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And it threatened to cripple me at every turn.

I’d always felt my duty to Annwyn driving my actions.

What would happen if I truly loved it and its citizens? What would it cost me to love my kingdom?

72

ARRAN

“The last time I followed someone down through these tunnels, it didn’t end well.”

“I am not sure whether I should be flattered or insulted by the comparison.” I didn’t break step. Veyka’s fingers were laced through mine, and though she spouted skepticism, her steps did not falter.

“Where are we going?”

“You will see in a few minutes.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“I thought you trusted me.”

She stopped, her fingers tightening around mine, not letting me go. “I do.”

We were alone. Far from the nexus of activity around the central atrium that buzzed with faerie life even late at night.

Osheen and I had scoured the underground city over the last few days, mapping out the exits and points of weakness. There were very few of either. The faeries had spent seven thousand years perfecting their subterranean refuge. A day or two more, and Lyrena would be at full strength. Then we would take one of those passages out, out and away before the lingering inaction ate away any more of my sanity.

None of that was my focus, not with Veyka at my side.

Not with what I had found in my explorations.

Veyka glanced over her shoulder. I didn’t need to read her mind to know what she was thinking, this time. She was remembering when Maisri had dragged her down into the remote tunnels and they’d stumbled across the mysterious faerie.

I’d asked Isolde about it. She’d confirmed the faerie I described meant no harm. Still, Veyka hadn’t felt inclined to take her up on her vague offer for help. I wasn’t going to push her.

Not on that.

But things had been building between us.

We were so very close to the precipice. Not the edge of darkness where Veyka had lingered when I’d first met her.

No, we were on the edge of something bigger.

More.

More dangerous.

More important.

More.

I could feel the insistence in my chest. The bond—unfulfilled.

We’d been together dozens of times, but I knew that was not the fulfillment the bond was looking for. It wanted true satisfaction. Acceptance.

And none of that would be achieved tonight.

Tonight, I had only one goal for my mate—to give her a hot bath.