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Yuck. “I’m King Harold’s niece!”
Kara waved a hand. “Nobody will care. And it’s not like your body is going to touch Harold’s body. It will only touch the fae’s body—without the horns, of course. They’re so disgusting. And those nails!”
Naia had had enough. And enough information. She ripped a piece of one of the doors and made it fly towards Queen Kara. She meant it to nick her neck, the way she’d done to Cassius, but the piece came with too much speed and ended up severing her head.
Horrified, Naia turned around as she heard the body thudding on the floor. It had been so fast that the queen hadn’t even screamed. It had been a clean, merciful kill. All Naia could feel was pity for this woman void of love, void of feelings, thinking she was finding freedom and yet setting her hopes on another man, allowing herself to be used for him. She had even sacrificed her own son! Cassius had been horrible, but still.
After a deep breath, Naia lit a flame on her hand and directed it at the ice, which started to melt fairly quickly, freeing her in a matter of seconds. Naia stepped out, but then noticed something on the floor. A black dagger. River’s. She remembered the first time she’d seen him wearing it, in the Ancient city, and his sister had found it strange.
No, she had asked about thereddagger, not the black one. This was River’s, and had been left under the ice. Naia took it.A part of me… Had he left it for her? It had magic, she could feel it, but it was familiar magic… his magic. She closed her eyes and slipped into the hollow. So many circles, and she had no idea where to go, and how to start. Naia had to stop Cynon. She knew he was in River’s body, and could also be pretending to be Ironhold’s king. Could be pretending to be anyone.
The question was how to stop him.
* * *
Fel sensed Leah trembling.Could it be?
Tzaria perked up. “You have something like that in Aluria? A large iron circle?”
“Yes.” Leah’s voice was cracking. “In Frostlake.”
A portal to a prison realm opening in Leah’s city would be a disaster. Fel was hoping that wasn’t the case. “That dome has been there for a long time, though.”
“Sixteen years,” Leah said. “And my father was friends with king Harold, from Ironhold. If Cynon has been affecting them…”
That couldn’t be true. “For that long?”
Tzaria was thoughtful. “Time passes differently in other realms.” She paused. “We’ll have to destroy that dome. Just in case.”
Leah’s eyes widened. “It’s winter down there. The city won’t be prepared.”
“I’m sure cold is preferable to dealing with denizens from a prison realm.” Tzaria’s voice was hard.
Leah looked down. “I guess I could try to warn the people.”
“Can you take us there?” Tzaria asked. “Just to check?”
Fel hesitated, fearing it would be a long flight. “It’s just a matter of following the mountains towards the south, but it’s quite far.”
Tzaria glanced at Ekateni, who nodded. She then turned to Fel and Leah. “That’s not a problem. We have to check this dome. If it’s the kind of circle that could be used to bring in the eleventh realm, we have no choice but to destroy it as soon as possible, before Cynon gets to it.”
That part didn’t bother Fel. “I can do that easily with my iron magic. If we’re sure it needs to be done.”
“We’d better go,” Ekateni said, then asked, “Can you just show us the way?”
“Of course.” Fel had never meant to imply that he didn’t want to help.
Leah then climbed on his back, while his uncle swapped forms and took Tzaria in his claws.
The cool night wind caressed Fel’s wings as he glided over the mountains, Ekateni beside him, in his beautiful dragon form.
Fel wondered if he should have warned Naia, but then, they were just going to check the dome. The night should keep them hidden and safe, even in a kingdom controlled by Ironhold. He’d try to remain near the mountains and check Frostlake City from a distance. And then they would still need to figure out a way to take down Cassius and defeat Cynon.
Too much to do.
Too little time.
Fel was expecting to have to fly all the way to Frostlake, but then heard Ekateni’s voice.
