Guinevere's Grail | ✓ [BOOK 2]

~ 23 ~

LONG, SLENDER FINGERS HELD Kit's wrists together with a firmness he should've expected. At his side, Morgana was dragged along by the princess. He was lucky enough to get Chalice, who was gentler by nature and--though they were firm--wasn't cruel to him the way the princess was to the Unseelie.

His eyes were covered by a slip of fabric, but he could still feel Morgana's cold presence and the tension in the air. He wished he could tell him he was sorry, but then he'd be lying. He had no remorse for sparing him from more pain than he deserved, even if he was angry with him.

He also had no remorse for getting the both of them out of the dungeons.

There wasn't a plan, Kit knew that, and he had no idea how he'd be able to rescue the others. But he was out of his cage now, it was a start. He was surrounded by Seelies, perhaps he'd have to be just as good at deception as they were to get around their defenses.

The blindfold slipped away once they were no longer in the dungeons, now in the warmth of the palace hallways. It was bright enough to make him squint, and as beautiful as he remembered it to be. For such a terrible woman, Titania sure knew how to live.

Two large doors led into a small throne room. The Queen's beauty never failed to take Kit's breath away, and not in a good way, no matter how often he saw her. She sprawled across her throne with a glare, staring the prince down with eyes like ice in stark contrast to her summery people.

"So he agreed," Titania mused, swinging her legs off of the arm and planting her feet on the floor. She leaned forward, examining him further. "You should've cleaned him up before you brought him."

The princess bowed her head. "Sorry, Your Majesty," she said. "I figured I'd better get him here before he caused a problem."

The Queen scoffed. "I doubt he could do much. He was too gullible the first time, and last time he almost lost until his guardian bitch saved him and his friends."

"But he's got Morgana on his side this time," the princess argued. "It was just... better safe than sorry."

"And we have the druid," she bit back. "Whatever. It's no use, I'll put up with one disgusting man for now. I'd have loved to properly admire him, though, he is a sight to behold."

"I'm right here, you know," Kit murmured, but his jaw clamped shut as soon as both Titania and Morgana fixed him with vicious stares. "Sorry."

The Queen rose, walking slowly towards them with her hands behind her back. Kit didn't trust that, but again, he didn't trust a thing she did. "So, about our deal." From behind her, she pulled out a poorly crafted sword, one he knew all too well from carrying it around on his hip like a useless prop. "What do you say?"

He gulped, eyes switching from her to Excalibur and back again. "I'll do it," he said, then nodded to the princess. "But she needs to hold up her end of the deal."

The princess swung her head his way. "I did!"

"No you didn't," he answered, lips curling up into a smirk. "I said let Morgana go, and I won't do what you want until you do."

"I thought you meant--"

"Yes, perhaps, but you thought wrong," Kit crowed. "Is that not how the Folk operate? It's never what you 'think.' I meant let him go, and the moment I do what Titania asks, he will be free. Or, we can remain captives and I'll never do as you wish. How's that sound?"

Titania was furious, eyes boring into the princess with rage. "Let him go, Nam. He's not worth it, we need the prince. We'll talk about this slip up later."

Kit watched Morgana fall from her grip and let out a breath of relief. The Unseelie was properly free, and he could leave as long as he didn't do anything else to justify being a prisoner again. He hoped he would just leave, but he was a fool to think he would, not without Giselle. If he knew how to solve this thing, he'd do it in a heartbeat, but he had no plan yet. This was all a matter of figuring it out as he went.