Page 154 of Court of the Fae Princes

My nose wrinkles. “I’m not sure. I just think I like knowing it’s a possibility.”

Then he gives that little smile of his. “Everything is a possibility for you.”

“Except that the three of you will get along,” Prince Sulien says.

I glance up. He’s watching us from the doorway, his expression darker than usual. It’s in that moment that I remember what this is. A dream we’re sharing. All of these men, when they wake up, will be suffering again.

“You know, I think I might be able to love all of you,” I confess.

My words are met with silence, and then Prince Sulien says, “Them, perhaps, but I think you’d find me a little harder to love.”

I speak without thinking. “Because you’re like a cat.”

His brows lift. “A cat?”

I might not have meant to say it, but it’s true. The way I feel about each of these men is different. Even the way I feel about Prince Sulien is unique.

“This is going to be one of her weird Cassia things,” Prince Cobar mutters.

I shoot him a glare, then continue. “No, listen, I’m right! You see, I had this cat I used to give what little scraps of food we had. She was a sweet little thing, black and gray, with a little brown spot on her back, nearly hidden by the dark colors. She would come up and rub against my leg. I’d pet her, and she’d be purring, then suddenly bite me, lightly, then take off. Or she’d run over for pets, and when I’d kneel down to pet her, she’d duck from my touch. She was a strange little thing. Aloof, annoying, confusing, but I loved her. You, Prince Sulien, are a cat. Prince Cobar is a dog. Prince Zane is a horse. And Prince Forrest is–”

“Don’t say a bear,” he mutters.

I laugh. “I was going to say a ‘tamed’ wolf. I met one of them, and while I wouldn’t want to be trapped with it hungry, it was basically like a giant, cuddly dog.”

The vision fades away. Everyone is gone except Prince Forrest, who still lays beside me. My stomach flips. Are they okay? What happened to them in the House of Death? Prince Forrest rolls closer until we’re looking at each other, and then my room fades away, and we’re back in the dark underground of the House of Death.

Staring at Prince Forrest’s suddenly hopeless face, I know what I need to do. As much as I want to just enjoy this stolen moment together, there’s important information that I need to get across. Information that just might help this mission of ours.

I hold his face in my hands. “This is real. I’m coming for you. You’ll all be free soon.”

He turns away from me, shaking his head. “No, this is a dream. I’m dreaming of what I want to happen. Deep down I know we’ve lost you forever. We had one chance, that moment when we asked you to marry us, and you said no. We were so sure that you’d say yes that we gambled with the Keeper. Now she owns us, and there’s no way out of the deal. Not when it’s clear she wants to keep us.”

“That was the deal you made?” I feel sick. “Oh, Prince Forrest…”

He puts his hand over mine on his cheek. “They’re going to break us, Cassia. Soon, we won’t be able to keep the iron demons out. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”

“It’s okay,” I tell him, staring into those deep green eyes of his. “I’m coming for you. We’ll be there soon, and we’ll get you away from the Keeper of Death. Just hold on a little longer.”

His smile is pained. “You’re not coming. And by the time anyone comes, it’ll be too late.”

Sunlight forces my eyes open. I blink, trying to focus my vision, and find Lady Nova standing over me. “It’s time to get going.”

I suck in a trembling breath and shakily exhale, pulling myself up. Did they really make that deal with the Keeper of Death? Did they really tie their fate to my love for them?

I’ve been such a fool.

“Build up the fire,” Lady Nova orders, then adds, “with your powers.”

It takes a minute to focus back on this world instead of the dark one with Prince Forrest, but I pull out of my blankets and put on my boots. Putting a few logs on the fire, I lift a hand towards them and think about the fire I want, picturing the size, the color, and the warmth. Sparks erupt, then flames. Within moments, a fire roars. Normally, this is the time I do a little dance, but not today. Not with the princes haunting me.

“Another dream?” she asks.

I nod, watching her moving around, cleaning up the camp. “Prince Forrest was chained and beaten. He was talking to Lady Grave. It was clear she didn’t agree with the Keeper, but she was going to let the Keeper of Death do what she wanted.”

“That’s no surprise,” Lady Nova says, rolling up my blankets. “Lady Grave is technically the highest ranking fae in the House of Death. She visits the courts, when it’s required, and does what she has to do. But in the House of Death they respect power over position. The Keeper of Death is the most powerful fae amongst them. Lady Grave would follow her command.”

It’s weird. “I just don’t get it. Fae are ruthless, selfish assholes who–” I freeze, remembering who I’m talking to.

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