Eurig frowned. “Feel what?”
Strange. He was a dark fae, and she was nothing more than a Redcap. He should feel magic far before she ever did. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but they were interrupted by Lord Dagen sweeping through the corridor toward them, his long black cloak trailing behind him. The grim tension on his face made her heart skip. He must have found out about Norah.
“Lord Dagen,” she said as they all came to a stop in the center of the corridor. She tried to meet his gaze, her heart fluttering a little in her chest. In the chaos of the past weeks, she had not had a chance to speak to him. About anything. And it felt like there was still so much left unsaid between them.
But he merely gave her a curt nod and turned to Eurig. “Eurig. For the first time in my life, I daresay I’m glad to see you. Please tell me you’ve brought your army to fight with us.”
Bree raised her brows. “That’s exactly why he’s here. Why? What’s going on?”
“Don’t play coy, Bree. You know exactly what’s going on.”
“I really don’t,” she countered. “When I left here a couple days ago, Taveon was insistent that he didn’t want to fight. What’s changed?”
A muscle in Lord Dagen’s jaw ticked. “Taveon sat on nothing more than a throne of illusions. He is the descendent of a monster from another realm. He has no claim to that crown. Unfortunately for him, the court has found out. He’s been removed, his title has been stripped, and he will now live the rest of his days in the dungeons.”
Bree sucked in a breath and took a step back. “What? You can’t be serious.”
This couldn’t be happening. Without Taveon on the throne, who the hell knew what would happen now? No wonder the warriors were manning their battle stations. They planned to fight against the light fae and drive them out of Underworld. The Tithe would never end. And Taveon would never again see moonlight.
Sorrow churned through her gut. She should have seen this coming.
“I am afraid that I am deadly serious,” Lord Dagen said quietly.
“Isn’t there something you can do?” she pleaded with him. “You know Taveon. He isn’t what they think he is. This realmneedshim as its king.”
“No, Bree.” He sighed. “There is nothing I can do. The court will never accept him, especially now that we know the Realm of the Dead is coming for us.”
She straightened, casting a quick look at Eurig. “You know about that? He told you?”
“Fillan informed the entire court of everything,” he said quietly. “And the storm was only further confirmation that they are coming. They've opened a gate. We need to be prepared for a fight unlike any we’ve ever encountered. I’m glad we have the outposters and the light fae beside us.”
“You welcomed the light fae army?” Eurig asked with clear surprise in his voice.
“Of course.” Dagen nodded. “We have put our differences aside for now. They are in the barracks getting ready. Norah, of course, has been put in a room beside yours, Bree.”
Bree needed to sit down. So much had changed in her short absence. Taveon was no longer the king. Norah and her army had been welcomed into the castle. And it seemed that Dagen…
“Who is in charge?” she asked.
He pressed his lips together. “Until we find a suitable king, I am.”
Of course he was. She shook her head. “So, then, that means you’re the one who put Taveon in the dungeons. How could you do that to him? After everything we’ve all been through?”
“I did it for good reason.” He dropped his voice low. “So that the court would not try to rip him to shreds.”
“If you know what he is, then you know that’s impossible. They cannot harm him.”
“They cannotkillhim, Bree. But they can most certainly torture him for endless nights.”
A shudder went through her, and she hated that he was right. Still, something about it all felt like a betrayal. Lord Dagen had always coveted power. Despite the connection she had with him, she’d always been aware of that fact. And now that power had been presented to him on a silver platter. Had he even tried to help Taveon? Or had he eagerly taken it?
Rafe would know.
“Where’s Rafe?” she asked, her breath catching. Because if Dagen had put him behind bars as well…
“Rafferty was given a choice. Leave the castle and join the warriors in the barracks. Or join Taveon in the dungeons.”
“Dagen,” she said, fisting her hands. “You cannot—”
