Caynin’s mouth parted slowly as he realized that she was serious. Months ago, he had told Celine he would only bite her if she wanted him to. She had sworn she would never want it and never allowed it. Yet here she was, tilting her head to the side and exposing her neck.
When Tarragon had bitten her at the Red Festival, she had been mortified. It had been unexpected and painful, and she had been glad that he had tasted the royalty in her blood and let her go instead of ripping out her throat. In her heart she knew the experience would be different with Caynin.
Caynin moved his chair closer to her and put one hand on her arm and one on her neck. He pulled her closer gently, like he would in bed.
“Are you sure?” he asked in a low voice.
“Yes.” Celine closed her eyes. Her heart was hammering, and she knew Caynin could hear it.
She felt Caynin’s breath on her neck and hand on her jaw before she felt his canines puncture her skin. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as she thought it would. She could immediately feel the change in Caynin’s energy when he swallowed for the first time. He came alive again, and his strength returned.
Caynin obviously did not want to stop, just like she hadn’t wanted to when Dagan had offered her his wrist. The blood would make him feel warm and good.
“Caynin, you need to stop,” she mumbled.
Caynin slowly pulled away, a small stream of blood dripping from his chin. She admired his self-control – it was something she had not had when she had drunk Dagan’s blood. The color returned to Caynin’s skin, and the bags under his eyes were gone. Celine slowly undid the bandage around his arm. His wound had healed perfectly.
Caynin reached for her neck, and she felt a tingling sensation as he healed the puncture wounds his canines had left. He trailed his finger to her torn lip, blue jaw, swollen face, and side. He healed her easily. They stared into each other’s eyes, and Celine thought he would kiss her again. She wanted him to kiss her again.
Then the front door swung open, and footsteps approached. Astrix and Cindy came into view. Their eyes lingered on Caynin, but they did not ask why he suddenly looked so much better. Celine assumed they knew he had drunk her blood.
“What’s the announcement?” Celine asked.
“Severin has told everyone you have escaped, and there is a handsome reward on your head,” Astrix said.
“And a punishment for anyone who aids you,” Cindy added cautiously.
“The whole castle will be searching for you. The halls will be crowded with guards,” Astrix warned. “They are also going to start searching houses.”
“If someone were to aid you, their house will be burnt, and they will be killed,” Cindy added.
Was the female having second thoughts about helping her? Perhaps they were simply scared for their lives, but if they could help her all over again, they would. Despite the fear, hope shone in their eyes when they looked at her – hope for a better future, for change, for a new princess to sit on the throne. Celine was the center and the reason for that hope, and she did not want to let them down. But more than anything, Celine did not want them to get hurt because of her. She had to leave.
“We can’t stay,” Celine told Caynin. “We are placing their lives in danger.”
“I know.” Caynin knew Celine and her good heart all too well. She would never place her own wellbeing above someone else. She was too selfless.
“You can stay,” Astrix said, and Celine realized she meant it. Celine offered the brave, rebellious faerie a smile although she couldn’t take her up on her offer. She did not want anyone else to get hurt because of her. Bella had already been hurt when the assassin came for Celine, and many Fata had died when Celine opened a portal to Erken. She didn’t want to be the cause of any more pain and suffering and death.
“Thank you for everything you have done,” Celine said, “but we have to go.”
“Just make sure you come back, my Princess,” Astrix said.
She had promised all those Fata in the dungeon that she would return, and she was going to keep her promise. She was not sure how, but she would take back her throne, free the humans, and stop the Prenumbras. She was strong enough to do all those things.
“I can give you a cloak,” Cindy offered. “I have one that I use for the rain.”
“That would help,” Celine said. “Thank you.”
Cindy went to the coat hanger and removed her black raincoat. She handed it to Celine, and Celine put it on. It was too big – the sleeves hung over her hands, and it was too loose around her waist. The hood obscured most of her face.
Astrix opened the front door and watched as Celine and Caynin stepped outside. Celine did not look back as they hurried down the city streets, keeping to the dark corners. Neither spoke, and Caynin stuck to her side like a guide dog. He knew the castle better than she did, and she followed him to the main exit which was swarming with guards. There was no way they could leave without being stopped.
“I believe Severin has placed the castle on lockdown,” Caynin said. “No one comes in or goes out.”
“We will have to find a way around them,” Celine said.
Then again, was Dagan already in the castle? If no one was coming in, would he find a way? Or was he already here and captured?
“Don’t look so worried,” Caynin said. “We will find a way out.”
She didn’t bother mentioning that she was worried about Dagan, and focused on how they would get out instead. Caynin would be able to fight multiple guards at once, but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Caynin wore the blue jewel ring on his finger, and for a moment she considered asking him to call Chet. She quickly decided against it when she realized an archer could shoot him down before he even reached them.
“Let’s go to the side of the castle,” Celine said. “To the side where the water is. Maybe we can jump off the cliffs and get a ride back with the kelpies.”
“With the kelpies?” Caynin asked.
Celine did not have enough time to explain that Tarragon had helped her escape the Dark House by calling the kelpies for aid. “Yes, can you use your magic to ask the kelpies to take us to shore?”
“I can,” Caynin said, sounding surprised.
“What?”
“Any other human would be terrified of the kelpies… You’re so much braver than I originally thought.”
Maybe he finally didn’t see her as weak anymore. When she didn’t reply, he added, “It will be a long swim because if they take us to the shore at the foot of the castle, we will be caught. Also, someone can see us.”
“No one is looking at the ocean,” Celine argued.
They headed to the edge of the castle where there weren’t any guards. Celine went to the edge, where there was no railing to prevent anyone from falling.
“It’s high,” Caynin pointed out. “My immortal body can survive the fall, but I fear your human one will break.”
“I am willing to take that risk,” Celine said.
“But I am not.” He spoke with the authority of a prince, accustomed to having faeries tremble at his commands – either with fear, or eagerness to please.
Celine considered arguing, but she didn’t want to waste more time. “Do you have any other ideas?”
Caynin gave her a look to suggest that he did not. “I have not come all this way to watch you fall to your death.”
“Guards,” Celine mumbled and pulled Caynin by the arm, making him face the ocean and turn his back to the guards. Celine held her breath and hoped the guards would simply pass them, but their footsteps came closer.
“What are you doing back here?” A guard touched Celine’s arm.
She kept her head low. “Just enjoying the view.”
Caynin was awfully tense beside her. Celine hoped the guard would leave, but instead he yanked her arm and spun her around. The movement was so sudden she couldn’t help but yelp. He ripped the hood from her head.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said.
Caynin’s fist collided with his throat. The guard fell backward, clutching his throat with both hands as he tried to breathe. This was everything Celine hadn’t wanted to happen. They had not escaped, and they were going to have to fight their way out of this. Caynin instantly pulled his sword free and pushed it into Celine’s hands.
The guards drew their swords and advanced. Celine didn’t dare look back at the cliff. They had been seen, and there was no point in jumping anymore, as the guards would wait for them on the shore if they did.
They faced seven guards, and Caynin could fight them and win. He was a prince, after all, but she was not going to let him fight alone.
She stepped forward and swung her sword at the nearest guard, who blocked it easily. She swung again and out of the corner of the eye saw Caynin manipulating the wind to blow over two guards. He had his dagger drawn and twirled between the guards, killing one in the process.
Celine should focus on her own fight instead of admiring Caynin’s gracefulness. The guard in front of her managed to knock the sword out of her hand, and she foolishly lunged after it. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to his chest. She kicked and clawed until she felt the cold blade push against her throat.
“Don’t move or I will kill her.” The guard’s voice was raspy in Celine’s ears.
Caynin stopped fighting and looked over to the guard and Celine. For the first time, Caynin appeared scared – scared for her. His eyes were wide, his skin milk white.
“If you kill her, you don’t know where her magic will go. Severin will be furious,” he warned.
“I am willing to take that chance,” the guard said with a steady voice. “Are you?”
The knife scraped against her throat, and Celine felt a drop of blood slide down her skin. She wanted to tell Caynin to keep fighting. She didn’t want to give up, and she was angry that she was a weak human and that she didn’t stand a chance when it came to fighting a faerie. Even after Dagan and Caynin had trained her, she was still useless. She was mentally strong, but not physically.
Caynin refused to meet her gaze, and she assumed he was disappointed that she had lost the battle for them. But then she thought about him always wanting to take control and protect her and realized he was angry at himself for failing.
“We go to the throne room,” the guard announced.
Celine could tell from their wild eyes and tense bodies that they feared Caynin. One guard sheathed his sword, stepped forward, and took a pair of vine handcuffs from his pocket.
“Hold out your hands,” he told Caynin.
Caynin grinned as he held out his hands, and the guard slapped on the handcuffs. Then Caynin bit the air in front of him, and the guard got such a fright he fell backward, onto his butt. Celine would have laughed if she didn’t have a knife pressed to her throat.
“Enough,” the guard said from behind her. “We go to the throne room. Caynin walks first.”
One of the guards rushed ahead to tell Severin that they were coming. Celine saw him, up ahead, stopping by the dungeon, and moments later the three dungeon guards, with the Black Illusion flowers in their pockets, were approaching them. Maybe Caynin could trick them, as he held the stems…
So, their plans hadn’t gone the way they had wanted it to, but that didn’t mean they had lost. They were being taken to Severin, and this was the perfect chance to steal back Celine’s tooth – if Dagan hadn’t beaten them to it.
Caynin went ahead of the group as if he were the leader. The guards kept a good distance between him and them. Were they worried that he would spin around and rip out their throats? He could do just that.
The guard holding Celine walked with the blade pressed to her throat. It was uncomfortable, but she was the only leverage they had, so he would not let go of her.
They went through the castle while Fata stared as if they each had five heads. Celine’s face heated with embarrassment, but she held her head high. When they reached the throne room, Caynin kicked open the doors and strolled inside. Was he fearless or merely pretending?
Severin sat on Celine’s throne, grinning, and she had the urge to slap him again. The throne was magnificent, built out of huge, colorful blossoms and Severin’s butt was not worthy of sitting on it. Celine’s stomach turned as she considered Tarragon, who was also unworthy, sitting on it. Somehow, she would take back her kingdom.
As they approached Severin, Celine could clearly see her tooth in the bottle around his neck. He wore it as a necklace, and Celine assumed he always kept it on him because it was so valuable. He straightened in his seat as they approached, and the guards closed the doors behind them.
“Isn’t this a pleasant surprise!” He clasped his hands together.
The guard removed his sword from Celine’s throat and shoved her to the ground so that she fell to her knees. The nine guards stood in a semi-circle around Celine and Caynin. She got to her feet and looked into Severin’s amber eyes.
“Coming to my castle and trying to steal from me is an act of war,” Severin told Caynin.
“This is not your castle,” Caynin told him. “It never was, and it never will be. You’re just a joker on a chair.”
Anger flickered in Severin’s eyes as he jumped to his feet. “You better be careful what you say to me.”
“Should I?” Caynin asked. “I mean, seriously, what is it you are going to do? If you kill me, the whole Everwhite Kingdom will come to avenge me. Are you sure you can take that?”
“Is one human really worth starting a war over?” Severin asked.
Before Caynin could answer, the big stone doors swung open, and Dagan strolled inside. His sword was at his side, and he was grinning broadly.
“Hi, everyone,” he said casually. “I am sorry for taking so long. I’ve been having a hard time finding you.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Severin snapped.
“Ah.” Dagan approached them. The guards parted so that he could pass. “I have come to propose.”
“What?” Severin and Caynin asked simultaneously. Celine watched Dagan approach her. Was he intoxicated? Like a love-struck idiot, he fell to his knees in front of her.
“Darling, will you do me the honor of marrying me?” He pulled the biggest and ugliest ring Celine had ever seen from his coat’s pocket and offered it to her. It looked familiar but she couldn’t recall where she had seen it.
“This isn’t the time for such things,” Caynin growled.
Before Celine could answer, Dagan took her hand. His grip was firm, and she realized she couldn’t pull free. She peered at him in confusion as he slipped the ring onto her finger.
The moment the ring was on, Celine felt her magic return. Was this Tarragon’s ring?
“Get up, you idiot!” She managed to laugh.
Dagan got to his feet and fixed his emerald eyes on her, slightly more serious than they had been moments ago. “At least think about it.”
He then turned to Severin without looking intimidated or lost, like Celine felt. He was an Eternity Prince and used to being obeyed and respected. But before his status, he had been a slave, who had solved problems and thought out of the box.
“This is a really easy situation,” Dagan told Severin. “You are going to let us leave or we are going to fight, win, kill you, and then leave. Let’s not make things complicated.”
“You can leave, but Celine stays.” Severin was incredibly power hungry and certainly not fit to be on the throne. He only cared for himself, and he was a coward – he had only taken the throne when an easy opportunity had presented itself. Celine wasn’t cautious of him anymore.
Caynin pulled against the cuffs, and they abruptly came free. His magic was in an uproar after drinking Celine’s blood. Severin tensed in his seat, and the guards took a few steps back.
“She’s coming with us,” Caynin said.
“You are outnumbered, and she can’t open a portal,” Severin said. “You will lose.”
“Are you really willing to take that chance?” Dagan asked.
The guards’ hands were shaking, and Dagan and Caynin could undoubtedly smell their fear. They were lost and confused and didn’t know where their loyalties lay. Severin certainly wasn’t their prince, but then again, neither was Dagan nor Caynin. Celine was their true princess, but it didn’t seem to matter as she was human, and not one of them.
Severin looked at the ground. He had tried desperately to have Celine assassinated without anyone knowing. That way there was no competition for the throne. If no one knew he killed her, then no one would come seeking revenge.
“Go,” he said, voice soft.
“And what about Celine’s tooth?” Dagan asked.
Severin sighed and motioned for Celine to come get it from him. He looked sad and defeated, and happiness overwhelmed Celine. He took the necklace from his neck and held it out as she approached. Her footsteps were loud on the glass floor. She reached for the necklace.
“Celine….” Dagan warned.
Unexpectedly, Severin pulled a knife from his side and slammed it into Celine’s stomach. Pain shot through her whole body. She cried out before falling to her knees. Severin pulled the knife back, but Celine managed to roll away before he could stab her again. Blood seeped from the wound, and she pressed her hands against it as if she could fix herself. He’d rather kill her, than give up and let her go. Tears formed in her eyes, and she wanted to bawl. Caynin and Dagan reacted by running toward her, and the guards followed.
“Open a portal to somewhere safe!” Dagan said.
Celine was lightheaded and dizzy and was not thinking straight. The pain was overwhelming – much worse than when Severin had beaten her. The soldiers rushed toward her and blurred together. She closed her eyes and opened a portal to the place where she used to feel safe: her house in the human lands.
Caynin lifted her into his arms and stepped through the portal, Dagan hard on his heels.
“After them! Kill her!” Severin yelled.
Five soldiers stepped through the portal before Celine could close it.