Page 74

Sav

A s I’d known he would, Kaspar appeared moments after I stepped through the pocket entrance into Central Park Zoo. Some invisible tether I couldn’t put words to made me uncomfortably aware of his nearness. It must have something to do with our newly sealed bargain.

He stalked toward me, murder in his cold eyes. “Where have you been?”

My fists clenched at my sides. “I can’t tell you.”

Kaspar reached me, lifting my hand to his mouth and brushing a soft kiss over my knuckles. “I was worried.”

I gasped in mock shock. “Prince Kaspar has feelings?”

He squeezed my fingers. “I thought you were captured again.”

I exhaled a soft sigh, something uncomfortable swimming in my chest. I had said I’d never lie to Kaspar, yet I was prepared to do just that.

Was I choosing wrong? Thoughts of Jack being tortured—killed—bubbled up in my mind and I shook the guilt away.

This was for Jack. If Kaspar couldn’t forgive me, I’d live with it.

“No. I rescued the fae trapped by Dane and as promised, I’m prepared to follow through with our bargain.”

Kaspar’s brows rose. “Just like that?”

I glanced around at crumbling brick and overgrown paths.

“There’s nothing left for me in Faerie and I never belonged here.

It’s time for me to go home.” The word home was sour on my tongue.

I’d never thought of Kaspar’s world as my home and I couldn’t imagine ever thinking of it as anything other than a prison of my own making, but it was a price I’d pay to save Jack.

A pair of naiads in matching navy scales appeared behind Kaspar, walking on unsteady legs and one whispered in Kaspar’s ear. His mouth flattened into a thin line and he returned his gaze to mine, releasing my hand. “Come. It’s not safe here and this requires further discussion.”

He turned, his two naked spies falling in line behind him and I rushed to follow. Wasting no time with explanations, he dove into a shallow stream quickly followed by the two naiads and I jumped in after.

Underwater, his cool fingers found mine, tugging me down.

We sank far enough that light sifted through murky water and I glanced sideways at naiads drifting lazily.

They paid us no mind as we descended, sinking until we reached the bottom and I kicked my legs, propelling myself though the entrance to Faerie and into the bright, clear water of my realm.

When we reached the shore, Kaspar dragged me from the water and I stumbled to my knees rethinking my wardrobe choice.

“What an impractical clothing choice, Salvia.”

I hissed, glancing around the lakeshore.

“Calm yourself, princess. No one is near.”

I struggled to my feet, glaring at Kaspar’s perfectly dry pants, wishing that I had a sliver of my magic. Layers of skirts would chafe and rub as we trekked to the spring court palace. At least Kaspar had brought me through inside our border. I could take the dress off…

I reached for the sleeve, when Kaspar transformed, shifting into the beautiful kelpie I loved so dearly and snorted at me.

“I’m wet.”

He huffed in exasperation. I rolled my eyes but climbed up. Every moment we wasted was a moment Jack could be suffering. Wrapping my fingers in his seaweed mane, Kasper took off at a gallop and warm, midday sun beat down on us, as the wind whipped my clothing dry.

We reached the palace in less than three hours and though my hair had dried into something resembling a dark red powder puff, my clothes were only slightly damp. I left Kaspar in his appointed rooms, promising him more answers after I’d made myself presentable and raced to my room.

Swinging the door wide, I ran to the closet, tugging out the first gown I found and began stripping.

“I found your bag.”

I glanced up, eyes widening. “Hazel.”

She closed the door behind her, magicking it locked, and set my shredded bag on the bed. “What are you doing with Mab’s crystal, Sav?”

“You looked through my bag?”

She held up her hands, sitting beside it. “You can’t expect me to go searching through mountains of snow for something and not be curious about what’s inside.”

I glared at her, tugging my bodice over my breasts. “It was none of your business.”

She shot me a look. “It absolutely is my business, and my court’s.”

I ran my fingers through my frizzy mane, trying to comb out some of the tangles. “Can you help me with these laces?”

Hazel stood, swaying her hips as she moved. “Are you truly doing it? Are you going to marry him?” She stopped behind me and I leaned against the table as she tugged my laces.

I bit my lip. “Yes.”

She yanked hard, making me gasp. The knife wound was mostly healed. Mostly. “How can you do it? I know you care for Jack.”

She yanked again, but this time my gasp wasn’t from physical pain. “It’s the only way to get my magic back.” Silence fell as she finished tying the laces and stepped back. I spun to face her expecting condemnation, but instead, I saw only sadness. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

Hazel’s fingers toyed with her tail. Ignoring my question, she said, “I’ve always been jealous of you.”

“Me?” I snorted.

“Yeah. You. You could have gone along with your family’s wishes. Married a prince, made them proud and lived your life in comfort.” She reached forward, running a hand over my wild hair. “Instead, you chose the hard path because you believed in your dream that much.”

She spun me around, running long blue nails through my unruly hair. Her angry tugs at my snarls tore at my scalp, and I opened my mouth to protest, but she continued, “If this is what you want, tell me now, and I won’t say another word.”

Our eyes met in the vanity mirror, and I looked away. “It’s what I want.”

She pulled my hair, snapping my head back. “Don’t lie.”

“Ow, Hazel. I’m not. I want my magic, and this is the only way to get it.”

She wouldn’t understand giving up freedom for a human. She didn’t know the first thing about sacrifice for those you loved.

“Alright. I’m done.”

“No, Hazel. Wait.”

She slid her fingers from my hair and held out a hand. “Let’s get you married.”

A riot of butterflies swarmed in my belly as we entered the throne room. Kaspar stood rigidly, watching me approach. Alder’s gaze trailed hungrily over me, but I knew it was the power he craved. My sister sat straighter when I reached the bottom step and dipped my chin.

Hazel released my arm and backed up. Kaspar took her place frowning at me.

My sister’s eyes narrowed as she took me in. Her brow rose in challenge as if even now, she expected me to have some trick up my sleeve. “So that’s it. You’re ready to do your duty; help your court?”

“Yes.”

She opened her mouth but Alder spoke, cutting her off. “Wonderful. When is the happy date?”

“Now.” I snapped.

Kaspar’s arm went taught in mine and his gaze burned into the side of my face. “I’d like a moment with my betrothed.”

I faced Alder, ignoring his request. “I’m ready. Give me my magic and we’ll do it right now.”

I tensed under Kaspar’s unwavering stare but held my back straight.

“Oh, I don’t think so. My terms were very clear. Marry your prince and then you’ll get your magic.”

My eyes narrowed on my sister. “It’s done, Sage. The paperwork is signed. I will marry him the moment you unbind me.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, nose lifting high. “No.”

“Dew drop, don’t you think you’re being irrational?” Alder laid a hand on his wife’s stiff arm.

Her gaze swiveled to him and her brows dropped low. “I think my sister is none of your concern.”

Alder’s face contorted into one of rage. Sage’s eyes widened, knowing she’d gone too far. She leaned back and the air in the room grew stifling with her fear. Anger twisted in my gut. Had this man harmed my sister? I slid my hand down, searching for a knife.

“Sav,” Kaspar said in the loudest voice I’d ever heard him use.

Alder’s jaw clenched, but he leaned back with a curl of his lip.

Kaspar’s face, normally so devoid of emotion, was a tumult of feeling. Something I’d never expected to see on my old friend’s face. “I will speak with you.”

His words brooked no argument as he turned, dragging me away.

In the hall, Kaspar spun to face me. “If this is about your magic I will demand it. I will force them to give it to you in exchange for anything they ask. Do not marry me simply to get your magic back.”

I gaped at him. He’d spoken so freely and with so much feeling.

This was a subject we danced around. We never said the words aloud.

Shock faded as anger took its place. “You have no idea what I’ve been through because of you.

I’ve been bound and cast out for three years because of your agreement. One you never asked me if I wanted.”

My voice broke on the words and anger was chased by all the betrayal I had tried to bury.

His eyes widened, just a fraction and he lifted scaled fingers to my cheek.

I turned, commanding myself not to cry. My tears didn’t listen. One fell, then another and I wiped my cheeks furiously. Meeting his gaze again. “Why did you do it?”

I tugged at the loose strands of my hair, searching his face for any answer that might hurt just a little less.

“Sav. I never thought your sister would do this. I never thought your banishment would last so long. And I thought you’d be safe from their scheming in the human realm.”

I huffed, a disbelieving breath. “You did it to protect me?”

“I offered to marry you because they would have agreed to Summer’s proposal. He would not have given you the time I did. He would have demanded you go through with it. I never would.”

I knew it. I knew the moment Fero told me of his proposal, it was the reason Kaspar had made his offer. What I didn’t know—still didn’t know—was…“Why?”

He brushed his hand over my cheek again. “We made a bargain.”

“What?” My heart beat frantically against my ribcage. “We didn’t. I wouldn’t.” I backed into the wall, vines tangling into my hair as I pressed into them.

Kaspar didn’t move. He watched me backing away, something like sadness in his eyes. “You did. You promised me, when you were done adventuring, we would marry. I made the same bargain. I can marry no one else.”

My right hand flew to my left, tracing phantom vines from long ago. My head swam and the room tilted. Something silly we’d said as kids had bound us eternally. “We didn’t mean it.” The words were sticky in my mouth.

“I did.”

He sounded so forlorn. If I didn’t know better, I could have sworn there was true emotion behind them.

I dropped my hand, pushing off the wall. Fire surged to life in my veins. “It doesn't mean the same thing to you that it does to me. We can break it. We can stop this.” I hadn’t meant to say it, but the words were out and my heart picked up its pace again.

Had I just ruined everything?

“You don’t want this?”

“I do. I want this. I…”

He searched my face. “Give me the truth and I’ll give you your magic.”

I bit my lip. Kaspar didn’t lie. It was my favorite thing about him. No matter what truth I told him, he would keep that promise. It was a risk, but one I had to take. “I need my magic to save Jack and my sister won’t give it to me until we’re married. Nothing you say will convince her.”

Silence sat between us, heavy and immovable.

When I thought he would say nothing, he spoke. “Very well.”

He held out a hand and I slid my fingers into his warily. Each step toward the thrones beat like a drum against my skull, a death march toward the only inevitable end.

Kaspar began speaking before we stopped, forgoing any formality. “We have agreed. The wedding is today. I will return with my bride to collect her dowry and see that she is unbound by day’s end.”

I swallowed, not daring to look at Kaspar as he delivered his speech in a flat tone. I’d always thought that was his style of speaking, unfeeling as he was. Now, I wondered if it masked all the emotions he didn’t want anyone to see.