Page 68 of Prince of Never

‘Why?’

He smiled again.‘See?If Imogen was your true name, you would have done as I’d said.So, either you lied about your name, which I think is unlikely, or you don’t know it, which makes you very interesting.’

‘Why don’t you think I lied?’

‘Forgive me for being blunt, but you don’t seem the type,’ Solas said.‘It’s one of the things I like so much about you.You seem very honest for a human.’

It was a strange observation to make.We hadn’t spent much time together at the ball.And it was even stranger that he’d tricked me out of a window just to tell me this.‘Why are you so interested in my name?You didn’t bring me down here just to test a theory.’

Solas cocked his head.‘True, it’s not the only reason I came.But I did think you’d want to know.I could help you find your fiorainm,if you like?’

‘Why would you do that?’

‘You do play hard to get, don’t you?Isn’t it obvious?I’d like to spend more time with you, Imogen.’

I swallowed at that, awkwardness setting in again.‘I—I’m Tarian’s mate,’ I said, not entirely sure how to let the king of the Seelie Court down gently.I doubted he was used to people saying no to him.

Disappointment washed over his face and he looked down at me with pity.‘How unfortunate for you,’ he said, reaching for a lock of my hair and running it through his fingers like silk.‘You may think he’s your fairy tale ending, but Tarian doesn’t have it in him.’

‘You don’t know that.’

‘I do.And when you learn it for yourself, know that you have a friend in the Summer Palace.Mate bonds are so antiquated, really, nothing more than a dirty little secret I could help you keep.’He caught my hand, and I almost flinched from the intimacy of the gesture, but it was only to place something in the centre of my palm.It was some kind of charm, the sort that might be found on a necklace.A twist of gold around a centre of bright amber.As I felt the weight of it in my palm, it left me with an odd, prickling sensation, like it was laced with static.‘What is it?’

He gently curled my fingers around it.‘If you find yourself in need of somewhere to go, somewhere safe, you’ll be welcome at the Seelie Court.Just hold the charm and call my name.I’ll come for you.’

‘Solas, what the fuck are you doing here?’The low rumble of Tarian’s voice made me realise how close the Seelie King had drawn to me and I jumped back.God, what must this look like?

‘Tarian—’ I started, feeling suddenly guilty.I’d scaled a wall to get down here.Not the most honest-looking thing to do.

‘We’ll talk about this later,’ he almost growled, catching my hand and pulling me to him, his eyes fixed on Solas likehewas more important than what I had to say.

‘Don’t be such a beast, Tarian.I did offer to spirit her away, but she rejected me,’ Solas said, rolling his eyes.‘It appears she’s made her choice, for now.’

Tarian looked from Solas back to me.Didn’t he trust me?I felt a spike of frustration at that thought.‘Go inside, Imogen,’ he said firmly, barking the order at me as if I was little more than a serving girl in his household.

And I supposed that was true.I’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop and there it was.

‘But I—’ I tried to argue but he cut me off.

‘I need a word with the king,’ he said, turning his glare on Solas.He placed his hand on the small of my back, giving me a push back towards the castle.Irritation gnawed at me and I balled my hands, but there was no use in arguing with him here.And it wasn’t as if I could stop whatever was about to happen, either.I had no power to compete with theirs.I let out a frustrated sigh.‘Fine.Try not to kill each other,’ I snapped.

I headed back to the castle, but if Tarian thought this was the end of our discussion, he was sorely mistaken.

Chapter 30

Tarian

IwatchedImogenuntilshe slipped back through that hole in the wall and vowed to brick the damn thing up.She’d already attracted the attention of too many dangerous fae, and she trusted them too readily.How was she supposed to survive here?What had I done to her?

When I turned my attention back to the Seelie King, he raised his eyebrows, goading me.

‘Why are you here?’I demanded.

He shrugged.‘Curiosity.’

I took a step closer.‘You’ve come into Unseelie territory uninvited.Are you curious what war looks like?’

He held his ground.‘It would be worth it to get another look at the woman who is going to bring your court down around you.’He must have seen the way those words froze me up, because he smirked.‘Such an open little thing, too.She came right out and told me that you’re fated.Of course, I expected as much.The whole thing makes so much more sense now.Tell me you’re not going to sully her with a bond, Tarian.’

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