Page 44 of Within the Hollow Heart

Jules’s hand slid into Nickolas’s, palm against palm, and the entire group marched forward through the woods.

It wasthe small hours before dawn when the group had finally resumed the safety of the castle. Princess Mireille and her men had returned to their suites, Ian was being tended for a minor cut he’d received in their scuffle with the fae guard, and Nickolas and Jules sat nestled between Jules’s brothers as Etta and Gideon distributed hot tea and what honey cakes and bread they could find. Jules had not let go of Nickolas’s hand.

The moment Etta finally settled—not onto a chair but leaned against a desk across from Nickolas and Jules—she asked, “What can you tell us of Rivenwilde?”

The cake seemed to catch in Nickolas’s throat.

Etta crossed her arms. “As I suspected, you are bound from revealing a single of the prince’s secrets under the laws of hospitality.”

The statement came in such a way that Nickolas guessed it was not the first time the prince had foiled her attempts at information gathering, but the expression on Etta’s face made clear it was not the time to question her about it.

“What about Mireille?” Jules asked. “You cannot be planning to actually let her go.”

Etta tapped a finger against the sleeve of her marshal’s coat. Jules had intended to do just such a thing but evidently could not countenance it for someone else. Etta said, “Mireille offered herself in exchange for Nickolas because she needs protection from a threat much greater than the prince.” When Jules started to speak again, Etta held up a hand. “I am not to say more on the matter. But trust that it was done willingly and with utmost consideration.”

Jules’s mouth snapped shut.

One of the brothers slid a hand over hers. “The fae queen causes a great deal of strife, sister. You have been gone for so long and I fear do not understand the full reach of her influence.” His expression was apologetic. “Despite all our efforts, she has managed to corrupt our father past the point of return.”

“Is he well?”

Another of the brothers answered, “Not entirely. And worse, he’s in grave danger from the queen, and that danger puts the kingdom at risk.”

The tea turned in Nickolas’s stomach. Jules had said that if she agreed to wed the prince, she would be putting entire kingdoms in danger. And there was her brother, free of his curse, echoing the sentiment once more. Nickolas had no notion of what a fae queen might be capable of, but their tones made clear it was worse than the threat of the Rivenwilde prince.

“The queen is going to marry him,” Jules breathed.

The first brother inclined his head. “A date has been set. And once he does... Well, I’m certain we all know her plans for Father.”

Jules’s hand tightened in Nickolas’s as her brother drew away. She asked, “How do we stop it?”

The second brother leaned forward. “We must remove him from the throne before the ceremony is complete.”

“I support your decision,” she said. “Even though, as I’ve renounced both title and kingdom, you no longer need my consent.”

The brothers glanced at one another.

“What is it?” Jules asked warily.

The one who appeared oldest drew back his shoulders, giving Jules his full attention. It was quite impressive, Nickolas noticed, but Jules did not seem in the least cowed.

The man said, “We have decided to step down. It is not we who deserve this honor. You have broken our curse, defied the fae queen, and sacrificed all in order to preserve the kingdom.”

“That’s—I can’t. I’m no longer even—”

The lot of them stood, moved to face Jules, then knelt on the floor before her as one, heads bowed.

A hush fell over the room before the eldest lifted his gaze to hers. “Julietta Leanna Eleanora Declare, I hereby bestow upon you the right of heir, as my sister, daughter of the king, and honorable servant to the kingdom. Long may you reign.”

“Hear, hear,” echoed the brothers. “Long may you reign.”

“I—” Jules’s words seemed to choke off, her hand gone slack in Nickolas’s.

For Nickolas’s part, he was certain he’d gone at least as pale as Gideon and Etta had. He could not help but ask them, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Etta opened her mouth, but no words came. Gideon ran a shaky hand across his brow.

“There is no choice,” one of the brothers said. “If we do not remove the king now, he will certainly be killed as soon as they’re wed.”

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