had happened. The sluagh had disappeared as if they’d never existed. There was only me and the shadowed forest.
And three princes.
Ronan stood, breathless, hands raised as if he’d been fighting the creatures bare-knuckled. There was one lone scratch along his cheekbone that healed as I stared.
“Are you okay?” Flynn’s voice jolted me from my daze, but at first, I couldn’t make sense of his question.
I stared at him. “You look different.”
He’d changed in my time away. Filled out. Gone was the lean body, replaced with broad shoulders and narrow hips. Even his legs seemed bigger, like he’d taken to slogging through bogs or leaping over rock walls. His dark hair was still too long and fell across his forehead. But he didn’t do that familiar chin lift to swipe it out of his eyes. And that frown. The frown was definitely new.
I’d only been with him for a few minutes in the warden’s office, but I still didn’t know how I’d missed the changes.
I glanced at Ronan again, and then Killian. I’d never really seen the resemblance between the brothers before, but that frown was the common denominator.
“Yeah,” Flynn answered. “So do you.” He stuck his hand out to me, and I regarded it for a second. “Come on, Imogen. If I wanted to hurt you, I’d have left you to the sluaghs.”
Fair enough. I took it, allowing him to help me to my feet. Sticking one hand on my hip, I scrutinized him. “Thank you,” I said before I shook my head and chuckled. “How long did I last? Thirty minutes?”
“Give or take,” Ronan answered, voice deep and gravelly.
“I suppose you’re taking me back?” It was stupid to ask. Of course, he was. They were. Killian hadn’t uttered a word, but I was sure he was just as on board with the plan as they were.
So, it floored me when he was the one who spoke, lifting his hands as though to perform a spell. “Actually, we have something else in mind.”
Imogen
I ducked, throwing my arms over my head, like they would somehow protect me from whatever magic Killian was sending my way. It was ridiculous, but it was instinct. My body knew it was time to go into defensive mode even if my brain was more than aware that I was helpless against these princes.
When nothing happened after probably ten seconds, I slowly lowered my arms and peeked through my lashes at my supposed attacker. He’d dropped his hands and was watching me with a slightly amused expression.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You’re not.” I didn’t try to hide my disbelief. There was no point, when I’d just made a complete and utter fool out of myself.
“No.” His expression sobered. “But we are taking you into custody.”
Into...custody?
“You mean, I’m your prisoner?” I shot back, my skin flaring hot.
I had no idea why the thought made me so flipping angry. I’d already assumed they would return me to NP. And, then, I’d half-expected Killian to poof me out of existence. Why did it matter if they were making me their own, personal prisoner instead? It shouldn’t.
Yet, it did.
There was only so much indignity I could be expected to endure. And having the princes drag me through the square for all of Tuatha Dé Danann to see was beyond what I could take.
Flynn took a cautious step toward me. “It’s the only way.”
“To what? Make sure I don’t escape again?”
“Would you like to explain that?” Ronan interrupted, his arms crossed over his massive chest. “How you got away?”
“Why don’t you tell me? As far as I know, you three are the only ones powerful enough to sneak a portal into the prison.”
Killian scrubbed at his tired-looking face. “It wasn’t us. And that’s exactly why we need to keep you with us. Until we figured out who helped you escape—and why—you’re safer with us.”
“Not to mention, we can keep an eye on you,” Ronan added under his breath.
Yeah, yeah, I got it. He still didn’t trust me. I was starting to think he never would.
Flynn took a few more steps toward me, stopping just short of touching me. “Genny, listen. You have to understand what’s at stake. Killian is getting worse by the day, and now you mysteriously escaped from the one place that should be inescapable. Someone is pulling the strings, and we need to figure out who. Together.”
Ignoring his use of his old nickname for me, I sighed. “I don’t suppose I have a choice, do I?”
What was I