“Well don’t look too pleased to be rescued,” he laughed.
“All of my friends are still back there, trapped in a cell.” I threw my hands down. “And you just saved me? We have to go back, get them all out, then find Queen Cora so I can fix this mess.”
Arenn’s laughter slowed to a sigh. “You know we are not really going to visit the Queen, my love.”
“You’re right, we need to visit Prince Raphael first.” I tipped my chin up, thoughts racing through my mind. “I’ll need to confirm it’s fishpox, then we’ll have to start quarantining everyone until we can make enough of the cure. I’ll need you to conjure more plants for us too. Then Ivy and I can work together to make as much medicine as possible—” My lips slammed shut as Arenn snatched up my hand.
“Naria, are you even aware of the situation you are in?” He drew closer, his tone darkening. “Someone had you arrested. Had it not been for me, you’d still be in there.”
“Lukas would’ve come for me.”
“But Lukas is not here, is he?” His gaze hardened. “You are not safe here anymore, and I’ve had quite enough of sandy beaches.”
“I am safe. This whole situation was just a big misunderstanding,” I huffed, tearing myself from his grasp. “Queen Cora is probably just upset about her son. If I could just talk to her—”
Arenn’s sharp laughter cut me off. “You think your arrest was Queen Cora’s doing?” His words washed over me as I blinked slowly. “Kind, gentle Queen Cora would throw you into a dungeon? Really, Naria?”
“Who then?” My nose scrunched in confusion. “Who would do this?”
“Who do you think?” Arenn scoffed. “Perhaps a certain Hallshire Queen who saw Cora’s absence as a chance to dispose of a problematic princess? It’s quite easy to bribe guards.” He drew back, shrugging. “My sisters do it all the time.”
My lips parted. Would Marigold really stoop that low? “She did bribe guards on my first day to try and embarrass me,” I mumbled, more to myself.
“She did what?” Anger crossed his brow. “Now I’m really going to kill her.” Straightening, he snatched up my hand again. “We’ll deal with her now then leave for Faelenna.”
“I’m not leaving.” The words fell out on their own, but before he could reply, another set of footsteps filled the hallway.
“Hide,” Arenn hissed, shoving me towards the empty cell. Sucking in a breath, I darted inside, only to find myself coming straight back out again as I spotted Erik hurrying down the corridor.
“Erik!” I whisper-yelled.
The golden-haired guard whipped his head towards us, barely sparing Arenn a glance as he rushed towards me. “Where’s Raena?” he blurted. “How did you get out? I just got an order from Queen Cora to release you all. She said there’d been some terrible mistake.” His chest heaved as he spoke. “Prince Raphael is gravely ill, but neither she nor Ronan ordered for you all to be imprisoned. They’ve been with their son all evening.”
Arenn slid me a pointed look as if to say ‘I told you so’. Ignoring him, I kept my focus on Erik.
“The others aren’t far from here,” I explained before directing him towards the cell. “Just be gentle with Raena. She’s,” I chewed my words, “fragile at the moment.”
Erik looked almost murderous, but thankfully, he didn’t take out any of his rage on us before he disappeared down the winding corridor.
“Still don’t want me to kill any queens before we leave tonight?” Arenn tilted his head.
“No. She’s a pain, but that doesn’t mean she needs to die,” I huffed, frustrated. “And we’re not leaving. You’re going to take me to Raphael and let me help him. I’m not going anywhere while there’s still sickness in this palace.”
“You can’t seriously expect me to let you stay after what happened here tonight?” Arenn let out a surprised laugh. “Naria, it’s not safe.”
“Let me heal him,” I spat, already hating the words I was about to say. “Take me to him and once he’s better, I’ll leave with you. Willingly.”
“Really?” Arenn’s brow shot up.
No. But he didn’t need to know that. Instead, I just nodded and let the faery prince lead me out of the dungeon.
CHAPTER 20
Moonlight streamed like a pale river through the empty palace hallways. It cast a white glow over the faery prince as we walked hand in hand, his lips pulled into a proud smile. It’d been a while since I’d seen him this happy. Too bad it wouldn’t last long. Once Prince Raphael was healed, the only kingdoms I’d be returning to were my own and Lukas’s.
How Arenn would take that sounded like a problem for another day.
Our footsteps echoed along the sandstone floors until we reached a small set of stairs leading to the young prince’s bedchamber. I was just about to take the first step when panicflashed across Arenn’s face.
