AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So we need to be moving her into position too,” Demos said.
I took a deep breath. “In the meantime, we need to begin moving children and their mothers away from the fae camp, along with the weak and sick. If the wards fail…”
“Conreth won’t allow them to go deeper into the fae lands,” Lorian said.
I didn’t want them to move deeper into the fae lands. But my lip still curled at the mention of Conreth’s callousness.
Demos smiled. “We’re not taking them deeper into fae lands, are we, Pris? We’re taking them home.”
“Yes. But not yet. We need to make plans for their journey. I’ll need to make sure the elders will allow it.” And the thought of asking them for anything felt like swallowing acid.
Demos nodded. “I’ll communicate with Vicer, along with our own generals. They’ll need to be well-guarded as they move.”
Asinia grinned at me. Even Madinia looked pleased, her eyes brighter than I’d ever seen them.
But Lorian had shifted slightly behind me.
“There’s something else, Prisca.”
I didn’t like his tone. Wiggling out of his arms, I turned to face him. “What happened?”
His expression was solemn. “Yesterday, we received a message from Eryndan.”
I rubbed at the bridge of my nose. “I’m assuming he wants to know why we haven’t taken care of the Gromalian rebels yet.”
“Yes.”
Asinia snorted. “He’s still attempting to play both sides. If Madinia hadn’t managed to get a message to Vicer, Eryndan would have killed everyone living in the hybrid camp, simply because Regner told him to.”
Lorian was silent. Something was wrong. “What is it?”
A muscle ticked in his cheek. “I want you to know that I will fix this.”
What was he—
Horror swept through me. “Tibris. The rebels.”
“Yes. When I hadn’t heard from him, I sent Aquilus. The rebel leader responded with a message. He has sworn that no harm has come to your brother, but he knows about Eryndan’s orders, and he says he’s keeping Tibris as insurance. Now that Tibris is living at the camp, the leader believes you’ll be especially motivated to make sure it’s protected.”
My vision speckled, my mouth suddenly bone-dry. I’d sent Tibris alone. I’d thought he could negotiate with them in good faith. Instead, he was probably in some dark cell, wondering where we were and why we hadn’t come for him yet.
“When were you going to tell me?”
Lorian’s jaw clenched. “I sent a fae delegation to attempt to negotiate. I was hoping they would be successful.” He held up another piece of parchment. “Unfortunately, the rebels refused to engage with them. And if they were to attack, your brother could be killed.”
Fury raged through me. “You were hoping to fix this with your fae delegation and get Tibris back before I even knew what had happened, weren’t you?”
Lorian gave me a steady look, and I ground my teeth. I was not overreacting. Did he think I was fragile now? That I needed to be coddled?
Demos got to his feet. “The rebels will negotiate with me.”
My heart pounded in my chest. Time had suddenly sped up, out of my control. I forced myself to focus on his words. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. By now, the rebels will know I’m alive. They also know I’m the Hybrid Prince—” he rolled his eyes at the title “—and that I can negotiate on your behalf. By the time I get to the camp, their spies will have learned of your attack on Regner. If we’re lucky, it will make them wary. They may even be grateful that it was I who arrived and not the hybrid heir herself.” He gave me a faint smile.
“You’re not going alone,” I said. I ran my gaze over the others, considering our options. Lorian wouldn’t leave my side, and truthfully, I couldn’t bear to be separated from him right now either. Marth could have been helpful, but he was barely functioning, his eyes wounded as he sat silently in the corner and sharpened his knives. Galon—
“I’m going with him,” Asinia said.
