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Bit by bit, the scene came into view.
The stale, rotting smell indicated that I was underground, the coolness reminding me of the dungeon inside the castle, but there were no bars here, only a steel door in front of me.
Was I in a cellar?They couldn’t have taken me far, the houseful of tiny faeries and Agnan, even with his powers… could he?
I cursed myself for telling Endora to stay behind. I had wanted to come for Mirielle myself. I hadn’t wanted to frighten her by bursting in with a flock of guards and had been so sure that I would overcome Agnan with the mere force of my fury.
But I hadn’t accounted for Mirielle’s lies.
Not Mirielle,I told myself. Grendel. Her name is Grendel, and she wants to be here. She left me that ring to show me that she was leaving me. Oh, I’m such an idiot!
The betrayal cut so deeply, it almost overtook whatever trauma was occurring within my body. I tried to remind myself that she hadn’t known… but had she, really? Had this just been a game she’d been playing with me? And if so, why? To what end?
Again, I sat up, this time more slowly, and let my vision adjust to the dimness, waiting for my wolf’s senses to kick in. But it was taking longer than usual. There was undeniably something wrong with me, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
I ambled to my feet, my movements awkward and painful, every bone in my body aching.
What did that prick do to me? What did Mirielle lead me into?
There was a high window to my right, and I moved to shift into my wolf form so I could leap toward it, the pane inaccessible from my place on the ground. Only then did I recognize that I was naked.
Of course. I’d shifted when I’d come for Mirielle—Grendel—whoever she was. But in the wake of my attack, I’d fallen back into my fae form. Willing my body to morph, I started to jump toward the tiny, rectangular window… but nothing happened.
What the…?
I almost hit the wall, my hands catching me as a flash of white caught my eye in the darkness on the left, and I whirled, teeth bared. A tiny ivory mouse sat on its back paws, front knitted together as if pleading with me.
Instantly, I knew who it was, the brilliant blue eyes unmistakable. For half a second, I thought about ignoring her—or worse. The anger resurfaced in a torrent.
“You have some nerve coming in here,” I hissed.
She shifted in front of me, her flowing, auburn hair shimmering over her breasts, eyes still wide and apologetic. Her naked body attracted my attention for only half a second—and then I remembered who she was and how badly she had betrayed me.
“Zen—”
“Are you here to rub it in?” I spat, not allowing her to finish. “Go away.”
“No! Of course not!” The hurt and indignation in her tone were real, and I almost laughed at her offense, like I was the one who had harmed her, not the other way around.
But I didn’t have time to placate Mirielle’s feelings. I had to get out of there.
Again, I struggled to shift, not understanding why I couldn’t. I used everything in my power to make the transformation happen, but I couldn’t get my body to respond.
“Why did you come after me?” Mirielle demanded, forcing my attention back toward her.
I scoffed loudly. “I’m wondering the same thing myself.”
She studied me sadly. “I mean… I left the ring so that you knew I had left on my own.”
I turned away from her and eyed the window. I didn’t want her to see me planning my escape. She would run back to Agnan and report to him.
How could I have been so blind to her? Did she have me under a spell? Is that what happened?
“Go away, Grendel,” I said coldly. “Your boss wouldn’t like you here.”
“He’s not…” She inhaled deeply before speaking again. “I’m here to help you, Zen.”
My head whipped back toward her, my eyes narrowing. “I’m your king!” I hissed. “At least until you kill me, and my sister takes over. Don’t address me so informally.”
