These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows, #2)(70)

“Then we should open another,” Juliana says.

Finn laughs. “That was the last of the second bottle. Any more, and tomorrow’s hike will feel like torture.”

“It’s just that I hardly ever see you,” Juliana whines. She swirls her wine and frowns at him. “I was honestly surprised you joined me tonight.”

Finn arches a brow. “I told you I would.”

She chuckles softly. “I underestimated your ability to resist the beautiful female in your chambers, I suppose.”

Finn bows his head and studies his wineglass. He takes a long swallow before speaking. “I won’t pretend it’s easy.”

“I’m surprised you can stand the sight of her, knowing she’s the one your father chose,” Juliana says softly, as if contemplating this. “Knowing he passed his power to her—a human—rather than to you.”

Finn’s head snaps up. “I didn’t tell you that.”

“Come now, Finnian. I may not be a priestess, but I am the daughter of one. I’m not without certain powers of my own. I feel it in her. My only question is how the curse was broken when the queen still lives and this one has the power of the throne.”

Finn takes another long pull off his drink and sighs. “The curse was broken when she bonded with Prince Ronan, died, and passed the crown—not the power—to him. That is why Prince Ronan’s at the castle—not just because the curse is broken, and not just because he has a birthright to the throne, but because he wears the crown.”

She flinches. “I was worried it might be something like that.”

“Unfortunately, but at least he seems to be genuine in his desire to do right by the shadow fae. He helped defend the capital during the attack, and he dismantled the queen’s camps as well. He brought hundreds of children home.”

“As grateful as I am for that”—Juliana blows out a breath—“it won’t work, Finn. He can’t be king. Our people will never accept him. He could lead us in war and win, and there are still those among us who would refuse to accept him just because he’s Arya’s son.”

He sighs. “This court is dying, and an imperfect solution is better than no solution.”

She cocks her head to the side. “Will you let him have everything you want so dearly?”

Finn’s jaw ticks. “What do you mean by that?”

“Abriella. She’s bonded to him, yet you look at her like she is the stars and the moon. Like she’s rain at the end of a long summer drought. You look at her the way all the young females in Staraelia dreamed you might one day look upon them.” She pauses for a beat. “You look at her the way you looked at Isabel.”

His grip tightens on his glass. “Don’t.”

“You deny it?”

“I don’t appreciate the parallels.”

She snorts. “Is that why Ronan beat you to claiming the crown? Because you’d already fallen for the human? I bet every time you thought about bonding with her, you remembered Isabel dying in your arms.”

“You push me too far,” Finn says. His voice is quiet but as sharp as the blade I plunged into Mordeus’s chest. “Do you forget that I don’t need your permission to speak with your mother?”

She sighs. “I’m not trying to be cruel, Finn. I’m trying to understand why this happened. How is this girl bonded to Prince Ronan but here with you?” She stares, clearly waiting for the rest of the explanation.

“She’s with me because she won’t forgive him for his deception, and because she wants to find a way to save these lands and their people.”

“She’s human. ” Juliana tosses her hair over her shoulder. “You believe that?”

“She’s fae now, not that it’s relevant.”

“She and the prince could be playing you. Maybe she wants the throne for herself.”

I bare my teeth and nearly lose my shadows. It’s all I can do to keep from growling at her. Why would I want the throne? How dare she put those ideas in Finn’s head?

“I suppose that’s possible,” Finn says, the edge in his voice gone now, “but everything she’s said and done indicates that she views the power as a burden, not a blessing.”

“What a fool,” Juliana mutters.

Finn shrugs and takes another sip of his drink. “Perhaps we’re the fools.”

Nodding, she hums. “You still haven’t explained how she kept this power she supposedly doesn’t want.”

“The golden prince gave her the Potion of Life to save her and turn her fae, but in doing so, he inadvertently tied the power to her life.”

Juliana presses her fingertips to her mouth. “Why would he risk such a thing? He had to have known there was a chance.”

“Because he was in love with her— is in love with her.”

“Hmm,” she says. “You said he gave her the Potion of Life because he loves her—”

“He does.”

“Then do you truly believe he’ll sever the bond?”

“No,” Finn says softly. “I don’t.”

“Interesting.”

Finn groans. “Out with it.”

“I was just thinking that the last time two brothers were in love with the same female, Faerie was split down the middle.”