My head snapped to the left, towards the woman striding out of the side entrance. Compared to her brother—my father—Thessalia was so dainty. Her hair was almost completely grey, only a few strands of black remaining, but she walked with strength and confidence. All the rangers dipped their heads out of respect and loyalty.
The Head of House Devereux was beloved by her people. And by me.
“Thessalia.” Like the rangers, I also nodded deeply in greeting. My aunt was the reason I had stayed sane growing up as I’d tried to devour books while my parents kept trying toshove a sword into my hand. They’d never understood me, but she had, and I had left her behind along with everyone else.
Hazel eyes with burnt orange streaks just like mine and my father’s slid to Alaric and Kieran, who had moved a little closer to stand on either side of me. Thessalia’s lips curved up ever so slightly at the sight. “Interesting company you’re keeping these days.”
“They’re my . . .” I floundered, searching for the right word to describe what Kieran and Alaric were to me exactly.
“We are theirs,” Alaric cut in. “And Roth is ours.”
A smile bloomed across Thessalia’s face as she looked at me. “My precious child, you finally found your home.”
“I did.” My voice cracked as heat built behind my eyes. I took a steadying breath as I looked around at the rangers gathered, my thickheaded brothers, my stoic parents, and finally, the woman who had always seen the truth of me. “And I need your help to save it.”
Chapter Seven
Samara
I poppedthe last piece of fruit into my mouth and savored the tartness of the coastal berry—and not being in my cell . . . although Draven had definitely made that more bearable over the last forty-eight hours. Vail had snuck him in several times and then waited outside in the stairwell while we’d fucked like animals.
Once Draven had sated my lust haze, he’d remove his scent from my body with his earth magic. As much as I hated the loss of it, I knew it was necessary.
Vail had come back in once we were done, and then we’d gone through different plans for how to get out of this mess.
It hadn’t been my idea to involve Vail.
I still didn’t trust him and hadn’t wanted to include him in any of our plotting, but to my surprise—and frustration—Draven had disagreed. He’d claimed we’d be more successful including him in our plans. I didn’t like it, but even I had to acknowledge that having someone who was able to travel around outside the dungeon and get us information improved our odds.
Especially considering none of our plans were great.
Despite being the House Harker Marshal, it was doubtful that Vail would be able to take me past the perimeter wallwithout someone questioning it and alerting Carmilla—and there was absolutely no way we could walk Draven out with us.
So sneaking out seemed like the best course of action. We just couldn’t figure out how. There was one way in and out of the dungeon. The two guards stationed at the top wouldn’t be a problem for us, but the entrance was located smack-dab in the center of the Sovereign House, and this fortress was massive.
While being escorted to this dinner, I’d made notes of how many guards were on duty and where they’d been stationed. By the time my count had reached twenty, it had become clear that we wouldn’t be escaping this way.
As skilled as Vail and Draven were at sneaking around, we all agreed it was highly unlikely that we’d make it outside the walls without being seen, and as soon as someone sounded the alarm, we would be vastly outnumbered.
Vail had also been able to provide us with the number of rangers stationed on the perimeter walls. Which I hadn’t thanked him for—he was the reason we were in this mess—but I had acknowledged that it was useful information. I still fully intended to punch him repeatedly in the face once we were out of here.
Such anger for a young one.
For a second, I froze, but then I forced myself to relax and strike a casual pose. Luckily, Carmilla was deep in conversation with some of her new advisors. They had previously served Velika, and I wasn’t familiar with either of them. I also had no idea if Carmilla had used the crown’s magic on them or if they had voluntarily switched loyalties.
I’d tried to converse with the crown the night I’d had dinner with Carmilla, but it’d been silent until it’d slithered into my mind with the light reprimand,I can hear you perfectly fine, little queen. But silence is what I currently seek.
I’d never been scolded by an inanimate object before, so that had been a fun new experience. But apparently, it was up for chatting tonight.
As much as I wanted to dive into a bunch of questions, I bit my tongue. Maybe this would go better if I thought of it less as a Fae artifact and more as a person?
I’m essentially a prisoner.My gaze flicked to where it rested on my aunt’s dark hair.Don’t I have a right to be angry?
You do . . . as do I,the sly voice replied.You are my fate. You are mine.
I wasn’t sure what unnerved me more. That the crown could pluck all the thoughts from my mind, or that it believed I belonged to it.
You do.
