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He flinched. “Don’t call me that.”

Despite my fear, confusion, and anger, a little smile tickled the corners of my lips. “Oh, you don’t like that,Mist King?”

“I should have known you’d react this way.”

“You have me trapped in a cell after poisoning me.” I finally stood on trembling legs, fisting my hands by my sides. “You burned down entire cities and ate mortal flesh. You drenched the world in mist and darkness, and then you trapped those left alive beneath the rule of a cruel and wicked king. He probably isn’t even as bad as you are, and that sure as light is saying something. Do you know what he does to us? Do you know what it’s like to be a human trapped in that world?”

I laughed bitterly. “Why am I even asking that? You probably don’t even care.”

For a moment, the Mist King said nothing. A muscle in his jaw ticked. And then he turned on his feet and left me to stew in my thoughts.

* * *

Amuscled fae with a buzz cut appeared outside of my cell sometime later. It was impossible for me to have any sense of time without the path of the sun to guide me. This male wore fighting leathers as black as the night and a gentle smile I wanted to punch. By now, the poison had fully worn off, and my head no longer felt as if it had been stuffed full of prickly thorns. I’d spent the past however long sitting on the cot with my back to the wall, eyes narrowed, body tense, trying to puzzle this whole thing out.

I hadn’t gotten very far. None of it made much sense.

The warrior held up a plate of food. “Hungry?”

“Who are you?” I snapped back. “Wait, let me guess. You’re one of the Mist King’s loyal servants.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I’m not a servant, and you really shouldn’t call him the Mist King.”

I arched a brow. “He doesn’t like it. That’s reason enough for me.”

“Good one.” He pointed at the plate. “You should really eat some food. It’s been a few days.”

Frowning, I stayed right where I was, though my belly ached. “How many days? Where has he taken me?”

“You’re in Dubnos.” He tried to keep a neutral face, but I could tell by the stiffening of his shoulders that he was worried how I’d react to that.

Dubnos, the ancient city up in the mountains, halfway across Aesir, where the Mist King ruled the Kingdom of Shadow. It was far, far away from home. Not that I was particularly surprised. I’d been stuck in this cell, alone with my own thoughts, for at least a few hours. I’d had a sneaking suspicion this was where he’d taken me. Had Morgan known? She must have. I never should have trusted her again. I couldn’t trust anyone.

I folded my arms. “I’m not hungry.”

“That’s a lie,” he countered with a smile. “You know we can sense them.”

Narrowing my eyes, I scowled. No, I hadn’t known that, though it made a lot of sense. Oberon and Morgan had always been able to tell when I lied. “I don’t want to eat your food.”

“Ah. There, that’s true. You’re angry, and I don’t blame you. You’ve been ripped from your home and thrust into a strange world that you believe is ruled by a monster.” He stepped a little closer to the bars, inching a brow upward. “But you need to eat. How can you fight back if you’re weak?”

I tapped my finger against my thigh, hating that I still wore my stupid bridal gown. Dirtied along the bottom edges, it looked like I’d spent a year walking through mud. The loose gauzy sleeves exposed my skin to the air, and the chilliness of the castle had begun to dig into my bones, even with the blankets draped over me.

“Does he know you’re down here talking to me?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“And he knows you’re encouraging me to fight back?”

The warrior sighed, and then leaned against the steel bars. “We’re only trying to help you, Tessa. Can I call you that?”

I lifted my chin. “Only if you tell me your name. And don’t make something up like he did.”

“You mean when he called himself the captain?”

“Yeah. He’s not actually a captain. Everyone knows he was called King Kalen Denare before the war.”

“He’s still called that,” he said with a slight smile. “My name is Toryn. I’m one of the king’s closest advisors, and I would give my last breath for him.”