“True, King Novakin united us all, but that doesn’t mean our race still can’t advance.” Sir Featherton inclined his head toward the courtyard—the courtyard that I had restored to life. “The king wants to ensure the Solis are the superior fae race in our realm. Breeding powerful fae will help grant that.”
I scowled, but I didn’t know why I was so shocked. None of this should have been surprising, given what I’d learned of the king. He’d forced Queen Lissandra to marry him because she held five affinities—something I’d never heard of any female possessing. And the son they’d birthed together, the crown prince, held six affinities. Prince Norivun was the most powerful fairy on the continent.
Now, the king apparently wanted to replicate that power. With dozens of fae as strong as Prince Norivun, our race would be unstoppable. Not even the powerful Nolus—the fae race residing on the continent south of us—would be able to stop us if war broke out.
I leaned back into my pillows as a million thoughts raced through my mind. Just last night, Michas Crimsonale, Lord Crimsonale’s oldest son, had told me that there’d been hushed talk of invading the Nolus continent. Their climate was warmer and would ensure we were all fed since they didn’t need magic to grow their crops, not like we did on our frozen continent that depended upon the celestial events to replenish our land’s orem—something that they’d failed to do as of late. Entire territory’s crops had died out.
Frowning, I wondered if that had anything to do with this old tradition being reborn. Perhaps the king wanted to birth and control powerful Solis fae so he could use them for his bidding in acts of war. Or maybe the two were mutually exclusive.
Because Michas had spoken of invasion as though it were outside of the king, as though it was coming from elsewhere, so perhaps the king wanted to build his army to deter other fae from thinking they could control the destiny of our race. Perhaps the king was doing this to prevent a war with the Nolus. But that would only work if he could control the powerful fae who were born and if war wasn’t imminent.
I brought a hand to my head. A headache brewed. I didn’t know what the motivations were behind any of this, and suddenly, I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to be a part of this. I wasn’t cut out for cunning court politics or games of power play. I was just a farm girl from Mervalee who, until a month ago, had been magicless, wingless, and lacked any desirable Solis strengths. But even though I was still wingless, the king apparently thought I was worthy of holding onto.
Ock.
Cailis glared at Sir Featherton. “Is there anything else my sister needs to know?”
“There are a few more details that I’ll need to ensure she’s aware of before the tests, but I can return later to explain.” He bowed again, then did a one-eighty and strode from the room.
The second we were alone, I collapsed my head into my hands. “This is insane. First the prince takes me from our village, locks me up for a month, and then I have three affinities manifest, only to be told that not only will I have to save our continent from starvation, but I’ll also have to marry a male of the king’s choosing so I can produce powerful Solis children for some unknown purpose?”
My skin crawled just thinking about it. Whatever I’d hoped to achieve in my lifetime, that had never been it.
Cailis wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed, then flared one of her wings protectively around my bare back.
“We could run away,” she said quietly. “We could flee to another territory or seek shelter on another continent. Other Solis fae have done it. Why can’t we?”
“Run away?” The thought had never occurred to me. I’d always been too guarded in the castle to escape, and the Exorbiant Chamber had proven impenetrable.
But part of the bargain that the prince and I had struck guaranteed I would never be locked within these chambers, or any chambers, ever again by him. Which meant escape was actually a possibility now.
I clasped her free hand and squeezed. “The gods would surely unleash either hideous magic or a curse upon me for failing to fulfill my bargain with the prince.”
Cailis pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. “I know, but there must be a way out of this. Because there’s no way in this realm or the next that I’m letting them do to you what Sir Featherton just demanded.”
Frowning, I tried to think of an escape, and my breath caught when I remembered something the Lochen fae king, Drachu, had told me the night the prince had flown us to the Glassen Barrier Islands. The Lochen ruler had sensed power in me and had been intrigued.
Should you tire of the death warlord, my shores are open to you.
My chest rose faster. That could be a way out of this. There was no guarantee the Nolus fae or Silten fae would welcome us, but the Lochen surely would. Or perhaps Drachu would demand something of me too. I could just be trading one captor for another. Regardless, it didn’t stop the fact that I would be running from our bargain.
I took a deep breath, knowing that we shouldn’t do anything rash. If I truly was to escape the fate the king demanded of me, Cailis and I needed to work out a solid plan before acting.
But before I could even contemplate any further treasonous thoughts, another knock came on the door.
This time, Sandus didn’t open it.
My heart seized when the crown prince strode into the room, not waiting for my approval to enter.
His aura pounded into me, his look dark and intense. Storm clouds raged in his eyes that were as dark as his all-black attire. Wind flew around him from his air elemental affinity, and the air felt as though it was sucked from my lungs.
Despite trying to stop myself, my gaze crawled over his muscular thighs, toned waist, slabbed chest, and broad shoulders. My stomach coiled, as something buried deep within my soul seemed to awaken in his presence even though he looked every bit the Death Master of the continent as he blazed a trail directly for me.
No, no, no. Damn this attraction to him, and damn my body for responding.
The prince stopped before me and eyed the empty tray. “Lady Seary, I trust you are ready now to begin the day.”
His husky tone rolled through me, lapping at my insides and threatening to suck me out to the sea that was Prince Norivun’s masterful aura. I latched onto the memories of what he’d done. Tormesh. Mother. Father. Tormesh. Mother. Father.
I recited those names over and over and over. Again and again.
I would not be attracted to the murderer of my family. I would not respond to him as I just had. And I certainly would not envision the kiss we’d shared last night.
Gripping the sheets to my lap, I fought against my ridiculous innate urges. For whatever reason, my body wanted him, but my mind did not, so I would not show wanton longing or be weak or allow myself to feel any of the tumbling emotions that were spiraling through me at this very second.
This male was my enemy.
The only emotion I would allow myself to feel for him was hatred.