still looking a bit spooked from the surprise. She presses a hand over her heart, breathing dramatically. “For all the gold in the kingdom, Rhys! You scared me half to death.”
I raise a wry eyebrow. “Where exactly are the two of you going?”
“You’re back,” she says, ignoring the question.
Braeton doesn’t answer either. He stares at me with slightly narrowed eyes, perhaps trying to place me. Thankfully, the entire time he was in my care, he was blindfolded.
Or perhaps not thankfully. Braeton likely won’t forgive me for that.
“Who are you?” the prince demands.
“He’s my brother and… Who’s with you, Rhys? He’s in the shadows.” Cassia lets out a soft gasp when Aeron steps into the lantern’s light. “Aeron.”
“Hello, Cassia,” Aeron says, his tone oddly affectionate. I shoot him a look, not liking it.
He turns to me, expressionless, and raises his eyebrows as if to say, “What?”
I’ll deal with that later.
Braeton stiffens the moment Cassia says Aeron’s name, which is equally odd.
“Again, what are you doing here?” I ask. “I need to speak with Edwin immediately, but I can’t let the two of you up and disappear.”
“I’m taking Braeton back to Renove,” my sister announces, squaring her shoulders, daring me to argue with her.
“You’re taking Braeton back to Renove,” I deadpan.
“You don’t think I can do it?” she demands, instantly on edge. “How many monsters have I killed, Rhys? How many?”
I rub my temples and swear under my breath. I don’t have time for this.
“Your sister is at the inn,” I tell Braeton. “If the two of you can actually manage to sneak past the guards, wait for me there.”
“My…sister?” Braeton asks, his shoulders falling. “Amalia is here?”
“She came to rescue you,” I say, trying and failing to hide the ridiculousness of the statement.
“You,” he says, taking several steps down the stairs. “Your voice—how do I know you?”
“He sounds like Edwin, doesn’t he?” Cassia immediately says, her face going pale in the dim light. “That’s probably it.”
Braeton doesn’t look convinced, but he nods. “Yes, perhaps.”
“I need to go. Aeron, will you escort them to the inn?” I flash my sister a wry look. “I’d hate Cassia to get lost.”
Aeron snorts out something that might be a laugh. “Of course.”
“I’ll meet you before nightfall.”
I separate from the group and run up the stairs, taking several at a time in my haste. When I reach the end, I carefully open the door, which lets out behind a massive oil painting in the royal hall.
Thankful there’s no one loitering about, I quickly press the painting back into place and make my way to Edwin’s study.
I step inside, growling when I find the room empty.
Where is he?
Probably with Father.
My eyes land on the ridiculous pewter frog on his desk, and in my state of agitation, I almost heave it across the room.
But the door suddenly opens, saving the figurine from its fate.
“Rhys!” Edwin exclaims, a smile crossing his face. “What are you doing here? I thought you were at the inn. Father sent the guard to fetch you.”
My stomach drops. “He…what?”
“He sent the guard for you. Is it true?” His expression becomes apprehensive. “Do you have the princess?”
“When?” I demand, crossing the room with urgency. “How long ago did he send them?”
And do I have time to get back before they take Amalia?
Edwin shakes his head, flummoxed. “I don’t know. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes?”
They would have arrived just after I left her.
“No,” I breathe, shoving past him.
My brother catches my arm before I’m out the door. “What is the matter with you? You’re acting like a lunatic.”
“I don’t have time to explain,” I say, jerking away from him and running down the hall.
Edwin matches my pace. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.” I stop abruptly, running my hand through my hair. “I don’t…”
My throat begins to thicken, and I fall against the wall.
He must have her by now.
Edwin catches me by the shoulders, shaking me good and hard. Sternly, he says, “I cannot help you if I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“I spoke with a fairy in Renove,” I blurt out. “She said the only way to heal the kingdoms is for the feuding families to unite. The heir of Renove must marry Cassia, and the heir of Draegan must marry Amalia.”
Edwin looks stunned. “You spoke with a…fairy?”
“Edwin…”
I don’t know how to say this. How can I?
“What?”
“She said you’re not the true heir. If you marry Amalia, we’ll be destroyed.”
Edwin drops my shoulders, his eyes going wide. He takes several steps back, looking like I hit him.
“I’m