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“So there is no way?” I asked. “What if we take some of the food with us? Won’t you be able to gather the remedy from the poison?”
“No, the poison dissolves in the food and it changes. It is not possible to figure out what it is by examining its form inside the food. The antidote won’t work either. We cannot replicate it blindly. I would need the poison in its pure form and unfortunately, we do not have that,” he replied. “But I do have a solution for you.”
His intimidating gaze was locked on me. He looked like he was trying to read my mind.
“Please do tell,” I pushed.
“Lugh will keep using us to threaten our families, as long as he has us,” he said. “Some of our families might stop trying to appease him at one point and decide to risk our lives, but most will surrender to his threats. There is a sure way to stop all of that.”
“What is it?” I asked, taking a step forward.
His gaze pierced through me as though he was reading me like a book. Hope taking over despite my resistance, I leaned in to catch his whisper.
“You can kill us all,” he said.
I straightened up and stared at the man. There was no hint of a smile on his face, which might have suggested that this was some dark joke.
“What?” I asked incredulously. “No!”
“Why not?” he asked. “It would save the realm. Lugh lets us talk to our families once a week to show them we are well,” he pointed at the mirrors lined on the far wall of the room we were in. “If they don’t hear from us every week, our families would think Lugh did something to us. It would be a huge insult even for those not acting out of love. They would rebel against him immediately and side with you and your family. It is the only way to take back your crown.”
“I don’t want my crown,” I whispered. “Not if it means so much death.”
Lord Tynan spun around and grabbed both of my arms, locking me in a tight grip and forcing me to meet his gaze.
“But think about all the fae who will suffer under Lugh’s rule,” his eyes were wide with madness as he shook me. “If you were the king, their lives will be much better. Consider us casualties for the greater good. You will be a righteous king. Isn’t that better than what we have now?”
This was true evil. At first, I had thought Lord Tynan was making a macabre joke. I wanted to believe that, especially because I trusted Lord Petret and didn’t think he would befriend such a madman. But he meant it. I could see it in his eyes.
He thought sacrificing the prisoners would be a worthy cost.
I did not agree.
“No,” I shook him off. “I won’t do it.”
“Why not?” he asked. “Your friends know I’m right.”
“No,” I whispered.
“Look at them,” Lord Tynan replied. “They’re not disagreeing.”
I turned around to face Casja and Gethin. I could believe it if Tynan had said this about Cari, but the other two would never consider such a thing.
They didn’t say anything to object. Gethin met my gaze with a blank expression and Casja avoided looking at me.
They waited for me to make a decision.
As if there was one...
“If I ever say or attempt to do something like that,” I said to Gethin and Casja at once, ignoring Tynan completely. “Stop me. Kill me if you must. Promise me you will.”
For a second, I thought they would argue with that. I did not want to do that either. Even discussing it made me feel sick.
Casja’s expression broke with a smile. Gethin nodded.
“See?” I turned to Tynan. “You are wrong. My friends agree with me. We will do no such thing. If I can’t figure out a way to save you all, you will stay here until I do. And once I come back with a solution, we will...”
I stopped speaking as a guard opened the cell door on the other side of the room. Although it was late at night, some of the prisoners stirred as he opened the door and stepped inside.
