Page 47
Jack
S av’s fingers were clenched so tight her knuckles were white.
I mirrored her posture, marching between two towering orcs, but my attention was fixed on the general—the one she hadn’t flinched from. He was imposing, but she hadn’t backed down. It was the reason I’d thrown all Hazel’s warnings aside and raced onto the dancefloor.
I knew that look in her eyes back in the ballroom—raw panic. Her vulnerability toward another had sparked thoughts of violence and death. I hadn’t hesitated. I’d grabbed that bastard by the arm intent on murder.
I hated what this place was turning me into. Or maybe I just hated realizing it had always been inside me—the fury, the willingness to burn the world for those I cared for.
Nothing but her touch, her hand in mine, tugging me into a dance, could have calmed the fury scorching me.
High musical voices carried on a phantom breeze as we approached a large set of double doors. The towering orc who had burst into the party, interrupting our dance, knocked, deceptively light against wood.
“Enter,” a voice similar, yet entirely different from Sav’s, replied.
We stepped through a wide arched door into an expansive room. The guards stopped in the hall, ushering us forward. My gaze went to Sav, but she ignored me as she strode inside. I trailed her, eyeing the enormous space.
Ivy crept up the walls to the circular room, intertwining at the ceiling, and hung down the center, forming a cage.
Inside the cage, small, bright birds fluttered and flapped, landing on vine perches only to launch into the air once more.
They were the size of hummingbirds but in every color of the rainbow.
When they moved, iridescent shimmers refracted from their wings and a sprinkling of dust scattered over the floor beneath them.
Stopping beside them, I stared in. This close, I could see not all the creatures were birds.
They might have been butterflies if not for their human-shaped bodies.
The tiny beings were familiar and all at once, I remembered the pixie Sav had been trying to save.
It was bigger and not as bright as these, but there were enough similarities that I was sure they were the same kind of fairy.
“They’ll grant you a wish in exchange for a drop of your blood,” a voice like honey said in my ear.
I spun, staring into a much brighter version of Sav’s violet eyes.
I bowed. “Princess.”
Her high musical laugh rang in my ears and the tiny pixies in their cage mimicked her sound, matching it with eerie perfection. “Pet of the winter emissary.”
Sav’s gaze darted between us, landing on the princess. “Why did you have me forcibly removed from the ball, Sage? And with the human, no less. Did you hope to cause a scandal?”
The princess’s eyes narrowed in an all too familiar glare. I would have laughed under other circumstances, but the tension between these two was palpable and their similarities gave me whiplash.
“You embarrassed us by making a scene with Lord Banyan,” the princess said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Sav mimicked her sister, mouth pressing into a firm line. Sav’s greatest weapon was silence, and she was preparing to unleash it on the princess. Her twin moved to stand beside her, and I exhaled sharply. Being so close to all that power made a light sweat break out on my brow.
“Don’t give me that look. He’s a member of my court and as such, welcome to attend all our functions.”
Sav’s arms tightened over her chest and her cheeks flushed.
“May I speak?”
Both women turned to me, one wide-eyed, the other cunning. Sav looked like she wanted to stop me, but I was done watching her fight alone.
“I know Sav wasn’t supposed to return,” I said carefully. “But she came for a reason. To free the fairies being held captive in the human realm and I can help.”
I hadn’t completely thought this plan through yet, but when I learned of all she was prepared to give up to save her people, I’d realized I had a card to play as well. One that would free her from marriage to the cold prince.
The princess’s brows climbed into her hairline. “You are well informed of my sister’s situation.”
Sav narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at me, but I barreled on. “Hazel filled me in.” I glanced at the cage. “Should we go somewhere private?”
The princess laughed. “My creatures never leave their prison.”
I nodded, avoiding Sav’s gaze as I continued. “I can help you free them. She doesn’t have to marry the prince. I’ll offer myself in trade and Dane will return the creatures he has captured.”
Sav went rigid.
The princess stepped closer, tilting her head to study me.
“You have unusual eyes for a human. Has anyone ever told you that?” I met her stare, not backing down.
Her strange power pressed against my skin, prodding, searching for weakness.
“And why would the rebel leader trade his slew of captives for one human?”
I swallowed, sweat trickling down my spine.
“Because I’m his son.”
Table of Contents
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