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“I thought you said it was nothing.”

He narrowed his gaze. “It is nothing, but they’re both clearlytryingto work against me, and I need to know their plan. This is an order, Morgan. Start by questioning her sister. And see if the guards have noticed anything odd. Now go.”

Without another word, Oberon left me in the glittering corridor to stew in my thoughts. He wanted me to believe it was nothing, but that clearly wasn’t the case. His powerful barrier had kept the mists out for centuries. They wouldn’t move unless his magic was failing.

We might have hope yet. If only I didn’t have to ruin it.

Seven

Tessa

“Come on.” A guard appeared at the door of the bathing chamber. It felt like hours had passed since I’d left my cell. I’d been cleaned and polished. Any lingering wounds had been tended, and I felt as good as new. Even the throbbing in my ankle had dulled to a vague discomfort. “It’s time for you to return to your cage.”

I stood and smiled at the two maidservants, who were backing away. It wasn’t their fault I was stuck in this situation, and I wouldn’t blame them for it. They were only trying to survive in a world that had been taken from them, just like the rest of us mortals stuck beneath the rule of Oberon.

The guard grabbed my arm and dragged me into the hallway where a dozen others were waiting to escort me to my cell. I bit back a smile. That was a lot of brawn just for little old me. Oberon must see me as a threat.

Six guards led the way, while the other six followed behind. Their booted feet drummed the stone floor in unison, a song of brutal force and cruelty. It was one I’d heard far too many times in my life. Every time the king enacted his punishments on a mortal traitor in Teine, he brought a score of guards with him. They marched into the village and spilled blood onto the trampled dirt. The courtyard reeked of lavender and death for hours, and that steadytha-rump, tha-rump, tha-rumpof soldier boots echoed in the silence of the terrified village.

It was the same sound I’d heard when Oberon had strung up my father, and the memory of it brought a sick taste to the back of my throat even now.

But it had not been Oberon, not like I’d thought. He’d shown my father’s broken body to the mortals of Teine as a warning, but he’d taken credit for the worst of it.

The Mist King had done it.

Kalenhad done it.

My heart burned in my chest.

We wound down the steps, taking us past the Great Hall. Voices drifted out through the open door, and I recognized the loudest of them instantly. Oberon was inside.

“These are traitorous accusations.” The thunderous boom of his voice echoed like a shout in the chasm. I sucked in a breath and cut my eyes to the side as we passed the open door. The king was inside the hall, perched on his crimson throne, but the tension in his body betrayed him. He sneered down at a cluster of courtiers I recognized from my month spent trapped in this castle. His closest confidantes. His allies.

A horned fae with jet black hair scowled and folded his arms. “How is it traitorous to point out the obvious? The mists have moved. We demand to know what’s going on, Your Grace.”

Oh, this was interesting. I tried to slow my steps so that I might linger outside the Great Hall, but the steady thump of the soldiers’ march urged me onwards.

“The mists don’t move. My barrier prevents that. Whatever you thought you saw is wrong,” Oberon answered.

One of the courtiers barked out a laugh. “Oh come now, Oberon. You can’t expect us to ignore what’s right in front of our eyes. The mists haven’t moved in centuries and yet they’re further across the bridge now. It’s obvious to every single fae I’ve talked to today.”

“Your Grace,” Oberon seethed. “You will address me with my proper title or I’ll banish you from this discussion at once.”

But that was the last I heard. The conversation was soon drowned out by the heavy footsteps. I mulled over the words as we made our way down to the dungeons. The other fae nobles had noticed the mists, and they weren’t happy about it, especially because Oberon seemed determined to ignore it was happening.

Excitement rushed through my veins, as heady as a bucketful of ale. If the barrier was failing, had the Mist King found a way to get inside the Kingdom of Light? But just as quickly as I smiled, my stomach dropped. That wasn’t a good thing. If the Mist King came, so would the monsters that lurked inside his mists, and the mortals of Teine wouldn’t stand a chance.

And he’d killed my father. Who was to say any of us would be safe if he took over this land?

When we reached my cell, I breathed a sigh of relief seeing Nellie perched on the bed flipping through a book. She was safe and sound. Well, as safe and sound as she could be in this place. The guards opened the door, shoved me inside, and then twisted the key in the lock.

Nellie snapped the book shut and leapt from the bed. “You’re all right.”

“I’m fine, Nellie.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I was worried.”

“I know.” Sighing, I wound my arms around her and breathed her in. “But he needs me. Don’t forget that.”