Page 100 of Kingdom of Locks

“But I’m much better than I was, now I know you’re not dying,” she whispered.

Amell took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly as unshed tears pricked at his own eyes. “You poor thing, what have they put you through?”

Turning, he slipped Aurelia’s hand through his uninjured arm and led her up the room toward the dais.

“Father, Mother,” he said with dignity. “This is Princess Aurelia of Albury.” He glanced at Abigail. “And her adoptive mother, Ab—”

“Imelda, Your Majesties,” she interrupted, sinking into a graceful curtsy.

Amell raised an eyebrow, a smile on his face. It seemed there were no more secrets.

He looked toward the dais to find both of his parents staring in horror between their son and the foreign princess they’d just locked up overnight in their special cell for magical criminals.

“Are…are you sure?” Queen Pietra asked faintly.

“Very sure,” said Amell firmly.

He heard Imelda mutter, “Sure, they believe it whenhesays it,” and his lips twitched.

“It’s a long story,” he went on, “but just to be clear, the man who kidnapped her as a baby cut her hair like that because he wanted her to be thought an escaped prisoner. Which she’s not.”

“My dear,” Queen Pietra said, moving toward Aurelia with genuine tears in her eyes. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am for the mistake that was made. We have the prisoners’ hair cut in just such a way so as to identify them, for everyone’s safety. Our soldiers have been searching for the last fugitives, and would certainly have assumed you to be one of them.”

Aurelia smiled shyly, leaning more heavily on Amell than Bartholomew would probably approve of. Not that Amell cared.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I confess I was confused by everyone’s suspicion of me. I didn’t know that about the prisoners’ hair. Now that I understand, I bear you no ill will.”

“That’s very generous of you.” King Bern’s voice wasn’t entirely steady as his eyes passed to his son. “She was concealed in Fernedell all this time? How long have you known of her presence, Amell?”

“Only since the prison break,” he said. “I found the tower where they were trapped while searching the woods for fugitives. I only realized who Aurelia was when you received that letter from King Justin, though.”

The king’s eyes bulged. “But you kept this tower a secret? Amell, this was hardly the time to lose yourself in some heroic daydream.”

“It wasn’t like that, Your Majesty,” Aurelia interjected. Her grip trembled slightly on Amell’s arm, but her voice was quite steady. “He tried to tell everyone, to get us help. But there was a strong enchantment on the clearing, and it prevented him from revealing anything he’d seen there.”

Amell smiled down at her, enchanted by her defense of him. She’d always thought better of him than he deserved.

Apparently she wasn’t finished, because her eyes stayed on the king. “Your Majesty, there’s a great deal to speak of. But one thing you need to know immediately. The man who locked us up is an enchanter. His name is Cyfrin. And he’s just extracted a great deal of stored magic from me, which we believe he intends to use in an attack. We’re fairly certain his target is the Enchanters’ Guild, and that he plans to act soon. Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t already struck.”

“The guild?” Bartholomew stepped forward, alarm in his eyes. “He’s seeking revenge for his expulsion all those years ago, isn’t he? What’s he going to do?”

Aurelia shook her head apologetically. “I’m afraid I don’t know more. He didn’t precisely confide in me.”

Bartholomew turned to the king. “Your Majesty,” he said, in some agitation, “I request permission to return to the guild immediately.”

The king nodded. “I will accompany you.” He gestured to one of his guards, who hastened out of the room, off to organize an escort. King Bern’s gaze passed to Aurelia. “Princess Aurelia, I can imagine you wish for the chance to refresh yourself. We will have our best guest suite prepared for you and your—”

“With respect, Your Majesty,” said Aurelia frankly, “I don’t wish to be shut away in any room, no matter how luxurious. If Cyfrin is attacking the guild, I intend to see him stopped.”

Amell’s parents exchanged looks of distress, and he had no doubt they were eager to ensure no further harm came to the princess while she was in their care.

“You’ve already locked her back up in another tower,” Amell said tightly. “Which, incidentally, is the very worst thing you could have done. I suggest you let her freely go wherever she chooses.”

Aurelia beamed at him, and his parents let out identical sighs of resignation.

“Well, you need to go back to your rest,” his mother said, her eyes dwelling anxiously on his wound.

“Don’t be absurd, Mother,” said Amell cheerfully, already moving toward the door with Aurelia, and collecting Furn on the way. “I need to stay with my healer, in case I need further patching up. And with my loyal guard by my side, I’ll be as safe as I ever am.”

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