McKale picked up his pace to walk at Khalistah’s side, and I hung back. The Prince let out a huff of air like he couldn’t believe McKale’s tenacity.
“I wish to speak with ye about the terms ye set forth when last we met,” McKale whispered.
A loud group of Fae turned down our path and Khalistah shrieked, “Move!” Her eyes flashed with a swirl of icy white and the Fae scattered out of her way. They bowed as she passed.
“I have not the slightest clue of what you are speaking,” the FFG said to McKale once we’d left that tunnel and entered a smaller one.
The narrow path was confining, and I wanted McKale to stop pestering the FFG for information. I knew he felt pressure to get her confession soon, but I wished he would wait until we were on Chaun land again. We weren’t safe here.
“What is that human blathering on about?” the Prince grumbled. Then he raised his voice and called out to McKale, “Leave the Princess alone.”
The FFG answered without stopping or glancing back. “He has been like this since childhood. I am accustomed to his need for attention. Do not worry yourself, kind Prince.”
The way she said “kind Prince” sounded as if she were just as annoyed with the Fae as she was with McKale. But McKale was undeterred. I chewed my bottom lip and practically jogged to keep up.
“I thought since a few days had passed… perhaps ye’d had time to think on it and change yer mind?” When she didn’t respond he said, “Do ye still require me to come to ye after the binding—”
She halted in her tracks and the walls seemed to contract inward on us. The FFG pivoted to face McKale, eyes flashing white once again.
“You will come to me of your own free will.” Her voice was level.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Prince asked.
Without looking away from McKale, the Princess held up her pointer finger at the Fae male and said, “Silence.”
His perfect brow creased with confusion as he watched her address McKale with maddening calmness. She moved close, her chin jutting up to point those scary eyes at his face. Each word she spoke was laced with a venomous punch of enunciation. McKale looked ready, hopeful.
“Nothing changed, McKale of the Leprechaun, until you dared to enter my realm with her. You are the one who has broken our agreement. Now I am forced to break mine. I will have you. And your precious betrothed will be punished. My Fair Folk will have her sister as a Gala gift this very night!”
Air caught in my lungs and I sucked in a choking breath. McKale, however, wore an expression of relief. The FFG had revealed herself, just as we’d wanted. But what if the video equipment didn’t work? Or what if it did and the King didn’t care? I would lose both of them. I reached out to steady myself against the wall, but the thick vine under my hand was wet and it squirmed at my touch. I yanked my hand away.
The Prince sputtered behind me and came forward. “Explain yourself, Princess.”
She turned her frosty eyes to him and smiled. “How would you like a human girl all to yourself?”
“I…” He considered this. “Humans are a lot of work, and then they die. I have never seen the value in keeping pets. My only interest has been you; however, now I am not so certain. It seems you have been keeping unsavory secrets.” He eyed McKale with disdain.
“I have wanted to do this for a long time,” she whispered.
The Prince cocked his pretty, bronzed head to the side. “Do what?”
“Alter your memory.”
His face paled at the sly grin on the FFG’s face, and he took a step back.
“You cannot do such a thing without the King’s permission. He would never allow it.”
“He will never know.”
She stepped toward him and he stepped back. McKale and I moved to stand together. I was sickened by the entire spectacle taking place. I grabbed McKale’s hand.
The Prince put up his hands and shook his head, a frightful expression contorting his immaculate face.
“Ar oscailt intinn,” Khalistah whispered to the Prince. Open your mind.
He dropped his hands and relaxed, captured by her eyes. She whispered everything that he would forget, and what he would remember in its place. His feelings for her had changed and would now only be those of friendly admiration. We’d never stopped in this tunnel to carry on a conversation. Once on Chaun land he would take a fancy to Cassidy Mason and request that he be allowed to have her.
I let go of McKale’s hand and wrapped my arms around myself, chilled to my heart.
When the FFG said the closing words she spun and continued down the hall as if we’d never stopped. I was trembling uncontrollably. I glanced back at the Prince who was blinking, his face scrunched with mild confusion. The four of us followed down the twists and turns of living tunnel-work until we reached our portal with the brutish guard standing vigilant. He bowed low for Khalistah.
“A pleasure to see you, Princess.”
“Open the portal,” she commanded.