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I took that thought and lit it on fire. The man I’d believed I’d known was a lie. Since he’d hauled me on to this ship, Lorian hadn’t bothered to explain. Hadn’t even attempted to tell mewhy. No. Instead, he paced the ship, snarled at the captain, instructed the hybrid sailors to make us travel faster, and occasionally glowered my way.
I always sneered back, my heart cracking open a little more each time.
Forcing him out of my mind, I focused on the others.
I missed Rythos. The last time I’d seen him, he’d been even taller, his ears pointed. His eyes…his eyes had been the same. Soft and kind.
“It’s still me, darlin’,” he’d said. But when he’d reached for me, I’d flinched.
I hadn’t meant to. He’d just been sobig. His eyes were…glowing. And those ears…
Galon had given me a disappointed look that had speared me, while Rythos had turned away. But not before I’d caught the flicker of hurt in his eyes.
My stomach writhed some more, and I leaned farther over the railing.
I especially missed my brothers. I wanted to hug Tibris. Longed to claw back some of the time that had been stolen from Demos and me. Needed to mourn Asinia’s mother with her. But the deal I’d made with Lorian had been clear. I’d agreed to go with him to the fae lands, and in exchange, he’d saved Demos’s life.
Lorian wasn’t human. His moral compass was broken. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d allowed that bolt to pierce Demos’s chest just so he’d have a way to make me bargain with him once more.
When I’d agreed, I’d thought we’d all travel together. Lorian had immediately smothered that possibility.
Rythos, Galon, and the other fae would travel in groups with Demos, Tibris, Asinia, and anyone else who was seeking refuge in the fae lands. Neither of my brothers was happy about the hybrids being split up, but they’d had no choice.
Some of the hybrids would scatter. Now that Lorian and the others had given them the blue marks declaring them as humans past the age of twenty-five winters, they had options. Many of them still had families they were hoping to find. But most seemed willing to separate into groups—some of them led by Rythos, Galon, Cavis, and Marth, the others led by the strongest hybrids. Too many people traveling together would draw attention, and if there was one thing the fae knew, it was how to sneak around beneath Sabium’s nose.
Lorian had taken me straight to the dock. Apparently traveling down the coast was the safest option since he’d paid a king’s ransom in bribes—killing anyone who couldn’t be paid to look away. His healer was spending most of his time in the cabins beneath us. Just when I’d convinced myself Lorian was heartless, he’d ordered that healer to look after the hybrids who were too sick to be able to make the journey on foot.
As soon as we arrived in the fae lands, they’d do better. They’d have fresh air. Better food. Sunlight. I’d make sure of it.
The scent of roses mingled with the salt air. Telean. She made her way closer, leaning on the railing next to me.
“Why don’t you try a little soup?” she asked.
I gagged, my head spinning.
Telean wrapped an arm around my shoulders. She was the only one Lorian had allowed to travel with us. Since she’d seen my mother wield time magic, Lorian was hoping she could teach me what I needed to know.
“Your father was the same,” she said. “When we crossed the Sleeping Sea, he was in a terrible state. He refused a healer too, insisting they tend to the wounded.” She nudged me with a raised eyebrow, and my mouth trembled.
I soaked up the story like the earth soaking up water after a drought.
“Why didn’t you tell me? That I was the heir?” I kept my voice low. The wind whipped my hair against my face, and I pushed it behind my ear.
Telean took a deep breath, clearly enjoying the tang of the salty ocean air. “Iwasplanning to tell you.”
“When?”
“As soon as the hybrids were free. As soon as there weren’t lives depending on you. I don’t think you realize what a blow you’ve dealt to the king, Prisca. I wanted you to be able to enjoy your victory for a few days first. But your big-mouthed brothers let the fae learn who you were.” Telean gave me a faint smile.
I sighed. I could definitely picture Tibris and Demos loudly arguing about that information.
“According to Lorian, the fae king already knew.”
“Yes,” she sighed. “Either way, you would have ended up in the fae lands at some point.”
“Why?”
“Because once—before they left us to die—the fae were our allies.”
