At this point, only the Primrose could reach into another Court to pluck out those imprisoned members of the Court of Knowledge.
“Then it’s all the more important to keep the truce.” Brigid drummed her fingers on her stomach. “This will, indeed, take a measure of cleverness. We don’t want to risk sparking the war once again.”
He certainly didn’t. He’d suffered the consequences of that war, and he knew how precious the tranquility of the Court of Knowledge was to all who lived there. He would not jeopardize it.
But they couldn’t leave their librarians still held in the clutches of the enemy either.
“All right. Well, this will take some pondering, and that is best done after a good night’s sleep.” Brigid shifted to the end of the chair, seeming to struggle to get up.
Benedict hesitated. Was he supposed to go over there and help her?
He must have waited a beat too long for she held out a hand. “Munch, dear, I could use some help.”
With not even a whisper of a footstep to betray his movements, Brigid’s husband Munch appeared out of the shadows, dressed in a green cloak and wearing nondescript brown clothing. He took her hand and hauled her to her feet. “Whatever you’re plotting, you’re not going on this rescue mission yourself.”
“If a jaunt through the Tanglewood to the Court of Revels is what it takes to inspire this baby to make an appearance, then I’m more than happy to do it.” Brigid grimaced and rested one hand on her lower back, the other on her belly.
“Not a chance. You are not risking having this baby in the Court of Revels.” Munch wrapped an arm around Brigid’s shoulders, his glare teasing even if his tone was serious.
Benedict gaped between the two of them, finally managing to make his jaw work. “How…how could I speak if he was there? My vow was pretty specific. I couldn’t even orchestrate someone overhearing me talk about what I knew.”
“It could be because he stands in as the Primrose often enough nowadays that he probably counts as the Primrose just as much as I do.” Brigid shrugged and smiled up at Munch. Then she gave another wave. “But that wouldn’t explain them.”
A snick sounded to his left a moment before the rectangular shape of a door opened in the shadows. King Theseus and Queen Hippolyta strode through.
Beatrice peeked around the edge of the door, her gaze flicking to Benedict, then away, as if she couldn’t quite bring herself to face him.
His breath caught in his chest. Beatrice had heard. She knew everything. His geas. Why he’d done the things he had that night.
What did she think of him? Was she impressed? Had her feelings turned from loathing and back to love? Assuming she had ever begun to love him.
Swallowing, he tore his gaze away from Beatrice. “How? I shouldn’t have been able to speak if they were listening.”
“Ah, but that’s the thing.” Brigid’s grin was downright impish. “They are all a part of my League. They are my hands and feet in the Fae Realm, doing my work in my name. In that way, theyareme. Together, we all are the Wild Fae Primrose.”
Benedict huffed a breath of a laugh. If he’d harbored any doubts that she was the Primrose, this settled it. Only the Primrose would find a loophole in his loophole. “But you didn’t know about my geas before I started speaking.”
“No, but I suspected you were under something rather restrictive.” Brigid gave that careless shrug again. “You were too desperate to speak, and yet when you did, you were pretty cryptic. It didn’t take a great deal of deduction to realize it might be something like this.”
He could only shake his head. “Do you mean that I could have simply talked to someone in the Primrose League this whole time?”
He shot a glance at Beatrice. Could he have told her the truth right from the start?
“Most likely not.” Brigid waddled forward, holding onto Munch to steady her. “I suspect it helped that I was here in person and that you didn’t know they were there.Youdidn’t arrange for them to overhear.Idid.”
Benedict nodded again. Little things like that could make the difference in wiggling around the restrictions of vows and bindings in the Fae Realm.
Turning to King Theseus and Queen Hippolyta, Benedict gave a bow. “Your Majesties. The last thing I need to report is that my father and brother are spying on behalf of Claudius. My father is the reason I was the only one actually returned in that prisoner exchange. Claudius knew I was searching for the Primrose, so I used that to trap his spies tonight.”
King Theseus tilted his head in a nod. “Thank you for your loyalty, Apprentice Librarian Benedict, especially considering the disloyalty of your family. We have suspected your family’s duplicity for some time, and it’s good to finally have some confirmation. However, just the fact that they showed up at your trap isn’t enough proof of treason. We will be forced to release them.”
Benedict opened his mouth, but King Theseus held up a hand, forestalling his protest.
Queen Hippolyta rested a hand on her sword. “They will be closely watched, as will all the fake court members until it is time to arrest them. Doubtless, they will lead us to any other contacts they have in both our Court and the Court of Revels.”
“For now, we will need to act as if you are still under arrest for treason.” King Theseus met Benedict’s gaze. “We can’t risk alerting the imposters that we are on to them.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.” Benedict dipped his head as he shrugged. “It isn’t like I have anywhere to go tonight. I certainly can’t return home.”
