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He gave an elegant shrug. “What every rebel wants. Hope, freedom, and safety for themselves and their families.”

I contemplated that for a while. Perhaps we could convince the Gromalian rebels to join us. It would mean more mouths to feed, but if the Gromalian king refused to ally with us, perhaps they would be interested in an alliance instead. I began making a list in my head.

We needed the hourglass.

We needed weapons.

We needed allies.

We needed…

I pondered Lorian. “If I asked you for a favor, would you grant it?”

He gave me a dark smile. “The fae aren’t known for our favors. We are, however, known for our bargains.”

I ground my teeth. “I’m not doing another blood vow with you.”

“Tell me what you want, Prisca.”

“I want you to send a spy to find my cousin. The man who was at the city gates when we first crossed into Lesdryn. Don’t make contact. Just watch him. I want to…I want to know what kind of man he is.”

My cousin was the only other option for the throne. He could be a good, strong man who would make an excellent king. I needed to know.

Lorian’s green gaze seemed to spear straight into my soul. “Are you sure about this?”

We were no longer close enough for me to trust him with my inner thoughts. So I gave him my best hard stare. “Will you help me or not?”

“I will. But you’ll owe me.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’d expect nothing less.”

His face was expressionless, but I got the distinct impression he wanted to roar at me. “It will be done.”

My throat ached, and I glanced away.

This was the best choice.

If Lorian’s brother died and he had to take the throne, I had no doubt Lorian would make an excellent king. Because he knew basic things about our world like what thebarrierwas. And why warships couldn’t dock in Gromalia. And what made the pirate queen so dangerous.

If not for Lorian and Telean, I would have made numerous mistakes so far. Mistakes so grave, they would have cost me people I loved. The hybrids needed a ruler who knew what they were doing. Not someone who was fumbling her way through this due solely to some accident of birth.

There were real repercussions to my ignorance.

And…even if I were to learn everything I needed, even if I were to rely on those around me who knew that information, the fact remained that I would make a terrible queen. I’d never wanted power. All I’d ever wanted was a quiet life. A happy life. The hybrids deserved someone whowantedto rule.

That didn’t mean I was washing my hands of them.

Oh no, I was going to fight. I was going to find this hourglass and hand it over to my people. I’d ally with anyone I could—at least while the termhybrid heircarried any weight. And I’d make sure the hybrids had their own hope, freedom, and safety before I was done.

We finally passed into the forest, the shade a relief after riding beneath the sun for so long. Not only was it warmer the farther south we traveled, but the seasons were already changing. My heart raced at the thought of the time that was passing.

I had no doubt Regner was planning something terrible. And the longer he had to plan, the worse it would be.

Goose bumps broke out over my arms, and I went still. Lorian glanced over his shoulder and gave me a single sharp nod.

We were being followed, and he wanted me to pretend I didn’t know. They must have been lying in wait. We would have noticed them while we were traveling through the plains.

I hissed out a breath. This trail was narrow. Between the horses and the trees, we’d have little room to fight.