“What are your terms, oh great and powerful prince?”
The moment his dimples appeared, my hollow stomach began to flutter. “If I decide to use my immense power to save a weak, pathetic human such as yourself,” he said, his smile slowly fading, “then you must promise to never set foot in the Black Forest.”
I knew what he was doing. If I never crossed the Black Forest, I wouldn’t be able to save him. I may never see him again. Never see my sister. Forcing me to stay away was as good as giving in and letting the Queen win. And I was having none of it. “I don’t agree to those terms. Come up with something else.”
He dropped to his knees and clutched the bars, filling the air with a sickening hiss. “The moment you set foot in the Forest, the Queen will either carve your heart from your chest or she’ll force me do it. I would rather see you die tomorrow than watch you become one of her victims.”
There had to be a better solution. There had to be a way for us to defeat her and take back his heart. “Please.”
He shook his head, his hair falling across his furrowed brow. “Die tomorrow or choose to live far from me and my world. Those are my terms.”
When he stuck his hand through the bars, I skirted back. “I won’t do it.”
“Take my hand, Aveen.”
“Rían—”
“When I leave, I will not return. I’m begging you, do not let your foolish emotions get in the way. Swear to never set foot in the Forest and let me save you.”
Tears blurred his beautiful face. I would find a way around this. I would spend the rest of my life trying to find a way. But I couldn’t find anything if I was dead. Despite everything inside me screaming to refuse, I slipped my hand into his and felt the bargain take hold.
The pain of the iron on my skin was nothing compared to the vicious ache in my heart when Rían let me go. Rose to his feet. And said, “You will always be mine.”
I closed my eyes, not having the strength to watch him leave.
A sickeningsnapreverberated off the dank walls.The guard’s body slumped to the floor, his head cocked at a wrong angle, unblinking eyes staring toward the mold-blackened ceiling.
Rían was gone.
* * *
Boots stomped. Curses flew. Locks clicked. Hinges creaked.
Four guards waited outside my door, iron chest plates and silver helmets gleaming. The body on the floor remained.
One gestured at me with a sword. “On your feet, witch.”
My nails dug into the gritty stones as I stood.
I wasn’t afraid.
Rían had promised to save me.
I wasn’t afraid.
“Try anything, and I’ll run you through,” the man warned, motioning me forward with the blade.
My heavy feet refused to cooperate. How long had it been since I’d eaten? I chanced a step forward. My knees gave out, cracking off the stones. My hands weren’t fast enough to keep my face from slamming against the floor. One of the guards at the back cursed, pushing his way to the front.
“Don’t touch the witch! She’ll curse us all,” another bellowed.
“Leave off. The poor woman can’t stand.” Two hands clamped onto my elbows, lifting me. Soft brown eyes peered from inside the helmet.
The other guards kept their swords drawn and aimed at me as the one who’d assisted me tightened his hold, helping me down the hall, past torch after torch, until we reached the final door before the exit. Instead of bringing me outside, the man gave the door three swift kicks.
“The witch is here fer her confession,” one of the others shouted.
The door creaked open. Two low wooden benches sat at either side of an ancient altar. Shafts of sunlight burst through barred windows, landing on a man in black robes.