Page 56 of Songs of Retribution

Magic rushed out of the Prasanna soldiers behind us, Sai and Shaan both tensed, but Lira released a muffled groan. A few soldiers steadied their weapons, and Lira turned around. "It's fine," she called.

The women rushed around us.

"Lira," one with a ripple of ebony locks said. "God, look at you. Your mother would be jealous as shit."

Lira forced a smile on her face. "Merilah. It's been a while." She'd gone stiff, and it reminded me of how she was at the gala at the Seelie palace. God that felt like a hundred years ago.

I moved, standing closer to Lira on the side opposite Sai. Shaan followed me, his gaze not breaking from the army ahead. These women weren’t likely a threat if Lira didn’t think so, but with Lira carrying the mark for the Seelie magic we couldn’t take chances.

The Seelie soldier who I regretfully didn't know the name of scowled at Merilah. "You were to stay back with the soldiers."

Merilah shrugged and gave me a saucy smile. "We've never been very good at following rules, I'm afraid." She shifted back to Lira, her smile so wide it was like the mouth of a shark. "Margo tells us you've married a prince who's as fierce as he is handsome. Want to introduce us to your friends?"

Lira remained rigid, and I leaned closer to her so our arms touched. She raised her face, and I gave her a firm look. We weren't the beings we used to be, and she didn't have to revert to however she used to behave around these women.

She swallowed and straightened her spine. "Please meet Prince Sai of the Prasanna, Prince Lennox of the Seelie, and Prince Shaan of the Prasanna."

Merilah smiled widely at me. "Is it too much to hope, Your Highness, that you are single?"

Shaan tensed at my side and my hand ached to grab his, but the soldiers’ agitation still radiated around, and I froze, unwilling to make sudden moves.

"It is," Lira said dryly. "If you'll excuse us, we need to speak with…" She looked up at the soldier.

"Sergeant Kaelin, Your Highness."

It was a relief for Lira to get the woman's name as the sirens shrugged and walked away. I stepped forward. "Sergeant Kaelin, it's a surprise to see you here."

She gestured to the other three soldiers at her side. "We escaped as soon as we were able, Your Highness."

My attention drew back to the massive crowd behind her. They surpassed the numbers of the small party we’d taken to intercept the Seelie, especially now that many of our soldiers were injured or dead, and worry crackled through me. "I'm surprised at your numbers."

"You have the Princess to thank for that." She nodded to Lira.

"The Princess?" I looked at Lira, but she appeared as confused as me.

"Yes, Your Highness. She advised us before her escape that we should spread the story of your father's actions. The Seelie are currently in a state of unrest and many have joined our cause. More may come as well, but we only initially brought those we are certain are loyal."

More. The word hung in my mouth, rounded and full of promise. "They come here to evade King Carrington?”

The sergeant raised her chin. "They come here to submit to your command, Your Highness."

The breath left me as I reassessed the crowd. At least a hundred soldiers—Father's carefully trained warriors—sat on strong, magical kelpies. Beyond them, hundreds more stood covered in weapons. They'd come to support me? The shock of it left me struggling to form words. I knew what I needed to do, despite the dread that filled me. Better to get it over with. If I took action and my people turned away from me, then I'd know I could never live honestly and help rule the Seelie. I didn't want to compromise on either, but I wouldn't compromise on myself anymore.

With only the slightest tremble, I slid my hand into Shaan's and met Kaelin's eyes. "I am not enemies with the Prasanna, Sergeant. Nor do I intend to glamour away who I truly am any more. I would die for the Seelie, gladly." Shaan's fingers strained against mine. "But I will not live a lie."

Magic sparkled in my mind, and I opened myself to Shaan.I'm proud as fuck of you right now.I swallowed, emotions thickening my throat, but didn't release my grip on his hand.

Kaelin's gaze rested on our interlocked hands for a moment before she lifted her eyes. "I cannot speak for the reaction of all the Seelie I have with me, Your Highness. However, I can tell you this; we already knew of your political alignment with the Prasanna when we left, and many of us have suspected for years that"—she stopped for a moment like she considered her words—"that you glamoured certain aspects of yourself in the court. Everyone here came knowing that."

The three soldiers at her side all nodded.

My heart swelled, pain mixing with elation. I needed to act as the Prince these Seelie apparently believed me to be. If this many Seelie accepted me enough to come fight and potentially die at my side, then this wasn't hopeless.

I tapped into magic and reached out for Lira.We need to get Luz here as quickly as possible to test their intentions. Share with Sai and see what he thinks?

As much as I wanted to trust them immediately, I couldn't ignore the fact that this could be a ruse of Father's. Luz would know for sure. I repeated the message to Shaan as Sai turned towards me and gave me a nod. It felt strange and yet encouraging to work with him.

"If you don't mind, Your Highness." Kaelin broke into my thoughts, her sharp eyes darting between the four of us. She was smart and already piecing things together. "There is someone here eager to speak with you."

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