“How about when your control slips?”
My breath hitches. He couldn’t know about earlier today and yet… I’m there again, in the best moment of my life. Until I felt my beast clawing at me from the inside out, and all I could think was I’m going to kill her. And it was him who stopped it all.
“What would have happened if it wasn’t for our little bargain?” He pops his finger into his mouth, sucking deeply. Then he opens to a wicked smile, teeth painted red. “Would you have devoured her or… devoured her?”
“Shut up.” My voice is raspy and raw. How could he know about Rosalina and I in the tavern? There was only the two of us.
And the beast and briars.
“But I know your secret,” Caspian continues. “There’s a part of you that craves to let the beast win. You know it, don’t you, Farron? You’ll never be truly free until you do.”
My eyes widen, and panic laces through me. “That’s not—”
“In many ways, we are one and the same. Monsters within our family.”
My heart hammers in my chest, and I rip my hands away from the collar. “You’re nothing like me, Caspian. Even back before the War of Thorns, you were never truly one of us. We all sensed it, all except Kel. It’s like there’s a doom on you, something vile and condemned. I don’t know what game you’re playing with us now, showing up at our home, making us come to your stupid party.” My voice is ragged, breath too fast. “You’re not part of our family, Caspian. You never were. And you never will be.”
Caspian steps back, eyes wide and shimmering.
Sometimes when I look at him, I forget just how wicked he is. But he nearly destroyed Kel. He’s bringing ruin to Castletree. Plus, he’s tormenting Rosalina.
I am the High Prince of Autumn, and the Below is an enemy to the realm. Caspian is an enemy. If I can’t stand up for those I love, I’ll never be able to defend all of Autumn.
I snatch Caspian by the lapel and shove him against the stone counter. “And stop speaking in Rosalina’s mind. Whatever dark sorcery you’ve conjured, leave her out of it.”
His eyes flick down to the notebook he’s holding. I recognize it now, one of the blank pads we use during our research. Rosalina’s handwriting is scrawled over the front—
I snatch the book from him, and he cries out, reaching for it. And with all the anger built in me, I rip the pad in two and throw it to the ground.
Caspian lets out a strangled sound and falls to his knees, gathering the shredded pieces. Then he glowers up at me. “You were all so quick to bestow me with the role of villain. Well then, Farron dear, if it is between that and outcast, I accept. I’ll play the part to perfection, and you’ll rue the day you ever cast me in it.”
The thorns around my neck shiver and all goes black.
61
Rosalina
“Blossom,” Dayton raises a dark brow from where he’s lounging on the cushions, “are you going to tell me why you smell like the meadows of Spring or am I going to have to guess?”
My entire body heats, and Ezryn stiffens.
“Oh, come on,” Dayton drawls. “Now you have to tell me.”
I open my mouth, knowing something awkward is going to sputter out. But Ezryn steps forward. “I was correcting an error most grievous, Summer Prince. How dare you not satisfy the Lady of Castletree?”
The Summer Prince doesn’t look intimidated in the slightest. His grin only widens. “So that’s what it’s all about. Our noble knight committed to justice, both in and out of the bedroom.” He places a hand on his chest. “But did the fair maiden proclaim how she wounded me so?”
I bury my face in my hands.
“I only hope, brother, she remembered your name in the throes of passion. Or did the name of our Sworn Protector grace your ears as well?”
I peek out between my fingers. Kel watches them both with a hint of amusement while sipping the water I gave him. There’s not a flicker of jealousy on his features.
Ezryn grabs Dayton by his shirt, lifting him up so they’re nose to helm. “I don’t care if she calls you Goblin,” Ezryn says. “If our woman requests pleasure, you give it to her.”
Dayton clasps his hands tight over Ezryn’s bracers. He smirks, wavy strands of blond hair falling across his brow. “If you say so, Daddy.”
Ezryn drops him with a long sigh, and Dayton springs lightly to his feet, laughing. We’ve been at a party for hours and he’s not drunk. Strange.
Dayton saunters over to me and throws his arm around my shoulders. I’ve missed the warm touch of his skin. “What do you say? Can you forgive me?” he breathes in my ear. “Jane?”
“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh. “Where is Farron to calm you down?”
A hushed silence settles over our alcove, and Kel says, “Where is Farron?”
He’s been gone too long. Apprehension tickles in my stomach. Outside, the party is winding down. The music has slowed to a haunting melody, and low moans of sex have replaced the earlier loud cries.
Ez shakes his head. “I’ll go look for him.”
“No.” I grasp Ezryn’s arm. “I don’t think we should split up.”
Ezryn nods. “He probably got turned around. Farron’s never been much good at directions.” His voice has lost its usual confidence.
I glance up at the throne, but the Prince of Thorns isn’t there. The rocks settling in my gut sink deeper. “I want to go home,” I whisper.
“He might have gotten frustrated with me,” Dayton says, remorse audible in his words. “He kind of wandered off, saying he needed a drink. I thought he wanted some space.”
You’ve barely left him alone all night. Caspian’s words to Dayton ring sharply in my ear.
“Dayton, is it true you and Farron were together all night?”
“Yes.”
It’s like we both feel it at the same time. Something is wrong.
Farron is in trouble.
“We need to find him,” Dayton says, voice low and commanding, all hints of merriment gone.
“Ez, can you help Kel?” I ask.
Ezryn gives a nod, not questioning our sudden seriousness. He hoists Kel’s arm over his shoulder as we make our way through the party.
Dayton grabs my hand, clutching it tight. It’ll be fine, I tell myself. We’ll find Farron and get home. It’s okay, we’ll find him.
We don’t. Not after three laps of the courtyard or searching the surrounding passages. There are halls within halls in this castle, but why would Farron wander down any of them?
“He wouldn’t leave without us,” Dayton says, panic lacing his words.
“We can find him,” Ezryn says. “We’ll grid Cryptgarden, every hall, every room—”
“He’s not here,” I say.
They all stare at me. I’m not sure how to explain it. But I knew after we lapped the courtyard once. Farron isn’t in Cryptgarden. He isn’t even in the Below. I know it.
“What are you thinking, Rosie?” Dayton asks. I know he’s trying to remain strong, but I can see it in his eyes. He’s terrified.
“We need to get to our portal.”
“The portal remains open for twelve hours,” Ez says. “If he’s not in Autumn, we can return here to search.”
Keldarion vomits behind a bench.
We sprint out of Cryptgarden Castle and across the expansive bridge over the city, passing drunken partygoers and unconscious bodies. Back into the main hall, my heart lurches in my chest.
The carpeted corridor is unnervingly quiet. No soldiers, no revelers. We stop in front of the rock wall where Caspian revealed the hidden door. Quickly, I tap the crystals in the order Caspian showed me.
It doesn’t open.
“No…” I breathe. “I know that was correct. It should work.”
Dayton steps up, tapping the same ones. Nothing happens. “That was the sequence.”
“The bastard did something to it,” Ezryn growls. Kel’s still slumped over his shoulder, slowly coming back to himself.
“I hear something.” Dayton presses his ear against the rock. “Goblins.”
I follow his lead. Faintly, there’s the clash of steel and a hungry chitter.
“What are goblins doing by our portal?” Dayton asks.
“Maybe this is the wrong place.” Frantically, I look up and down the narrow corridor. No, it was here.