These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows, #1)(81)

“Oh.” My stomach sinks as I try to imagine this. “Oh, Pretha, I’m so sorry.”

“Yes, me too.” Her puff of breath leaves a foggy patch on the window.

“Amira and I were both your age when she was brought to my family’s palace. She was there to prepare to be Misha’s bride, but I fell in love the first time I laid eyes on her.”

“That’s beautiful.” My voice is heavy with sadness. I know where this story is going. “Then she chose him over you?” I wince at the sound of my own question. If Kane were here to witness my ineptitude, he may have handled this himself.

Pretha scoffs. “Hardly. There wasn’t ever a choice given, not to either of us. The Wild Fae are more accepting than the Seelie of people like Amira and me. My parents raised us to believe that love is beautiful in all forms, but I always knew that this acceptance stopped at the palace doors. To be in the royal family means living by a different set of rules.”

“Why?” I ask. “What’s the difference?”

“They would tell you it’s about the power of bloodlines, but it’s really about appearances. And about their own discomfort with the idea of their daughter loving another female.” She sighs. “But for three years Amira and I got to be together while they groomed her for her life as the queen. Misha didn’t care. He wasn’t marrying her for love, only to strengthen the alliance between our families. But when our parents found out?” Her lips twitch—in amusement? Irritation? Old anger? Maybe a combination of all three. “You can imagine my horror when they sent me away to marry the young brother of the Unseelie Prince.”

“Vexius,” I say softly. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be expected to marry someone for political reasons. Can’t imagine love having so little weight in the list of reasons you decide to spend your life with someone. Yet this is exactly what Sebastian will deal with if I decide not to stay with him. “But you eventually grew to care for him?”

“Some days I wish I hadn’t,” she says, pressing a fist to her chest as if she’s trying to stave off the ache there. “But he was so damn easy to love.”



* * *



“You’re getting better,” Finn says.

I gape at him. “Was that a compliment?”

We’re upstairs while Pretha takes lunch with her brother and the queen of the Wild Fae. Although I didn’t expect to be welcomed to that meal, I assumed that Finn at least would be there for moral support for his sister-in-law. But no. The king and queen requested privacy.

“Just focus,” Finn says.

Tynan folds his arms and lifts his chin in an I-dare-you pose.

The goal is to wrap him in shadow—not like I would to bring someone through a wall with me, but to trap him in my shadows. A defensive maneuver Jalek swears is my only hope in combat, since I’m pathetic with a sword.

Unspooling my magic, I zero in on Tynan and wrap him in shadow—only to have it fall away when he shrugs.

“Should work fine,” Tynan says, his eyes dancing. “As long as your enemies stay perfectly still.”

I flash him a vulgar gesture but laugh. I might still suck at this, but I’m making progress.

“Finn.” Kane stands in the bedroom doorway. “We have a problem. Prince Ronan’s at the door.”

That one name, and my good mood is gone. My stomach clenches hard. This is what I was afraid of. He’s going to find out I’m betraying him. How did he find me here?

Finn seems to have the same question. “Did you tell him where you’re spending your days?”

I shake my head. “No. He just knows I’m with my tutor.”

“We planned for this,” Finn tells Kane. “That’s why we’re here, right? So send Eurelody to talk to him. Amira and Misha will forgive the interruption.”

“We would, but . . .” Kane clears his throat. “He has the real Eurelody with him. He tracked her down, and she admitted that she left the queen’s service years ago.”

Finn mutters a curse.

Tynan grimaces. “We need to get him out of here before he realizes that Misha and Amira are on the premises.”

“I can go talk to him,” I offer, though I have no idea what I’ll say. I just want to get rid of this sick feeling in my stomach. What will happen to Jas if Sebastian sends me home?

Finn’s brows disappear into his curls. “You want him to know without a doubt that you’re here? That you’re working with us?”

I flinch.

“That’s what I thought. Stay put.” He follows Tynan out of the room and shuts the door behind him.

I listen to the muffled sounds of the males downstairs.

I hear Finn’s low voice and Sebastian’s, but I can’t make out their words.

There’s another low rumble, and then suddenly silence. I can’t stand it anymore.

The bedroom door squeaks as I open it, and I flinch and quietly pad toward the top of the stairs.

“Let me in—” Sebastian’s growl practically shakes the house. He stands toe to toe with Finn, who has Tynan at his side. The two princes are a formidable sight, broad-shouldered and menacing, glowering at each other. “I know you have her here.”

“Maybe your magic is failing you, Prince. I’m sure you’ll fix that soon enough, what with all those ripe opportunities waiting at your palace.” I can’t see Finn’s face, but I can hear the sneer in his voice.