Either I’m dead or I’m in the human?—
A hand shoots out of the cloud above, gripping my left wing. I barely have time to suck in another breath before being hauled back through the portal.
A portal that hadworked.
How is that even possible? Everyone knows it only works on Samhain.
We fly out the other side, Bell’s vicious curse ringing through the square. The guard drops me like a sack of grain onto the rigid stones. “You gave me your word,” he snarls, his hand flying to the pommel of his short sword.
His deadly expression probably should worry me but I’m too confused by what happened. “It works.” The portalworks.
Bell grabs my collar, dragging me to my feet.
He doesn’t look surprised by the revelation. Why doesn’t he look surprised? Unless… “You knew…”
He refuses to meet my gaze.
Fucking hell.Heknew. He knew and he never fucking told me? “Who else knows?”
A shadow crosses his face before he shoves me between the wings. “I don’t have time for this. I was due back ages ago.”
When he goes to shove me again, I duck out of reach. “Does the portal work all the time? Every single day?”
He withdraws his sword, gesturing toward the sky. “That is something you must discuss with your brother.”
Boris knows. Of course he does. He is the fucking king.
Thatbastard.
And after he told me—Dammit.
I may be glowing like a shooting star, but I’ve never flown as straight as I do when I shoot into the sky, through the thick layer of clouds, and into the starry night toward the castle’s central tower. Bell and I land in unison, our boots thumping against the king’s balcony.
“You really should wait until morning,” Bell says, following me as I stalk toward the king’s bedroom. If he isn’t here, I’ll track down his worthless, lying carcass even if it takes all fucking night.
“And he should’ve told me the fucking truth!” He’d seen how distraught I was. Why hadn’t he said something?
Bell stops before we reach the fluttering curtains. When my face slams into an invisible barrier, I know why.
I clutch my throbbing nose. Specks of blood splatter down my shirt. “You could’ve warned me about the fucking wards!” Yes, the whole castle has them, but most let me straight through.
Although the corner of his lips lift slightly, Bell doesn’t say a word. I pound against the barrier, each bang like an explosion in the night. If Boris doesn’t let me in?—
The king emerges from the darkness, his black hair loose over his bare shoulders. “What is the meaning of—” His eyes seem to focus on me. “Senan?” Those eyes narrow into slits as he slips into a robe and cinches the tie at his waist. “How dare you show up to my room in the middle of the bloody night. And high as a bloody star! I swear, if you wake my wife, I will murder you.”
Oh, right. I forgot about his wife. It’s not my fault, though. The woman barely leaves their private level of the central tower. Not that I blame her. Being married to this lying, manipulative bastard must be exhausting.
Boris stalks out of the tower and grabs me by the elbow. “You have disappointed me for the last time.”
“You wish to speak of disappointment?” I tug free of his grasp and slam my fist into his lying face. Bell curses and lunges, but he is too late. I have my brother’s chin locked in an iron grip and the sharp edge of my blade pressed to his gullet.
No. Not my brother.
This prick is the king and nothing more. The razor blade may be small, but it’ll do the trick. They’ll kill me for this, but what do I have to live for anyway?
Boris gasps, terror shining in his bulging silver eyes.
“Imagine mydisappointmentwhen I went to the portal tonight and fell all the way to the human realm.”