Page 130 of When the Woods Go Silent

“Do you? You gobbelins claim that humans are nothing more than pets or cattle, so why hasn’t Torrence drained her dry? He hasn’t even bedded her yet. She runs free, although she’s eaten plenty of his tainted food. Either your pathetic prince sees this human as something more than food, or he’s training her tochoosehim.”

Julianna snarls as I continue, laying out the fantasy for her.

“Why else would she need to choose him, unless she were the changeling? Any other human, he could simply force into the mountain caves where your pitiful armies hide.”

Her lip curls up, showing the glint of needle-sharp teeth as she considers my words. I wonder if I’ve pushed too hard. She’s always been better than me at playing games of deception, and she could have easily seen through mine. A sly grin spreads over her face, and I work faster to free myself.

Nothing good ever comes from a woman who looks at you like that.

“You tell me more than you think you do, middle prince. It seems that I was the smarter mother, since you’re proving to be even stupider than Torrence.”

“Ignea made you flee fast enough,” I point out, freeing one shoulder. How desperate Julianna must have been to leave Aralia behind and hide in the ice caves all these years.

“And yet... which of us is still alive?”

The taunt isn’t the cut she wants it to be. I’m happy my mother is dead. “No-one mourned her death, and they won’t mourn yours, either.”

“Nor yours, darkling prince.” Julianna smirks at me, suddenly done with the conversation. Slicing open the ground beneath her with her magic, she creates a silent fissure that opens wide to swallow her whole. Her laughter echoes down into the black earth as I finally free myself from the ice.

I don’t know if I’ve made things better or worse, but at least she’s gone.

She must be feeding well to have grown so much stronger, but none of that will matter once I have the changeling. I make my way quickly up to Rose’s room, keeping my glamor and air magic wrapped around me so Torrence won’t notice I’ve arrived.

Even in Rose’s bedroom, traces of my brothers taunt me. Torrence with Ruby, and Kier with Rose. Rose is a beautiful woman, and under different circumstances, I would have bedded her too, or perhaps stolen her from Kier. Sibling rivalry was bred into all of us, but there’s no time for that here.

My only concern now is how I might get Rose to come with me to Aralia.

What stories has Kier told her about my own plans for the changeling, and what does she already fear about me due to the way I’ve treated her? Perhaps my brother isn’t as cock-led as he seems, and perhaps Julianna is more right than I want her to be.

I know nothing of games and gentleness.

I was raised to fight and win, no matter the cost. Brigance may be the oldest prince, but Ignea groomed me to be the fiercest. Unfortunately, strength and force are useless here. Rose has to choose to come to Aralia with me, or the magic will never be enough.

It seems impossible tonight, but it won’t be forever. My instincts are better than anyone’s. I’ll find the right thread to pull Rose right into my trap.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

RUBY

I’ve been gifted another lucid dream.

I’m somehow aware that I’m dreaming, and my mind gets to take charge of the fantasy, playing out the vivid detail like a movie I’m directing behind my eyelids.

I’ve never enjoyed this talent more than tonight. My dream body undulates against the mossy forest floor as the hazy figure of a shirtless, muscled Torrence hovers above me, his fingers rubbing my clit so expertly while he sucks at my neck. It takes me higher and higher, like a hawk spiraling over the trees.

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