Page 67 of Fae Games

I twisted around on the sofa and met his black eyes. “It started with them killing unicorns and using their hearts—”

“But who told them how to open such a portal and which dark faeries to contact?” asked Pokeweed. “Gala has a natural affinity with winter magic, but no head for navigating ancient rituals.”

“Right.” I dipped my head. Would a seeing hag be reckless enough to give her that kind of information? Hags were wise and amoral, but they didn’t let the world go to ruin for petty gains that could backfire.

“Is this what you really want?” he asked. “The four-star ritual can only be performed once in a person’s lifespan.”

My throat thickened as my mind filled in the blank he’d left unsaid. With Queen Titania and the Duke of Medietas wanting my arrest, I might need the princes to effect a rescue from Dubnos for myself.

Squaring my shoulders, I sucked in a deep breath. Hoarding opportunities while dear friends suffered wasn’t a way to live. “I can’t leave Helen down there. Especially after what the seeing hag told me she was suffering.”

Pokeweed frowned. Or at least I think that’s what it meant when the fur on his brow bunched and furrowed. “There is something I can do. There’s a patch of land I can enchant to make you safe from palace guards. When you have finished the ritual, enter my premises through any large enough tree.”

Hope sprung in my chest, and I reached across the tray that divided us and placed a hand on Pokeweed’s shoulder. “Thank you. How will I tell the princes where to meet me?”

Pokeweed stood, ending our contact. “I will ask one of the pixies to send them a message.”

When I drew my hand back, I thought he would return to the seat. Instead, he picked up the tray and took it to the kitchen area. Moments later, he emerged with two crystal bowls. The larger contained assorted apples and the smaller red and purple berries.

“I’ll contact them now.” He set down the bowls on a low table on my side of the sofa.

“You don’t have to—”

“It’s fine.” Pokeweed walked to the arched doorway, paused to give me a nod goodbye, and stepped through to the darkened passage.

I slumped in my seat and stared at the closing door. Sometimes, I really didn’t understand Pokeweed. It had been his idea for me to mate with all four princes as he wanted me to break his curse with the wishbone, but now he was acting conflicted.

My toes curled, disappearing into the floors’ deep covering of moss. It was too late. Too late for me to turn away from Princes Caulden and Rory. Now that I had gotten to know Prince Bradwell, I sensed a kindred spirit who wanted to make things better for humans on the Isle of Fae.

If I backed away now for a quiet life with Pokeweed, it would leave a gap in my heart that could never be filled, and Lady Gala might step in and worm her way into becoming the queen.

“Miao.” A familiar-looking black cat with a white diamond on its chest padded out from behind the bookshelf.

“Don’t you belong to the seeing hag?” I leaned forward, offering it my hand. “What are you doing all the way here?”

The cat sniffed at my fingers. “People aren’t possessions,” said a male voice from its mouth. “You of all people should know that.”

I snatched my hand away and clutched it to my chest. Something the hag had said earlier slithered back to the front of my mind. “You’re the king that never was.”

The cat jumped onto the sofa and placed his front paws on my thigh. “I’m just a man born under a curse, like your friend Pokeweed. Mistress Catha was referring to you. Or at least the magic you absorbed when you got cursed.”

“That dark faerie was a prince?” I asked.

“Queen Maeve isn’t sitting around in the otherworld knitting socks, you know. She declared Lugh her heir.”

I swallowed hard. That had been the name Mistress Ellyllon had used when Pokeweed had flown me to her tower. The wards had inform the headmistress about my past. “Why are you telling me this?”

“You’re angling for the wishbone, aren’t you?” he asked.

My throat dried. Was the cat about to demand I use one of my wishes on him? “What makes you think that?

“You are. I can feel it in my bones.” He sat on his haunches and stared up at me with eyes as bright as lamplights. “And as my last living relative, I need your help.”

“Are you the son of Mom’s great-great-aunt who got cursed by Queen Maeve’s lady in waiting?”

“McVittie’s the name. McVittie Diorval.” The cat jumped down and walked around my legs. “I know lots about the Mound and its magic. More than pampered princes too young to wipe their noses. We could help each other.”

My brows furrowed. There were three wishes, but I had even more desires. I needed to break Pokeweed’s curse, bring back Sicily, Mom, and Dad, and rescue Helen. Maybe the cat could help me phrase the wishes so I could help everyone.