“We have to win,” I murmured to Kade. “I’m not ready to give any of this up. I’m not ready to give you up.”
His lips were on mine before I could say another word. When he pulled away, his hand still wrapped across my chin. “We will win, love,” he said with conviction. “There is no timeframe for which I would be ready to give you up. I need forever. I’m going to damn well make sure that is how long we have.”
I felt the same way. My life had changed so much since becoming queen. I had found a true love, learned my parents’ identities — which was not good news, but it helped me understand so much about myself, about my upbringing. It forged me into a blade that was stronger, more resilient. I was better equipped in all ways to be a mate and a queen. So now I just had to make sure it wasn’t ripped away from me.
A low, smooth drawl drifted across the courtyard: “Father is ready to see us now.” Prince Caspien was waiting near the twenty-foot-tall, wooden double front doors that led out into the main castle.
Kade and I pulled apart, turning to follow everyone up the stairs. Inside was as I expected: light stone work, wondrous artwork dotted across the walls, and even more greenery. There were plants, trees, and fruit growing everywhere.
“We need more plants inside back home,” I said to Kade. We were both staring around, trying to take it all in.
He surprised me by cupping my face, and the way he stared down at me, it sucked all breath from my lungs. At the same time, my heart started to beat rapidly. “You’re perfect,” he said, his eyes whirling and alive.
Then, just as quickly, he let me go, turning to stride after the group. Shaking my head to clear it, I hurried after him, my heart still going erratically. There were dozens of floors and halls. I lost track as we followed the prince to his father’s office. It ended up being at the end of a long, wide hallway. There were no guards in attendance at the doors, which I thought was odd, but maybe the king required nothing like that in his own home.
We all stepped inside. King Samson was standing behind a huge white stone-top desk. He looked the same as last time, like a golden ray of sun. The only difference was, he wore casual sort of clothes, and had ditched the cloak.
“Welcome! We are so glad to see you here safe and sound,” he boomed. One by one we gave him a bow or curtsey. Before he could say anything more, I quickly launched into an explanation of what we were doing here.
He eyed the staff, but didn’t comment until I was finished.
“We’ve been holding them at the winter woods,” he said, pacing his study. “Very little movement since the last attack, when they ambushed us and killed Dalia. I haven’t been able to figure out why they’re only engaging in small skirmishes, not moving forward in any sort of decisive way. It’s a standoff.”
Kade and I exchanged a glance. “We know the winter queen has been waiting to align with the Dark Fae Lord,” said Kade. “And we think he may have promised her this dark staff. Luckily, we got it first, and since we're sick of waiting for them to enact whatever they have planned…”
“We’ve decided to end it now,” I finished.
King Samson nodded, eyeing the staff in Kade’s hand for a second, before pausing at his desk and reaching out to pick up what looked like a pencil. One made of bone with symbols etched into the side of it. He twirled it in his fingers as he continued, “I have been worried about what they have been planning. It’s not like Isalinda to show restraint. Usually she uses brute force for everything. But if you can thwart her in the midst of a plan, it just might work.” He focused on me then, dropping the pencil back down. “You will need a guide. Last I heard, the winter queen had left her court and was elsewhere.”
A guide … I didn’t want to be rude, but we had four people already. What was it about a stealth mission that no one understood?
“Your Highness, I appreciate the offer but—” A knock at the door interrupted my polite refusal.
“Enter, Dante,” the king bellowed. The door opened and a huge cloak-clad fae stepped through. As he dropped the hood, bringing his face into view, I blinked a few times.
I … knew that face. It was familiar, but in a vague way. Where had I seen him before?
He turned toward me, and with a slight smile tipping up his full lips he gave me a low bow. As those blue green eyes locked on mine, I recalled exactly where I’d seen this fae before.
“You got out of the Winter Court!” I exclaimed. He looked different. His hair was no longer dirty-blond, it was now a shining mass of gold pulled back at the nape of his neck. His skin was golden too, and he beamed with strength and vitality. When I’d seen him in the winter queen’s dungeon, he’d been proud but hurting. I could see that.
“Thank you for your coat,” I added. “It was more help than you probably know.”
Dante’s grin stretched. “Thanks for the keys. I planned on escaping soon anyway, but the keys made it easier for me to get the other prisoners out.”
His voice was deep and rich; it filled the room. I sensed that Kade, Kian, and Shelley were all very confused by this conversation.
“Dante was in the winter queen’s dungeon when I was there,” I explained. “He gave me his coat, I gave him the keys so he could escape and release as many prisoners as possible.” I turned back to him. “Did you save the children? The little girl who they were hurting to get to me?”
He gave me two short, sharp head nods. “Yes, Your Majesty. I got them all.”
A tension I hadn’t even realized I was carrying seeped out of me. Thank the gods.
King Samson gestured to Dante. “This man is the best assassin we have. He can track anything that walks, and kill anything that breathes.”
Dante’s expression did not change as he said, “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Kade and I met each other’s gaze. One more man wouldn’t hurt. Especially if he is as good as his king boasts, Kade said.
I agreed. “If he’s willing, knowing this is going to be a very dangerous mission, we would love his help.”
Dante, who had no idea what the mission was, looked pensive. But also curious.
Kade quickly filled him in. “We intend to kill the winter queen and the Dark Fae Lord before the war can even begin. I have a weapon which can destroy the darkness.”
Dante’s expression morphed into one of a lethal predator. I wondered what had happened to him while he was at the queen’s mercy. I could see there was no love there for Isalinda. “I can definitely help with that. Give me ten minutes to pack.” There was not an ounce of hesitation in his tone, he just bowed to his king and Prince Caspien before striding from the room.
Over the next ten minutes I took the time to go through our travel bags as the king’s assistants brought us more dried foods and weapons.