53

Corinne patted my back gently. “Portal travel can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it,” she said gently. “Now come, we have much to attend to.”

I took a few deep breaths. The air was so crisp—did it always feel like this in Frasia? Almost sharp in my lungs?

“Up, wolf,” Corinne said. Her voice was colder now, and laced with impatience.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I said with a groan.

I staggered to my feet.

Then, on the horizon, I saw it.

A palace.

But it wasn’t the manor in Frasia.

It was a white stone palace, with silvery roofs and windows inlaid with pale pink glass that shone in the sunlight. It wasn’t nearly the size of the Shiangan palace, not even the manor, but it shone like a gem tucked into the lush, hilly landscape. It was built right at the edge of a vast lake sitting between the building and the mountain range across from it. We were in a valley, dotted with tall trees which burst with lush green leaves and pale pink flowers. As Corinne stood near one, it leaned toward her, its branches swaying against the breeze of their own accord. She flattened her palm on the trunk of the tree and smiled like greeting an old friend.

We weren’t in Frasia at all.

We weren’t even in Frasia’s realm.

The sky was too bright. The air was too crisp. The trees spoke. The queen was glowing.

I was in Faerie.

“We need to go to Frasia,” I said desperately. “The court has to know where I am. Surely this is a mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Reyna,” the queen said in a gentle, musical voice. “But the wolves cannot be expected to defeat the dragons of Shianga. And after what Draunar has done to my people, by keeping me locked away for so long, I must make him pay for what he’s done. I will raise my armies here and return to Shianga to see it through.”

“I understand that,” I said. Desperation was rising in my throat. “I do. But we must go to Frasia first, Corinne, we must. I can’t be here. I need to find my husband—I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“Your husband doesn’t matter,” Corinne said sweetly. “Do you know how many Fae lives have suffered in your realm? Not just because of what Draunar has done—but because of what Constantine of Daybreak did as well.” Her silvery gaze hardened. “You should be grateful I haven’t asked you to atone for those cruelties.”

“I have done nothing but help you,” I said. “Please. Please, just send me back.”

“I can’t do that,” Corinne said. “If I send you back, surely you’ll tell your wolves of my plan, and of what Draunar did.”

“If you want me to maintain silence, I will,” I said immediately.

She sighed. “I wish I could trust you, but I can’t take the risk. I need Draunar surprised.” Her gaze turned distant and cruel. “I want him to suffer.”

“I do too,” I said. “Isn’t that obvious? He captured us both. I wouldn’t put that at risk.”

“You would,” she said. “I know you’d tell that husband of yours, the one you miss so much. Now come, I need to alert the court of my return.”

“I won’t,” I said, more desperate now. Desperate because I knew she was right. More than anything, I wanted to be back in my realm, on my way back to Shianga with an army of wolves, prepared to fight at Elias’ side. “You lied to me. You didn’t have to lie. You should’ve just told me this was the plan all along.”

“You never would’ve helped me if I did,” she said. She placed both hands on the trunk of the tree and sighed with pleasure as she pulled power from the Fae lands. “We both know that. Please, stop whining.”

Embarrassingly, my frustration and rage and betrayal coalesced into the hot prickle of tears behind my eyes. I had felt something was off about Corinne and her plan, but I’d ignored it. I’d just wanted so badly to get out of the cavern—to fix the stupid mistake I’d made by agreeing to go with Draunar in the first place.

Now I was even further away. Still trapped. Still just a pawn in the game.

“No,” I said. “I’m not going with you. I’m getting back to Frasia. I won’t be treated like this.”

Corinne sighed. “Don’t be childish.”

“I’m not being childish,” I shot back. “I’m a queen, just like you. We should be working together. I won’t be dragged around, gone from being his prize to yours.”

She looked at me for a long moment, and something in her expression softened.

“You’re right,” she said. “You’ve been through a lot recently. I know this is an unexpected development in our path back to Shianga, but I promise you, you will see your husband very soon.”

She stepped forward and caught my hand in hers before I could back away. She gripped it so tightly that pain throbbed through the gash still raw on my palm.

“Hey!” I tried to pull away, but her grip only tightened.

Her power coursed over my skin. It wasn’t like it’d been in the cavern, where I could feel her power nearby. This time, it was directed at me, crawling over my skin like tendrils, and then going deeper.

I gasped as her power reached inside me, into my chest, and woke my wolf. My wolf howled in rage, teeth bared internally as we both thrashed, trying to break her hold. But it was no use. She’d gained power being in Faerie, more magical power than I’d ever felt in one place. I couldn’t form a coherent thought, I couldn’t fight, all I could feel was the cold glow of her power wrapped around my wolf like a vise. She laughed once, high and cold, and then drew my wolf forward.