From the thick trees just ahead, a branch snapped. And then another.
Reyna grimaced. “I was afraid of that.”
“Afraid of what?” Lorcan asked with narrowed eyes as he reached for the weapon at his back. Just as his fingers touched the tip of the hilt, an arrow whistled by his head. It slammed into the trunk just behind him, its sharp silver tip sinking deep into the wood.
Lorcan froze, and then slowly lowered his hand to his side. “Now wouldreallybe the time to fill me in, Reyna.”
But it was too late. Dozens of fae swarmed the woods, surrounding them in an instant. They must have been lying in wait, watching the two of them trek through the woods. Reyna looked not the least bit surprised. She held up her hands, calmly waiting for the fae to strap their bonds around her. She didn’t even try to fight, though it would have been pointless if she had. They were outnumbered twenty to one.
Lorcan held up his hands as the green-skinned fae moved toward him. He waited for them to wrap their bonds around his wrists. But then something sharp stung his cheek, followed by another sharp stab to his neck. Instantly, his mind slowed and a strange buzz filled his veins.
“Poison darts,” he tried to grumble.
And then all went black.
* * *
When he awoke, night had fallen. His head throbbed, and his throat felt like a dozen knives had been dragged into his gut. With a grunt, he pushed up onto his elbows and took in his surroundings. Iron bars blurred into his vision.
Reyna sat across from him, propped up against the bars of a cage, her cloak protecting her from the iron. Frowning, he glanced up, noting that the bars obscured most of the sky from view, including the sparkling stars that formed the constellations of their god.They were far from the woods and the castle, and instead sat in a rolling field of wheat. They were in the grasslands that covered much of the Air Court’s land. In the distance, a fire roared, highlighting a small group of warriors, along with their tents, their horses, and their supplies.
“Welcome back,” Reyna said.
He dragged his gaze back to her face. She looked good, even caged. Scowling, he said, “You got us caught by a rogue band of wood fae.”
“I don’t think they’re rogues.”
“Where the hell are we?”
“I’m not sure. I only just woke up.” She glanced over at the camp. “We can’t be too far from the castle though. About an hour’s ride south maybe.”
Lorcan frowned. “That’s impossibly stupid of them. Our scouts will find them and send out a company to take them down.”
“I don’t think so. These wood fae have been camped here for a few days, at least.”
That was odd. Scouts constantly patrolled the land that surrounded Dalais Castle for this very reason. The crown could not risk the enemy getting this close. If there were more of them, if they’d been forming an army...why hadn’t anyone in Tairngire noticed this yet?
Suddenly, Lorcan realized exactly why Reyna had been out in the woods. And it wasn’t to track down her assassin. It was to find these fae. She hadn’t been at all surprised when they’d jumped out of the woods to surround them.
“You lied to me,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “How?”
“I never lied. I was tracking the assassin. She came here.”
“She was working for the wood fae? Not for the High Queen?” He moved to stand but remembered, just in time, that his head would smash the top of the cage if he did. It was only large enough for them to sit comfortably, but no larger than that. And he couldn’t risk touching the iron bars. “Why didn’t you tell Thane?”
“Because I don’t think that conversation would have ended well.”
“Andthisis ending things well?” He gestured around them.
“Admittedly, I didn’t think they would put me in a cage. But I wasn’t counting on you being with me. That may have made things worse.”
He scowled. “You’re blaming this on me.”
“You have a very growly, angry presence about you. They probably feel threatened. A compliment, really.”
“Reyna…” he said slowly. “I need you to tell me exactly what is going on here. No mincing words.”
She pressed her lips together, silent for a moment before she replied. The wind rustled the tall grassy stalks around them, a rush of sound. “If the High Queen found out that the wood fae sent an assassin after someone inside of her court, what do you think she would do?”
