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Bastien’s posture stiffens. “Mynameis Sebastien Theodore Weston.”

Her glare now warns of violence, but Bastien doesn’t even pause.

“A steady progression on a level field—that’s what you think defines a good life?” My Bastien’s waspish tone takes me entirely by surprise. “Well, as a member of a species that’s never been allowed even that, I beg to differ. Mylevel fieldwas grief. Every day, I lived the embodiment of terror, loss, and loneliness. Now I know true love, connection, kindness—I soar. I also know the deepest sorrow, because Nicodemus is a beloved member of my family. But the loss of him doesn’t taint the love still in my life, my heart, my arms. What befell your daughter was unconscionable…”

Her outrage burns hotter, but still Bastien continues, “… but so is what my kind endure every day. So is what you’ve done to this society.”

Bastien trembles from his own rage and our song is now heavy metal. “Inflicting on others the cruelty you endured doesn’t make you noble. It makes yousick. And no matter what you do to me for using myTaranvoice, I will never regret this moment. Love for my mistress, my kind, and myself makes me bold.”

He squeezes my hand, but his focus remains on the queen. “Ifyouwere bold, you would turn away from grief and realize that hundreds of thousands of monsters are waiting for you to lead them to something better. It can’t only be about punishment. There has to be something after, or what lessons can be learned? That life isn’t worth living? Do you resent us—all of us—for enduring what you wish you hadn’t?!”

“First Knight!” the queen bellows and the door slams into the wall, Remy rushing in, his eyes wide and wild at the sight of us in the queen’s private chambers. “Take them to the dungeon and place them in separate cells. Not touching.”

“Yes, my Queen,” Remy says, and his knights enter, surrounding us. To me, he says coldly, “This way, my Lady.”

The knights roughly grab Bastien, but I feel his song blasting inside us like a rock anthem. He’s not afraid. I don’t think he’ll ever be afraid again after seizing his chance to say what no Taran ever could.

I’m escorted down a million flights of stairs and then into a hall, before being taken to another set of stairs leading toward a proper dungeon. A knight opens the first cell and Remy nods for me to enter the space that isn’t as bad as my first dorm room. I sashay inside with my chin held high and my thighs trembling from all those freaking stairs.

Remy closes and locks the door and I watch as Bastien is tossed into the cell across from me.

Remy’s weary eyes meet mine. “You could have waited.”

“Nico deserves better than that, which you already know.”

Remy’s face screws up with uncertainty and desperation. “I don’t understand you.”

“What specifically?”

“The risk you’re taking for a monster you just met. You could be at Clumberton Castle, safe, enjoying the luxury Lord Clumberton would gladly provide to you. But you are risking everything you have, everything your monsters have, for someone you barely know.”

I smile at him, a true smile, the perfect evidence of my certainty in the choices I’ve made. “One day, if you’re lucky, you will understand.”

He growls his frustration. “She could keep you here for years.”

I raise my eyebrows. “She could try.”

Chapter52

Pennie

All evening, while sharing stories that increasingly stretch the bounds of truthfulness, Sir Jimmy’s gaze never strays far from the main door. Occasionally, as though expecting something, he glances at the stairs leading to our rooms. Archie’s confusion radiates powerfully enough that I want to swat it away, but I can’t fault him for his curiosity and even concern. The mischievous glint in Sir Jimmy’s eyes is an unsubtle declaration that he is in possession of knowledge that we aren’t.

When I’m about to respectfully inquire, Sir Jimmy leans toward me, where I’m seated beside him. “How much do you love my daughter?”

I respond without hesitation. “Beyond what I ever conceived possible.”

Hetsksand the glimmer in his blue eyes shines even brighter. “Well, my friend, that’s about to be tested.”

Just a moment later—had Sir Jimmy heard their clomping footfalls?—the doors impact the walls and Remy and his lead knights enter like a glowering mob. Their hostile intensity silences all laughter and even the sporadic whispered words of the monsters in the packed tavern.

Archie rises from his seat on the other side of the table, his posture tense, his hands in fists, preparing for… what exactly? I stand as well and ensure Sir Jimmy is stable when he leaps to his feet. Together, Sir Jimmy and I move toward Archie.

Sir Jimmy points at Remy, jabbing at the air before him, fiercely punctuating each word. “Tell me right now that my daughter is unharmed.”

At the mention of our Lady, Archie’s growl, deep and menacing, echoes through the tavern, causing hackles to rise throughout the assembled monsters.

Unharmed? Why would our Bianca be harmed? The very thought of it fires my inner coals and steam rises from my chest. It takes a moment to realize that every monster in the hall is standing and glaring at the First Knight in a decidedly threatening manner.