Page 404 of Kingdoms of Night

Branch nodded. “We hoped in secret because you are right that the king wishes to see Prince Viridi dominate this island, as well as any land they can reach by boat. But seeing him like he was just now … there is no hope. You must escape while you have a chance. There is no one who can fight him when he is transformed. He is earth magic personified. Unbeatable.”

“Except if someone has flint and a striker?” Werian raised his eyebrows. “It’s true, is it not? If he is the lord of trees, he most likely burns like one.”

The dryad elves scowled at Werian and refused to speak the rest of the way to the beach, but Isa didn’t have any room in her mind for any of that. She could only think of Viridi’s moon-white eyes and the way he’d tried to shake off his transformation when she’d spoken to him.

Was she really going to leave him like this?

He was being used by his father. That much was clear even if she knew next to nothing about this place or dryad elves. She’d seen enough of malevolent men to know one when she saw one, and the king was a prime example.

Nico tugged on Isa’s dress. “I liked it here too, but we have to leave, don’t we?” The whites of his eyes showed all the way around his irises. He walked so closely to her that it was difficult to stay upright.

“Of course,” she said, giving in and trying to push her heart to the side and the bond to the back of her mind. Of course she would take Nico to safety. If it had just been her, she might have stayed to help Viridi, but she was Nico’s only family and he needed her and a safe place to grow up. It would be atrocious for her to risk his life for the foolish desires of her heart. Viridi might not even want her help.

“Listen,” Werian said to Branch and Calva, “I apologize for offending you, but your king did try to have our friend eaten by his very scary son. Can you really blame me?”

Branch and Calva exchanged a glance. “I suppose we can forgive you, fae prince, based on your loyalty to your friend.”

He bowed and swept a hand dramatically across his body. “A thousand thank yous.”

Rhianne curtseyed and gave them a sympathetic smile.

Isa followed them over the sand, the grains shifting under the shoes Viridi had given her. She faced the woods as Rhianne lifted her wand and sent out a blazing spark of purple light to hail the ship bobbing off the coast. The others talked, but Isa didn’t join in. It was madness, but her heart was breaking.

Never before had a man captured her attention like Viridi. Not once had she experienced such powerful desire and care for a person before even getting to know them. She knew, without a doubt, she would never love anyone with the intensity that she would have loved Viridi if given the time here with him. He was special. A wonder. A complex and fascinating soul. Visions of him and memories of his words would echo through her dreams forever.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

VIRIDI

From the shadows of the jeweltrees, Viridi watched her go. Blood shushed in his ears and he dug his thorned fingertips into the trunk beside him, hand shaking. His nostrils flared, seeking her scent in vain. The tree winced—not as an elf would but as more of a dimming of its energy, a ripple of discomfort that echoed through Viridi’s body. He detached his sharp hold on the tree, apologizing absently. How was he going to survive this? His soul shuddered as she moved farther and farther away.

He’d found himself after she’d fled, and between Felix and Father, he’d heard the story. Squeezing his eyes shut, he wished he could beg forgiveness for taking energy from her like that. He hadn’t been aware of himself, but it was no excuse really. He’d known it was a risk and that the jeweltrees could taint his mind, and he’d still insisted on spending time with her.

Once Viridi had his own mind again, Father had demanded that Viridi fetch back his sacrifice. He had staunchly refused.

“Do it,” a voice said behind him.

He turned to see Felix loping from the deeper darkness of the forest. His eyes were bloodshot and Viridi knew he was the cause of his distress.

“Do what?” Viridi looked again toward the skiff. Isa, Nico, Prince Werian, and Princess Rhianne were boarding their ship. He could still feel the beat of Isa’s heart next to his. It was an illusion, of course—he didn’t hold any part of her inside his corporeal body. But the feeling made his head swim all the same.

“Go get her. Call her back,” Felix said.

Felix’s hand on his shoulder was warm and comforting, so he eased away from him. He deserved no comfort.

“I can’t. It’s too dangerous and you know it. Pretend for a moment you aren’t my friend and instead you’re hers. What would you say then?”

“I don’t think fate would tease you both like that. The way you defended her… I know you, Viri. You’ll find a way to solve this and she may be the key. Also, I’m so glad you banished Helena. She should have been sent on her way when she denied the sick ones a portion of her harvest last year. She’s the real beast here.”

Viridi pushed his emotions down, down, down. He had to focus on his plan. “What did Father say about the Pearl Isles?”

“He won’t consider it,” Felix said. “He shows only delight at what happened.”

Viridi sighed and squinted as the distance swallowed Isa and the ship. He shivered. He wished he could leave the island, but he feared the jeweltrees here would blame the others for his absence and would refuse to feed them.Or worse. “I will have to motivate him.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Because you’re far more intelligent than my father.” Father was foolish not to fear him.

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