Page 36 of Ravenrose

Theo considers my words. “Take the girl with you to Firelle.”

“Fae,” I correct with a glare. “She’s no girl.” And Theo would do well to remember that.

The prince just huffs and rolls his eyes in annoyance. “Take the princess with you,” he amends, avoiding my second glare. “Maybe you can get some information out of her along the way. Or she can be of some… other use.” Theo winks, and I walk away before I hit him.

“There’s a reason we execute them as soon as we catch them,” I try again, hoping to make him see reason.

“We’ve never captured one of the royal fae before.” Theo’s normally bright blue eyes turn icy. “And I’m not my father. Perhaps it’s time we do things a little differently. Our plan for taking Rosecliff didn’t exactly go as we had hoped, but I’m not dead, so I personally consider it a win.” He winks.

I just shake my head.

Theo continues, “The fae are in the wind; we no longer have the element of surprise, and we didn’t find what we fucking needed to. It can’t hurt to have a little leverage on the King of Light.”

My jaw ticks at the mention: The King of Sitara.

“I want her alive,” Theo commands, his gaze hardening as it settles on me. “At least, for now.” His stare deepens. “You’re the only one I trust with that. The hatred for the fae runs deep in this camp. But if she belongs to you…” his gaze turns contemplative, “no one will dare touch her.”

I crack my knuckles.

“Take her with you, get your revenge on Fel, do whatever you want with her, but keep her alive.” His tone borders on joking, but the look he’s giving me is anything but. There’s an intensity in it, words left unsaid.

I let out a growl of both frustration and resignation.

“Fine,” I concede against my better judgment, shoving a finger at Theo. “But you owe me.”

A wide smile crosses Theo’s face, and he cocks his head in agreement.

“Fair enough.”

Chapter 18

ROWAN

Ikeep my silent vigil as my eyes stay trained on the tent entrance. Every little rustle or noise sets my teeth on edge. Exhaustion clouds my mind, threatening to take me under against my will. It’s only the bitter taste of fear that keeps it at bay.

For now.

The captain has been gone a long time.

The tent flaps rustle, and a lump forms in my throat at the appearance of two Kovari soldiers. But neither of them are the captain. The relief is fleeting.

But these two look familiar…

I recognize the bulkier one as the oaf they call Nash, the soldier who was far rougher than necessary when escorting me to this tent earlier.

I gave him a little love bite to remember me by. The rage in his eyes says he’s still thinking of me.

But it’s Nash’s friend who catches my attention. He’s standing a few feet away, taking a cursory glance over the empty tent. The smile on his face only grows when he confirms the three of us are alone. Fear trickles down my spine.

Awkwardly, and on shaking knees, I drag myself to my feet. Wishing—not for the first time—I had some way to get to my knife.

“I see Ayer hasn’t played with his new toy yet,” Nash says, looking me over in a way that sends acid rising up my throat.

“I would’ve wasted no time unwrapping my present if I were him,” the shorter one says, then winks at me.

My skin crawls at the implication, and I desperately try again to free my hands.

The man, whose name I don’t know, saunters closer, letting loose a low whistle as he unabashedly looks me over. “Oh, what I would do with you.” His eyes linger too long upon my heaving chest, and I glower at him, unable to cuss him out properly with the cloth still tied tight in my mouth. The man looks back at Nash. “Keep an eye out.”