Vreis stood.
“Tell me the news. If you’re here, then I suppose that means that not everyone is dead.”
Lorcan felt for his friend. The first hours of his rule would forevermore be tainted by this slaughter. It was a bad omen, according to some. Lorcan was not superstitious enough to believe in signs from the gods. Others were, however, particularly those who resided in Tairngire. This would haunt Thane’s every step as High King. Perhaps that had been the point.
“It is over, Thane,” Vreis said quietly. “All of the assassins who attacked us at the feast have been killed. Unfortunately, things are still...a bit confused. We are unsure how many casualties we have sustained. Several of the nobility, along with a few of the castle servants. Your spymaster, Kelwyn...he also did not make it.”
Lorcan watched as Thane paled. He knew that the High King had never fully trusted his spymaster. But that did not mean Thane was heartless. And it certainly didn’t mean that Thane was unaware of the consequences of so much death. He would be forced to strike back. If he did not, every kingdom in Tir Na Nog would think him weak.
And they would take advantage of that perceived weakness.
The Ice Court was their ally but for how long? Would High King Cos call back his daughters, desperate to remove them from the path of danger? And what of the Sea Court, who had been strangely silent for the past several years?
And, of course, there was the Shadow Court. They would be pleased by this.
“I suppose this at least means that my mother, Princess Reyna, and Princess Eislyn have made it to safety?” Thane asked.
Vreis paled. Lorcan frowned, body taut.
“Your mother was seen fleeing, but we have not been able to locate her. We have a warrior on the way to her chambers as we speak.” He cleared his throat and cast his eyes to the floor. “The Princesses...we are not entirely certain what transpired.”
Lorcan shifted closer to Vreis, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”
“We believe that Princess Eislyn was abducted. And then Princess Reyna was seen racing out of the castle with quite the determined look on her face. We believe she has gone after her sister.”
Lorcan braced his hand on the wall, steadying himself. His heart squeezed so tight with fear that he swore it might burst. Shadows pulsed along his skin, desperate to break free. Reyna was in danger. And, this time, the danger was far more than even she could take on alone.
Thane’s own terror flared across his face, but Lorcan knew it was for a different reason entirely. At some point along the way, he had come to care for Eislyn. Someone must have discovered this. It was the only explanation for why they would abduct the girl. They wanted to use her, to bargain with her life. The only problem was, they would likely use her and then discard her. Eislyn was never going to return to this castle alive. Which meant...Reyna wouldn’t either.
Not unless Lorcan could stop this.
Thane lifted his chin and threw back his shoulders, standing as tall as a king. “We need to gather our warriors. With haste.”
“Slight problem with that,” Vreis said quietly. “With the chaos of the attack, it may take time to gather those left inside the castle.”
“Those left inside the castle?” Thane asked sharply.
Confusion crossed Vreis’s face. “Yes, we were told you had ordered us to protect the Witchlight Woods during the coronation. Reports came in of an army of wood fae preparing to launch an attack.”
Thane let out a low growl that rumbled deep within his chest. His entire body trembled with barely-contained anger. Vreis took a step back, eyes wide. “I made no such order. Call them back. Now.”
“Thane,” Lorcan warned. “The order may be false but the army could be real.”
“Someone lied, Lorcan,” Thane said in clipped tones. “They lied about my orders, so they likely lied about the army. We have a shadow fae amongst us. It explains everything.” He turned to Vreis once more. “Who gave the order?”
Vreis shook his head. “I do not know.”
“Very well. Tell the army to pull back and prepare to set their sights on the Wood Court.” And then the High King turned to his oldest friend. “Lorcan, you and I are going now. We cannot let the princesses die.”
50
Imogen
Imogen ran through the corridors, her bare feet slapping against the cool stones. She cast a glance over her shoulder, certain that someone was there, following close in the darkness. Shadows pulsed against the slick walls like clouds of writhing smoke. Gasping, she threw herself forward, focusing her gaze on the safety of the Great Hall up ahead.
The looming doors had been flung wide. After the coronation, no one had bothered to push them shut. Fisting her hands, Imogen rushed inside and grabbed one side of the heavy door. She had long ago lost her enhanced fae strength, but that did not mean she was weak. With sweat-slick hands, she dragged the door shut, and then followed with the other.
Breath ragged, she slumped back against the wood and slid to the floor, her elaborate aurelian gown bunching up around her legs. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. She did not know why she was crying. Thane had survived. And so had she.
