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Bree glanced up in just enough time to catch the smug grin on Fillan’s face. “I believe you just witnessed what I was doing in here withher.”
“This is highly inappropriate.” Conlan frowned. “She is PrinceTaveon’s—”
Conlan cut himself off, as if realizing what he was about to say and to whom. That was interesting. So, Fillan hadn’t been let in on the little secret. To him, she should be no one more than Dagen’s aide. But he’d found her out. How? And who was he to Prince Taveon? Why had he wanted to save her from gettingcaught?
“Is Prince Taveon courting her?” Fillan furrowed his brows in mock confusion. “My apologies. I was not made aware of that. She seemed to be attached to Dagen’s arm when she arrived, not thePrince’s.”
Conlan and Branok exchanged a glance, but they said nothing to correct Fillan’s assumption. Not that he believed in his assumption any more than anyone else did. But they didn’t know that. And they obviously didn’t want this fae to know thetruth.
“You should both return to the Great Hall,” Branok finally said, casting a sharp glance at Bree. A warning. “Do not let us catch you in the Prince’s private chambers again. And Fillan? It would be wise for you to choose another fae to be yourparamour.”
* * *
Bree’s cheekswere still a terrible shade of red when she strode back into the Great Hall. Fillan had said a hasty goodbye and had disappeared down the opposite end of the corridor faster than she’d been able to blink. She didn’t know why she’d expected anything else. Their kiss—while exhilarating—had only been meant as a cover for thetruth.
But she had questions. So many questions. Who was he? Why had he helped her? And why hadhebeen poking around in the Prince’s quarters himself? Was he one of Lord Dagen’s otherspies?
She glanced around the ball, from the massive horns to the colorful displays of masks. In the throng, she couldn’t spot Lord Dagen. The Prince was also nowhere to be seen. She frowned. Where had they all gone? And did it have anything to do with where Fillan had disappeared to as well? Surely they weren’t all together. Not unless the Prince had called together a council meeting, though that would be a strange request during the middle of aball.
Out of the corner of her eye, the tall masculine form of the Prince caught her attention. He strode out from behind a thick set of crimson curtains and stood tall on a golden dais. Immediately, the entire room fell into ahush.
Bree’s heart clenched tight, and she felt herself drawn toward the powerfulfae.
“I would like to thank the entire Court for joining us in the celebration of this year’s Silver Moon. Unfortunately, I must share some grave news at this time, as some unfortunate events have changed our realm forever.” He lifted his chin. “I know you are all wondering where my father is, our esteemed King who has led us through centuries of wealth and power. It is with great regret that I announce his passing, at the hands of a Breking in the realm of the Light Fae. I was there to witness this fight. He fought bravely, but he fell against the beast’s viciousfangs.”
The entire room was silent and still, every single fae gazing up at the Prince with a mixture of shock and confusion written across their faces. Though, Bree couldn’t help but notice, some looked jubilant by thenews.
“We will be giving him a proper funeral in the coming days.” He cleared his throat. “I would also like to formally announce my intention to follow in my father’s footsteps at the next Battle for the Crown. Thank youall.”
And with that, the Prince turned and disappeared back through the crimson curtains. A million voices rose up at once, building into a deafening crescendo. Bree got swept up in the crowd as they shifted through the room with a newfound frenzy. The ball had descended intochaos.
