“I may have decided to dig the fae iron out myself. Turns out, that wasn’t a good idea. Still, dying of infection is a better way to go than burning alive.” He gave me a grim smile.
I couldn’t disagree. “The guards still only feed you once a day, in the mornings?”
Surprise flickered across his face. “Yes. Keeps us hungry for the next bellyful of iron.”
“Don’t eat for the next few days. Try to make sure Asinia doesn’t either.” It was risky, given that she didn’t have any weight left on her to lose. But a few bites of food tainted with fae iron would likely do more harm than good.
He canted his head. “You have some kind of plan. Usually, I would laugh at you. But the fact that you managed to get down here tells me you might be my only hope in this place.”
“Just don’t eat the food. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Rough, warm hands on my skin, unerringly finding the spots that made me moan. One hand slid to my breast, flicking my nipple, and I arched my back, desperate for more.
“Patience,” a low, infinitely amused voice said.
I shook my head, reaching into the darkness, pulling the man closer, until our lips met in a filthy mimicry of a kiss. His mouth teased mine, his tongue thrusting deep, and I clawed at him, pulling him even closer.
He let out a rough growl that made me shiver, and I swept my hands along the muscles of his back. When he raised his head, dark green eyes burned into mine.
My eyes popped open and met amused brown. “Who is Lorian?” the woman asked.
I groaned, mortification making my cheeks burn.
She just laughed, jumping out of bed. I hadn’t caught her name, and she was already hurrying away.
Sitting up, I ran my hands over my face in an attempt to clear my head.
Getting out of the dungeon had been easier than getting in. My power had felt strong, likely fed by my rage. But every time I’d closed my eyes last night, I’d seen Demos’s shoulder, the other prisoners who couldn’t even lift their heads, and Asinia, shivering on that stone floor.
Dreaming of Lorian was the final twist of the knife.
No matter how many times he’d featured in my dreams over the years—and one day I’d figure out exactly why that had happened—they’d never turned into those kinds of dreams.
It was the kiss at the city walls that had caused this. Swinging my legs out of bed, I silently cursed the man who, even now, was messing with my mind.
“You should hurry, or you’ll be late,” a maid named Kryana told me.
“I will. Thanks.”
I wouldn’t have time to meet Auria for breakfast, so I went straight to Nelia.
“Ah, Setella. Today, I’m trusting you with the floors in the queen’s wing.”
My heart tripped. The distraction was welcome, but more importantly, it was a chance to start doing something.
“You are never to speak to anyone above your station unless they ask you a direct question. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Nelia.”
“Good. Work quickly.”
“I will.”
And so I spent the next several hours in the queen’s wing. First, I swept the nonexistent dirt—whoever used their magic to clean had likely been here just hours before I arrived—and then I got to work mopping the already spotless floors.
At least it gave me time to think. Time to remember everything I’d seen last night.
I kept my head down, but my body shook.
Rage burned through me, so brightly, I felt as if I might explode with it.
Seeing Asinia in such a state, coming face-to-face with the condition of the prisoners…not to mention Demos’s wound…
Bile burned up my throat at the thought.
It wasn’t enough to kill us. The king had to bring us so low, we longed for death.
All so he could keep our magic.
Could I really free two of the prisoners and leave the rest to rot?
I lifted my head and caught sight of my reflection in one of the mirrors. Apparently, the queen liked to be able to gaze at herself wherever she went.
I looked nothing like myself with my dark hair and brown eyes. I also looked pale, shell-shocked. But my eyes burned with vengeance.
Ivene’s voice had been playing in my head over and over again since I’d seen the dungeons.
“One day soon, you will have to make a choice. Be a torch for just one soul in the dark…or burn like the sun for all of them.”
The thought of leaving the others here made me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know how, but I was going to free all the prisoners the king considered corrupt. And I was going to do it before Gods Day.
A door opened, and the swish of long skirts warned me to step out of the way.
I froze. The queen. It was the first time I’d seen her, and I stood with my head bowed, hands behind my back as I’d been instructed.
She ignored me, and I dared to glance at her face as she swept past.
She was beautiful, as I’d expected. What I hadn’t expected was the smattering of freckles over her nose, which gave her an almost childlike appearance. Her eyes were dark gray, wide and solemn.
Her ladies trailed behind her silently. Six of them, walking in pairs. I recognized the one with the flame-colored hair, and she sneered at me as she met my eyes.
The beginnings of a plan started to form in my mind. A dangerous plan. But a plan that could change everything.
The queen continued her stroll, and I got back to work, my mind whirring.
“Prisca,” a voice hissed.
I jolted. Tibris was standing in the closest room, the door cracked open. I gaped at him.
“How—”
“Servants’ hall. Did you see Asinia?”
“Yes. She’s sick. Burning up with fever.”
He lowered his brows. “I need to heal her.”
I nodded. I’d planned to make the same suggestion. My brother could at least buy us time. “Tonight. There’s something else. I need you to get a message to Vicer.”
Voices reached us, and Tibris closed the door. I lowered my head once more, sweeping my mop over the stone. Eventually, the voices quieted, and Tibris cracked the door open again.
“What are you thinking, Pris?”
I handed him the note I’d written earlier. His eyes widened as he read it. He’d been using our code for much longer than me, and he instantly understood what I was asking for.
He lifted his head, eyes incredulous. “It will never work.”
I felt my chin jut out—my usual reaction to being told I couldn’t do something by my brother. But this time, I knew it could work. “Let’s wait for Vicer’s reply.”
Dear L,
Our mutual friend should be allowed his freedom for now. Let us keep a close eye on him so we can see who he is talking to. Congratulations on securing the invite to the castle. The temptation to let an arrow pierce Sabium’s heart must have been…great.
While I cannot begin to understand how difficult it will be to interact with those loathsome creatures, I beg you to leash your temper.
One day, we will have our revenge. We will watch Sabium’s head roll free and know he has paid for everything he has done to our family.
That time is not now. As much as both of us would wish it otherwise.
Your appreciative brother,
C