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“True,” Lord Riis acknowledged. “Which is why I did not tell the king about Luccan’s magic, though I saw a blessing from the stars.”

“Blessing?”

“Being the king’s spymaster can be dangerous, Princess Neve. There are many fae whose lives I have ruined.” Lord Riis placed a hand on his son’s shoulders. “Luccan trained, in secret, so that our family might make them as an escape route, in case the worst happened.”

“You mean if the rebels attacked the city?” Vale asked. “That seems far-fetched.”

“As your father’s spymaster, rebels and other powerful fae target me. I would not allow my sons to beunprotected. Nor did I wish for your father to use Luccan for his own purposes. Or worse.”

Vale looked stunned but didn’t argue.

“I don’t want to work for the king. Or be killed for magic he doesn’t like,” Luccan added. “Besides, Vale, in the city, we only have this one.”

My husband sucked in a breath. “But elsewhere?”

Red stained Luccan’s cheeks as he realized his misstep. “There are more.”

Vale stiffened. “To other kingdoms? Or worse,worlds?”

“No, I’m not that advanced. My gateways only extend within Winter’s Realm.”

Vale let out a long breath and ran a hand through his hair, clearly disturbed by the information.

“As your friend, I ask that you hide my secret,” Luccan whispered. “My father wanted to share this to keep you and Neve safe. Surely, that’s worth not telling the king? Adversarieswillcome for her.”

Vale’s eyes drifted to me and lingered there for what felt like an age. This had to be hard for him. Luccan was his close friend and part of Vale’s cabal. And yet, Luccan had hidden his secret from Vale. To keep himself out from under the king’s thumb, sure, but that indicated Luccan believed Vale might go to his father. Deep in his heart, did the eldest Riis son still worry about that?

“I won’t say a word about this to my father.”

“Good. Now”—Luccan gestured to the daggers Vale and I had worn for our visit with the vampires—“draw blood. I’ll need it so the portal will accept you.”

Vale pulled aside the tear in his pant leg, but the blood there was dried, the wound so minor that it was already closing. So instead, he drew a dagger across his palm and then handed the blade to me. I hissed as my skin parted and blood welled.

Luccan pointed to the spot on the wall where his own blood still soaked into the stone. “Touch the wall. I’ve already primed it.”

I placed my palm on the wall and another flash of light nearly blinded me. Vale flinched back, but a moment later, the light was gone.

For a moment, I was tempted to walk through. To disappear. Start a new life and taste true freedom. Vale had said he wouldn’t keep me here and that would give him a chance to get what he wanted—to find his soulmate.

But no. Too many witnesses had seen us arrive at Lordling Lane and enter Luccan’s home. Plus, I couldn’t do that to the prince. Not after all he’d done for me.

I side-eyed Vale, shivering as I took in his handsome features. It would be far smarter to stay awhile, to learn the sword and how to wield other weapons from him. That way, I wouldn’t be so helpless when I traveled to another kingdom—hopefully with Anna in tow. Then, one day, after the prince and I had planned meticulously for my departure, I’d go.

The thought made me sad, even though it was inevitable. The plan all along.

“There you have it,” Lord Riis said. “The gateway needs only blood to open. Additionally, our protections arelinked, so your blood now works on the wards on the gates and the front door of this house.”

“Where will the portal take us?” Vale asked.

Lord Riis smirked. “I will leave that matter a secret for now, my prince. Know that should you need to flee and use this gateway; you will be safe and far away from Avaldenn.”

Chapter 10

NEVE

The sun was peeking out from the clouds when we left Luccan Riis’s home. Vale’s Clawsguards lagged a respectable distance behind us as we made our way down Lordling Lane, bound for the castle hand in hand, putting on a show for the city.

I wished we didn’t have to return to the palace. Today had been surprisingly fun. Sure, I’d be sore for a few days, but it had been empowering learning to use a sword.