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I laughed.
His grin slid slowly away. “We need to find my guards. Can you mistphase?”
I nodded as the scent of ashy magic being cast filled the air, growing stronger with each step I took. “What’s that smell?”
“Our fae with constructo affinities are trying to repair the damage the gods caused. Their affinities can leave a lingering odor when they’re working nonstop.”
I rubbed at my wrist, where my mark had been flaring. It had disappeared again, only smooth skin once more. “So itwastheir wrath I was feeling. Does that mean you called for the gods?”
He grinned wickedly. “Indeed. It was the only thing I could think of. With Tylen visiting me every hour and my father refusing to set you free, I could think of no other option.”
I paused and hugged him again, catching him entirely unaware in the stairwell. He crushed me to him, righting his balance as I whispered, “Thank you.”
He enclosed me in his grip, his arms like steel bands around my waist. He dipped his head into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”
He held me like that for a moment longer, then reluctantly let go. “Were you hurt down there?”
“No, quite the opposite in fact. I’m pretty sure Vorl will never touch me again.”
A sly smile lifted his lips. “I wish I could have watched whatever you did to him.”
“I’m sure you would have thoroughly approved, especially when Georgyanna came to visit, and I didn’t spare her either. She was just here.”
“I know.” His lip curled in disgust. “I passed her on my way down. She was in quite a state.” His curled lip turned into a grin again.
I laughed once more, unable to help it as we resumed our upward march. “Was anyone hurt during the commotion?” I pointed upward, toward the destroyed castle.
“Not severely. I heard some rumblings that a few were hit with falling debris, but nobody was killed.”
“Good. I don’t want any innocent fae hurt on my account.”
His lips lifted in another crooked smile as fairy lights pierced my eyes the closer we got to the top of the stairs.
“So, where are we going now?” I asked when we reached the main floor. The prince stopped me before we could be seen, his arm curling around my waist.
“We need to get my guards, and then we need to find Michas. I have the looking glass with me. Michas needs to see that his father was right.”
“Why Michas? I thought we were going straight to Lord Crimsonale with it?”
“If we could, I would, but that will prove tricky. Allof the councilors have been summoned due to the castle’s destruction. They’re busy right now, but Michas isn’t. If we hurry, we’ll be able to show him this and ask if he thinks it’s enough evidence for his father to sway the other councilors to our side.”
I nodded. “All right, let’s find him.”
We climbed the remaining steps. At the top of the stairwell, the door hung at an odd angle off its hinges, and when I pushed it open, I gasped.
Servants ran everywhere, and the constructo fae were hard at work as their affinities hummed around them. Chaos reigned. Dozens of fae were crying or blubbering, and those with authority were issuing orders.
Nobody noticed us.
Yelling and shouting came from all of the halls as the smell of the constructo fae’s magic increased. I could only imagine the state the castle was in. Every wall and floor was cracked or crumbled. It was a miracle the palace hadn’t imploded.
Before my eyes, a constructo fairy wielded their affinity. A huge split down a wall was repaired and sealed as though it’d never been cracked in half.
The prince leaned down and said quietly, “We’ll have to go to Mervalee Territory after we speak with Michas. The gods will demand it. Until you’ve been returned home and then choose to leave on your own, forsaking your life of peace, their wrath will follow.”
My brow furrowed. “Would it be better if I chose to stay in Mervalee and not return here?”
