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Worried my reluctance to leave would irritate the king, I trudged to my escort but while walking away my skin prickled and back tensed.

I spun around.

Alastar nodded at a guard and in seconds, even more uniformed men surrounded Grant.

Conor was shoved to the side, and almost lost his balance. He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head.

My heart sank and I raced back to Grant, slamming into the wall of guards. Clawing at the impenetrable barrier, I tried to find a crack to slip through.

A large guard jerked Grant’s hands behind his back and shackled them, an unnecessary step. He’d put up no resistance.

“What are you doing?” I screamed, not even caring I spoke to royalty. “You promised.”

Alastar stood tall and his voice boomed. “Grant, you are charged and convicted with kidnapping the future princess of Tir na nOg. You shall be taken to a cell at once. Since I am a fair man and promised no harm–” He glanced at me, a smug expression plastered on his face. “You will not be sentenced to death but instead to lifetime imprisonment.”

My world stopped.