“That manis your firstborn, heir to the throne of Willowhaven.”
Those still within earshot gasp while the Unseelie trade confused glances.
“Lies,” the queen seethes, a red flush climbing her jaw.
Even if I’m wrong, at least I’ve given them pause.
Ever’s gaze falls to my neck, and he whips toward Ronan, leveling the prince with a menacing glower. “You are a dead man.”
Chuckling, Ronan holds out his hands to where the Unseelie have been cowed and the rest of the crowd is still hiding. “Have you looked around? You’re in no position to make idle threats.”
Ever’s sharp teeth flash. “You will see how idle they are soon enough.”
The king swipes a handkerchief across his brow and takes a step forward, still studying Ever. His eyes grow wider with every step. Now that they’re standing so close, their kinship is painfully obvious. Even Ronan shares some features with his older brother. I’m a fool for not seeing it sooner. For not asking more questions when Ever showed me his mother’s dresses.
The king stands up straighter, his shoulders rigid as he twists back to Ronan. “Son, whatever you’ve planned, it stops now. Your duty is to honor this kingdom, not to disgrace it.”
“You wish to speak of disgrace?” Ronan throws his head back with a barking laugh. “That’s fucking rich.”
“You will heed my warning. I am your father and your king.”
“You are a disappointment, failing time and again to keep your people safe from the monsters that lurk across The Divide. The wolves are back, Father. But you’ve been too busy hiding in your castle to give a shit.” Ronan taps his dagger against his thigh, adjusting his grip on the hilt. “I’ve never understood why you insisted on keeping the bridge open when such danger lurks just on the other side. But the moment I methim,” he swings his blade toward Ever, “Iknew. You kept it open because you were fucking one of them.”
The queen looks too calm. Too poised.
The king’s eyes bulge as he turns to stare at his wife. “You knew he was going to do this?”
Her chin lifts, and although she doesn’t respond, the answer lives in the angry set of her jaw and the rage snapping in her eyes.
A whoop echoes through the square and Maddox charges through the crowd, a blade swinging over his head. The rest of the Unseelie join in the charge, fighting their way through to the dais. Nolan stumbles, and Ever leaps free. The chains on his wrist jangle when he tries to grab me, but Ronan gets to me first.
If only I had some sort of weapon to incapacitate him, some way to break out of his grasp, but I’m as helpless as I was before, only this time, my eyes are open to the truth.
Maddox yanks Ever back, but Ever fights him every step of the way until Gryffin takes him by the other arm and drags him toward the rest of the Unseelie still holding off the guards.
Tears spill down my cheeks as they haul Everett away to safety.
Among the mayhem, a lone guard walks onto the dais and dumps my bloodied dress onto the worn planks. Not just any guard; the one with the mustache that I saw outside of Trevor’s cottage on the evening he died.
The cold slap of iron clamps around my wrists. “Kerris Dawn of Gravale, you are under arrest for the murder of Trevor Dillon.”
It doesn’t matter what happens to me as long as Ever is safe.
Even from this far away, I can see him struggling to get back to me as more guards flood the streets, heading not for Ever, but for me. He lets out an ear-shattering roar that turns my blood to ice.
Ever manages to get free, but it’s too late.
The guards have set the bridge on fire.
The Unseelie abandon the fight, their mounts, and their wagons, scrambling to make it back to their side before the bridge falls into the canyon, vanishing into the mist.
I’ll never know if he made it or if he fell into the abyss.
The king crumples to the ground, clawing at his throat, his face the shade of a ripe blueberry. Foam bubbles from his white lips as his eyes turn hazy.
The queen kneels beside her husband, taking his hands away from his throat. I expect tears or words of sadness, but she does not cry. She leans close and whispers, “You unfaithful wretch. Of course I knew. You built her a fucking bridge.” She lets his hand drop to the dais. On his wrist he bears two crescent scars.
Unseelie mating bonds.