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The prince took the collar out of Remy’s hands and stood. He held it up to her with raised brows and waited for her to agree.

“But he extended his grace to the three remaining courts: he entitled each royal to one red witch,” he said. Remy knew Vostemur didn’t have the authority to be telling the other Courts of Okrith what to do . . . he also didn’t have the authority to raze her homeland either. The Western, Southern, and Eastern Courts would only push back so much against the threat to the North. Following his rules about red witches seemed to be not worth the battle.

Lifting her hair, Remy dipped her head so that he could fasten the necklace to her.

“And you will be mine.” His voice was a low rumble across the shell of her ear. His calloused fingers brushed her neck as he fastened the collar. Remy prayed Hale couldn’t hear her heart pounding in her chest.

As she toyed with the stone pendant, Heather groaned. Her guardian’s tight grip on self-control waned as she looked at the witch’s collar encircling Remy’s neck.

“It is only for a few days, Heather,” Remy reassured her. “How else do you plan on getting us close enough to the ring? Think of what it could do in High Mountain fae hands?”

Heather’s lips remained puckered, but she said no more.

“The brown witches shouldn’t be coming with us,” Bri cut in.

“We—“ Fenrin scowled.

“Fae travel with witch servants all the time,” Carys interjected.

“We are not your servants.” Fenrin clenched his fists.

“Though much less mouthy ones,” Talhan laughed. “A few balms and potions on the road are a welcome service. I’ve seen brown witches in fae entourages before.”

“I still think we should cut them loose,” Bri said, flipping her knife mindlessly in her hands.

“No!” Heather panicked at that, leaning closer to Remy. “We can act the part.” Heather glanced at the prince. “We can do it. It will be fine.”

“And what about him?” Bri waved her knife at Fenrin. “I’m sorry Fen, but you’re clearly unwell.”

The past few days, Fenrin’s face had grown more flushed, his voice congested. His cough grew progressively worse. Heather grabbed a vial from her pocket and passed it to Fenrin. Remy noted the move and wondered how long Heather had been secretly caring for Fenrin. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. She hadn’t been paying close enough attention to them.

“There are only so many potions,” Bri said.

Surprise crossed Remy’s face at the apologetic look Bri gave Fenrin. It was rare to see the fae warrior showing that kind of emotion.

“He needs rest,” Bri continued, “not magic. You should stay here and we can double back for you.”

“I’m fine.” Fenrin coughed. “It’s just a cold. It will be gone by tomorrow.”

Remy knew Heather would never willingly leave her side, but she wondered if Bri was right. The Twin Eagles had taken a liking to Fenrin’s company, but the warrior spoke the truth.

Hale bobbed his chin, “Fine. You can come.” He passed the two witch’s collars to Heather and Fenrin and reached back into his pack. “Tal, Bri,” Hale said, throwing Bri a bag of coins.

Remy gaped. How much money did the prince travel with? No wonder his pack sounded like a boulder when it landed on the ground.

“Find horses and ride ahead,” Hale said. “Secure lodgings at an inn outside Ruttmore. I don’t want us staying in town in case we must make a hasty retreat. We’ll arrive the day before the game to not arouse suspicion. We are on a quick holiday of drinking and debauchery, understood?” Carys’s lips pulled up, a wicked gleam in her eye. “We leave as soon as the game’s over. Oh,” The prince added as the Twin Eagles stood. He tipped his head toward Remy. “And get some appropriate clothes.”

Remy crinkled her nose at Hale.

Bri looked at the heavy bag in her hands and then looked to Remy. The warrior’s golden eyes scanned Remy up and down, taking her measurements by sight alone. The fae female’s face held a glimmer of twisted delight. Remy shook her head to Bri in silent protest.

Don’t buy me anything stupid, she demanded with a stabbing look.

“Keep up your training with Carys,” Bri said with a nefarious grin, winking.

Hauling up his pack, Talhan turned with no other parting, as though he had not been walking all day to get there, only to be sent off again. The Eagles would ride through the night, no questions asked.