Page 81 of Joined By Magic

Leopold looked down at the floor. When he returned his attention to the prince, his eyes held resolve.

“I accept, on the grounds that you release my people and restore my magic to me. I’ll transport my party to a safe place of my determination before the fighting starts.”

The prince gave a single sharp nod. “Acceptable.” He paused, then flicked his gaze to me. A shadow of something passed behind his eyes. “You’ll take Talia also. My safe houses are compromised.”

Shock splashed across Leopold’s face. He didn’t bother to hide it. Warmth filled my chest. Admitting even that much weakness to his brother must be painful for him, but he’d done it, for me. I stepped forward. “And my mother! The king will kill her if he gets hold of her.”

Leopold studied me for the first time. “She’s a non-mage?” The question hung in the air. The prince gave a single sharp nod. Leopold looked at him, and one corner of his mouth twitched up toward a smile. “Our father must be horrified. Very well. I’ll take them both.”

They locked eyes, then with slow, awkward movements, they raised their hands and shook.

Chapter Forty

Liv

Ijerkedoutofa nightmare-filled sleep when my cell door swung open. My ribs ached, and my skin felt raw and sweaty from the confining dress. My eyes stung, tender from the tears I cried as I finally drifted off in the early hours of the morning. I pushed up to sit and braced myself.

Stay strong.

I locked onto the man who entered and blinked, trying to dispel the trick my mind was playing. It must be a trick, surely? My brain tormenting me with an image of the brother I desperately wanted, and not the one who held me captive.

He approached slowly, as if I were a wounded animal that might bite. “Liv? Are you alright?”

Disbelief twined with joy at the sound of his voice. I tried to shoot to my feet, but my limbs were stiff and my legs tangled in the long train of my dress, sending me sprawling to the floor.

He was there. Strong hands caught me before I could smack into the cold tiles. Leo pulled me close, crushing me tight against his chest. I clutched his back, gripping onto him with all my strength.

“How?” I choked the word out, voice muffled against his body. “Did he torture you again? How did you escape?” I’d spent the long night imagining vivid horrors, nightmare scenarios that’d made me nauseous.

He pulled away and gazed at me. I raised my hand to touch his face, checking he was real. He looked unharmed, despite his pale skin and the deep circles around his eyes. Tired but healthy. But some wounds lay under the surface.

“I’m fine. Just spent an uncomfortable night in handcuffs.” He traced his eyes down my dress. “Tell me, did anyone hurt you? Touch you?”

“No.” I curled my fingers round his arms, giving a solid squeeze to emphasize the point. “I’ve been left by myself.”

His shoulders heaved, and he let out a slow breath.

“But how did you escape? We need to go!”

“It’s—”

“This is all very sweet, but can you hurry things up?” I stiffened, terror racing through me in a scalding flood. Adante strolled into the room, lips curved in a smirk.

Leo cast a dark glare in his direction before returning his focus to me. “Don’t panic, it’s okay. We’ve reached an understanding.”

“An understanding?” My shrill squeak pierced the air. “What do you mean?”

“It’s complicated, you need to—”

“No! Don’t brush me off. Tell me what’s going on.”

Fear morphed into anger. An understanding? With that monster?

Adante snorted. “Good luck with that. You’ve got two minutes.” He withdrew from the room. Leo let out an irritated breath.

“Two minutes until what?” I pushed away from Leo and crossed my arms over the bodice of my dress.

“Short version—Helen was a spy for the king. She’s convinced Adante that I never wanted the throne of Atar. Now he needs my help to defeat the king, and he’s willing to let us go free and return my power in exchange for that.”

---