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“Barrrrbooosssss.”

My skin brightens.

“Are you working for him?” I ask, glamour dripping from my words. I don’t want a replay of the last time we learned of Galleghar’s whereabouts.

“Nooooo.”

“Does he know you’ve spotted him?”

“Nooooo.”

The Night King stops tapping his cheek. “What elsedoyou know?”

That strange mouth twists. “He hidessss in the wildssss, in the tunnelsssss oooof ooooold. Many hellllp him. They willlll killlll any whoooo harm the ooooold king.”

“Why do they help him?” I ask.

“Theirrrr mindssss belooong toooo anooootherrr.”

I still in my seat.

Des stands, his frame imposing. “Who?”

But we already know.

“The Thief oooof Ssssoooulssss.”

“We need tomake a decision,” Malaki says once the room clears. All that’s left are him, me, Des, and a handful of guards.

Desmond glances at me. “What should we do about Galleghar?”

He’s asking me like I’m a co-ruler.

I shake my head. I don’t want to make a decision like this. This is the whole reason why I’ve been running from the idea of being a queen. It’s one thing to handle a threat or interrogate a few fairies. It’s another to make a decision with an outcome you cannot know, one that might have far-reaching consequences.

I’m about to say,I don’t know, but damnit, my pride suddenly feels like it’s on the line, and I don’t want to disappoint Des.

Actually going to make a decision on this one. Fuck.

To go after Galleghar or not?

We know where the old king is, but we knew where he was last time, and he still got the drop on us.

However, if we do take him by surprise, then this could be the beginning of the end for both Galleghar and the Thief. The two share a bond. A bond I’m eager to break.

“I think it’s time we captured your father,” I say slowly.

Des stares at me for a long moment. Ever so slowly, a wicked smile spreads across his face. “The queen has spoken.”

Barbos isn’t asI remember it.

As Des and I descend onto the island—Malaki and Temper behind us—I get my first good look at the place since I last visited. The streets we fly over are more subdued, the sights and sounds muted. The rough crowd that usually revels out here is now largely gone. Those that remain seem to be looking over their shoulders, like they’re being watched.

The whole thing gives me chills.

You’re just reading into things.

At least we weren’t ambushed en route. I held my breath through most of the journey, waiting for Galleghar to drop in and fight us. But he never appeared.