Page 25 of Songs of Retribution

I lifted my hand towards him, offering my wrists. "Then I shall do so at the hands of my father, who claims he is doing right while treating everyone under his rule wickedly."

The guards stared at me. Their leader remained speechless, the cuffs clenched in his grip. Finally, he stepped forward and placed them back on my wrists. I recoiled as the metal touched my flesh and siphoned magic again. But I meant my words. I'd die before I became a pawn for the King's cruel games and use someone against their will.

The serf shuddered and bowed her head. God, she had seen me as every bit the monster my father was. I wasn't, though. My magic wasn't inherently cruel, and I could die knowing that even in the darkest moment, I hadn't wavered. That I'd made myself proud and died doing what was right.

As the guards filed out the room, the woman whose eyes had glittered with magic looked at me. She gave me a slight nod, an almost imperceptible gesture. Something about it was as steadying as a hand on my back. There were some among these guards who were loyal to Lennox. He could take over the Seelie and protect our world even if I wasn't around to see it.

* * *

The sky had darkened by the time my door opened again. I expected the King with his glowering and braced myself. He'd act cruelly and try to force me to restore my powers so I didn't die before whatever scheme he had planned to take over my mind.

I imagined because I held my group’s magic, all the sirens in it were suffering as well. I regretted that, especially for Margo. Though I hoped Mother was every bit as miserable as I was.

Half a dozen people shuffled into the room, their movements urgent. I jumped up from the bed then stumbled, balancing myself on the bedpost.

"Quick," an older woman with a headscarf said. "The change in the wards won't last."

The guard who'd had magic in her eyes before stepped up to me. I stumbled back, but she lifted her hands to show me she had no weapons, only the glittering form of a key.

"Please, Your Highness," she said. "We don't have much time.” She nodded to the woman who held a sack in her hand and stood by a few other guards and a couple of palace serfs. “Aila and I have changed the wards in this room and we have guards who've locked the King in his study, but it will not hold for long. We have minutes."

"What are you doing?" I choked out, even though Aila’s arrival sent a beat of hope through me.

"Getting you out of here." She gestured for my wrists, and I offered them, slumping as she pulled the cuffs off.

Aila stepped forward and offered me the bag in her hand. "It has food, human and fae money, and a few changes of clothing. We tried to keep it light."

One other being in the room stepped forward, her voice pouring out. She was a siren—not one I knew, but the magic was familiar. Her powers hummed through me, restoring some of my energy. She hissed as she finished, and her eyes turned a pale color. "The Amentium is strong. It will take her days to recover most of her powers, even with my help."

"You've done your best," Aila said. "That's all we have. Here, child." She gestured towards the door that led to Lennox's room. "Let's get you out of here."

"What's happening?" I tugged the bag over my shoulder and followed, but I still felt exhausted, my movements sluggish, my thoughts blending together in a haze.

"You must get away from here," Aila said.

"You're all going to get yourselves killed helping me." The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted it. Aila's lips pinched into a frown, and I knew what I'd said rang true. She'd changed the wards around my room. The King would know it was her, and he'd be furious. "Oh God. You have to come with me."

She smiled and took my hand in her soft ones. "Listen to me. Don't spend your time fretting about us and don't count me out. I haven't survived centuries in two different fairy courts without some abilities." Her expression grew grave. "Quite a few of us may face our deaths for this, but we'll face it bravely, Your Highness. You get back to our Prince and set things right."

"Y-yes," I stuttered. “Thank you.” I didn't even know these people and yet my heart broke. They fought for a better future too and they believed I had some role to play in it enough that they'd sacrifice their lives to give it to me. I couldn't let them down.

The serf who'd brought my meals spoke up. "Is there anything else we can do for you, Your Highness?"

My mind whirled with the change, and I was still bleary and weak. But I had to think. I needed to set this court up to receive Lennox and me again. "Rumors," I gasped.

"Rumors?" the serf the guards had dragged to my room to compel asked.

"I need stories about all of this to spread among the Seelie. The King would kill one of his children. He's stealing magic and starting a war that no one else wants. It doesn't have to be firm facts, just enough to create a sense of uncertainty about him."

The serf nodded. "We can do that, Your Highness."

"Thank you."

Aila and the guard ushered me into Lennox's dark bedroom and to the escape door he had. The guard fumbled through keys as Aila turned to me and whispered. "Tell Lennox I love him, will you?"

My throat grew tight. "I will."

"Thank you."

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