Page 197 of Primal Bonds

A bleak look crossed Langdon’s face. “I didn’t know. Not until it was too late.”

Adric tried not to blink. Had the prince almost apologized for not reining in his psycho son? But Langdon was a night fae and an arrogant SOB to boot. The moment passed.

Cool black eyes scrutinized Adric. “I want access to the girl. Merry. The sun fae queen has set powerful wards around Rock Run. Nobody can break through them. But you”—his gaze shot to Jace—”you meet with her at least once a week.”

The lieutenant’s hazel eyes sparked a cat-green. Before he could speak, Adric jumped in.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“She…passed. Earlier this summer.”

“The girl? My granddaughter?”

“Yes.” Adric swallowed against the wave of nausea at the big, fat lie he’d just told. “I’m sorry. You should’ve been informed.”

Beside him, Jace went stiff.

Langdon’s fingers tightened on his wineglass. “You’re lying.”

Adric shook his head. “It was in a flash flood. The caverns where she lives with the river fada flooded. They couldn’t get her out in time.”

From the corner of his eye, Adric saw Jace bow his head sorrowfully. Backing him up without actually lying.

The prince’s winged brows snapped together. “Why wasn’t I informed?”

Adric spread his hands. “You’ll have to ask them. Rock Run doesn’t share any more information with me than necessary.”

“I’ll want to see the body.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. We fada don’t bury our dead. We cremate them.”

Langdon’s eyes narrowed on Adric for an endless minute during which he prayed the night fae wouldn’t see the cold sweat prickling his upper lip.

At last he murmured, “I see.”

He rose to his feet in an abrupt movement and strode out of the bar, his guards at his heels. The few people who happened to be in their path literally jumped aside.

“He gone?” Adric asked between clenched teeth, the lie he’d told tearing at his gut.

Because Merry was alive and well and living with Valeria and Rui do Mar, the Rock Run couple who’d adopted her after Silver’s death.

Jace glanced at where Zuri had followed Langdon and his guards into the hall. “Yeah. Zuri says he’s left the building.”

“Good.” Adric got up, stumbled the few feet to a potted plant, and vomited into the dirt.

Chapter 20

“Fucking maze,” Fane mumbled.

How long had he been wandering the spiraling paths? Hours, maybe days. He was exhausted, his tongue thick from thirst.

Sindre was toying with him, the bastard. The man was a Gifted illusionist. He could conjure up nightmares so real you could touch them.

Fane had to keep moving. To stop—to give in any way—might be fatal.

He set his right hand on the wall. Wasn’t there something about a right-hand rule? Touch the wall of a maze with your right hand and at every turn, go right, and you’ll eventually find your way out. But you had to do it as soon as you entered the maze, so it was probably too late. And it wouldn’t work anyhow on a maze that continually remade itself.

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