“Damn it, Naria.” Lukas exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. “You’re leaving me no choice. I’m actually going to have to chain you to my bed frame.”
His threat sent a sudden heat pooling in my belly while Arenn bolted upright. But before another fight could start, I turned to address the faery.
“Are you alright?” I asked tenderly.
Arenn stiffened. “Y-yes.” He wiped away the dribble of blood that had settled on his lips. Other than a slight rosy flush on his cheeks, he seemed fine. Either that or he’d already glamoured the bruise away.
“Good,” I said, giving him a slight smile. “I meant what I said before. You were incredibly helpful today. Thank you.”
Before he could reply, his gaze was forced down as Lukas’s arm curled around my waist, pulling me back against his chest possessively.
“You’re welcome, human,” Arenn said, turning his chin towards the waves. Discomfort lurked in his gaze, but I didn’t press. Instead, I turned away to face the seething man behind me.
“Let me show you why I had to leave.” I reached for the bag of algae at my hip, but the frantic sound of footsteps stole our attention away.
“Raena, are you hurt?” Erik burst out from the line ofpalm trees, his chest heaving. “I heard you screaming. What happened? Where’ve you been?” Before she could reply, he threw his arms around her, holding her close. “Your gown… Why are you all wet?” He pulled away to glare at her dripping clothes.
“It’s a long story,” Raena laughed nervously. “But I’m fine now, I promise.” She cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb against his face.
“Are you certain?” he demanded.
She laughed again, softer this time. “Quite.”
The knight tensed his jaw, but after a little more fussing his attention flew to me, and his gaze turned deathly serious. “With all due respect, Your Highness, you really ought to leave this kingdom as soon as possible.”
“What?” My lips parted.
“There are riots in the ballroom,” he explained. “They started this morning. Someone has gathered all the servants and guards and convinced them you’re responsible for Prince Raphael’s sickness.”
“But I’d never—”
“We know.” Lukas’s arm tightened around my waist. “And this matter is already being dealt with.” He shot Erik a warning look. “So there’s no need to be afraid. Queen Cora is reasoning with them as we speak—”
“Her reasoning did not work.” Erik’s tone made us both stiffen. “I just came from the ballroom. They believe Queen Cora is too sick with grief to see the truth. And now King Ronan has joined the staff and ordered for search parties to find Princess Naria and ‘bring her to justice’.”
My palms felt sticky.Not King Ronan too…
“Please, Your Majesty. There’s not much time.” He addressed Lukas with desperate eyes. “If you care for your betrothed, you’ll get her on a horse and ride out of here before she’s caught. I can prepare the carriage and meet you in the forests later; you just can’t stay here any longer. It’s not safe.”
Shaking my head, I reached for the pouch at my hip when my fingers were snatched up by a cold, tense hand.
“I’ll take her.” Arenn dragged me towards him. “I can use my magic. It’ll be safer.”
“You are not going anywhere with her,” Lukas seethed, pulling me back.
Before I could shrug thembothoff, Erik’s panicked voice sliced between us. “Magic?” His finger shot up to point at Arenn’s long faery ears as if only just noticing them now. “You mean to tell me that he… Thatthinghas been a faery this whole time? But I spoke with him at Cora’s garden party. H-he was human before!”
Raena shoved his arm down and tugged him away from the group to explain everything in hushed whispers while Adriana, who’d been silently watching us all until now, followed the pair with a grin.
Long story, indeed.
Turning back to my own problems, I shook free of the fierce hands that gripped me before stepping back to address both men. “I am not leaving this kingdom with either of you,” I said plainly. “Not until I have healed Prince Raphael.”
Lukas sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. “But Naria, you’ve already tried. There’s no helping him—”
“There is.” Unhooking the pouch from my belt, I held it out to him. “This is why I had to go underwater. This will curehim. I’m certain of it.”
“What is it?” His brow lowered, unconvinced.
