Waving over my shoulder toward the door, I started backing up. “I’d better get going.” I didn’t want her to tell Caius I’d tried to sneak in. That’d make him worry I might try again later. Which I most definitely would.
The prince was standing alone in the hallway when I pushed through the door, deep in thought, startling at my exit like he’d forgotten about me.
“No luck?” he asked in a bright tone.
A wave of frustration made me want to snap, “Oh, you didn’t see the invisible people behind me?” But I didn’t want to alienate the only fae willing to help me without a bargain. I felt too defeated to even speak, so I just shook my head.
“I can’t imagine what they have of yours that’s left you so disheartened,” he mused. “Perhaps they’ll turn up somewhere still.”
Taking his arm numbly, I asked, “Where?”
He led us back the way we’d come. “Many are in long-term service in various homes throughout the court, or sometimes merely for the evening at a party or other such event.”
“Like... a job?”
“Yes, you could call it that.”
Huh.
As we climbed the first flight of stairs, then the second, I considered this. Soren had hinted my family was in service to someone, hadn’t he? So, I just needed to figure out who they were working for.
“How exactly does this job... service thing work?” I asked, since I couldn’t come right out and ask if they were paid positions or if perhaps some used stolen humans.
Though the prince had been friendly up to this point, he grew serious now. “I cannot discuss it further with you, as that’s Seelie business. You understand.”
Right. It seemed there was some rivalry between his court and “mine.” That probably contributed to why Soren didn’t like him very much. Thinking of Soren made me want to check what time it was, but technically, I’d fulfilled my part of the deal, since I’d told the prince what he’d asked me to.
My stubborn mind circled back to the people yet again. “Those, uh, humansarehere of their own free will, though, right?” I needed confirmation.
“Is that not what I said?” Caius laughed like I’d said something ridiculous, shaking his head.
“I guess you did,” I murmured. Once again, I’d made a fool of myself. It didn’t seem to matter if I was in the human world or otherwise.
We reached the court, spilling out of the tunnel near the thrones. The dance floor had swelled, and a few musicians were in an epic fiddle-off contest. If I’d thought the room was full before, that was nothing compared to this mass of gyrating bodies in the dim light.
Even if Soren was still here, I’d never find him.
But Caius didn’t stop to let me look, or release my arm, as he waded through the revel.
Once again, when fae recognized him, they stepped aside.
As we reached the opposite end of court, Caius continued on into the tunnels.
I spoke up then, casting a glance back at the wild fae. “Where are we going?” I’d memorized my way through the royal tunnels, but if we went too deep into these ones, I’d get completely lost again.
“I’m escorting you home.” He gave me a charming smile, not slowing for a second. “I wouldn’t expect a visitor such as yourself to know your way back.”
