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‘And what, you think she would have just stayed put if I hadn’t been there to show her a way out?Have you met that girl?Really, you must have done something pretty damnable for her to run in the first place, so I’d say this isyourfault.’He sent his gaze skyward.‘Actually, between kidnapping her, telling her she’s a curse, messing with her feelings and setting your mother on her, I’d say this isdefinitelyyour fault.’

I didn’t disagree.With a twist of regret, I thought bitterly of that moment before she’d told me her fiorainm, when I could have stopped her and I didn’t.I should have told her I couldn’t be trusted with it.I should have told her about the hold the queen had on me, should have warned her.But I’d been selfish, had pretended for a few nights that what was between us could be as simple as two people who wanted to know each other and pushed everything else to the side.

But it looked like I hadn’t been the only one keeping secrets.

‘You’ve come to see her more than once now.How long have you been planning an escape?’I asked, trying to keep my tone even.

‘Honestly?She’s been asking me to take her home from the beginning.I don’t suppose you think that’s where the Seelie King has taken her?’There was a tightness to his expression as he asked this; he was worried about her.

‘No.’She was too valuable to Solas for him to let her go like that.I looked out at the horizon in the direction of the Sunder River and the Seelie lands beyond, remembering how she’d snuck out of Dreadhold to meet him.Remembering how close they’d been standing when I found them.‘Do you know what her connection is with him?Did she know him before she met me?’

Ethan followed my gaze.‘Look, I don’t know.She did call out his name when we were in trouble, and then he appeared out of nowhere, like he knew exactly where she was.It was weird.’

The instinct to cross the river and take her back was gnawing at me, and a dark anger simmered away in the pit of my stomach, the dangerous kind that could grow and lash out.If I gave into the urge to chase her, I would start a war.I would tear Solas apart, would level the Summer Palace, would violate every sacred agreement that kept the balance between the Seelie and Unseelie courts.And I might hurt her in the process.I had to be cautious.I had tothink.What did Solas want with her?Was this just about tormenting me, or was it something more?

And how much was Imogen a willing participant?

‘If it makes you feel any better, I’m pretty confused by all this, too.I had no idea she was a changeling, and definitely not a high fae one,’ Ethan added.

‘It doesn’t make me feel any better.’I turned back to him, assessed him.‘What’s your role in all this, then?What do you want?’

‘What’s best for her,’ he replied immediately.‘I’m not sure that’s you.’

‘I’m not sure of that either,’ I muttered, staring down at the mark on my wrist.‘But she doesn’t get another option now.’

‘We’ll see, lover boy,’ he replied with a grim smile.‘We’ll see.’