Page 195 of A Thief Among Fae

“We got as many out as we could,” Finnian says.

Ronan frowns. “What of this plot against my family?” He looks at the rows of covered bodies, the sheets draped over them hiding each face and injury. The three bodies at the end are covered with elaborate tapestries instead, and an Elowynite minister kneels beside them, quietly praying. Ronan swallows. He pales, but he looks back at us with a steely composure that impresses me.

“Eldon orchestrated it to take the throne,” I blurt out.

Ronan’s face pinches. He sighs. He’s not surprised. “And what did he promise in return?”

“To free the Hollowlands. That you would withdraw all humans from my people’s lands,” Desmond says unapologetically. There is no hesitation in him, no regret for wanting what his people have been denied for generations.

Ronan lifts a brow, regarding Desmond alone. “Not jewels or gold? Not even a title and a villa in Avedor?”

Auri growls. “You believe the Prince of the High Court would stoop so low as to assassinate your queen for mere trinkets?”

Ronan falls silent, thinking. No one dares to interrupt him this time, not even me.

“You defended my country even though we’ve enslaved yours.” Ronan approaches Desmond, stopping within arm’s reach. Desmond is taller, but Ronan shows no signs of being intimidated. The two men regard each other with equally guarded expressions, knowing our kingdom’s futures are in their hands.

“I’ll grant your wish as a token of my gratitude for defending my people, on one condition,” Ronan says.

Desmond waits. His imperturbable expression doesn’t betray a thing.

“All of Avedor’s citizens will withdraw from the Hollowlands, but only if all fae leave Avedor to never return.”

Desmond is silent for several seconds, then nods. “It will be done.”

“And if any of you should set foot in Avedor again,” he regards each of us, “our next meeting won’t be so cordial.”

I can barely believe my ears. The fae will finally be free. Desmond won’t be hunted down and executed. I dare to smile, giddy with relief that everything I’ve feared in the past few days won’t come true.

My joy stops cold as I realize Ronan also looked at me. Leave Avedor? Forever?

Evie grasps Ronan’s arm, blinking innocently as if supplicating to him. “I had no hand in this. I swear!”

Now that our masks are gone, the familial similarities between us are undeniable.

“I know,” her prince says.

No, I correct myself. Her king.

Everyone is ignoring one pressing problem. Gashil would have stopped at nothing to destroy Avedor. I have no doubt that the king of the Underearth is just as determined to conquer our kingdoms. Unleashing the Curse of Ages would drain Avedor’s magic until it’s defenseless.

If we can’t return to Avedor, we’ll never have another chance to ally with King Ronan.

“The fomorians will return, and your kingdoms will be stronger together,” I urge Ronan. “They want to open the tombs in Avedor to unleash a curse!”

Once it’s all out of my mouth, I realize how crazy I sound. Ronan watches me, as silent and stoic as stone. Evie stares at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“See to it that they leave,” Ronan says, dismissing us.

“Your Highness,” a guard interrupts. “We haven’t recovered your family’s crowns, nor your own. Should we search the traitors?”

The crowns? I remember Ronan throwing his into the crowd, then Princess Cara’s tiara rolling down the steps. I never noticed anyone taking them, but then again, I had other things on my mind.

Ronan’s onyx eyes narrow for several long seconds. “No,” he finally says. “Crowns do not define a kingdom, and those jewels were wrongfully sourced. That will be all.” He walks away, Evie following him.

“Evie, wait!” I call out, but the guards cross their halberds to block me from following.

My sister glances over her shoulder at me, her brows knit and lips pursed.