Page 19 of Promise of Darkness
In my mother’s kingdom, wishes are worth nothing more than the breath they’re exhaled upon.
“Perhaps I find it difficult to believe, considering what happened to your wife.”
He hesitates as he moves to dismount. Just a moment of wariness dashing across his expression before he collects himself. “My wife?” The words are cold and hard. “What have you heard of my wife?”
“Only that you lost her,” I tell him, “many years ago, and you swore bloody vengeance upon my people for her loss. You blame my mother, so you can understand my reticence.”
He reaches up to help me dismount, hard eyes locking on me. “You have nothing to fear from me, Your Highness. I would never repay her loss upon an innocent.”
“And my mother? What of her?”
“Adaia’s no innocent.” His smile turns dangerous as he sets me on both feet before the Hallow. “One day, I will make your mother rue the moment she ever heard of my marriage.”
“Even if it destroys her people?” I snort, brushing his hands from my hips. “You speak of not striking the innocent, but you’ll have to plow through them on your way to strike down the queen.”
The answer is in his eyes. “Only those who rise against me will be considered my enemies. And trust me, Your Highness. The people of Asturia would not stand a chance were I to go to war. You would be wise to warn them against such a move.”
“If you were as merciful as you claim, you’d not make such a move in the first place.”
The prince leans closer, the chill early morning wind cutting around the imposing length of his body. “Don’t mistake me, Princess. I’m not merciful. I’m not kind. And I don’t intend to let your mother win this bloody war.” He presses his fingertips to my startled lips. “But you and I have no grievance. Now follow me. Anyone would think you were stalling.”
I glance at the looming stones.
The second I pass through them, this becomes shockingly real. But I can’t afford for him to know I’m nervous.
I hand him the reins as if he’s some lackey. “Lead on, my prince. I’m not afraid of the next three months. Indeed, quite the opposite. I’m going to make you regret every single second of them.”
His smile is swift and makes my heart pound just a little. “You couldn’t make me regret them if you tried your best.”
“Challenge. Accepted.”
* * *
The Hallow looms aheadof us.
Thirteen ancient standing stones stood on the moor, carved with bronze glyphs in the old language. Each stone is perfectly smooth and polished, gleaming pale in the moonlight. There are twenty-three Hallows in the Seelie lands, used for centuries as portals. They stand where ley lines intersect, a nexus point for the power that bands the earth. Only sixteen of them remain in use. The others were destroyed or altered during the wars, and while the stones still stand in those ruined Hallows, the fae who used them vanished forever. Now nobody dares.
Each step brings the Hallow closer. I can feel the power within the circle vibrating over my skin. They’ll use that power to open a portal and travel to the prince’s lands.
But where?
The city of Ceres, on the bay? Or Valerian, the ancient City of the Dead that was half destroyed during the Unseelie Wars all those years ago?
“Where are you taking me?” I demand.
“Home,” he replies.
“Gather in close!” Eris bellows, gesturing the rest of the prince’s retinue through the lintel stones.
Twenty-four guards and retainers—which was the strict number allowed to attend from each court—make for close quarters. Thankfully, I’m somewhere near the edge, though Eris grabbed a handful of my horse’s bridle as if she feared I’d bolt at the last second.
“Tempting,” I mutter for her ears only.
Her smile could cut glass. “Time it incorrectly and the Hallow will slice you in two. It would be a shame to get blood all over my boots.”
Thiago cuts his finger and paints blood across one of the granite faces.
Power throbs through the stones, lighting up all the glyphs. They’re written in the Old Tongue, power words that were transcribed by mortal ear directly from the Old Ones. His voice lifts as he slowly intones the words that will channel that power directly through the Hallow.
