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I supposed I had, though I didn’t allow pride to bloom in me. If anything, that trial only reminded me that this was step one in what would be a rigorous and deadly journey.
“This way.” He led me deeper into the stables, around a corner where three people waited with horses behind them.
“Anna!” I cried out.
“Lower your voices!” the prince hissed as I ran past him to my best friend in all the world.
We collided together, arms wrapping around one another and squeezing. Anna’s face squished into the crook of my neck, which suddenly became wet.
“Anna, no tears,” I whispered. “We’re together now, and we’re going to start anew.”
“I’m so relieved to see you alive.” She wiped her face but didn’t dare loosen her grip on me. “Neve, Prince Gervais is furious with you. I can’t even repeat the things he told me he’d do to you. They’re too horrible.”
“That’s why we must run.” I pulled away and looked her in the eye. “You look healthy.”
“He drank from me, but rarely. I’m not to his taste.” She nodded to me. “Aside from the labor of finding you, he was quite happy to stop here and have his fill of fae.”
Behind Anna, a shift caught my eye, and I peered past my friend to find Clemencia wringing her hands. My stomach pitted. I wanted to save her, had to do it, but I’d forgotten that Clemencia remained in the dark about what was happening.
“How much does she know?” I whispered to Anna, trusting she’d understand.
“Almost nothing. She was here when I arrived, and I don’t think Sir Caelo told her anything. I didn’t tell her about your past and how we know each other either, so she’s anxious and confused. I think she is only here because Sir Caelo told her she’s in great danger.”
And she was. I felt so relieved that Clemencia had gone along with what Sir Caelo said, that she hadn’t fought it.
I swallowed deeply. “I need to speak with her.”
“Quickly.” Prince Vale spoke from behind me. “We need to move.”
I approached Clemencia, pulled together as ever, and still smelling of perfumed snow lilies, despite the late hour. Relief flooded her face as I laid a hand on her shoulder.
Her voice stayed calm. “Lady Neve, they told me I was in trouble. Is this because of Lord Roar’s disappearance?”
“Clem.” My voice cracked on her name. “This is a lot, and we don’t have much time. We need to leave. To flee. There are things about my past that you don’t know, and they put you in danger. Can you trust me that I have your safety in mind, and I’ll tell you everything once we’re safe?”
A pregnant pause followed before she gave a slight nod. “I trust you.”
“Then, line up, ladies.” Sir Caelo cleared his throat. The knight did not wear his golden cloak. In fact, he appeared more like a merchant—albeit a very muscular, armed one. A good disguise indeed.
“You’ll each need facial glamours,” Sir Caelo said. “Rough ones are all that we have time for, but it will get you out of the gates.”
I looked at Prince Vale, who nodded. “My friend is a highly skilled glamourist. Far better than me.”
The knight snorted. “If you trust Vale to glamour you, you’ll end up with two noses.”
“I’m not that bad,” the prince muttered as we lined up.
“You’re not that good either.” Sir Caelo shot back and began working on Anna.
My best friend transformed from a black-haired human with slanted, dark eyes to a fae with elongated ears, brown hair, and round blue eyes. The way she moved would be the only risk of giving her away; clubbed foot aside, which she’d do her best to hide with her cloak, humans always lacked the grace of faeries. Sir Caelo pulled a wine bottle from one of the sidesaddles and splashed wine on the hem of her pants. He instructed her to act tipsy to counteract any trouble her foot gave her.
Clemencia, also dark-haired and brown-eyed, became a blonde with yellow wings. The knight also tweaked her nose shape to make it larger. Though he claimed he’d done it in a rush, I found it quite convincing.
Finally, the Clawsguard knight stood before me. His magic swirled in his hands, ready to do the work, but before he could start, the prince spoke up. “Leave her eyes.”
Sir Caelo glanced at his friend, and it seemed like an unspoken conversation passed between them before he nodded and began working. The sensation felt unlike anything I’d ever experienced, tingly and light, like warm water washing over me. In no time at all, Caelo clapped his hands together. “You’re done. The glamours were a rush job, so they’ll wear off by first light.”
I turned to Anna. “How do I look?”
