* * *
Back in her chambers, Reyna started tossing a few of her tunics into a small leather satchel. She opened her wardrobe and grabbed her hoarfrost cloak before adding it to the pile. Wingallock clutched a pair of trousers and tossed it onto the satchel, assisting his human soul. As they worked, Reyna stopped to shoot Lorcan a frown.
“Come on, Lorcan. We cannot wait any longer. It’s been days now.”
He knew it had been days. They had stretched out long as he had stalled for time. And it seemed that Reyna would refuse to be stalled any longer.
He steeled himself as a knock sounded on the door. Lorcan knew who was there before he even opened it.
“What about Eislyn?” he asked as he opened the door. A messenger stood on the other side, holding out a folded piece of parchment.
“For you,” the messenger said before nodding once and disappearing down the corridor. Heart thumping, Lorcan shut the door behind him and turned to face Reyna. She was still whirling around the room, throwing open drawers and rifling through her things.
“We will just have to convince Eislyn to return to the Ice Court or come with us,” Reyna said.
Lorcan arched a brow. “Come with us? Your sister has many strengths, but she is not a warrior, Reyna.”
Not like us, he thought with sadness. Lorcan had never met a female like Reyna and he doubt he ever would again. And soon, she would hate him.
“She’ll be safer with us than here by herself.” She stopped and propped her fisted hands on her hips. “What’s that letter?”
“Oh. Well, let’s see.” Heart pounding, Lorcan unfolded the note.
My son,
The boat is ready. My spies have informed me that you have agreed to my proposal. Be warned: if you do not fulfill your end of the bargain, I will be forced to follow through on my threat. We have Thane. Try as you might, you did not prevent my spies from capturing him. I do not wish to cause you pain, my son, but this must be done for the sake of our kingdom.Use the vial I have sent to you, if you must.
With regards,
High King Bolg Rothach of the Shadow Court
Pain squeezed around Lorcan’s heart as tight as a twisting snake. His father had out-smarted him, time and time again. While Lorcan had been distracted with one band of warriors, another had chased after Thane. He’d never had a chance to escape.
Lorcan had known this day was coming. He had tried to work out a way to avoid it, but he had come up empty. The time had finally come. The day he had to betray the only female he had ever loved.
“It is nothing. Just news that there has still been no sign of Thane.”
Reyna’s face fell. “Well, only more reason for us to leave here as soon as possible.”
Before we go,” Lorcan murmured, turning away from Reyna’s trusting face. “Let us have a toast. It is often done between air fae warriors before battle, and I fear that is exactly what we’re heading into.”
“A toast?” Reyna continued to rustle through her things. “Sounds a bit too lighthearted for what we’re about to do.”
“It is for good luck,” he said, wincing at his own lies. He strode over to a table by the wall where two golden chalices sat waiting with a bottle of wine. Blood roaring in his ears, he pulled a black vial from the folds of his leather and poured the contents into one of the chalices before filling it the rest of the way with wine.
Then, he poured a drink for himself, sans poison.
Lorcan hated himself in that moment.
Grinding his teeth together, he turned and handed Reyna the poisoned chalice. She took it with a nod, though her eyes kept cutting back to her half-packed satchel. She was so eager to get out there and search for Thane. Lorcan loved her for it.
And yet, his love for her had turned intothis.
Wingallock hooted.
“Right,” she said, lifting the chalice. “How does this toast tend to go?”
Lorcan lifted his own chalice, anger burning his veins. Everything inside him felt hot with dread, like his own insides would melt. “We toast to our journey. Deep into the grasslands we go, in search of our High King. May we return.”
