The tiny fae grew larger as we approached. Different-sized structures dotted the mountainside, some camouflaged so well that I didn’t see them until the third or fourth glance. All kinds of folk surrounded the fires on various mountain ledges.
But we didn’t aim for those.
Soren and the others flapped their huge wings, lifting us higher, carrying us straight up the side of the mountain toward that brightest beacon far above.
My ears popped, and the air thinned, making it hard to breathe.
A towering black castle was built directly into the rocky face of the mountain itself, with tall brightly lit windows and a balcony that stretched out into thin air.
When Soren’s feet hit the hard stone of the balcony, my whole body felt the impact.
Carefully, I peeled shaky legs from around his waist and tried to stand, but between the thin air at this altitude and my delayed panic, I couldn’t quite catch my breath. My leg muscles trembled, adding to my shakiness.
Soren seemed to sense this, keeping his arms wrapped around me. After a few more breaths, though, when things stopped spinning, I realized he wasn’t entirely stable himself.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
He gave me a self-deprecating grin. “I haven’t flown in almost seven years. I underestimated how weak those muscles would be by now.”
As Alaric set Olive carefully on the ground beside us, he grumbled to Soren, “You’re the prince. You shouldn’t have carried anyone.”
Soren took his complaint in stride but didn’t apologize.
Slowly, I took in the stone balcony, which was the size of a small ballroom, twisting around to get a better look. Soren’s arms tightened reflexively around me.
In the center, only a few feet away, stood a roaring fire in a raised pit. It burned away the chill from our time in the air. In the heat of the flames, the sharp winter air shifted from being painful to oddly refreshing. Or, considering how high up and exposed we were, maybe some magic kept the harsh wind at bay.
Bright stars shone down, seeming closer than usual.
“So... you’re a prince?” I said as I turned back to look up at him, then cringed at how that sounded. “I mean, of course you are. It’s just, you seem so... normal.”Ugh, Brynn, seriously? Way to dig a deeper hole.
But Soren grinned when I covered my face, finally letting go of my waist to pull my hands down. “Since your only experience with princes so far has been Caius, I’m going to take that as a compliment.” His smile faded. “I’m not nearly as important as you might think, however. I have four older siblings in line for the throne, along with any children they might have, before I’d ever be considered to rule.”
The doors to the dark castle burst open. More winged fae flooded out.
“I suppose it was too much to hope he wouldn’t notice my return,” Soren muttered to Alaric, who scoffed but didn’t say anything else.
At first, I registered only a blur of fancy gowns and fae ensembles that glittered with gemstones and layers that fluttered wildly in the wind. The first few fae wore weapons and stiff postures like guards, but the fae who strode out behind them looked exactly like the portrait back in Soren’s room. I couldn’t distinguish which might be king or queen, prince or princess, when six of them wore crowns, but they all flowed out to greet us.
Though based on their expressions, that might be too nice a word.
Lore stepped forward. “Perhaps we should take Brynn’s family to the infirmary for someone to take a look at them?” she whispered to Soren. “It might be wise to make sure their time in the Hollow Court didn’t lead to any unknown injuries.”
Though her excuse made sense, her eyes flitted to the royal family approaching and back with more unspoken reasons, almost like she was offering to get them out of sight.
“I will help,” Alaric surprised me by saying, giving Olive a brief glance and dipping his head in a bow to the prince. “If I may.”
Soren gave them both a nod. “Go. Quickly.”
Peregrin led the way, with Julian close on his heels, while Lore hung back.
But the royal entourage approaching made escape impossible. Instead of slipping past, they were forced to bow. Even Dad, Rissa, and Olive bowed, copying Alaric and the others with confused expressions.
“I can take you as well, Brynn,” Lore murmured under her breath as we bowed also. “Or if you’d prefer to stay, I promise not to leave their sides.”
Soren ripped his eyes from the impending conflict and managed a nod to me. “Whatever you’d prefer.”
Though he put on a brave front, he looked a little green. Glancing between him and my family, I hesitated.
