Page 128 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

“I know why you did.” Filip looked down at Rhistel, his toe pushing at the prince’s ungloved hand warily. “But we have to leave before he wakes. I snuck up on the prince from behind so he didn’t see me, but if he knows I was the one who hit him over the head, they might execute me.”

“Fast then,” I said, wanting answers but also not wishing to put this youngling in danger.

We rushed through the stacks. Luckily, the leprechaun librarian was nowhere in sight. We didn’t see her when we passed through the large pine doors, nor Sir Arvid, nor the Clawsguard who should have been following Rhistel. I kept my mouth shut until Filip led me into a hallway with a few people.

Making sure those wandering the halls weren’t close enough to hear butwereclose enough to be witnesses should Rhistel come looking for us, I turned to Vale’s squire and kept my voice low. “Did Vale tell you to watch me?”

“He did.” Filip swallowed. “I was watching from the third floor.”

I nodded, trying to piece things together. The memory of Rhistel’s voice in my head was strong. He’d wanted to search my mind—a power Queen Inga had. Though Vale had never told me Rhistel shared it.

He would have been able to because, for the first time in my hurry to leave the suite that morning, I’d forgotten to take the Mind Rönd potion.

But Rhistel hadn’t only said he wanted to read my mind: he’d told me to kiss him.

And I would have. I would have kissed him. He forced me somehow.

I gasped, putting the pieces together.

“Filip, I think Rhist?—”

“Don’tsay it here,” the youngling cut me off, terror inhis voice. “Wait until we ask Prince Vale. Where no one can overhear.”

I nodded, anxiety mounting, and by the time we made it to Vale’s suite, I was dying for answers. The Clawsguard at the door let me in. Filip hung back, but I waved for him to follow.

“Vale? Are you in here?” I called out.

He appeared at the end of the short corridor that funneled into his bedchambers, a smile on his face.

He was happy that I was calling out for him. I winced at the realization but didn’t have time to feel too bad. Not with my questions burning their way up my throat.

“We need to talk,” I said. “About your brother and the magic he’s been hiding.”

All the blood left Vale’s face. “What do you mean? What happened? Didn’t you visit Saga?”

“I asked Sir Arvid to take me to the library first. Rhistel was there. He touched me without his gloves on.” I arched an eyebrow.

His mouth opened, then closed before opening once more. He had no defense. He knew that I knew.

“Filip,” Vale started, “perhaps you should?—”

“No. He deserves the truth too. If it wasn’t for him, your brother would have delved through my head.” I swallowed. “And he tried to make me kiss him.”

Maybe, had I done so, he would have demanded more. Rhistel had threatened as much in the past.

Vale’s expression hardened to steel. “You swear it?”

Filip’s eyebrows pulled together. Fae couldn’t lie, andhe didn’t know that I possessed that ability. At least for two more days.

“I do,” I said.

Vale inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. His fists were tight balls of fury, and when he opened his eyes again, a warrior stared at us.

“I must swear you both to secrecy.”

I arched an eyebrow. “We deserve an explanation.”

Everyone did.If what I believed about Rhistel was true, he was incredibly dangerous.

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