is, but the question is, why should I give it to her?”
“Yes, what does she have that’s worth a fairy king?” Erytheia added.
But reluctance to expose myself struck me mute again. The moment I did, Robin would no longer be my—my…
What was he? My champion? My…friend?
Whatever he was, I’d lose his goodwill, and he’d never look at me like this again.
“You had a plan to negotiate this, right?” Robin urged
“I do, but I can’t tell you…”
“Now’s not the time to persist in your secrecy.” When I still didn’t say anything, he pinned me with a grim stare, and added, “Fairuza.”
Chapter Nineteen
Whether I was tied to my body’s breathing or not, I let out a startled, painful hiccup. “How did you—”
“Not important now,” Robin dismissed, urgency written all over him. “But you are, Fairuza, Princess of Arbore. That’s your bargain.”
I knew that. It was my only hope here. But I had been willing not to use my title to entice the king, just so Robin wouldn’t know.
But he did, so I had nothing to lose.
Forcing myself to face Theseus again, I said, “I am Princess Fairuza of Arbore, and in marrying me you secure a bountiful alliance with your closest neighbor on the Folkshore, and one of its most powerful kingdoms.”
Theseus looked mildly impressed. “You ladies are full of surprises today. But since both parties are asking me to impart valuable information and make a difficult decision, rather than hand them a magic sword or a griffin or the like, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to win my favor in exchange for my help.”
There was always a catch with these creatures, wasn’t there?
I nodded curtly. “Name your price.”
“Would it be objects or actions?” Robin asked. “Because if you want me to steal something for you, that could take a while.”
Amusement danced in the king’s cat-like eyes, as blindingly white teeth emerged between thin lips in a devious smile. “Since there are six of you, I’ll be splitting you up in pairs, and giving you tasks to fulfill. One for my entertainment, one to spare my sister from a bargain I want to break, and the last for my own benefit.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Robin and I spoke in unison, “Agreed.”
“And—begin!” Theseus clapped his hands, and ropes of pulsing yellow light tore between us, separating Robin and me from Agnë and Jon, and them from Will and Meira.
Meira backed away from Will. “I am not partnering with him!”
The king grinned at her. “Yes, you are. That’s your penance for leaving my court for hers without my permission.” A thunderous clap of his hands elicited a blinding flash. When it faded, Meira was tied spreadeagled to a red-and-white wheel of fortune, and Will was blindfolded. “You both seem to be very tense, and killjoys. So, your task is to unwind enough to play this game.”
“What game is this? Making me spin until I puke?” Meira screamed, her voice vibrating as the wheel started to rotate.
“Why am I blindfolded?” Will cried out, tugging on the red cloth on his eyes to no avail.
“You will test your aim by throwing knives at the wheel before you,” the king said, sounding disgustingly pleased with himself. “If you hit Merope, you don’t get the location of the Wild Hunt.”
A hiccup of fright escaped me, echoed by Agnë’s.
Will shouted in horror, “Absolutely not! I need to see to throw!”
“If you want to execute me, why don’t you just say so?” Meira wailed mid-spin. “What’s the point of this game?”
Theseus shrugged, draping himself over one side of his throne. “That I find it funny. You’re entertaining me, remember?” He gestured again, and a table full of throwing knives appeared at Will’s hip, as he taunted, “Don’t you want to test your skills? See if they are enough to find—Marina, was it?”
“Marian wouldn’t want me to find her at the cost of someone else’s life,” Will seethed, still struggling with his blindfold.
Theseus examined his nails idly. “If you don’t play, you will be banned from Faerie forever.” He tossed a careless gesture Meira’s way. “And she will be executed.”
Will worked his jaw, and felt around the table, picking up the nearest knife. As he ran his fingers over it, examining its heft and sharpness, I could practically feel him considering throwing it at the king instead.
My heart hammered, hoping he wasn’t that much of a hothead. That king could kill him, kill them all, with a flick of a finger. He’d put Will, put us all,