greets him, enthusiastically wagging her tail like she hasn’t seen him in days instead of less than an hour.
“What is it?”
He glances down the hall. I can just hear Morgan and Aeron talking not far away—we’re not alone. We’re never alone anymore.
It was easier to slip away from Gage than it is to lose Rhys’s knights.
“I was never after your father’s crown,” he says quietly.
My shoulders sag, heavy with guilt from the morning’s conversation. “I know.”
“I’m sorry I made you doubt it.”
My anger leaves me, and I lean against the doorframe. “I’m sorry I spoke rashly.”
“Rhys,” Morgan calls as he passes in the hall. “Are you coming?”
The knight flashes Morgan a frustrated look. “In a moment.”
Rhys turns back to me, but there’s not much either of us can say with so little privacy.
“Are you hungry?” he asks. “We’re going down for supper.”
Nodding, I step into the hall, promising Ember I’ll be back.
“Are you all right?” he asks before we join the others, studying my face.
“The curse is spreading,” I say softly. “How long do we have before people begin to notice?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. Several weeks? Maybe as much as a few months if it moves slowly.”
I nod resolutely, the fairy’s words heavy in my heart.
That’s not very long to find an alternate way to appease the spell and repair the rift.
5
It takes the longest time to walk from the kitchen to the room where they’ve placed the prince…unless you know a shortcut. Which I do.
The castle is riddled with secret passages. The tunnels that lead outside were walled up and fortified years ago, but a few of the interior ones have slipped notice.
When we were young, Rhys and I made it our mission to find them all. There are likely some that we have missed, but it’s safe to say we know of more than anyone else living in the castle.
I peek my head into the hall, making sure it’s clear. Then I step out of the tunnel and push the faux section of wall back into place with my foot. The latch clicks, and the panel blends with the rest of the stones. I continue down the dark hall, following it around the corner.
Devin looks displeased when I arrive with yet another tray for the ailing prince. He stands on guard alone this morning, and all pretenses drop.
“What are you doing, Cassia? Do you have any idea how dangerous this man is right now?” He narrows his eyes. “Does your father know you’re here?”
Devin and Rhys used to play in the castle when they were very young, and I’d chase after them, begging to be included. Not of noble birth, Devin became a guard instead of a knight, but he and Rhys stayed friendly. In my brother’s absence, it seems Devin has taken it upon himself to watch over me, and he’s proved himself a dutiful guardian. Too dutiful, perhaps.
And yet, I understand Devin’s concern. His young wife passed away last autumn. It was a tiraith who stole her, not the sickness. But what’s one evil from another?
“Edwin does,” I tell him, sidestepping the question. “And my brother won’t let him starve—you know that as well as I do. If I don’t go in there, Edwin will, and he hasn’t had the sickness. Would you risk the life of your future king?”
“Cassia,” the guard says as he reaches for the tray. “I’ll do it.”
I pull it from his reach. “You haven’t had the sickness either.”
“It’s been several days. He’s surely hallucinating now.”
Braeton was asleep when I came last night, and I was careful not to wake him. I have no idea what state he’ll be in this morning.
“I’ll be careful,” I swear.
Footsteps sound from down the hall, and Devin glances over, irritated by the interruption. With a deep frown, he steps back, keeping his distance from me—resuming his post as he waits for his replacements.
Two guards turn the corner, and I shoot my friend an apologetic look before I loudly say, “Open the door, guard.”
It’s a direct command, one Devin doesn’t dare disobey in front of others. He grits his teeth before nodding, doing as he’s told.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur as I slip inside, pulling the door closed behind me.
My eyes adjust to the darkness and then narrow. The room is still, and the bed is empty. I turn immediately, searching for the prince.
Before I have a chance to find him, he finds me.
He clasps a hand over my mouth, keeping me from screaming, and