Chapter 11
BEFORE I TURNED, Soren whispered in my ear, “That’s him,” and then pulled back.
I wasn’t sure what I expected—maybe another hulking dude with blue skin, or wings like Soren, or other animalistic qualities—but besides his pointed ears, Caius could’ve passed for a human.
He wore a delicate silver crown twisted to look like a vine with thorns.
As I took in his black hair bound in a thick braid down his back and the way the shaved sides of his head revealed black tattoos, I amended my thoughts: He could’ve passed for a Viking.
Or, considering his all-black wardrobe, maybe a vampire Viking, if that was a thing.
All that was missing were pointed teeth when he smiled.
I should’ve been awed by him. This was a prince, after all.
It was like coming face-to-face with a celebrity in real life.
Except it felt more like meeting a celebrity I’d never heard of before.
It didn’t mean anything. He wasn’t my prince.
To me, he was just another strange creature like the ones who’d taken my family.
“Struck speechless, I see,” the prince said with a wink, like it was a private joke between us.
He held out a hand to me as if we were in a formal ballroom about a hundred years in the past, acting like I’d already agreed to dance.
As he did, the dark cloth on his arms bulged from the muscles underneath.
My eyes followed the curve all the way to his high collar, where a sharp tattoo peeked out.
“Perhaps she doesn’t want to dance with you,” Soren interjected, casually surveying the room, only half paying attention to us.
I frowned. A second ago, he’d wanted me to dance with the prince. Had he changed his mind? “I can speak for myself.”
“Oh, by all means.” Soren waved a hand as if granting me permission. “May I introduce you to Prince Caius of the Hollow Court?” His tone was flippant, almost disrespectful. To the prince, he added simply, “This is Brynn.”
I turned back to the prince, nervous now. I should’ve taken the way out when Soren gave it to me. “I’d say yes, it’s just that I’m not much of a dancer—”
“Perfect,” he replied, scooping up my hand. “I prefer to lead anyway.”
With that huge grin, I couldn’t decide if he was cheerful or arrogant—maybe both. He didn’t spin me around like Soren, though, keeping it simple instead with a soft pressure on my hand, while his other cupped my back, guiding me through a slower song as the music softened into a new melody.
“How do you know Soren?” he asked with intense eye contact.
I dropped my gaze to his chest.
Remembering my instructions, I did my best to sound casual as I lied, “I’m visiting from the Shadow Court and staying with him.”
Pulling back slightly, he raised a brow. “I would not have pegged you for an Unseelie.”
I cleared my throat. “Mm-hmm.”
Told you, Soren, I thought. He’s gonna see right through me.
The music halted, saving me. Everyone stopped dancing and swiveled to face the curve of the S shape. Curiosity made me spin around too.
“What’s happening?”
The prince pointed at the raised section of the room where the thrones sat. “My parents are coming to court.”
“Your parents?” I whispered, half to myself, reminded yet again that this oddly chill fae dude was actual royalty.
“King Mordeus and Queen Daja,” he said casually, like it was no big deal. Just an actual king and queen.
“Yes, of course.” I pretended to have known that already.
The crowd parted. The first faces through the tunnel by the stairs revealed two rows of fae in dark uniforms carrying weapons. Guards, most likely. They moved with liquid grace in perfect unison.
My lips parted. Some of the guards were human!
They spread out in front of the steps that led to the thrones, while more guards streamed out from the tunnel.
I scanned each face, shoulders sagging when I didn’t recognize any of them.
In the hush, the royals appeared.
A tall fae with the same coloring as the prince wore the sharpest crown I’d ever seen.
I’m seeing a fae king right now.
I blinked rapidly. Maybe I should pinch myself.
The spikes of his crown rose at least a foot high, bending at odd angles to imitate antlers or maybe strange branches. Instead of overpowering him, it appeared majestic. That, and the cloak over his shoulders with leaves woven throughout, lent him a wild authority.
Beside him, a dark-skinned beauty appeared with an equally sharp crown.
Everyone lowered to a bow.
I attempted to copy the prince, hoping I was doing it right.
Together, the king and queen climbed the stairs—one set, across the landing, up another, across the second landing. They continued up the third set of stairs at a leisurely pace.
Finally reaching the top, they settled gracefully onto their thrones. The king studied the room with a disinterested gaze, while the queen lounged against the plush velvet. Her long dark tail twitched like a cat’s.
My legs trembled. If we bowed much longer, I might not make it.
The king nodded to the musicians, who picked up right where they’d left off, thankfully signaling everyone to rise.
I blew out a breath of relief.
As dancers returning to whirling past, I turned back to the prince. “So, those are your parents.” Glancing between the ebony queen and his pale skin, I squinted.
Apparently, I wasn’t subtle. “Trying to see the resemblance?” He gave me a wry grin as he gestured to himself. “She’s my stepmother.”
Once again, my face responded without my permission, brows rising as my curiosity got the better of me. “What happened to your mom?” All kinds of possibilities flashed through my mind. Did the fae oust their queens? Behead them?
The prince’s expression stalled my train of thought. “She died,” he murmured, looking over my head as he pulled me back into the dance. “When I was young.”
Oh, shoot.
How did I always manage to say the wrong thing?
He led us through two steps together, then apart, which gave me a chance to look up. I caught him ducking his head. Hiding tears?
“Well.” He coughed and attempted to smile. “I’ve ruined the mood. I do apologize.”
I chewed on my lower lip. For the first time since I’d fallen into this fae world, I couldn’t dismiss them as heartless fae.
“I lost my mother also,” I whispered without meaning to.
Knowing he’d experienced a similar pain made me let my guard down.
If anyone understood how I felt, it was him.
“She was—” The familiar sensation of that magical word vomit stopped me from spilling my guts before I could say “taken.” For once, I was thankful.
Prince or not, he was still a stranger. And fae.
I swallowed and instead said, “Losing family is awful.”
“It is indeed.” A dark emotion passed behind his eyes, but it was gone before I could name it. He straightened his shoulders. “Speaking of family, are you related to Soren?”
I snorted. “No.”
“Ah.” He lifted his chin, looking past me in the direction we’d left Soren. “Something more romantic, then.”
I laughed so abruptly that I choked. Coughing, I shook my head until I could speak. “Definitely not.” I waved a hand to underline my words.
“I see.” He laughed.
My face heated. That denial had been too emphatic.
“I’m just visiting,” I explained, aiming for a more relaxed tone. Remembering that annoying blood-signed contract and Soren’s request, I added as casually as I could, “I got here yesterday.”
It sounded stilted.
If the prince noticed, he didn’t show it. “I won’t hold your staying with him against you.” He winked like it was a joke. “How have you found our fair court and the folk here?”
I smiled. He couldn’t have set me up to lie any better. “I haven’t actually seen much of it,” I said, which was technically true. Then I added what Soren had asked: “We stayed in Soren’s home both today and all of yesterday.”
“Is that so?” Prince Caius murmured with a calculating glint in his eye. It vanished a second later with a grin. “Well, then. I shall have to give you a tour. You’re my guest now, and as a guest of the royal family, you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”
“That sounds . . . great,” I managed, but even lying, I struggled to sound enthusiastic. I didn’t want to be his guest or Soren’s or anyone else’s. I just wanted to find my family.
Now that I’d completed Soren’s mission, would he tell me what he knew, or would he make me wait until nine o’clock?
I sighed as we floated across the dance floor. It wasn’t even an hour into my two-hour commitment.
The prince tapped my forehead, where I unconsciously frowned. “You seem upset.”
“Oh, sorry.” I forced a smile that was all teeth. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“Anything you want to share?”
I hesitated. I could brush him off and wait for Soren to help. But he might know absolutely nothing. Or I could poke around on my own, starting with this prince. There was a chance he’d be as useless as Soren, but only one way to know.
“I lost someone. Multiple someones, actually,” I said finally, choosing my words with care.
Soren had made it clear I should avoid revealing my connection.
Not to mention Prince Caius didn’t even know I was human.
“I just . . . haven’t been able to find them, and I really need to,” I finished lamely.
He stopped dancing, concern crossing his face. “And I suppose Soren knows of your distress but is withholding information to make a deal with you.”
I wanted to roll my eyes. “That about sums it up. How’d you know?”
Lips pressed together, the prince shook his head. “I know him well.”
“You don’t like him much, do you?” I probably shouldn’t have said anything, but my mouth seemed to have a mind of its own here.
Prince Caius’s lips twitched. He picked up dancing where we’d left off, staring thoughtfully over my shoulder. “How much do you know of our court?” he asked unexpectedly.
Was he changing the subject? “Not much.”
He tilted his chin as if considering where to begin.
“You may be aware that I’m the sole heir to the throne.
” He ignored the shift in music to a higher tempo, continuing to spin us slowly across the dance floor.
“Though being an only child is hardly rare for our kind, when my mother died, that left me with only my father for family.”
I frowned, unsure of what any of this had to do with Soren, but he continued without prompting.
“When I met Soren’s sister, I thought I’d found a solution to my struggles.
” He inhaled deeply, slowing to a stop so he could pull back and meet my eyes.
“I confess, I’d hoped to marry her. But Soren .
. . He shared a rumor with her that caused her to withdraw her interest. She never spoke to me again. ”
At some point during his story, my mouth had fallen open. “No!” I gasped. “How could he?” The idea of Soren spreading stories about Caius hit another familiar chord. I had way too much experience with that back home.
“Suffice it to say, my feelings for Soren are complicated.” He lightly tapped my chin, tilting it up so I’d meet his eyes. “You, on the other hand, are fascinating.”
Uncomfortable with the abrupt change in topic, I pulled away. “I should get going.”
Caius didn’t let go of my hand though. Instead, he tugged me back toward him with a smile. “To search for your missing someone?”
My heart pounded as if I’d given myself away, but I hadn’t said anything incriminating . . . had I? I nodded, since my mouth was too dry to speak.
Turning my hand over in his, the prince stroked his thumb across my palm thoughtfully.
“I have many resources in my position,” he murmured, then pressed his lips to the top of my hand like an old-fashioned gentleman.
It was weird. My eyes whipped to his as he straightened, and I tried to act unaffected, like people went around kissing my hand all the time, as he asked, “Would you allow me to help?”
I blinked at him. “Why would you help me?”
The corner of his mouth tilted up. “So direct.”
I blushed. I told Soren I wouldn’t fit in here.
He leaned in until his lips brushed my cheek and whispered, “Maybe I like you enough to offer. And maybe I also like seeing Soren squirm.” Pulling back, he grinned, back to his easygoing self. “Can I admit to both?”
He had one of those smiles that drew out my own without me even realizing it. “I guess so,” I said shyly. I didn’t mind making Soren wait, since he was doing the same to me. “But I honestly don’t know what you can do.”
Still holding my hand, Caius drew me through the crowd, ignoring the dancers around us.
We moved past the base of the steps that led to the thrones, entering a smaller connected room with sofas, chairs, and a table piled with food.
Though a few fae lounged inside, they got up and left when the prince snapped his fingers and waved toward the door.
“Sit,” he told me, settling onto a couch, patting the cushion beside him before resting his arm across the back. “Tell me everything. When was the last time you saw them?”
No way I’d be doing that. But maybe I could share just enough . . . I perched on the edge of the couch.
“I lost them at the south entrance.” Hopefully he’d recognize the name Lore had used.
One brow rose, and he dipped his chin as he leaned forward. “You’re aware Soren works at the south entrance?”
My lips twisted bitterly. “I am. Like you said, he’s holding his information closely.”
Caius sighed, staring out at the empty room as he rubbed a hand across his face. “If only I could command him to help you. But that would be an abuse of power, and even the royal family has limitations.”
I sighed too. I’d found the one and only fae with morals. “I understand.”
His hand on my knee brought all my attention abruptly there. “All is not lost,” Caius said firmly, pulling back before I could freak out too much. “Describe who you’re looking for.”
For once, I didn’t mind being bossed around since he was clearly trying to help. Even if he only wanted to make Soren jealous, it was still an opportunity.
Opening my mouth, I hesitated. “I can’t explain why or how I know them, but they’re four”—I caught myself before I said “people,” a word the fae didn’t seem to use—“humans.”
“Ah.” Caius nodded knowingly. “These mortals stole something from you?”
I cleared my throat, struggling to come up with a lie. “Not . . . exactly.”
“Not something, so much as information?” He tilted his head curiously.
“I . . . really can’t say.”
“Understood,” he said with a smile. “Apologies. I’m pressuring you. It’s something I do sometimes.” He waved a hand like he was batting away an annoying habit.
“No worries.” I smiled back. Not only did he want to help, but he was self-aware, a rare quality.
“I have an idea about where they might be,” he said, squeezing my fingers before leaping up from the couch. “Come with me!”