Niethal and Grace walk in then, his palm pressed to the small of her back, guiding her toward us. The sight of his hand on her body makes my skin crawl. She’s in a different gown; it’s dark green and hugs her body. Its thin straps and plunging neckline show off her breasts, making me ache to be between them again.
She hasn’t looked at me, but I sense her attention through the bond. Grimacing, I take another sip of whiskey to help ease the unpleasantness of seeing them together.
Niethal pulls out a barstool for her, and a servant places a glass of wine in front of her. When she doesn’t touch the glass, Niethal frowns. “Something wrong with the wine, my dear?”
“No, nothing is wrong. I don’t prefer wine, is all.” The lie in her words seeps through the bond.
“What’s wrong with the wine?”
“It’s probably nothing. One of my servants warned me not to drink the faery wine. She wasn’t sure what it would do to a partial human. I’m just being cautious.”
The surrounding conversations interrupt ours.
“Sorry for the delay. Apparently, Grace got lost and had a mishap in the courtyard fountain.” Niethal glares at her, and she stares into her wine, cheeks reddening.
I grip my glass a little tighter.
“While I’m glad she’s been found,” King Holford says, “can we please get back to the matter at hand? How do you intend to take back the human lands? Even if we reclaim our relics to aid us in this fight, are we to wage an all-out war? Our powers are superior, and if we find our missing relics, some may help, but the humans still have the numbers, triple what they did during the war.”
“That is the beauty of the relics, Fintan,” Niethal says with surety. “Though many only hold small magics, like the truth-telling abilities of your chalice, we won’t need to wage war once we have the bloodstone. When the humans see what the stone is capable of, they won’t dare fight.”
Before King Holford can respond, King Tullid turns in his seat to face Niethal. “We lost the stone when we lost the city. I still don’t know how you’re so certain either still exists.”
Niethal finishes his drink and sets the empty glass on the bar. “Because I was inside Anaeris during the war’s end. I met with the king and queen, and destroying their city would only have disrupted themagicalbalancethey were so piously trying to maintain. Once Grace brings down the borders and blood magic, we will find the bloodstone and regain access to one of the strongest magical cities we ever had. We’ll be free to travel Esmarae as we wish.”He smirks, and my muscles stiffen.
Grace brushes my mind.“He keeps mentioning the bloodstone. What is it?”
I wish I paid closer attention to my history lessons. There were dozens of fae relics that belonged to noble households, such as the healing stones of House Tullid, the truth-telling chalice of House Holford, and the strength-increasing bracers of House Briar. But most were heirlooms more beloved for their sentimental value than power. The bloodstone was different.
“If I remember correctly, the bloodstone was of your bloodline, Anaeris. I believe it magnifies the magic of the person who wields it. So, in theory, it would intensify your fires.”
When I glance at Niethal, I scowl. He has all the right answers because even King Tullid seems more inclined to the idea now. I can’t stay quiet anymore.
“What do you think about this, Grace?” I ask, and she lifts her head, meeting my stare.
“I don’t intend to do any of that.”
Niethal clicks his tongue. “My dear. I thought we went over this, or did you forget what’s at stake?”
Her shoulders stiffen, and when she responds, her voice is strained. “And after I do what you want, then what? You’ll let me and my parents go?”
A servant gives Niethal another glass of whiskey, and he takes a sip before responding. “I intend to have our kingdoms flourish once we rejoin Esmarae. Your parents will be free after the borders and blood magic are down, but you will play an integral part in what is coming. I meant what I said. You are mine—I won’t let you go so easily.” His hand caresses her arm, and it takes all my restraint to not lunge at him.
My shadows crawl under my skin, begging for release, and usually I can push them back, but this time, they fight. The shadows feel like they have claws, scraping and slicing, trying to force their way out. Pain and panic roar in my mind.
Grace pushes inside my darkness, worry pouring off her, but the heat of her presence soothes the shadows within me, and the claws retract.“Are you okay? I felt your pain.”
I’ll have to learn to shield better.
“I’m all right. But you are not his, Grace. You belong to yourself, and if he tries to take you, I’ll fucking kill him.”
My fury sweeps across the bond, and a long moment passes before she responds,“I am my own, yes, but I am yours, just as you are mine.”
Her words calm my shadows further.And the sight of Niethal’s hand releasing her arm loosens the last knot from my stomach.
Niethal turns to me. “Think hard about this, prince. Rikard and I may not see eye to eye on many things, but there will come a time when Daminae is yours. On which side will you fall?” His words hang there, but I don’t respond. After a moment, he turns to face the other kings. “I am retiring for the evening, but you are welcome to stay in the parlor if you’d like. Tomorrow we shall vote on reclaiming our relics and freedom. Think long and hard, for this will change all our futures.” He lifts his arm. “Come, Grace. I’ll take you back to your room.”
She hesitates for a moment before placing her hand on the bend of his elbow and bows to the kings. “Goodnight.” While her head is hung low, she speaks through the bond.“Come to my room tonight.”