Chapter Thirty

As they dragged me down the stone stairs, my knees scraped across the hard surface. I thrashed to get away, but they held tight, and we continued our descent into the cold, musty innards of the dungeon.

“Enough! Or I’ll beat some sense into you.” One of the guards jerked me upright again.

I stumbled forward.

A door groaned open, and they shoved me face-first into a cell. Then the door slammed shut, plunging me in darkness. I crawled to my feet. As I pressed my hand over the wound in my side, blood seeped through my fingers. It coated my hand, warm and slippery, the coppery tang making me panic. I grabbed hold of the bars.

“Let me out!”

“Ivy?” Dorian’s voice sounded from the cell next to mine.

Tears trailed down my cheeks, and I slid down the wall, clutching my side. “Yeah.”

“I smell blood. Are you okay?”

No. I’d failed him. I’d never be okay with that.

“I’m fine.” I wiped my face on my sleeve.

Chains clinked together from inside his cell, letting me know he’d moved closer. Through the bars, a small glint of light showed. The lump in my throat grew as I took in his swollen face and the dark abrasions over what had once been perfect skin. Dirt clung to his matted hair, and the putrid scent of urine hung heavy in the air.

With a groan, I shifted my body and crawled closer to him. Through the barrier, I clutched his hand in mine, bringing it to my lips.

“I’ve been so worried about you,” I cried.

“Ivy, why are you in here? How did they find out…”

“My uncle,” I said, the words seeped in bitterness. My head rested on the stone wall. I shut my eyes against the horror and shivered in the damp air. Then I told him about my mother, how she died the night I was born.

His hand held tight to mine, reminding me he was there.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered when I finished talking. “I wish you could’ve known her.”

“Me, too.” Hag knew how many times I’d pleaded to have a mother. Or know what she looked like. But knowing didn’t make it easier. Sucking in a deep breath, I decided to change the subject. “How long did you know we were siblings?”

He sighed as if he had anticipated the question. “I only found out the night before the Mission. At first, I thought Father lied. But after he showed me letters exchanged between him and your mother, then with your aunt, I knew he spoke the truth.”

“But you proposed the day you left?”

“Father told me to, because the council was pushing for it. We knew that it would never come to be, but he wanted them to think they had the upper hand. So much more is going on than you know, Ivy,” he said.

“Like what?”

“Some of the council is corrupt. Father has been trying to find out everyone involved.”

“I figured as much.”

“And I’m already betrothed to an elfin princess named Sashine. Only, the council doesn’t know. Father has tried to maintain peace between goblins and elves. This betrothal afforded him that opportunity. Not only will we help protect the elfin borders from other goblins, but they’ll allow us to travel safely through their lands for trading purposes.”

“An elf?” I attempted not to laugh. “So when you hugged me in the Archives, you were already betrothed.”

“Yes. But had you not been my sister, I would’ve chosen you.”

This made me smile. “I always felt close to you. Even though you were the prince and I was just the daughter of a nobleman.”

He released my hand, his fingers reaching through the bars to touch my cheek. “You, my sister, were never just a nobleman’s daughter.”

“No, I suppose not. There are several goblins who’d call me much worse.”

Silence stretched on for a moment, and then he spoke. “Did anyone accompany you to the human world? Anyone that might be able to get you out of here?”

“Pudge and Grr. They’re at my aunt’s estate. We also have Beaurick, Perci, and Cray at the border. Not sure if they got my message, though.” My stomach clenched as my thoughts drifted to Pudge. There was no way to know whether or not he was safe. Maybe my uncle already took care of him.

As if he sensed my fear, Dorian said, “I’m sure they’re fine. Pudge will know to lie low.”

That was the problem. The old Pudge probably would’ve hidden, but the new one…there was no telling what he’d do. If something happened to him, I’d never forgive myself.

A door at the end of the corridor creaked open. Dorian and I released hands. Footsteps echoed like drum beats off the dungeon walls. Torchlight glinted through the bars, and then Frederik’s form filled the small window. Flinching, I backed farther into the cell.

His face fell. “Ivy, I apologize for how I acted earlier. I was just startled. But I won’t let your uncle harm you. I still care for you.”

A moment later, my cell opened, and Frederik came in. Gripping my arm gently, he dragged me into the light and brushed the hair from my face, studying my features. His hand traced my pointed ears, then pushed up my sleeves to examine my arms.

“You still look human to me,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the pointed ears and slight green tinge to your skin, you’d pass for one of us.”

I clenched my jaw, jerking my arm from his hand. “Let go,” I said.

He frowned. “If you cooperate and act civil, I might be able to convince my father to allow me to keep you.”

“Like a pet?” Disgust rolled over me. “I’m not an animal, Frederik. I’m half human and half goblin. And I don’t belong to anyone.”

He jerked me closer. “Did you come here for it?” He pointed to Dorian.

“Yes. He’s my brother.”

“It can’t be your brother. It’s a monster.” Frederik’s face grew red, irritation flashing in his eyes. “But you’re not. You’re kind and beautiful. And when we kissed after the tournament, I felt something. You’re not one of them. You’re not a monster like that one,” he said again.

“He’s not the one keeping me caged. So who’s the real monster?”

Frederik pulled me against him. His lips captured mine; the taste of dandelion wine from lunch lingered on his tongue. Twisting in his grasp, I bit down on his lip, and he shouted in pain.

Dorian threw himself into the bars, screaming. “Let her go!”

“I can save her.” Frederik wiped his mouth, coming away with blood on his fingers. “Or if your people will pay a ransom for you, then I can convince my father to stay his hand a while longer. Did you bring the ransom with you?”

If I said yes, would it free us, or would they take the gold and Hag’s Crest and kill us anyway?

“No. I don’t have any ransom with me.”

“But you could get it if we freed you?”

“I don’t know, Frederik.”

“Cooperate with me, Ivy. We could help each other out. You get the ransom for my father, and I’ll ask to keep you as my own.”

“I’d rather die than live a life hidden behind doors as your mistress,” I snapped.

“You don’t mean that.” Frederik’s face hardened, looking both hurt and angry at the same time.

“Don’t I?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

“Listen to me. I can have your uncle declared mad and still marry you.”

“No.”

“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t try to help you.” He flung me toward the rear of my cell. “You’ll die just like your brother. I won’t be able to stop it.”

The door slammed shut, and his footsteps retreated. Crying, I slumped to the cold, moist floor. Nothing was going as planned.

“You should’ve gotten yourself out of here,” Dorian said. “You could’ve played the part for him, then ran away.”

“I’m not leaving without you.”

“I don’t want you risking your life for me.”

I felt my way along the stones until I sat next to the bars once more. “Father sent me for you.”

“Then Father’s a fool.”