I grasped for a sword at my hip, gnashing my teeth when my fingers closed around thin air rather than the hilt of a weapon. Was my fire magic enough to go up against a sorceress?
“No, Mel, it most certainly is not.” I could hear my old elemental master speaking inside my head.
If I tried and failed, I wasn’t only putting my life at risk, I was jeopardizing the whole mission. Vengeance would have to wait.
I lingered behind until the sound of her boots died away before stepping out from behind the door. Taking a deep breath, I peered into the hall then entered the corridor. Unlike the sorceress, my steps were silent as I made my way back to the dining room.
The female had a shrieking voice I could overhear from the hallway.
“He has already won her over!” she bellowed.
I winced and flattened my back against the wall right outside the dining room, ready to sprint down the corridor the moment she gave any indication of storming out.
“The human’s memories have returned?” Albedo asked at a normal volume that still carried to the hall.
“I should have put her back on the streets where she belonged. He wouldn’t have been so eager to win her over if she’d been a beggar covered in filth,” the female raged.
“Then he would have returned home sooner,” Albedo said calmly. “Is he at Dahlquist?”
“He only returned for a moment. He doesn’t want to leave his precious human alone in the mortal world.” She spit out the words.
“That’s good. The plan is working.” Albedo’s voice rose with glee. “What else? Who did he speak to? What did he say?”
“He checked in with the elf. They don’t know for sure that you now sit on the throne of Ravensburg.”
“What are their plans to find out?” Albedo asked.
My heart shot up to my throat. I held my breath, mind racing as oxygen became scarce. I might have to make a run for it sooner than I’d thought. How had the sorceress gained entry into Dahlquist? Dark magic?
Pitberries.
I leaned forward, ready to sprint if the she-witch warned Albedo that Ryo and I had glamoured ourselves to infiltrate Ravensburg.
“They did not discuss their plans in the hall,” the female said.
I released the breath I’d been holding, but my heart still clogged up my throat.
“Then what did they discuss?” Albedo demanded, edging on annoyed.
The sorceress didn’t answer immediately. Hopefully she’d strike Albedo dead for expressing irritation. That would mean one less bad apple for me to chuck.
“They were arguing,” the sorceress said blandly.
“Oh?” Albedo asked, sounding eager again.
“The elf wants Liri to return to Dahlquist, but he refuses.”
A male snorted with condescension. I couldn’t be sure if it had been Albedo or Malon.
“She should have accepted my proposal,” Albedo said. “I offered to take the weight of the kingdom off her and keep her as my queen.”
Ew. The thought of Albedo and Aerith together made my stomach churn with nausea.
“She doesn’t deserve you,” the sorceress said.
“No, but it would have infuriated Liri,” he returned. “Not to mention Liri’s closest guards and family have sworn oaths to her. Dahlquist castle is under her control. It would have been easier to take the throne if she’d joined my side.”
“Can’t you place a spell over her?” Malon asked. “Make her lust for my brother?”
I clenched my teeth. I’d take them all out before that happened. Hopefully Lyklor had stayed behind and would help me when I stormed in.
“They would have to be in the same room together, and even then, the magic wouldn’t last long,” the sorceress said. “She’s not worth the bother.”
I relaxed into the wall.
“At least we have Ravensburg,” Albedo boasted. “I had not expected to get my hands on Teryani’s kingdom so easily.”
Yeah, enjoy it while it lasts, which won’t be long, pit head.
“How did Liri leave things with his sister-in-law?” Albedo asked next. “She is still in charge, I take it?”
“Yes,” the sorceress answered. “She wanted Liri to hunt me down, but he’d rather play bodyguard in the mortal realm.”
“What a dipshit,” Malon said.
“He’s a fool,” Albedo agreed. “All the better for me. Teryani already lost her kingdom. I won’t stop until I have Liri’s, too.”
“Perhaps then he will regret jilting me,” the sorceress said. “How do you intend to take Dahlquist?”
I pressed my lips together, waiting to hear Albedo’s evil plans, but all he said was, “One thing at a time.”
Ugh. Disappointing. But what did I expect from the black-haired vagrant? Certainly not a Fae mastermind. He’d tried to sleep his way to the crown rather than fight for it. Yuck!
“After Liri left, I overheard his two most trusted guards speaking with the elf,” the sorceress said. “They debated passing on the crown to Lyklor or Ryo.”
“Oh, did they now?” Albedo asked in a scathing voice.
“I can’t imagine why,” Lyklor said in a bored tone that didn’t carry the way Albedo’s voice did. I had to strain to listen. “She’s never met me. She must be desperate to return home.”
“And yet she refused me!” Albedo snarled.
“You offered to marry her, not return her home. Perhaps you chose the wrong incentive,” Lyklor suggested.
“And how does she intend to place the crown on Lyklor’s head?” Albedo demanded.
“She doesn’t,” the sorceress said. “She and her advisors decided to make Ryo regent instead.”
For a moment, there was silence. I wished I could see inside the room. Maybe Lyklor could give me the play-by-play later, or maybe it was time to initiate Operation Take Back Ravensburg Castle.
“I warned him what would happen if he even thought about claiming the crown,” Malon said. “I bet now you wish I had killed him.”
“When is she crowning him?” Albedo demanded.
“She spoke as though he was not at the castle. I believe he is in the elven realm. When I went to check on the situation, my ogres were all dead and the citizens of Pinemist were talking about help they received from a black-haired prince of Faerie and his royal guards.”
“She didn’t take the bait,” Albedo said slowly. “At least Ryo is not at Dahlquist. Find him before Aerith has a chance to crown him, and bring him to me.”
I grimaced. If only Albedo knew how close Ryo really was. Thank goodness he didn’t. I slipped away from the door, taking careful steps down the hallway. As soon as I rounded the first corner, I made haste for the outer courtyard.
Outside, the morning sun already felt warm. Guards were leaning against walls in the shade and milling around in small groups chitchatting. The male with the bronzed skin and bun strolled from group to group. His eyes met mine as I walked across the courtyard, but he didn’t approach me. Luckily, I didn’t see any of Albedo’s muscled guards milling around. Remembering Albedo’s offer to leave one or two of them for me made me blush anew. I craned my head around searching for Ryo, trying to remember what his glamour looked like.
A buff guard in a fresh maroon tunic strode up to me. He had brown shoulder-length hair. I was almost certain it was Ryo but waited for him to speak first.
His gaze swept over me before resting on my eyes. “My lady, you slept well?” he asked politely, keeping two feet of distance between us.
“I did, thank you, Thistle. Were you made comfortable, as well?”
“I was provided a bunk, uniform, and sword.”
“Very good,” I said, my eyes alighting on the sword at Ryo’s hip. Swiftly, I lifted my chin and looked beyond his shoulder, noticing Mr. Bronze staring our way. He strolled over to a couple of guards sitting on barrels. After being addressed by Mr. Bronze, the lounging guards got off the barrels and stood in the shade against the wall instead.
�
��What’s going on around here?” I asked, rubbing my lips as my eyes darted around the courtyard. There was a nervous energy outside that made me feel extra anxious.
Ryo pursed his lips and looked around. “I don’t think anyone knows. Teryani just sorta disappeared, and Albedo took her place. No siege. No uprising. No death followed by inheritance. It’s unsettling for the guards. They already lost one queen recently.”
I nodded. “Yeah, we should get the rightful one back soon. They’d probably thank us.”
Ryo grimaced. “I don’t think we can count on their help until victory is won. They’re afraid of Albedo—especially of his witch, Isadore. She struck down the first guard to speak out against Albedo’s coronation. They say he was taken down to the dungeons and still screams through the night.”
I shuddered. “Isadore is here right now.”
“What?” Ryo took a step toward me, his eyes widening in alarm. “She didn’t see you, did she?”
“No.”
Ryo took a deep breath. “We need to get out of here. Sarfina and Isadore never got along.”
“Sarfina doesn’t exactly get along with anyone,” I said, wrinkling my nose.
Ryo frowned. “Perhaps not, but Isadore has unnatural powers and history with my family.”
The back of my neck began to heat beneath the beating sun.
“Well, don’t worry. She’s leaving to look for you.”
Ryo cocked his head to one side. “Me? Why?”
“Somehow she made it into Dahlquist castle and overheard Aerith telling Folas and Galather you weren’t there. Luckily, she didn’t overhear anything about our mission to Ravensburg. What I want to know is how she managed to sneak in to begin with. I thought there were wards in place.”
Ryo clenched his jaw. “She shouldn’t have made it in.” He looked from side to side. “We need to get back to Dahlquist and warn Aerith.”
“Agreed,” I said with a nod. “But first we have to return Ravensburg to its rightful ruler.”
Ryo looked around the courtyard and sighed. “Too bad so many guards have set up camp outside. They seem to want to stay away from Albedo.”
“But they won’t help us?” Arg! It was so frustrating. Come on, gang! Let’s band together.
Ryo shook his head. He looked so funny with the longer hair, but at least he wasn’t guised as a family member. I’d noticed how his eyes never rested on me for long. He didn’t have Lyklor’s talent for seeing through glamours.
“Not worth the risk,” Ryo said. “It seemed like most of them came in to sleep, though. Nighttime is still our best option. Will you be able to sneak out safely tonight?”
“Hopefully.” I sighed then lowered my voice. “Um, just out of curiosity, does Sarfina like to sleep around with royal guards?”
Ryo’s head jerked. He looked at me closely now, taking in the sheer dress I wore and slip beneath. He met my eyes and locked onto them.
“Did someone try something?” he demanded.
“No, nothing like that,” I rushed to say. “But Albedo offered to leave a guard in my bedchamber to, uh, satisfy my needs.”
Ryo’s eyes expanded.
“I turned him down, of course!” I rushed to say, feeling heat blooming in my cheeks.
“And then what happened?”
“He left.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. I mean, Albedo seemed to think I would want him and another guard to stay.”
Ryo groaned, squeezing his eyes together briefly as he ran a hand through his hair. “Sarfina probably would have gone for that. We need to get out of here tonight or sooner if we can.”
I fanned my face with my hand.
Ryo nodded toward a patch of shade against the wall. “We should move,” he said. “Sarfina wouldn’t stand out in the baking sun.” We reached the shade and it did feel better, but Ryo looked around anxiously. “You shouldn’t stay much longer. Sarfina wouldn’t hang around a courtyard with a guard. She only has use for them at night.”
My face warmed as though I’d stepped back into the sun. The sheer dress felt too skimpy, exposing my arms and legs and anything that wasn’t covered by the slip.
Ryo ran a hand through his hair again as he looked around the courtyard. I wished I could see the real him for a second, but it would be way too dangerous. It was like he was here but he wasn’t. He probably felt the same way about me.
“I have an idea,” I said, lowering my voice.
Ryo folded his arms and leaned closer, keeping his gaze trained on our surroundings.
“I’ll meet you at this exact spot tonight. If I run into anyone along the way, I’ll say I am meeting up with a guard to—you know.”
Ryo nodded. “Good thinking.”
I studied Ryo’s profile. It was pleasing, but it wasn’t my prince. He was in there, though. I wasn’t alone. And I had a good backup plan if I should be unfortunate enough to run into anyone after dark.
The remainder of the day was a bore. When I’d tried to go down to the dungeons, I’d been turned away by guards and told I would have to get Albedo’s permission. I really wanted to check on Ella, but not enough to compromise our mission by raising Albedo’s suspicions. The guards in front of the armory had likewise turned me away. That left the library. I half-expected to find Lyklor lounging in an armchair as I had the first night I met him. The room was empty and silent. I walked along the bookshelves, browsing titles along leather spines. There were far too many books on history, warfare, and reference guides—all pertaining to Faerie. No Harry Potter in this library, which was a shame. Devdan and I had read the first three during our world travels. We noticed that book four was huge, but more was better when it came to Harry Potter.
I sighed, walked over to the window, and stared out at the town of Ravensburg, across the river in the distance. The sight before me didn’t match my thoughts, which drifted off to Pinemist and Devdan. I wondered how the rebuilding was going. As soon as we dealt with the matter at Ravensburg, I would go back home and help. Ryo had expressed enthusiasm in returning to help as well. I hadn’t had the heart to share Aerith’s plans for him. A crown might as well be shackles for someone like Ryo. He’d become a prisoner to Dahlquist for as long as Liri remained away. Hopefully that wouldn’t be long. Maybe we could kill two birds with one stone or, in this case, one sorceress.
Chapter Six
Melarue
My first full day as Sarfina at Ravensburg felt like one of the longest. I kept expecting to run into Lyklor, but the elusive blond was nowhere to be seen. I had the misfortune of bumping into Albedo briefly as he ushered a tailor along the corridor after the middle-aged faerie arrived from town. Fortunately, Albedo was distracted in his haste to be measured for a new kingly wardrobe since Teryani’s garments were useless to him.
I didn’t see Malon at all. Hopefully, he and Lyklor weren’t off killing one another, or if they were, too bad I couldn’t join the action. Did Lyklor despise the cousins he’d grown up with as brothers enough to end their lives? Even though he was protecting me, I didn’t trust him for one hot second, which is why I still hadn’t spilled the berries on Ryo being a royal guard in disguise. As far as Lyklor knew, none of the Elmrays had bothered to accompany me. Let him think that right until the moment we needed him and he saw through Ryo’s glamour. It would be satisfying to show him that not all of his family members were pit heads.
Before dinner, I changed into a silky green gown with slits down the sides. The material felt smooth against my skin, and the slits made it easy to walk in. I brushed out my hair, leaving it loose over each shoulder.
All three males were in the dining room when I arrived. Albedo stood behind the tall chair at the head of the table. Malon sat in the spot beside him, his eyes glazed over in boredom. At the far end of the table, Lyklor sat in front of a candelabra, running his hand back and forth through the flames.
Albedo tipped his chin at me. “Sarfina, you look lovely as always.”
Aerith alway
s said that green was the way to go for a female rocking a red mane. Not that Albedo could see my true hair color. Only Lyklor could—and only if he bothered to look at me.
“Thanks, Cuz,” I said, twirling long strands of hair around my finger, feeling self-conscious, yet again, gussied up in a gown. “How soon until your new wardrobe is ready?”
“The tailor has orders to set everything else aside until I have at least thirty new outfits.” Albedo smirked with pleasure.
The “king” had ordered clothes. Lame, but not surprising.
Albedo turned to Malon. “You will be measured next. A prince of Ravensburg requires the proper attire.”
Malon made duck lips as his eyebrows spread apart. I think the title mattered more to him than clothes.
“Sarfina, you, of course, have plenty of clothes to choose from,” Albedo continued.
I glanced across the table at Lyklor, who didn’t bother looking beyond the flames that wavered beneath his touch.
“Lyklor prefers clothes from the mortal world,” Albedo supplied with a shrug.
Malon snorted.
I took the same seat I had at breakfast before Albedo had an opportunity to order me to do so. The sooner we ate, the sooner everyone would retire, and the sooner Ryo and I would bust open these gates. The only fittings Albedo and Malon needed were for their own funerals.
Albedo gripped his chair. At first I was afraid he’d read my thoughts, but when I glanced at his face, his eyes were narrowed on Lyklor.
“Stop playing with fire,” Albedo snapped.
Lyklor held his hand above the flame for two extra seconds before lowering his arm to the table.
“I like playing with fire,” he said in a silky voice, his eyes slipping from the burning candles to me.
My body heated as though it had been struck with flint, ignited by the probing gaze in Lyklor’s eyes.
Yum, yum, yum, my heart murmured as lightning bolts crackled along my veins. Another handsome Fae prince to fuel our flames.
Three Kings Page 6
