Page 178 of Bride of the Midnight Prince

The pounding of hooves yanks my attention back to the rise just as an entire army crests the hill. I curse under my breath.

I bend down to the boy. “They are here to rescue you, and kill me.”

“Kill you?” cries the boy, immediately distraught.

If only he knew how many times his mother had plotted my demise. “If you want me to live, go back to them at once. It will give me a chance to escape.”

Prince Lionel bursts into a run, screaming his name at the top of his lungs as he hurries toward the knights come to rescue him. I wait long enough to be sure that they will not charge their horses and run the boy over. Then, when he has been scooped up into the arms of a trusted warrior, I survey my options.

There are too many for me to fight. Far too many. I can use my glamours and fly back to my estate, but that will be the first place for the queen to send her forces. Kat could get caught in the crossfire.

No, the army must see me leave Harbright. For good.

I cast one last glance in the direction of my estate. Toward where Kat sleeps. A burst of pain, completely unrelated to magic use, slices through me. I ignore it.

The army of Harbright warriors charge into the valley.

I turn on my heel and sprint onto the Path to Nothril.

Chapter 57

Kat

IwakeinRahk’sbed. There is no sign of him in the empty room. Uneasiness crawls over me like dozens of small bugs. I throw off the covers, grab a robe, and hurry out of the room. I run into Mrs. Banks first, a basket of dirty laundry in her long fingers.

“Have you seen Rahk?” I ask.

“No, my lady,” she replies curtly, skirting around me to return to her work.

I charge down the hallway and find Edvear returning from early morning market with a large canister of fresh milk and several packages of butter for Charity. “Where is Rahk?”

“Is he gone?” asks Edvear. His ears turn back. “He is usually in his study around this time or monitoring the situation with the Wood.”

I did not check his study. I know instinctively, however, that he is not there. Still, I hurry there, clutching my robe at my chest, knowing exactly what I will find and yet terrified to find it.

The door is closed. It wails when I push it open. Morning sunlight streams through the window. The same window those assassins tried to break into so many weeks ago.

It is empty.

Except . . .

Two notes lie on the desk, along with a wrapped package. One is addressed to Edvear. The other is addressed to me.

Edvear appears behind me. Wordlessly, I hold up his letter. He takes it, a knot forming in his brow as he breaks the seal and scans it quickly. Then he spits a dark curse.

“He has gone back to Faerieland,” he growls. “For good.”

I sink into Rahk’s chair. I told him to leave. It is good that he is gone.

So why does every inch of my skin feel as though it is being ripped from my bones? Why do invisible knives carve into my chest? Why does it seem as though I will never take another breath into my hollow lungs again?

“What am I supposed to do with this?” Edvear cries, his own distress evident by his flattened ears and his wildly gesturing hand. “I kept asking him when we were leaving, but he never told me! How am I to dismiss all this staff with no certainty they will find other positions? Charity cannot easily find jobs that let her bring Becky with her. I would never forgive myself if I left them in a vulnerable position—all because Rahk demands we sell the estate as soon as possible and return to Faerieland at the drop of a hat!”

“He said to sell the estate?” I ask dully.

“As if that will happen quickly! What a mess! And Lady Duxbury Vandermore sent notice that she intended to call on you once they were settled in their new residence.”

“Just let her call,” I say with a shrug. No need to tell her no one will be here.

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