Page 84 of Across an Endless Sea

How am I supposed to forgive that?

If I trust him, how can I know that Bram won’t be number thirty-four?

Then there’s the fact that, when Elatha was going to forcibly mate me in his quest for power, Caed looked away.

Danu was so insistent that I take this male into my Guard, that he’smeantto be there. Looking at him now, I don’t understand how the Goddess can be so utterly wrong.

“The king has accused me of treason, and Danu has cursed me,” he says, breaking the tense silence between us. “Look at this.” He waves a hand at his new tattoo. “I have nowhere else to turn.”

Danu did what?I didn’t even know she could do that. Is this some kind of trick? Does he really think I’m that stupid?

“Tough shit,” Maeve spits when I just stare at the design in silence. “Maybe you should’ve thought about the consequences of breaking your oath before you pissed off the Goddess.”

It’s a good thing she’s here because I’m still too angry to speak. It doesn’t make any difference that Caed’s never looked as lost or pathetic as he does now.

The moment Maeve finishes speaking, a shutter slams closed, and he’s the same cruel prince he was before.

“As much as I want to argue all day, we don’t have time for this,” he hisses, rising to his feet. “Prae is up there, risking her neck to get us back to Faerie. The boat is waiting, and she can’t stall forever.”

Caed isn’t lying—there’s no bitter taste in the back of my mouth. Still, I don’t trust him. He takes a step forward, and I flinch back, almost colliding with Bram. My brother catches me, steadying me.

“What do you want to do?” he mumbles, voice thin.

Shaking my head. “I’m not going anywhere with him.”

Caed might be telling the truth, but I don’t trust him not to take me back to his father.

I glance behind me at my brother, then at the abandoned knife on the floor by his feet.

That’smy ticket out of here,ifI’m brave enough, but what about Bram? I glance at Caed. He’s already admitted he has a boat waiting to return to Faerie… I don’t know if it’s the wisest plan, but I honestly can’t see another way to get my brother home. I just have to make the consequences of betrayal worse than whatever Elatha can come up with.

“I’ll make a bargain with you,” I say to Caed, moving Maeve’s hand to my shoulder as I bend to grab the blade. I level it at his chest, though I know I have no chance of beating him should this become a fight.

“If you bring Marl to Elfhame Palace, safe, unharmed, and without delay, then I will listen to what you have to say.”

That’s all I can promise, but will it be enough?

“But if you don’t, or he’s harmed, I will…” I flail, trying to think of any consequence severe enough.

In all the time I’ve been here, Caed has shown no attachment to anything. He has no possessions that I’ve noticed. Not even a weapon he’s fond of. The only person he has a bond to is Prae… and I don’t want to hurt the only Fomorian who hasn’t been unkind to me.

Yet, she’d do worse to me for Caed, so I think she’d understand.

“I’ll… feed Prae to a tree in the Court of Blades.”

Goddess, that could’ve gone better. Well, there’s no changing my lame threat now. Hopefully Caed knows that therearefae-eating trees in Lore’s little corner of the Autumn Court and doesn’t just think I’m insane.

Caed’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t argue. “I accept the bargain.”

Good.

I turn to my brother. “Stay safe,” I whisper. “And if he tries to hurt you, gut him.”

“What are you—?”

But before he can finish his reply, I reach for Maeve’s incredible strength, twist the blade, and shove it straight into my heart.

It hits like a hard punch, knocking the wind out of me before the stabbing pain blooms. Each inhale brings new hurt, so I can’t even breathe through the pain. Bram is frozen in shock. I can’t bear the grief, panic, and horror eclipsing his face. It just makes what I have to do so much harder.

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