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I knew what he was saying. No one could tell what I was doing. Right now, I just looked like I was moving incredibly fast. As fast as the fae. Roran lunged at me again, and this time, I pulled harder at my power, ensuring time only stopped for him.

Shocked gasps sounded, and I fought to ignore them, rounding Roran and placing my knife to his throat.

When time resumed, he almost slit his own throat on my blade. I winced, moving it just in time. He froze, and I repositioned it.

He was slightly taller than me, but I was studying him closely, so I saw him swallow. Saw the slight tremble in his shoulders.

“I think this means I’ve won,” I said.

“You really do have the power.”

“If I remove this knife, are you going to do anything stupid?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

I jolted at the words, almost stabbing him again.

Fuck.

Demos stepped forward, casting me a warning look. He flicked a glance to the other side of the arena.

Telean was here, practically glowing with pride as she watched me. Our eyes met, and something in my chest unlocked. Safe. She was safe. Next to her stood a man with long, white-blond hair and pointed ears. Like all of the fae, he was beautiful. But it was a cold beauty. I half expected him to turn me to ice.

Since he was surrounded by guards and wearing a breathtakingly lovely crown of some indeterminant white metal that glittered with pale blue jewels, it was obvious who this was.

The fae king had gotten tired of waiting.

And he’d come here instead.

* * *

Demos stepped up next to me. “That’s—”

“Yes,” I breathed. I needed to handle this very, very carefully. Hybrid lives were at stake.

I wished for Lorian again. And that thought was enough to make me move. Striding toward the fae king, I frowned as his guards pulled their swords. My gaze dropped to the knife in my hand, and I slid it into my sheath. I’d need to clean it later.

“Nelayra Valderyn,” the king mused, those pale eyes studying my face.

I wasn’t sure what he was seeing—or how much of the fight he had witnessed. I would have liked to have been prepared to meet him—not bruised and sweating, with damp strands of my hair stuck to my face.

“Your Majesty,” I greeted him. My gaze found my aunt’s, and she gave me a nod. She looked no worse for wear. In fact, she looked rested. Behind her, several of the hybrids who had been sick and wounded on our ship also now looked strong and healthy.

“Please,” the fae king said. “Call me Conreth.”

Whispers sounded around us, and I ignored them. “This is my brother Demos.”

Conreth bowed his head. “A pleasure.”

Demos nodded. I was beginning to learn that nothing fazed my brother, and few people impressed him—including fae kings.

“Thank you for bringing my aunt with you.”

Conreth cast her an amused look. “I’d suggested she stay behind, but she refused.”

Telean merely gave him a thin-lipped smile. I took a deep breath. The fae king had wanted me to be unprepared, and he’d gotten what he’d wanted. But that didn’t mean I had to let him see just how much it had shaken me.

“I’m assuming you’re looking for Lorian?” I asked.