lukas was silent for a few breaths before he turned to glare at King Bevan. “Today your daughter murdered a king,” he started, his voice strong. “When the other rulers find out – and they will find out – they will send their armies. You might be fae, but there are at least ten times more humans. Your strength is no match for our numbers.” His eyes narrowed. “So let me offer you a deal, from one king to another.” Pausing, he marched over to the Faery King, only stopping when he was mere inches away. Despite being at least half his age, Lukas towered over him. “I will tell the rulers that Ikelos died from his curse. I will tell them that we travelled here to search for a cure and that you all tried your very best, but there was nothing you could do. You cankeep Lyssandra. Forges know you’re probably the only ones who can contain her anyway. But in return, I need your army to help dispose of the goblins, and,” Lukas paused, his jaw tightening, “Naria will return home to Drothmore, with me.”
“Absolutely not!” Arenn thundered.
Ignoring his son’s protests, the Faery King stroked his beard in thought. “How long will you require our army for?”
“No more than a day,” Lukas replied. “The goblins are cowards. They’ll flee at the slightest whiff of faery magic.”
King Bevan nodded as my heart raced so fast it could’ve burst from my chest. “Then we have a deal.”
“Father!” Arenn’s jaw almost hit the floor. “You can’t let him take her from me! I am your son and she ismybetrothed, does that mean nothing to you?”
