Page 205 of Bride of the Midnight Prince

I drop my swords with a clatter. I know Lord and Lady Nothril, and I do not believe that they will kill every single one of their heirs. It is time to call their bluff. Even if it risks Pavi’s life.

I stride toward Lord Nothril. Toward Pavi.

“Surrender!” cries Lord Nothril. “Or Iwillkill her!”

I summon an explosive flow of magic. It coalesces in a bright ball in my hand. I lift it, ready to hurl it straight at Lord Nothril’s face. Even if I am not strong enough to kill a ruler of Faerie, he might flinch and give me the exact window I need to grab Pavi.

Instead, Lord Nothril turns his snarl from me to my sister. He wheels back his own magic-filled blow, his face contorting with strain as he rams it straight into her head.

“Pavi!” I scream. My blast fires wide and splits Lord Nothril’s throne clean down the middle.

But Pavi is not the one who falls.

Lord Nothril crumples to the ground. Pavi stumbles away, unharmed. I search, bewildered, as Pavi barrels into my arms.

Lady Nothril stands behind Lord Nothril’s fallen body, a bloodied, glowing knife in her hand. Her narrowed gaze, full of hatred, lands on me. I see my death in those eyes. She will not let me get away with being the flame that set our family ablaze.

Still, I have space for one thought.

I am not the only one whose weakness for Pavi runs deep.

I brace myself, standing in front of Pavi, knowing Lady Nothril will cut me down without a thought. But I will still fight.

“Lady Nothril,” I growl.

Suddenly, her eyes flutter shut. She slumps to the ground.

“Mama!” cries Pavi. I grab her arm before she can rush to her side.

My lips part as realization descends. Even as we watch, the dead body of our father begins to glow, and tendrils of magic snake toward our fallen mother. The ruling power of Faerie that was split between them reunites, collecting in Lady Nothril’s body.

“Mama!” Pavi weeps again.

“She’s not dead.” I haul Pavi away, picking up my swords and breaking into a run. “We only have minutes before she is upon us.”

“Then what happened?”

Tears stream down her rounded face, her cheeks and eyes reddened.

“They were bonded. She broke that bond when she killed Lord Nothril. It took all her strength.” I look down at her. “To protect you. Now we’ve got to find Kat and get out of here before she rises again and kills us all.”

Chapter 68

Kat

“Idon’tknowwhatis happening. I don’t know what is happening. I don’t know what is happening!” Agatha wails.

“Will you justshut up?” Mary spits. “If we have any hope of getting out of here, you cannot be announcing our location to every fae that wants our blood in the vicinity!”

“This way!” I call, diving deeper into the servants’ tunnels. I hold Becky’s hand tightly and, brave girl that she is, she runs beside me and does not make a sound.

“You are bleeding!” Oliver hisses at Mary. “Is that your leg? Do you need me to carry you?”

“I’m fine!” she replies. “No—really, I’m—Lord Oliver!”

I glance back just as he scoops an arm beneath her shoulders, supporting her weight. She looks up at him and purses her lip, but does not protest further. Agatha trails behind, her entire body trembling as her eyes dart about in terror. Then she looks at me and bursts: “I never should have sold your horse! I was a horrible stepmother to you! I am so sorry! I know this is my punishment!”

I shake my head. “It’s fine. Just be quiet and keep up!”

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