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“I don’t know. I never learned a great deal about them. We only know the boy king has poisonous blood, yes?”

Calista winced. “That is what I’m told. Don’t make him bleed.”

I was not in the habit of making boys bleed, but should that boy king try to touch her—his blood, poisonous or not, would spill.

Maybe it would be wise to block the sea fae from the sea completely. Drag them into the pit of the earth, then pummel fire at their bleeding ships. How long could they last on land before the drier air caused the land sickness where their skin cracked and they grew weaker?

I gripped the bars of the gates, studying their movements. Already lines of sea fae were arranged in orderly units, much like us.

From the upper towers along the fortress edges, Gunnar Strom and his silent, cursed princess mother were seeing to it endless quivers and fresh arrows were available. The archers and the warriors along the walls on the inside of the palace grounds would be the final line between enemies and Hus Rose.

“Being that you were locked away as a boy, I feel it’s within reason to ask if you handle a blade well enough?” Ari stepped beside me, his gaze ahead.

I cast a quick look at Calista. She fiddled with one of her knives, but I had few doubts she was listening.

“I can fight. You likely fight better. Don’t let that rush to your head.”

“It is there,” said Ari. “Nestled and warm beside all my other astonishing attributes.” His face sobered, and he gripped my shoulder. “Keep to your fight. You cannot let anything else distract you, or you could become a liability to others and yourself. You hear what I’m saying?”

Ari was not subtle. Nothing about the man worked in subtleties, and he tipped his head dramatically toward Calista.

That was a problem, one for which I had no solution.

“If she is in danger, I will not look at my fight. I will join hers.”

Ari let out a long sigh. “It was worth a try. Can’t say I blame you. None of us would do it differently either. Don’t die, Wraith. You need to live long enough to become utterly enamored with me like all the rest.”

I was not witty but planned to say some sort of offensive remark. All jests and taunts choked off when the final plume of pyre smoke receded, as though the earth were drawing it back inside the crevice in an instant.

Blood burned through my veins. Through the fading clouds of ash and smoke, Davorin’s pale, cruel grin met us. He’d lined his eyes in kohl, runes lined his lips and throat. He looked every bit the battle lord of my childhood, only more wretched, more like a creature than a man.

Sea fae split as one of their own, a man with long hair past his shoulders, rings pierced in his ears, and two horrid, curved blades in either hand, stepped through. At the sea fae’s side was a lanky boy, tall enough he looked like he was caught between being a man and still a boy. His face was bruised, his lip crusted in old blood, and there was a slight tilt to his body. It was as if he were angling away from the man yet did not want anyone to take note.

He was not the boy king, but clearly another expected to fight in a man’s war.

“You have bits and pieces of armies,” Davorin’s calm, dark voice lifted. “We have a kingdom here to stand against you. Lay down your blades and only a few will shed blood.” He smirked, knowing damn well no one would set their swords aside at his request. This was his game: toy with his food, then strike as though he offered mercy and his victims refused. “The only blood for which I will take—the Golden King.”

Ari scoffed but didn’t take the taunt.

“And one of the seidr workers.” Davorin’s gaze fell on me. “Preferably the boy. I’d like to see if Riot Ode’s daughter screams like her aunt.”

Ari and Calista seemed to have the same thought and grabbed me in the same breath. Calista’s hand on my arm, Ari’s on my shoulder.

“Let him have his fun,” Ari whispered. “Take out that anger in blood, Silas. Another wise battle lesson from me to you.”

A response to Davorin came, harsh and furious. “Any other pointless demands, you bastard?”

I nearly laughed when I realized it was Elise Ferus who’d spoken. To Davorin, the Queen of Choice would be a mere mortal, a woman whose life was only extended by the mercy of the fae folk. She’d be a simple kill to him.

Truth be told, I thought he’d be quite wrong.

The flush to her cheeks gave up the rage in her heart. The swift way she spun a blade proved she’d been taught well. The fire in her eyes revealed the determination to slaughter on behalf of her people.

Davorin chuckled with condescension. “Yes, actually. Give me my little raven. It’s been too long since I’ve tasted her.”

I slammed my palm against Ari’s chest when he made a move for the gate. “Let him have his fun, Golden King. Take out that anger in blood.”

Ari’s jaw pulsed, but he stilled, a murderous kind of look in his eyes.