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Bree couldn’t getEthne’s words out of her head, especially not when Taveon himself showed up at herdoor.
“I think you and I should have a chat about your future here,” he said in that strange resigned voice of his. “Shall we go somewherequiet?”
“Sure,” she said, her heart throbbing painfully in her chest. “Come onin.”
“Why are you still here?” he asked as soon as he’d shut the door behind them. “I was under the impression that you did all this for your freedom, and yet, you are still living within these castlewalls.”
“I’m not ready to go yet,” she replied, her voice small andquiet.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “And when will you be ready to go? Once you have assured that I will not be King? Do not worry. You have done enough damage to my chances. And, without a champion, it looks as though I will not even be able to participate in thebattle.”
Bree licked her lips. “I think maybe I made amistake.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You thinkmaybeyou made a mistake? How can you stand there and say this to me after everything that has happened? You are telling me you have doubts now after the damage is already done? That is not fair, Bree. I know you hate me, but that is notfair.”
“I don’t though,” she said in awhisper.
“What do you mean? You don’twhat?”
“I don’t hate you, Taveon. Sorry,PrinceTaveon.” She dropped her eyes to the floor, unable to look at him any longer. “I did. For a long time. Just notanymore.”
With a heavy sigh, Bree turned away but a strong hand fell onto her shoulder. She froze in place, breath held tight in herthroat.
“You know youshouldhate me,” he said. “I have been terrible toyou.”
“Well, I mean, I did try to killyou.”
“It does not escape my notice that you did not tell Lord Dagen that. Nor did you tell him the true color of my wings.” A pause, his hand tightening on her shoulder. “Why isthat?”
Bree’s breath shuddered from her lungs as she twisted to face him once again. It almost hurt to look up into his grave yet handsome face. His dark eyes bored into hers, sparking something strange deep within her gut. Bree had always felt somewhat drawn to this fae, regardless of what he had done. She’d hated him, yes, but there had always been something simmering beneath the surface of heremotions.
“To be honest, I have no idea why I didn’t tell him the whole story,” she said. “Something inside me just...stopped me from saying too much. It felt like the wing color was enough anyway. And I don’t even know what the rest of it means. Obviously, there’s something else you don’t want him toknow...”
“You will understand if I choose not to share it with younow.”
“Yeah.” She understood, but somehow, she almost felt disappointed that he didn’t want to tell her his deep dark secret he was so scared for anyone else to know. “Like I said, I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I reallyam.”
“It is fine.” He loosed a breath. “It isdone.”
“I want to help you find another champion.” She spilled out the words before she could stop herself, heart beating madly in her chest. “I’ve screwed everything up for you. I can’t go back in time and change it, but I can try to help you from nowon.”
“Bree.” Taveon’s voice went soft. “I truly appreciate what you are offering, but it is no use. My champion must be a shapeshifter, but any shapeshifter will not do. The fae needs to be strong anddangerous.”
“Like me,” Bree said. “Dangerous, scaryBree.”
“You are only dangerous if you choose to be.” A pause. “But yes, a fae likeyou.”
“There are more like me in Otherworld,” she said. “More Redcaps. I could go getone...”
“There is no one else in any realm who is like you.” The Prince shook his head. “Besides, there is no time. The battles will begin this day. You would never be able to get there and back intime.”
“Today?” Bree’s eyes went wide. “Can’t you delay it? Can’t you get just a couple of moredays?”
“I am afraid not,” he said quietly. “It has already been weeks since the King’s death. His funeral is over, and it is time for the battles to begin. The Court will not wait any longer, especially not for a Prince who is not the King’s trueson.”
“So, all those champions showing up now...they plan to start fighting at the end of the day?” Bree shuddered just thinking about it. It was such a waste, these battles, these fights. Taveon spoke so often about changing things. Well, this was one aspect of Underworld that sorely needed a massiveoverhaul.
