Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Finn chuckles. “They may be near invisible, but they are real. They trust me to a degree, but they trust the power of the crown more. If Abriella and I visit them as a bonded couple, we could convince them to join the Raiders and your guard—to be a united front against any future attacks by the Seelie Court.”
“Abriella and I can go,” Sebastian says. “We already are a bonded couple. And I have the crown.”
Finn arches a brow and remains silent a moment. “The problem is, while they may only trust me to a degree, they don’t trust you at all. And as you mentioned, that crown, in its current condition, is useless.”
Sebastian looks at me and holds my gaze for a long time, so long that I realize he’s trying to communicate something.
The moment I lower my shield, I’m slammed with the impression of jealousy and fear. He’s afraid that if he does this, he’ll lose me. And that if he doesn’t, he’ll lose his father’s kingdom.
“I need to think about it,” he says softly. He tucks his hands into his pockets and strides toward the throne room doors. He stops with his palm pressed against them and turns to look at me. “Abriella, I have a meeting, but I’ll be taking lunch in the dining room in two hours. I hope you’ll join me. We have a lot to discuss. I think you’ll be pleased with all I have to report.”
When I climb the palace’s highest turret, it’s my first chance to see the teeming throng beyond the distant gates.
Somehow I’m not surprised to find Finn already here, standing stoic in the midmorning light as he looks out to where his people are protesting. When he turns to me, his face is lined with worry. Gone is the male who was laughing in Sebastian’s face and ambivalent about the fate of the court. In his place is the shadow prince who would sooner die than see his court fall.
“Don’t you dare do that again,” I say softly. “I am not for sale. Nor am I his to give. I am not something to be bartered or sold or—”
“Obviously I know that.” His jaw ticks.
“You’re an ass. You never wanted me to stay hidden the whole time. You knew I’d get angry and come out of the shadows. That was part of your plan.”
“It worked,” he says, shrugging. “If you’d been by my side from the start, he’d think we were working together—that you were in on my plan—and he’d be suspicious of even a temporary arrangement.”
“I don’t understand what game you’re playing.”
His expression turns stony. “I’ve told you from the beginning. My priority is my people.”
“And you somehow need to be bonded to me to protect your people?”
“I need answers, Princess. I need to see the High Priestess, and she won’t be obliged to see me without the power from my father’s throne. You happen to be carrying that power.”
“You’ve already explained that you need me with you to see the High Priestess, but why do you need the bond?”
His eyes go hard. “Maybe I just don’t want him to have it.”
“Aren’t you, like, hundreds of years old? Why are you acting like a spoiled child who doesn’t want to share his toys?”
His grin is smug, and his gaze is pure wicked intention as he looks me over slowly. “I don’t consider you a toy, Princess, but if you’d like to play, all you have to do is ask.”
Flames of embarrassment lick my cheeks, but I refuse to back down. “You wish.”
“When you aren’t blocking him, Sebastian can sense where you are through the bond, and I don’t trust him enough to reveal the location of our High Priestess’s sacred temple.”
“So everything you said about needing me to convince this general of yours to join forces with Sebastian’s legions?”
Finn grunts. “A convenient excuse. General Hargova’s Cursed Horde answers to their general, and General Hargova answers to me, the crown and its power be damned. He already has legions stationed in the Goblin Mountains to defend the border, and if I want them to continue to do so alongside Sebastian’s warriors, I need only meet with the general. We are weeks, maybe days away from all-out war with the golden queen’s kingdom. I can’t fathom why she hasn’t attacked already, but it’s only a matter of time. Maybe she doesn’t know or understand what a mess the court is in.” He shrugs. “The real reason I need you by my side is so the High Priestess will tell me how to find the portal to get to Mab.”
“I think it’s a mistake to play these games with him,” I say. “Sebastian cares about the Unseelie Court. He just said—”
“I don’t care what he says.” He blows out a breath, exasperated. “The High Priestess can’t deny the power you carry, and when you ask where to find a portal to the Underworld, the oath she swore to Mab will compel her to answer you as a part of the Great Queen’s throne. I fear what kinds of information Sebastian, wearing the crown, could force her to answer if he knew where to find her.”