But I won’t take this lying down.
If it’s a fight they want, I’ll give them one. I’m not going down alone. I refuse. They got me into this mess. It’s only fair to invite them to the party of chaos.
I’ll bite my tongue.
Bide my time.
And destroy them just like they destroyed me.
The jail door clinks shut while two of my mates watch with merciless expressions. I don’t bother meeting their cold gazes. I already know what I’ll find—unapologetic righteousness.
In the end, I’ll burn those smug grins right off their faces.
I’m no longer the meek little Earth Fae they held captive here before.
Now I understand their rules.
And as soon as I free myself from the magic of these bindings, we’ll play.
Prepare to bow to the queen, boys. I’m coming for you.
Chapter One
KOLS
Aflora refusedto look at me.
Not that I could blame her.
She thought I’d betrayed her.
That knowledge hurt me almost as much as her resulting shiver to the dungeon air. Shade’s shirt and boxers did little to keep her warm, but it was more than her lack of proper clothes. It was her soul reacting to the wrongness of her surroundings.
Elemental Fae weren’t meant to stay underground for long periods of time. It’d only been a few minutes since our descent, but I caught the unease radiating from her shoulders. It rivaled my own, because I had no idea what to expect. The news of her trial arrived first thing this morning, and the Council was set to meet within the hour to discuss her fate.
I had no clue what this supposed recording revealed. Hell, I could be facing my own execution, for all I knew. But I doubted it. Otherwise, I’d be in chains right next to Aflora.
Which meant there was still hope.
It all depended on what Shade had told the Council.
I rubbed a hand over my face as the iron bars locked behind Aflora, the gargoyle overhead watching her with severe distaste.“Don’t harm her,” I told the stone creature. “She’s still a guest until the Council deems otherwise.”
Aflora snorted before settling on a stone bench, her eyes continuing to avoid mine.
There were things I wanted to say but couldn’t with our surrounding audience. So I merely said, “Someone will return should a test of your abilities be required for the trial. Otherwise, you will be notified when the Council reaches a decision.”
I met Zeph’s gaze as I turned, his green orbs giving nothing away. We’d discuss this more once we were away from all the surveillance cameras and lost our two Warrior Blood guards.
Aflora didn’t reply or acknowledge my comments, her stature prim and proper as we left her alone in her cell.
Too bad I couldn’t force her into a temporary dream to communicate with her, but we didn’t have time for that. So instead, I walked with purpose up the stairs, past the Council Chambers, and into a corridor that led to a room where I could speak with Zeph in private.
The pair of Warrior Blood guards remained at the dungeon entrance, their job to ensure Aflora didn’t escape. That alone told me the Council had no idea how powerful she was. If they did, they’d put a lot more than two fae on watch.
Zeph closed the door behind us, his first comment a string of curses that ended in Shade’s name. “Did they let you hear the rest of the recording?”
I shook my head. “Only the bit you overheard with her calling for her own extermination.” I ran a hand over my face once, fatigue weighing down my shoulders. “We need a backup plan. Because if this goes south…” I trailed off, not wanting to finish that statement out loud.
