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“Believe what you want, little princess.” Prys taunted me with his silken voice. “Your innocence is irrelevant. The throne is mine.”
“I don’t want your fucking throne.” My clenched jaw strangled my voice until I could barely get the words out. “Let me go.”
“That will not be possible, dear niece. You will stand trial, and the Fae counsel will sentence you to death. You will be the repugnant outsider who killed our beloved king, and I will be the hero who avenged him. In the meantime, enjoy your new quarters.”
I spat at his feet, my fury overwhelming my common sense.
Prys clicked his tongue. “And yet still so defiant. I had hoped this cell might teach you some humility, some respect for your betters.”
He slapped me hard, the sharp crack echoing through the dungeon. My head flew to the side, and I bit the inside of my mouth.
“Look at me when I speak to you.”
His fingers gripped my chin, nails biting into my skin as he wrenched my head around to face him. He looked angry enough to kill me on the spot, so I decided against spitting in his face.
After he’d gone, I took a deep, shuddering breath, tasting blood in my mouth. Fear curled in my stomach, cold and slick as a water snake. I collapsed to my heels, careful so my bare thighs didn’t touch the floor.
Chapter two
DYFROEDD
Shadowsdancedacrossthestone walls as the magic flickered through the dungeon. The kingslayer huddled in the corner, her tattered prison dress offering little protection against the frost.
Even though she deserved every shiver that racked her slender body, it was hard to watch her suffer. She was beautiful, this young half-human thrust into our world. Her fiery red hair, cropped short, gleamed even in the gloom, and her vibrant silver eyes stared into the darkness with despair so deep it made my chest ache.
And yet, she had chosen to take our ruler from us, the man who stood between the Fae and their new, cruel king. Last I had seen her had been in the warm pool in her palace quarters. The incubus, Daeary, had pleasured her, but it had nearly killed her. I had been ready to intervene and slay the demon, but he had surprised me.
He had pushed the life force stolen from the girl back into her body until she was out of danger. I knew it had nearly cost him his life. But had he not done that, I would have ended him for sure. Such was the order I had chosen to accept from the old king.
The shivers wracking her body slowed down. So did her breathing. I moved closer, alarmed. Her skin was so pale, it shone in the darkness, but there was a tinge of blue on her exposed legs and arms.
If I did not help her now, she might die tonight. I could not free her—the dungeon bonds were too strong. And if I revealed my true nature to the girl, I would break thegeasthe king had placed upon me, with all the cost it entailed. Better to stay hidden and not tempt fate for now.
Yet letting her die would spell certain death for me as well. I clenched my fists, seething about the impossible situation I found myself in.
Watching her curl up, her fighting spirit withered as I watched. Maybe I could do something to keep her courage up? It was worth a try. Summoning a surge of magic, I willed a single water lily to bloom. Its velvet petals unfurled, a splash of white in the dreariness.
Her gaze snapped up at the soft sound, her eyes widening. I held my breath, praying I remained unseen. She crept forward on bare, bruised feet and gently cradled the lily. A tear trickled down her cheek, glimmering in the dim light.
My hands curled into fists, rage roiling through my body. How dare they treat her this way, locking her in this pit like an animal? If she was guilty, put her to death and be done with it. Or give her a blanket and food if she had to remain here until the trial.
For a moment, I imagined sweeping her into my arms and carrying her far from this place to my ocean home where theMorwynionlived. As quickly as the thought flashed across my mind, as quickly I pushed it down. I had no business consorting with the likes of her. She was not even full Fae.
The walls thrummed with ancient magic, an alien song that twisted my stomach. The cold thickened my blood and made me ache for the sea. But my suffering was nothing compared to hers.
I grimaced, my gaze drifting to the tiny figure. The hurt etched across her face was in stark contrast to the stoic acceptance she tried to maintain.
Hour after hour, I bore witness to her pain. She curled up on the icy floor, shivering uncontrollably. Her pink tongue swept across her dry lips, and she swallowed painfully.
“Water, please.”
My head shot up, and my limbs unfroze. That was something I could do, even though I probably should not. It was becoming ever harder to remember who she was and what she had done.
With a simple thought, I made a drop of water, glistening like a tear, hover within her reach. She extended a trembling hand until the droplet sat on her fingertip. Her tongue licked at the moisture delicately.
My heart ached for the kingslayer. I had no choice but to protect her, but even so, her dire circumstances sat heavily within me.
As the night continued, the cell grew darker and colder.
