Moonlight Prince (Vampire Girl #4)(16)

"You what?"

He jumps back like a startled animal. "It doesn't affect those already in love, but it can give one a push in the right direction."

"You mean Arianna and I? You mean, this is why I can't remember that night?"

"Yeah. Probably."

My fist slams into his face, sending him flying.

He tumbles through the snow, stopping near a tree. He sits up against the trunk, rubbing his jaw. "Ah, so this is how Asher feels." He glances at me. "Trust me, I did you a favor."

I storm up to him, kicking snow in my wake, as Baron growls at Dean. "A favor? You twisted my mind, robbed me of my ability to choose."

"Because you were taking too bloody damn long!"

I raise my fist again. "Why would you do this? Don't you want to be king?"

He sighs, looking away. And I see the playfulness leave him. "I want this to be over. I want to know she can never pick me. Because right now, while there is still a chance, I still hope. And hope brings only pain when it is a false hope. I just want to be free, brother. I just want to be free of her."

I lower my hand, some of my rage leaving me. "Then choose to be free, brother. Choose to be free and move on."

He stares back at me, his eyes glistening. "Don't you see Fenris? I did move on. In my own way."

I sigh. "And what a foolish way. A love potion. It was only one time then. Arianna is likely not pregnant."

The guilty face returns. "Well, you see, I may have slipped her a potion as well."

"No."

"A potion that almost guarantees—

"It can't be—"

"Almost guarantees pregnancy."

I punch him again.

Harder.

And then I fall to my knees and yell. "How dare you do this? How dare you condemn me to a life of servitude?"

Dean flinches. "Servitude? Brother, you will be king."

"You know I will be a slave to the crown."

He stands, adjusting his jaw. "Well, in that case, we are all slaves, aren't we? You. Me. Asher. So why not be the slave in charge of everything? The slave who can actually change things in this forsaken world? A slave who gets to love the woman we all want? The woman who loves you in return."

I turn away from him, shock consuming my body. "She may not be pregnant. She may not be pregnant. She may—"

"Oh, she bloody damn well is man. Get over it. And go save your woman and your child."

I charge him, grabbing him by the collar and pinning him against the tree. "You idiotic, meddling fool!"

I expect Dean to fight back but he slumps in defeat in my arms. "I had no other choice. I don't know any other way to get over her, to end this constant torment I feel. She only wants you."

I let him go. My breath is heavy. I try to calm it. "I didn't need your help. I would have gotten there eventually. On my own."

"That seems… unlikely. You had her for a whole month and made zero progress. Admit it, you need your brother of lust every now and then to keep things going."

I chuckle. Despite everything I chuckle. Perhaps I'm going mad.

I laugh some more, feeling the shock and anger drain from me. Feeling a kind of peace at knowing I no longer have to choose between Arianna and freedom. The choice has been made for me. Of course, I would have rather decided myself. But still. There is peace in having choice taken away. Even if it is a fool's peace.

Before I become enraged once more, I turn, Baron at my heel, and continue on to the Waystone. "Time to get some more practice following me, brother."

Dean laughs as he runs to catch up.

I focus on my goal and try to keep thoughts away. Thoughts of Arianna. Thoughts of our child. Thoughts of being king.

It's dusk by the time we arrive at the cave with the Waystone, the cave where I searched for Arianna before. I place my hand upon the great stone door, and a needle pierces my flesh, letting my blood flow into the carvings. This time, I am a Druid. This time, it must work.

The door does not move.

I push my hand harder onto the needle, squeezing out more blood.

Nothing.

Dean sits on a rock, his eyes dark. "There is only one thing left, then."

I try to find an argument to sway us both, but there is none. Arianna comes above all. Above Tavian Gray's life. Above any reservations I feel about making deals with the Darkness. "We will speak with him first," I say.

Dean nods.

And then we head for Stonehill.

The city is carved into a mountain, filled with raging waterfalls and glowing crystals protruding from the stone. Past the large gates, small buildings of wood and stone line the cobble streets. Deeper into the city, the architecture grows more grand, the use of stone more common and exquisite. Deeper still stands the castle, a mass of gray rock built from the mountainside. It rises into the pale cloudy sky, looming over the thousands of people below, reminding them of their ruler, of their kingdom, of their duty. It is a marvel of architecture, art and nature converging.

And it is the chain that binds me.

I push away thoughts of responsibility as we pass the market square, the stage where Fae are bought and sold. None are on show today. But still people crowd this part of the city, gathering at stalls, bartering for goods, bidding for services. Their voices muddle together, but one catches my attention.