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“Regner has been slowly bloating him with stolen power over the years. He’s a human and not created to hold that much power. It will be driving him insane. We find him, and maybe we can figure out how to release the power before he loses control of it—or before Regner ensures none of us can ever get off this continent.”
Madinia stared into the distance for a long moment. “I have a few people who may help me.” Her eyes met mine. “I’ll find him, and we’ll take that barrier down.”
“In that case, follow me.”
She didn’t argue, merely hauled herself off the bed and strode after me as I led her toward the river.
We couldn’t risk meeting in our tent. Not with Conreth paying close attention to what we were doing. Tibris, Demos, Asinia, and Vicer were already waiting when we arrived. The river would help mask the sound of our conversation. I gestured to Madinia. “She’s going after the human prince.”
Demos studied her. “You think you can do this?”
She swept him with a cold look. “Of course.”
“Try not to set him on fire,” Asinia teased her.
Madinia opened her mouth, clearly about to threaten to setAsiniaon fire.
Vicer cleared his throat. “Everything is prepared. There’s just one more thing.” He reached into his pocket and placed a handful of what looked like small coins onto the grass between us.
“What are they?” I asked.
“If any of us are caught with no way out…”
“They’re the way out,” Demos said softly.
It took me several seconds to understand what he meant. The air left my lungs in a rush.
“Suicide?” Asinia’s voice cracked. Demos’s expression tightened.
“If it comes down to a quick death or one that includes days or months of torture—and giving up your friends and family—you’ll choose the quick death.”
Their eyes met, and something strange passed between them. Demos had seen Asinia at her weakest. Clearly, their days in those cells had given him some insight into her.
My mouth went dry at the thought of one of us being forced to choose that option. “How does it work?” I asked.
“The magic feels your intention. You just put it in your mouth and tell it what you want, Pris,” Tibris said gently. “It’s fast.”
Madinia didn’t hesitate. She grabbed one of the disks. “How do we hide them?”
“They stick to your skin. They were created with fae magic, and they were formed in such a way that the fae can see them, but hybrids and humans can’t. You’ll be able to feel the edge if you run your hand over your own skin, but no one else will.”
The way out. I wanted to scream a denial that any of us would ever need such a thing. And yet, I’d promised myself I would face reality and make the difficult decisions.
Madinia pulled her hair up and pressed the disk to the back of her neck. It disappeared into her skin.
Asinia slowly reached for a disk, adhering it to the inside of her upper arm.
If I were ever in chains, I’d have a limited range of motion. After a moment of deliberation, I chose the side of my neck, just above my collarbone.
Demos, Tibris, and Vicer took their disks.
“Well, that was suitably morbid,” Asinia muttered. “Are we done here?”
I nodded, getting to my feet. “I have something to show you.”
We left the others behind, and I led her along the river, into the grove, picking my way to the spot.
My heart fluttered. I knew Asinia like I knew myself. But still, I hoped I’d made the right choice.
