King Roth spat on the ground. “Why should I care what happens to some mortals?”
“Perhaps, Father, we should hear him out?” a younger version of the king, with similar long blond hair and a serious expression, said in a calmer tone.
As the king turned to face this prince, Soren murmured under his breath to me, “That’s my eldest brother. Killian.”
Eldest, huh? That’d make him the future Shadow Court king.
“Explain yourself,” King Roth told Soren with an arch of his brow, as if the concession were his idea.
“You may not care about the plight of humans,” Soren replied, like he was used to his father’s dismissive behavior, “but you should be concerned to hear how many contracts the Hollow Court owns. Can you imagine what they plan to do with hundreds of mortals? At the very least, it will hinder the Shadow Court.”
“Hundreds, you say?”
“At my last count, over four hundred. Though I made it my personal mission to cut that number in half before I left.”
“I’m impressed.” The cunning gleam in his father’s eye made me wonder if the Shadow Court king had misinterpreted Soren’s words to mean that he’d killed them. Maybe Soren had left it ambiguous on purpose. “I suppose it would be detrimental to our court if they didn’t keep the balance. I wouldn’t want King Mordeus to think he had an advantage over us.”
With that, a pleasant expression finally touched his face, and he nodded as if it were settled. “Carry on, then.”
The king led the group of royals away without another word to Soren.
The heir—Prince Killian, if I remembered right—didn’t immediately follow. Only when the king’s entourage had returned inside did he step forward. Clapping a hand on Soren’s shoulder, he quietly said, “Wise decision.”
Though Soren’s reaction was almost imperceptible, I caught the rise of his brows and widening of his eyes.
Then the prince turned to me, tilting his head slightly, as if unsure how to deal with me, though he wasn’t shunning me outright, at least.
“Nice to meet you?” I offered into the silence.
His lips quirked briefly. He gave me a nod. “Likewise.” Turning, he left without another word.
He made quiet Soren look like a chatterbox.
Someone pushed through the crowd at the door, calling out, “Brynn? Brynn!”
I gasped.
Though the light out here was dim, it lit up her hands over her mouth in a sob as she ran toward me. The red robe that she’d disappeared in was long gone, replaced by an emerald dress that turned her auburn hair vibrant in the firelight, emphasizing her pale skin and graceful limbs.
“Mom!” I ran toward her.
As we drew close, though, she slowed, hesitating. She reached a timid hand up to her hair, almost as if fighting the urge to pull it down over the sharp points of her ears.
The ears she must’ve glamoured to hide from me my whole life. From all of us.
But I didn’t care. It didn’t even matter.
I’d finally found her.
My vision blurred, and my voice cracked, as I whispered, “Mom!”
