Page 123

“But that’s not all,” he says as she drags him outside.

“How can there possibly be more?” she seethes.

But I don’t stay to find out. Instead I slip out of my room and sprint in the other direction, even as Amaryllis lets out a horrified scream.

Because one thought is playing over and over again in my mind.

There’s no guards in the princesses’ wing.

No guards to stop me running through these hallways and charging straight up the stairs that lead to the north tower. And to my princes.

45

LUX

“Ididn’t know you could make someone fall asleep like that,” Princess Liliana tilts her head at the guard Castor just strangled. She’s somehow clutching Maxine, even though I’ve no idea how she got here.

I could’ve sworn I left Maxine in my bed after helping Eden get ready for the journey yesterday, but it wouldn’t be the first time she climbed onto the roof of our carriage. I’m just surprised she managed to follow us all the way up here.

“It’s a faerie magic trick,” I lie to the girl while Castor dumps the guard’s body beside Susan’s. “Don’t try it on your sisters, though. Only faeries can do it.”

Liliana huffs. “That’s not fair. I can only make rocks float.”

My brow lifts, but I don’t have time for this conversation. “Do they have keys on them?” I ask Castor. “For these?” I point at my collar.

“No,” he grunts. “But they have weapons we can use.” He tosses me a sheathed sword before taking one for himself.

“That’ll have to do.” I hook it to my belt. I’d rather not have to use it today, but if that’s what it takes to see Eden again then so be it. She won’t go to bed thinking that I stole her older sister from her. Wherever that princess is, we’re not responsible.

Before I can head outside, Liliana blocks the door. “Are you the prince that my sister has fallen in love with?”

I feel Castor’s gaze on us.

“Yes.” I smile at her as she hugs Maxine. “And I see you’ve found our little friend.”

Maxine lets out a satisfied purr while Liliana gasps. “She’s yours?”

I nod.

“I suppose that makes sense… I found her meowing outside Eden’s room then followed her all the way here.”

Grinning, I ruffle Maxine’s fur. “Thank you for looking after her. But would you be able to watch her for another hour or so? Keep her safe in your bedchamber?” Just enough time for me to find Eden and convince her to go home with us. I’ve had enough of this place.

Liliana brightens like the sun. “Of course! Can Kalimeris and Juniper help?”

“...yes?”

“Oh this is so exciting!” She twirls in place, her lilac tutu fluttering around her. “I have so many gorgeous bows for you, Miss Kitty. And I bet Kalimeris has a doll’s dress that will fit you.”

She’s gone before I can tell her that her name is Maxine, sprinting down the hallway and towards a staircase that I can only guess leads to the princesses’ wing.

“We’ll follow her,” I tell Castor as he steps to my side.

“We’re off to find our mate, I presume?”

I bristle a little at his use of ‘our’. “Yes,” I say, following the girl. “Sol won’t come after us. He’s too much of a coward. And if he’s still convinced we have his other daughter by the time we return home, then we’ll have to ask Nem to resolve this issue for us.”

I’ve no idea who would steal another one of the twelve dancing princesses, but I do know that the faeries aren’t the only enemy that Sol has. You’d have to cross oceans to find people that Sol hadn’t wronged at some point. Even then, someone there would probably still curse his name.