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Elora’s neck almost snapped off her shoulders to stare at the queen. Leighton’s and Micah’s as well, although Efrem seemed to be resisting the urge to show any signs of questioning her.

But Elora couldn’t believe her ears. Freedom. Kestrel had just earned Elora her freedom. Whether it would be for an hour or a day, it didn’t matter. It meant more than the sun and moon and all the oceans combined.

When Elora slowly shifted her gaze toward Kestrel, she found the lost princess beaming, like a complete fool. Like she didn’t care if anyone saw how much something like that meant to her as well. As if she was unaware of how easy it was for others to twist your joys against you like knives.

Yet again, Elora admired and pitied her all the more for it.

“We’ll meet in the courtyard after lunch. And we’ll wait until we’re at the Hollow’s edge before removing Princess Elora’s collar, but she shall be unbound—as you put it—while we are within the Hollow’s boundaries. Is there anything else of importance you need to relay to us?”

Kestrel shook her head, her smile falling away with it.

“Very well.”

At the queen’s dismissal, Kestrel was the first to leave the throne room, practically skipping as the door shut behind her. None of the brothers moved though, and neither did Elora. They all sensed the queen was not yet done with them.

“Efrem, I’ll need you to assign guards to watch Princess Elora’s every move while we’re in the Hollows. They havepermission to strike her down and re-chain her if she so much as breathes the wrong way.” Her last words were uttered through clenched teeth, and although she was looking at the twin when she said them, it was clear they were meant for Elora’s ears. Another threat. Another warning.

“Of course, my queen.” Efrem bowed and also exited the throne room, already acting on his mission.

Having guards on her would be fine. Elora had no plans of misbehaving or stepping out of line. That side of her had been squashed a long time ago. And with the wedding just a handful of days away now, with a less stringent type of freedom so close, there was no way she would jeopardize it.

“That will be all then,” Queen Signe said.

Elora didn’t wait around to see if she’d change her mind. She took the closest exit, even if it was farther away from the one Kestrel took. She wanted to find her and thank her for what she had done.

But as Elora left the throne room, Leighton inched out of the door behind her.

“Princess Elora, can I speak with you a moment?”

Every vertebra in her spine stiffened at the sound of her future husband’s churlish voice. It was rare that he sought her out of his own accord, if he ever had. The two of them tended to avoid each other unless absolutely necessary, so Elora knew that whatever he wanted to speak about, it was either important or awful. Perhaps both.

But she did what was expected of her, and turned around to acknowledge him.

“Of course, Prince Leighton. What brings me the pleasure?”

His face was more scrunched than usual, his eyes distrusting. “Should anything happen to Kestrel or to my family by your hand while we are in the Hollows, know that will be the end of all hope for you. This wedding, this truce between our people, itwill be called off, and I will personally drag you down into the dungeons where you will never see the light of day again.”

Always a monster in their eyes. No matter how much wickedness they bore in themselves. After all, wasn’t it him who shoved Kestrel into the Fortress of Thirst? Hadn’t he been the one to risk her life?

Not that she could say that to the future King of Irongate.

Not that she could say anything to make them see what she saw.

So, once again, she did as was expected of her: Elora gave the prince a polite but stiff bow. “Of course, your majesty. I understand. No harm shall pass to anyone.”

He stormed off before she could even rise.

And as she stood there, hinged at the hips and listening to him briskly walk away, Elora wondered what Kestrel would’ve done in her place. There was no doubt in her mind, Kestrel would’ve given him a piece of hers.

Elora imagined it then, a version of her life where expectations and years of obedience hadn’t weighed her down into submission, if she would’ve had the nerve to tell the prince that it was him who needed to watch himself. For if he ever harmed Kestrel again, if he so much as laid a finger upon her that was not invited or to her liking, Elora would not hesitate to be his demise.

Chapter 32

The Dungeon

KESTREL

With the queen meeting with Barnabus, Kestrel found herself suddenly without either of her studies and with some extra time on her hands. Knowing that they were about to venture into a dark and tormented forest where Micah said the tree roots liked to grab people and suck them below the earth, Kestrel readied herself with her dagger, and then decided that she would spend the time trying to relax.