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“You cannot begin to understand, can you?” Daeanna laughed. “I care not for anyone or anything other than Shaye. Iwillbe the last to have him, whether it be at the cost of his son, his wife, or Shaye himself.” She snorted and jerked her head, the locks of golden hair that had fallen out of place righting themselves. “He’ll never leave that disgraceful woman. Never. And I won’t have anyone humiliate me, especially a half-breed. If it’s love he seeks, I’ll make an offer of love.”

“Are you even capable of love?”

Daeanna stilled, gaze lancing the fool before her. Katherine had no idea how close she stood to death. How close her tongue was to being ripped out of her mouth.

Katherine spoke words she’d heard before. From the very man she would punish in a few hours.

She knew Shaye. He’d sacrifice everything to keep his family safe.

“Do not challenge me, mortal.” Daeanna left the room, her guards closing the doors behind her. “Under nocircumstances are any of them to leave that room. Do I make myself clear?”

Both guards nodded. “Aye, Princess.”

Tucking the babe in the crook of her arm, she cocked her head high and proceeded down the corridor, all the while battling an internal rage. Her men had failed her. Thaddeus had failed her. She had failed to obtain an easy victory against those sub-par Fae.

All because of legendary powers wielded against her at the hands of Shaye and his pitiful human partner.

She recalled her father speaking of Shaye’s father’s power, but never in detail. Vague allusions to a rare combination of magic that fueled the Seelie king’s disgust when his trusted High Fae advisor chose a mortal woman over preserving his bloodline. Daeanna had made several attempts over the years to find out more about the secrets locked within her father’s mind pertaining to Shaye’s family.

She had been but a mere child when she first learned of Shaye. From that moment, she swore to the Goddess he would belong to her.

And with this newfound power?

She turned the corner and paused to stare down into the babe’s rounded face. He suckled his fist, his gaze surprisingly focused as he stared up at her. Innocence. The thing looked quite precious…

Clearing her throat, shocking her mind back to her present plans, she smiled coldly. “Shall we see how far your father will go to save you, little one? ’Twould be devastating for him to lose you at such a tender age.”

“Listen to me.I have an idea on how we can get out of here, but I need your help,” Kate said, keeping her voice hushed in case the guards were eavesdropping. The oldest of the four remaining children narrowed his dark eyes, crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. Kate focused on him, hoping to win him over so he would convince the others to go along with the plan. The younger three huddled together, the girl trying to soothe the human-looking boy. “There are guards at the door. We can’t leave that way. However, I can hide you in there”—Kate motioned to the wardrobe—“and make it look like your parents came to rescue you.”

“Doesn’t make sense. How do we get out if we’re hiding?” The boy snorted, casting a pointed look at the door. “You work with the witch.”

Kate threw up her hands and shook her head. “No. No I don’t.” When the boy lanced her with a sharp gaze, she sighed. “Not anymore. Not since I learned how evil she is. I’m a prisoner here as much as you are, but there’s one person who can stop this. I hope.”

“You’re mortal. You can’t stop her.”

Kate leaned closer to the boy, who leaned away. “Do you know if her father can?”

“Mama said King Dagda is missing.”

“I know where he is.” The boy’s eyes widened and his lips separated on a gasp. Kate smiled and nodded. “Yep. He’s here. In this castle. If I can reach him and break him free of Daeanna’s…curse, do you know if he can stop her? She’s not going to let anyone go. We’re all going to end up hurt by her. We need to do something fast, and I need your cooperation.”

The boy looked at his sister, who shrugged. The little boy she comforted sniffled.

“I want my mommy, Diaro,” he sobbed quietly. “I want my mommy and Shaye.”

The oldest boy puffed out his chest a bit more when he met Kate’s gaze once again. “What’s your plan?”

Kate’s adrenaline soared, despite what she was about to suggest. But it was the only plan she had. Given the value of these children to Daeanna in her fight against the Talaenian Fae, if they went missing, she hoped it would give her the opening she needed to escape.

She came into this deadly game to get Bryce back, but after seeing him with the beautiful woman in the village, she knew she had no chance of winning him back. His heart belonged to that Fae woman, not Kate. In fact, she realized when she saw how besotted he was as they walked together that she never had his heart. Just the shell of a man.

Her ruse no longer appealed, her goal no longer valid. If harm befell Rihanna, then she’d reap Bryce’s fury for the rest of her life.

Daeanna’s plan would produce nothing more than anger, hostility, and pointless death. She looked down on humans for being weak, yet Kate possessed one key characteristic Daeanna would never have.

She had a heart, and her heart would heal after this break. She had loved, and she would love again.

The Fae princess knew nothing of love.