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She halted and looked over her shoulder with a heavy somberness. “We all hide things, Queen Malin. And I was not part of torturing littles or killing your spy. I’m sorry you lost a friend.”
I had no reason to, but I believed her.
“We could help you.” Gods, what was I saying? She was a traitor to her friends and yet . . . there was a churning in my gut telling me there was a great deal she left unsaid. A reluctance a person who believed in their side of a war would not share. She didn’t believe in this war, and I did not think she believed in her queen or Niall, either.
Saga turned away and trudged up the stairs slowly, calling back as she left. “No. You can’t.”
When the door clicked at the top of the staircase, Ari stepped from the shadows. His bright eyes were narrowed into slits. Angry and dark, he walked to my cell door. He knocked three long, two short.
I let out a rough breath. “How long were you there?”
“Long enough to warn you not to trust that woman.”
“I had the feeling she was hiding something.”
“Oh yes. Many things if I had to guess.”
“You hate her?”
Ari hesitated. “I learned long ago, Queen Malin, to detest any man, woman, or child who did not fight for their own folk. In the turns I’ve served as ambassador, I have watched Saga cater to every cruel command given by Queen Astrid. I have watched her smother boldness. So, yes. I detest weak-spined folk such as her.”
By the gods, there was such pain in his voice. I had the unnerving urge to embrace the man until he told me all the aches and heartbreak of his boyhood.
Beneath his brevity was a tale of Ari Sekundär I was not sure anyone truly knew.
“I do hate it when Ari loses his smile.”
I snapped my eyes back to the door. Prince Bracken had an arm draped over Sofia’s shoulder. Behind him were two more male fae. All three were too skinny. Their cheekbones protruded and their eyes had little shine to them, but they were strong enough to stand on their own.
Ari’s light expression returned. “Bracken, it would be rather dull if I always kept this enchanting smile on my face. Malin, you remember Prince Bracken, don’t you?”
“You are looking well, Prince.”
“Such sweet lies.” He winced as Sofia led him into her cell. “I’m rather embarrassed I’ve missed all the fun you lot have been having. More ashamed knowing my mother got the drop on me straight away.”
“You’re free now, Brack,” Sofia said. “And it is a full moon tomorrow night.”
The prince beamed. “That it is.”
Mark four.
Prince Bracken’s magic involved the moonlight. Waxing and waning. He was able to dissipate into mist when the moon was hidden, or with a full orb, even in his weakened state, Sofia assured us his skin would be as stone. Too thick for a blade to cut, too hardened for the sharpest arrow to impale.
If we’d have been able to reach the prince sooner, we might’ve saved Valen a bit of trouble by having an invincible prince without curses.
The gravel and damp soil of the dungeon floor shifted. From the clods of dirt, a thick head poked through. Hodag spluttered and coughed, digging her way out of the hole.
“Oh, my Princey.” The troll raced into Sofia’s cell and slammed into Bracken’s body. Her heavy arms squeezed his bony middle. Fat tears dripped over her leathery cheeks as she sobbed. “Thought you was lost.”
“There, there, Hodag.” Bracken patted her head. “All is well. I’m told you dug a marvelous hole to entrap Sofia and our friends. Quite the ruse.”
Hodag released the prince and puffed out her chest. “Dug it with care. Not too deep, but enough those guards would believe it well.”
I flicked my gaze to Ari. He met mine. Saga knew Hodag had been part of our capture if she knew there was a burrow leading to Bracken’s cell. And if the fae knew that, she likely knew we’d intentionally been captured.
Only time would tell if she ratted us out, or if she was not quite as detestable as Ari believed.
“Hodag, you must return to your post with the queen, so she doesn’t suspect you,” Sofia said. “I’ll keep watch on the prince.”
