So did the rest of the surrounding fae, even King Mordeus and Prince Caius.
No. Way.
Soren was royalty?
I caught my jaw hanging open and snapped it shut.
“I consider my role in the treaty between our courts to be fulfilled and revoke my status as a diplomatic hostage,” Soren told King Mordeus in a firm tone. “Feel free to request another if you so choose, but release me from the contract.”
Honestly, the king looked as shocked as I felt, though probably for very different reasons.Diplomatic hostage?Was that what he’d meant when he said his father had sent him here? That he’d be disowned if he didn’t stay? This strange role had ripped away more from him than his wings—he’d let them humiliate him and had given up nearly all his rights, not to mention the lack of respect from the court here.
Until now...
“I must protest.” King Mordeus frowned, not making any move to get up from his throne. “The treaty states that as long as you live here, the Shadow Court will not attack the Hollow Court. If I were to let you leave, we would no longer have this protection.”
“I cannot tell if you’re being deliberately obtuse or if you truly never read the contract closely enough to notice,” Soren said to the king as he stalked toward him.
The royals tried not to react, but their too-still forms gave away their uncertainty as Soren’s presence seemed to fill the whole stage. Guards stepped between them, but Soren ignored them.
“Theexactwording in the contract is that as long as Ichooseto live here, you receive guaranteed protection from the Shadow Court. However, as I’ve been here many years now, I believe I’ve served my time.” Soren stopped a few feet from them and raised his voice so the amplification would carry it even farther. “Ino longerchoose to live here.” His voice deepened with a clear threat as he added, “If you attempt to keep me here against my will, I can almost guarantee it will have a counterproductive effect.”
What a fancy way to say, “Back off or you’ll start a war.”
King Mordeus stuttered, “We—that’s not—I had not intended—”
He couldn’t finish any of his sentences, which made me wonder if he was trying to lie.
I could almost guarantee he’d known about the way the contract was worded though, otherwise, he would’ve demanded to check.
Mentally, I cheered,Go, Soren!
The king coughed and finally said, “I would not risk starting a war with the Shadow Court, of course.”
“It’s settled, then. If you’ll please, officially release me from the contract.” Soren’s words were mellow, but the sharp edge of his jaw and the glint of restrained fury in his eyes said otherwise.
A tense silence made my heart speed up.
The king grumbled, almost to himself, “I release you from your service to the Hollow Court.”
Dark feathered wings sprang loose from Soren’s back, as if returning from another dimension.
They expanded out into the air on both sides, wider than he was tall.
Bowing slightly under their sudden weight, Soren groaned.
He bent forward beneath them as they flexed toward his body, then slowly stretched out until they spread to their full wingspan.
I forgot to breathe.
The wings had ripped straight through his shirt and vest in the back, forcing him to pull the dangling fabric off.
Wide-eyed, I stared at his bare chest.
Clapping a hand over my gaping mouth, I tried to hide my reaction, but the movement drew Soren’s attention, and whatever he saw on my face earned me a silent laugh before he fluttered those massive wings and drew them back into an arched resting position behind him.
It was obvious why the Hollow Court had demanded he remove them, why the prince was jealous of him. Not that Soren wasn’t impressive on his own, but the wings added an intensity to his presence that made him impossible to disregard.
Facing the king, he ignored Caius altogether. “I’ll need writing tools and the use of one of your messengers before we depart.”
