Guards surround Kel, swords raised. He lets himself be pushed to his knees. His hair sticks to his sweat-strewn face, and he grits his teeth. “I surrender because I am not your enemy. We are not aligned with the Below.”
I’m pulled up by my arms. Ropes are roughly bound around my wrists. Two guards heave Dayton up. “Careful with him. He’s injured.” The soldiers ignore me.
“Take them to the dungeon,” Princess Niamh orders. She turns, her dark red cape snapping in the moonlight. “And kill the beast.”
“That is your son!” Kel cries. “That beast is Farron. You cannot kill him—”
Niamh’s face flashes with heartbreak and horror. “If this is true,” Niamh says quietly, “then he has fallen to darkness. He is a shame to his people. To his home. To me.” Her eyes shine and her lip quivers. “I wish I had never passed on Autumn’s Blessing, for then such evil would never have come to Autumn. With his death, I could take back the Blessing to protect our realm.”
The wolf trembles, its own eyes blazing. Then it sprints away from the burnt library.
One of the soldiers raises a bow, arrow notched, but Niamh waves him down. “Let the beast go. We will hunt it in due time.” She turns and stares at us. “We have enough executions to worry about.”
66
Rosalina
“Oh! I can’t watch!” Astrid throws her hands over her face. “Describe what’s happening.”
“Well,” Marigold leans her busty body over the balcony, “everything is particularly icy. And, oh dear….” Her voice drops sensually. “Oh my my my.”
“What could possibly make you say that?” I run up beside them.
“The master and the other princes… They’re being handcuffed.”
“Marigold!” Astrid scolds.
“What? I can’t help it. Danger really gets the juices flowing, if you know what I mean.”
“Marigold,” I sigh, “we always know what you mean.”
But hey, we all deal with terrible situations in our own way, and I’m not one to judge. Because this is the most terrible of all terrible situations. Farron has fled, and the princes are in chains.
A clattering sounds from outside my room. After Kel literally jumped off our balcony, I felt my energy return slightly. I’m not sure if it was because of whatever fire passed between our mate bond or if my body kicked me with a shot of adrenaline, but I’m grateful for the boost.
Cracking the door, I peer out into the living chambers. A host of guards searches the area. They bust into Ezryn’s room. I quickly close the door and lock it, though I doubt that’ll do any good.
“I think you’re about to change your opinion on handcuffs, Marigold,” I hiss, “because we’re about to be in some.”
“Oh goodie.” She winks, then frowns. “Though it’s not as fun if I’m clothed.”
“We need to think. We won’t be able to help anyone if we’re caught.”
“Marigold and I can turn into our animals to hide,” Astrid suggests.
“That might work for a bit.” I kneel and place a palm on the floor, trying to feel for the thorns. If only I hadn’t forgotten my crown on Caspian’s betraying head. They felt so easy to connect to in the Below and at Castletree. But Castletree was already rife with briars, and there had to be some reserve of power in the Below I was pulling on, a supply I can’t reach here.
My hands drift over the rose necklace at my breast. Maybe…
A commotion sounds outside the door: the clash of metal, a guard crying out, the clunk of armor hitting the ground. Astrid and Marigold both gasp. My heart pounds, but I steel myself. “We have to see what’s going on—”
The door caves in. Astrid gives a loud peep and transforms into a white hare. I catch her in my arms.
But standing there isn’t the host of Autumn soldiers.
“Billy and Dom?” I gasp. “Papa?”
“Looked like you were in need of rescue.” Billy grins.
“Oh well, well, well.” Marigold bats her eyelashes. “I’ve always wanted to be saved by a strong hero.”
My father gives an awkward huff and places a firm hand on my shoulder. “How are you doing, my girl?”
“Better now that you’re here,” I tell him. “Hey, is that a frying pan?”
“Oh yes.” Papa holds up the cast iron proudly. “I was having a wee midnight snack with the lads when some foul creature came charging in and bit the hand off the chef. This thing gave it a mighty good smart.”
I hurry back to the door, still clutching Astrid to my chest. Outside, I see the guards tied up with rope, gags in their mouths. “These are your men.”
Darkness clouds Billy’s face. “After goblins attacked the kitchen, we crept to the hubbub in the ruins of the old library. We saw Dayton fighting like a warrior trying to protect that big wolf. He kept yelling it was Farron.”
“At first, we thought he was crazy. Corrupted by the Below like our mother said.” Dom’s voice wavers. “But then I saw the beast’s eyes.”
“Day wouldn’t leave him,” Billy says. “It’s Farron, isn’t it? That wolf is our brother?”
I nod solemnly. “It is. He’s under a curse. He can’t control himself when he’s like that. Caspian tricked us into letting the goblins into Coppershire. It was our fault, but we’re trying to do what’s best for the city, for Farron.”
“That’s what we thought,” Dom says. “But Mother won’t listen to any of it. She thinks it’s connected to the Below. All the princes and you.”
“Kel only froze the keep to protect Farron and stop the goblins,” I urge. “Believe me.”
They both nod. “That’s why we’re getting you out of here. But I don’t know where to go. Outside the city, that frost has gotten close.”
Absently, I pat Astrid’s soft white fur. “This is such a mess. The High Princes are prisoners, the frost is nearly upon the city, and Farron… He’s so lost.”
“That wolf was powerful,” Billy says. “All that fire. Why can’t Farron use that when he’s not foaming at the mouth?”
“Fire…” Images flash before me: flickering pages in the wind, the grimoires of the alder tree. “Farron mentioned powerful but dark spells in the alder tree. I think he was frightened of them, but we’ve got nothing to lose now. Do you think there could be something useful?” I give a deep sigh. “Never mind. Even if there was, the wolf tore the place to shreds. It’s all in ruins.”
“Hey.” Papa holds both my shoulders. “I’ve been piecing together ruins my whole life. Take me there, and I’ll find what you need.”
“As royal blood, we can get you in,” Dom says.
“Problem is,” Billy adds, “only a High Prince would be powerful enough to use any of the spells in there.”
I look out the window. “I’ll find him.”
“Rose,” Papa says, “I saw that beast. It’s too dangerous.”
“Farron always turns back into a man at dawn. The sun will soon crest over the horizon, and he’ll wake up scared and alone. I have to be there for him.”
Papa considers me. “My brave girl. You remind me of your mother with that look. Such fierce determination.”
I turn to Marigold. “You and Astrid are going to use all your wiles to get down to the dungeon. Tell the princes I’m safe. I don’t want them to do anything rash on my behalf. Right now, they have to show Princess Niamh they’re not the enemy.”
Fear still courses through me, but having a plan kindles my hope. Its spark catches in the others’ gazes as well.
“I’m always good at doing what I’m told, darling.” Marigold winks.
“We’ll do right by you, Rose,” Papa says. “I’ll be here for you now. Whatever you need.”
I squeeze his hand. “Have courage, and don’t give up hope.”
“Ah, but sweet Astrid,” Dom mumbles. “Where is she?”
There’s an explosion of fur in my arms, and then Astrid’s thin naked frame stands in front of me. She pumps a fist in the air. “I’m here and ready to save the princes!”
Dom and Billy go completely red.
Despite it all, a smile creeps up my face. Marigold gently places a blanket over Astrid, and I survey our team. The High Princes, the most powerful men in the Enchanted Vale are in trouble, and it might just take a human archeologist, two young pranksters, a timid hare, a lusty raccoon, and me—the Lady of Castletree—to save them.
67
Rosalina