Riven steps forward, his voice taking on the formal authority of his royal training. “I’m Prince Riven Draevor of the Winter and Summer Courts,” he announces, his eyes sweeping over the group. “This is Princess Sapphire Hayes Fairmont Solandriel Draevor of the Summer Court, the Winter Court, the New York Vampire Clan, and the star touched warrior of Celeste. We’ve ended the Night Court’s reign and are freeing you from captivity.”
“We’re here to help,” I add, softening my voice despite the panic clawing at my throat. “If you know anything about Zoey—dark hair, hazel eyes, about five feet four inches tall—I’m begging you to tell me. She would have arrived here a few weeks ago.”
Assuming Aerix took her straight here and didn’t do who knows what with her in the woods before then.
I swallow down the thought, unsure which possibility would be worse.
Finally, a young girl with dark hair and intelligent eyes steps forward and meets my gaze without flinching.
“You know Zoey?” I ask hopefully.
“I do.” She barely moves as she speaks, her gaze locked on mine.
Something about her makes me uneasy, but I push the feeling aside, since I can easily defend myself if she’s stupid enough to attack.
Another girl moves to stand beside her. Beautiful and blonde, with aristocratic features, she could almost pass as a fae. But from the way her body is angled toward the smaller, younger girl, it’s clear who’s in charge between the two of them.
“Is Zoey alive?” I ask the younger girl, desperate for her to tell me something.Anything.If she doesn’t, then…
The Star Disc hums in my hand.
If this girl refuses to speak, I’m going to have tomakeher speak. I don’t want to do it, but I will. Anything to get to Zoey.
“She is,” she confirms, not breaking eye contact.
Relief rushes through me, and for a second, I nearly stumble. Because Zoey’s alive. But the relief is quickly replaced by confusion and caution.
“If she’s alive, why isn’t she here with the rest of you?” I ask.
The dark-haired girl tilts her head, studying me with those unnervingly intelligent eyes of hers. “My name is Isla,” she says, steady and clear, even though I hadn’t asked for an introduction. “And Zoey isn’t here because she doesn’t live in the human wing anymore.”
Ice spreads beneath my feet as my magic responds to the spike of fear in my chest. “Why wouldn’t she be in the human wing anymore?” I ask, the ice melting and sizzling as it boils into the air.
Isla exchanges a meaningful look with the blonde, then returns her focus to me. “Prince Aerix claimed Zoey as his consort,” she says, as if it’s a perfectly normal thing to tell someone.
“What do you mean byconsort?”A dangerous edge creeps into my tone, and some of the boiling bloody water in the large fountain bubbles over the ledge and onto the ground.
The humans closest to it step away, but I barely pay attention to them, since Isla is clearly the most willing person here to share information.
“Is Zoey with Aerix right now?” I press.
“Possibly,” Isla says, her body barely moving as she speaks. “I can’t say for sure where he is, but I do know where Zoey is.”
“Then tell me where I can find her.” I raise the Star Disc, and finally, Isla has the sense to flinch and step back.
She recovers quickly, lifting her chin and meeting my gaze again, defiant and calm. “She’s somewhere safe,” she says, although her tone suggests there’s more to it. “But before I tell you exactly where that is, I want to discuss terms.”
“Terms?” Riven’s voice drops to a dangerous growl, frost spreading outward from where he stands. “My wife threatened you with a weapon forged from starlight, and you want tonegotiate?”
Despite our current predicament, it’s impossible to ignore the way my heart beats faster every time Riven refers to me as his wife. My cheeks warm, and given the heated look he shoots my way, I know he can feel it through the bond.
Focus,I tell myself.
I can melt at Riven’s feetafterwe rescue Zoey and bring her to safety.
Isla straightens, even as some of the other humans shift nervously behind her.
“I want to negotiate because I have something you need, and you have something we need,” she says, sounding more fae than human. “We’re not your enemies. In fact, I’ve offered Zoey kindness and help since she’s arrived. She’d want you to trust me enough to hear me out.”
