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My gaze slid subtly to her. She was in what I tore from her body the night before, her hair in a ponytail. My jaw popped, and I tried not to think about how my hand could wrap around those strands while railing her from behind.
Fuck.
I hissed through my teeth, turning my attention back out to the water. We had done well with ignoring each other all day, staying in our corners, but my mind did not behave with the same restraint now.
There were a few times I pushed out, sensing her barrier between us, poking and prodding at it. Testing what I was afraid to give voice to. She was busy doing something, her back to me, when her head snapped over her shoulder at me as if she felt what I was doing, sensed me peeling at the wall. I had no doubt I would be able to push through, force myself past every layer, but I didn’t. Because for once in my life, I was afraid to. Afraid of what I would find on the other side.
The sound of water slapping at the dock yanked my focus to the river. Through the shimmering lights from the palace, I saw a boat with three men heading to the pier.
I observed Dzsinn sitting at the back, and the two others were beefy, their solid forms rowing with quick strokes to us.
Katrina came up to my side, both of us watching the men climb out of the boat.
“I see you brought backup?” Dzsinn took in Cooper. He tried to not show fear, but the man was smart enough to understand what Cooper was. He was meant to be feared.
“As you brought yours.” I nodded at the two fae bodyguards he had.
“It’s a dangerous world. No one can be too careful.”
“I agree.” I dipped my head. “Do you have what we need?”
Dzsinn motioned for the two men to grab a trunk from the rowboat.
“I was only able to get a few weapons. The black market is struggling to get even these items now.” He watched his men open the lid, displaying a sword, two daggers, and three handguns.
Kat and I progressed to the box, checking out the items. She immediately snatched up the sword, feeling the balance and weight in her hands. She gave a slight nod of acceptance, approving the trade.
“These will work.” I tucked one of the guns in my belt. “And the information we seek?”
His attention briefly went to the palace across the river, a frown lining his forehead.
“There is not much I found on him.” I could tell he didn’t like not having answers. Power was in information. Being the one in the know. “He came out of nowhere about a year ago. Built up a strong following and then challenged and killed the old fae lord. And no one is upset by this. Lord Orbán was not only lazy and apathetic about ruling, but the rumor among the household was he was… depraved… sexually speaking.” Dzsinn shifted on his feet. “We fae are far more open about sex than humans, so when we do have lines, it is even more vile to cross them.”
Katrina’s fingers rolled into balls, disgust and rage painting her expression. I felt it barrel through her, her muscles locking up. And without thought, my hand reached for hers, lacing through her knotted fingers, trying to calm her. She took a deep breath, her shoulders sinking back down.
“As much as we are glad Orbán is dead, no one knows much about this man. Who he is or where he came from. Other than he fights like he has been trained by the best, and because of his looks and violet eyes, he must come from some noble line.” Dzsinn shrugged. “Though not all are happy about the change in the status quo. Some were fine with ignoring what was happening behind closed doors with Orbán, enjoying the money, privilege, and power. All that ended when he died.”
Casting my attention across the river, I stared at the palace as if it would give me answers. “So not all are faithful to this new leader?”
Dzsinn’s smile was hardly noticeable, but it somehow still glinted in his eyes. “No. It’s how I was able to find where the secret entrances and exits are located.”
“Where?” Katrina’s fingers squeezed down, reminding me I was still holding her hand. As if she too became aware, she pulled her hand from mine, running it down her long hair.
“Across the river is an old boarded-up church built into the base of the mountain.” He pointed over. In the dark, it was hard to see, but I could make out a turret almost blending in with the rocky landscape, the crumbling stone buildings blending in so well with the mountain and foliage, you might possibly overlook it.
“There are tunnels he has constructed to connect his palace to his new project up there at Citadel Hill.”
“What’s up there?” Kat’s pupils went horizontal, her cat eyes trying to make out clear details. “Looks like an old run-down fortress.”
“It’s not what’s on top but what’s being built below the fortress.”
“And what is that?” she asked. “A secret hideout?”
“No.” Dzsinn paused. “A fae prison.”
“Fae prison?” My head snapped up, my eyes gliding over the land on top of the hill. A statue of a woman holding a feather was outlined in the moonlight. It was a symbol to the fae, no matter what the humans thought it meant to them. It was when we had to hide among them, live life like we didn’t exist. A secret signal that fae were here and one day we would be free again.
How ironic to build a fae prison below that symbol.
