“Hold him down!” I yelled, working the blade against the crystal as Arenn’s back arched.
“Stop! Please!” he screamed. “Anything! I’ll do anything!”
“It’s coming out!” Ivy panted. She’d thrown her weight down upon Arenn’s chest while Raena held his head.
With an awful squelch, the first crystal popped out from his arm and tumbled to the grass.
“One down,” I said, moving my tool to the other crystal. His body began to shake uncontrollably, but I just pressed down harder on his wrist.
“Naria, maybe we should…” Ivy’s voice trailed off.
I glanced up, and my mouth popped open. Arenn was more than shaking. His entire body was seizing. Gasps flew from his lips, and his eyes had rolled back to his skull. Looking back at his wrist, the last crystal was so close to being free. I was so close to being free.
“I’m taking it out. Hold him steady.” Ignoring his shaking, I dug my scalpel in one last time.
“No!” The shout tore from his throat just as a loud crack rang over the meadow.
The second crystal hit the floor. Along with the now broken iron cuff. The prince was gone before any of us couldspeak another word.
Within minutes, the entire meadow was flooded with furious Ryntook soldiers. Queen Cora had announced her son’s recovery to the palace, along with the name of therealculprit, and now every guard – along with a few bloodthirsty servants – had set out to find the prince.
Of course, they were all too late by the time their search reached the palace’s tropical garden. But that didn’t stop them digging through every bush and peering around every palm tree just to make sure he wasn’t still here somewhere, lurking in the shadows.
Despite their frenzied searching, there was no doubt in my mind where he’d vanished off to. And now, with his two crystals clacking together in my skirt pocket as we walked back towards the palace, I couldn’t see him leaving his kingdom or even daring to haunt my dreams ever again.
A girl could hope, anyway.
“Goodness me!” a panicked yelp shot from further down the sandy path. Queen Cora hurried towards us as Ronan ran by her side.
“Look at the state of you all!” She let out a gasp when she spotted Ivy. The poor girl had one arm over Raena’s shoulders and the other over Erik’s as she limped along with us. “Are you alright, my dear? Shall I call for a healer?”
“She’s already got one,” I reminded her, shooting myfriend a look. “But she refused my help.”
“I told you already, I’m perfectly fine,” Ivy teased.
I rolled my eyes, but didn’t press. Shewouldbe fine in a day or so. But that didn’t make it any easier to see the blood stains on her gown.
“There was talk of a fight in the flower meadow?” Cora turned to me. “Is this true? Has the prince been dealt with?”
“He has,” I answered quickly. “And I doubt he’ll return here any time soon.”
“You let him get away?” Ronan snarled. But before he could continue, Cora placed a hand on his arm.
“It’s alright, dear,” she cooed, before turning back to me. “We’re not interested in starting a war with the fae. Aside from this incident they’ve never bothered our kingdom, and we’d rather not give them any more reason to.” Her eyes met mine, glossy and pleading. “As long as you’re certain he won’t return here…”
“He won’t,” I assured her. “And if he does, you have the full support of my kingdom to deal with him however you wish.”
“Drothmore’s too,” Lukas added, his tone dangerously low. “I’d have no objections to you gutting the man in the street.”
“At least we can agree on that,” Ronan grumbled as Cora rubbed his arm soothingly.
“Come now, dear.” A smile worked across her jaw, warm enough to lift the tension on my own shoulders. “Let’s not forget our son is alive and well again. We should be celebrating.” Sunlight glittered in her eyes. “The day is still young. Why don’t I plan a party for tonight? Another ball, perhaps?”
Ronan’s scowl softened, but before he could reply, Raena let out an excited squeal. “How about a wedding?” she chimed.
My heart skipped a beat.
“A wedding?” Cora’s eyes widened. “Oh, my dear, while that would certainly lift spirits I’m afraid we don’t have a willing couple.” She laughed. But her chuckling ceased the moment a low voice slipped through the warm air between us, smooth like honey.
