"I still wonder about it," I said.
His brow furrowed, eyes searching my expression. "Wonder about what?"
"Whether you're the villain in my story."
~~~~~~~
Mara Monroe is at the center of a war she wanted no part in.
But with her new throne she fac...
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"Ready to sacrifice me over to the Autumn king?"
Andras glared at me. Okaaaay, so he was not one for teasing so early in the morning. He was all nerves, I could practically feel him vibrating with them as we rode to the Iron Gate. Surprisingly, I felt none of that.
There was anticipation, sure. From being back in the Autumn court. From facing Cenred after I killed his son. And attempting to rescue his youngest son.
"Stop!"
Andras and I tensed at the voice. We were both sitting on the same horse and my hands were bound in front of me with thick rope. Andras slowly and quietly pulled a dagger out of his belt and pressed it against my back before the Autumn sentries approached us.
"What is your business here?"
Andras cleared his throat and I prayed to whatever would listen that he could pull this off. If he started hesitating, we would certainly be found out.
"I've come to deliver the Queen of Summer to the king."
The two fey knights that approached us on their own horses shared a look between the two of them and then back at me. They eyed Andras' dagger at my back and the binding of my hands.
"Who are you?"
"Lord of Winter, Prince of Frost, second heir to the Ice Throne. Take your pick. My friends, however, call me Andras. You can call me my Lord."
"Why have you brought her here?"
Shit. Half-truths wouldn't be enough to get him out of that one. Plus, whatever cleverly crafted thing he could come up with these knights would probably see straight through. So, when he started to respond I interrupted him.
"Bastard betrayed our alliance. He thinks that if he delivers me to Cenred, the Winter court will receive clemency."
The knights eyed me and then scanned Andras. He merely nodded.
"Come with us."
I let out a loose breath. The two knights, one in front of us and one behind, escorted us to the iron gate. Andras winced as we passed over the gate, and even I felt it tingle against my skin. Being half fey did have its perks. Iron was only a mild discomfort whereas touching it would cause Andras and any other full blooded fey to burn the moment it touched them.
I never knew why it was that way. I never bothered to ask. Maybe Thea would know. She seemed to have a scientific explanation for everything. But there was no scientific explanation for Cenred's cruelty in making his people build that gate for him knowing how many people it would kill.
The air was cold and it dropped about thirty more degrees when the Keep finally came into view. The last time I was here I rescued Oliver. I found out who Cedric really was, and maybe at the same time, I started figuring out who I was too.
The knight behind us must have noticed the expression on my face because he smiled.
"Afraid, princess? You should be."
I looked him cold in the eyes. "Maybe when I was a princess I was afraid. Now? Now I think that your king is the one who is afraid. After all, what brave king makes his people build a gate to keep all of the other scary fey out?"
The knight's brows narrowed but he didn't bother answering my taunt. Instead, he looked up at Andras and gave him a quizzical expression.
"How did you travel so far with her without putting something over her mouth?" he asked.
"How dare y—"
My objection was muffled by Andras tying a rag around my mouth. My gut reaction was to fight against it, and I did a little bit on instinct and it made our little act more realistic.
"She can be entertaining," Andras responded simply.
I mumbled I'm gonna kill you but it sounded like mm huhuh feel few. Andras pinched my side and I resisted the urge to laugh. It was a hysterical king of urge, one that came when you knew you were walking into one of the most dangerous places with a somewhat stupid plan but there was no other option.
When we made it to the bottom of the steps and Andras helped me off the horse with my hands still bound, the urge to laugh completely disappeared. Maybe because it finally sank in that I was willingly offering myself up to the Autumn Court.
Fortunately, Andras removed the gag around my mouth quickly as to not draw attention to it from the other knights.
I shot him a look, silently asking him if he was okay. He hesitated before giving the tiniest of nods. I thought that maybe if I listened carefully enough I could hear the furious pounding of his heart. I'm sure mine was the exact same way, but I was too numb to feel it.
The last time I was here, I was running away from them. Trying to keep my nephew safe. Trying to save my sister. My kingdom.
I was still trying to save my kingdom, that much was true and in order to do that I had to run straight to my enemies.
Well... walk slowly... with my hands tied.
You know what, this probably wasn't the greatest plan I ever thought of.
Then, "human bitch!"
My jaw flared with red-hot pain as a gloved hand struck the back of my cheek. My eyes watered immediately with the pain of the contact, and through the blurriness I could make out the familiar face that waited for us on the top step.
"You killed my brother," Edwin spat, "I'm going to enjoy killing you slowly."
Hard to look for a double meaning behind those words. Pretty clear what he meant from them.
I blinked a couple of times, stretching my jaw. It wasn't broken, but it would definitely swell and bruise. I could feel it already, it hurt like hell.
But all he would see from me was boredom and an air of superiority that I perfected by watching all of the Autumn court royals looking down on their subjects. Green eyes, eyes shaped almost like Cedric's, narrowed on me with disgust.
"So I see you didn't take our break up well," I noted the long scar along his face— that was certainly new, "and I see Cedric also left you a little goodbye present too."
The scar ran from his hairline down to his jaw. Cedric said when we were leaving the Autumn court that he'd taken care of his brother. He hadn't killed him, I knew that and he said as much, but Cedric clearly took a large piece of his older brother with him when he left with me. To buy me time.
I expected the eldest Autumn Lord to react in a number of ways. To strike me again, maybe. To lash out with his words. Perhaps to gag me again. Instead, he smiled.
"And I, Your Majesty," he crooned, "have repaid him tenfold. Just as I plan to repay you as well."
