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I gaze past him, letting my eyes fill with tears. When my eyes meet his again, his expression turns tortured.

Triumph floods through me.

When I truly cry, tears ravage me. My nose and eyes turn as red as my hair.

But I know what I look like when Imakemyself cry. I learned the technique at court when I was just a girl.

My eyes turn wide and liquid. I look young. Innocent.

These tears are a tool. And they’ve served me well throughout my life. I let my lower lip tremble, biting down on it as if attempting to still the motion. “Calysian. Please. You know what they’ll do to me if they take me.”

With a sigh, he takes a small leather case from his pocket. Within seconds, he has picked the locks, and I’m free.

I almost grin.

Men.

My power fills my veins in a rush. Unlike the last time these chains came off, I’m not immediately forced into an almost-sleep. This time, the fae iron has allowed my power to build beneath the surface, waiting for my use.

By chaining me, Calysian did me a favor. Of course, he’s unlikely to see it that way.

Calysian

Madinia stretches, rolling her shoulders and peering down at her wrists. They’re chafed and bruised.

Regret gnaws at me. When this is done, I’ll wrap her wrists in a soft cloth before I chain her again. I’ll even chain her hands in front of her.

Perhaps then, she’ll stop giving me those looks filled with frustration and rage.

The soldiers continue to send their arrows into my ward. When a few of them use their power, the silver shield begins flickering once more.

I hand Madinia her sword and take my own. She’s being suspiciously quiet.

Likely because she’s terrified.

“I won’t let them hurt you,” I tell her.

She raises her eyebrow at me, turning to face the soldiers. Several footspans behind us, a massive oak stands, its trunk twice the width of a man.

“Go stand behind that tree,” I tell her. “You’ll be safe when my ward falls.”

Surprisingly, Madinia turns and walks away. Finally, she’s being compliant. Perhaps she’s seeing things my way.

I slap Fox on the rump. “You know what to do. Take the mare with you.”

He doesn’t hesitate, barreling into the mare until the horse trots away from us. He’ll lead her back later.

My ward flickers, and the soldiers move closer. Madinia steps backward.

“Stay where you are,” I snap. “They might circle behind us.”

She ignores me, moving even further away.

I glance at her cold, calculating face, and realization slams into me.

She led me here.

She knew these soldiers would be in this location—and that they would be powerful. She knew after our encounter with the troll, my ward would be weakened until I got some rest. She knew I’d have to free her.