Chapter 52

"Stop fidgeting, Anaria. People are staring."

I smirked up at Tavion as we walked along the North Road, choking on dust. "Nice try. They're looking at a six-foot-six menace with silver hair who dresses like a gigolo and sticks out like a sore thumb, not little old me. I'm practically invisible over here."

But I pulled my tattered hood up over my hair to make him happy. Lord Tavion Montgomery was easily recognizable, but me…I was practically a celebrity in Blackcastle. The king's only daughter, and I was sure word had reached my father that I was here.

The only question was, how long before a patrol of soldiers came along to collect us?

"This place is worse than when we left," I observed quietly, noting how people rushed down the road, keeping their heads down, a few hard-faced soldiers inspecting every wagon as they passed by, not even bothering to hide their looting as they stole whatever they wanted from the dirt-poor farmers.

"I can't believe Zor thinks they're worth saving," I muttered. "Look at what they're doing."

"We're not here to keep order, Anaria." I blew out a heavy breath as Tavion yanked me back for the tenth time, away from the sobbing woman, her belongings crushed in the dirt around her by the gang of jeering soldiers.

"Zorander's wrong," I hissed as Tavion hurried me away. "They're a bunch of fucking monsters."

"We've been gone awhile. Whoever's commanding the army these days sets the tone for their behavior." Tavion's hand tightened around mine. "My guess is Crux is in charge, or someone equally as bad. Probably giving them orders to terrorize and intimidate."

"Yeah, well, I can't wait to put an end to this bullshite," I told him as the Keep came into sight, Blackcastle's rambling open-air market crowded with a mix of Fae peddling their wares, hungry, despairing humans, and keen-eyed soldiers patrolling the stalls.

A lot of soldiers.

More than was necessary to monitor a bunch of potato sellers.

"Why are there so many?" I muttered out of the corner of my mouth.

"Looking for something, obviously." He tugged me deeper into the crowds, which was ridiculous since he towered a foot above everyone else. "Let's not make it too easy for them or they'll get suspicious."

We wound through the market, heading toward the one section of Blackcastle where we weren't overly worried about starting a fight.

Southwell was a rabbit's warren of alleys and narrow streets lined with shops that catered to the more undiscerning clients. In fact, Trubahn's shop was somewhere within this district, not that any of these streets looked familiar.

The further inside Southwell we got, the more deserted the streets became, only a few cloaked figures hurrying to reach their destinations, not a single one glancing our way.

"Gods, this place stinks worse than usual," Tavion muttered, dodging a pile of something that could have either been excrement or vomit. "Smells like the underbelly of a?—"

"Well. I have to say, I didn't believe my men when they'd said they'd spotted you." Crux appeared from the shadows to box us in, along with a full patrol of his men. "I had to come see for myself."

One glance behind us showed the narrow road blocked by three lines of soldiers, swords ready to skewer us should we decide to make a run for it.

Tavion pressed against me, one arm wrapped around my waist, his body taut, but his chin lifted high as he surveyed Crux with a sneer. "Well, look, my love. We have a welcoming party. Perhaps Crux has run out of people to murder and is here to hand us the key to the city."

I didn't think I'd ever loved my husband more than right now.

"You must be perfectly mad to come back here," Crux murmured, his eyes glimmering with doubt and suspicion. "In fact, I've been asking myself…why come back at all?"

"Why shouldn't I return home? I did what my father and his armies couldn't." I threw back the hood of my cloak, and the battle-hardened Fae males behind Crux paled. "I got rid of Carex. The king should be thanking me. Or rewarding me. Think of all the gilder I've saved him."

"Thanking you?" Crux chuckled as if he'd said something hilarious. "Sure. The king has a celebration ceremony all ready and waiting for the two of you. To thank you both."

"Gods, a party sounds amazing. I cannot wait." I grinned. "Are you here to escort us to this celebratory event? I suppose we should be honored."

Tavion pinched my side. Okay, so maybe I was laying it on a bit too thick, but Crux wasn't the brightest bulb, and I really, really owed him for taking advantage of Ember, even if she was possessed by a Reaper.

"Hold out your hands or this will get messy." Crux motioned a guard forward, who was holding a set of metal shackles. They stank, reeking of iron and something even worse, making every cell in my body recoil in horror.

"Go ahead, Anaria," Tavion urged softly as he presented his hands in front of him. I copied his stance, my hands clenched tightly enough Crux grinned.

"They're only Paelonius iron." Like the bands around your arms, Tavion didn't say, but then it was too late for me to tell him they were something worse because they were clamped around my wrists.

Tavion shuddered, his horror-filled eyes flicking to mine as he realized there was some other dark magic in these shackles.

But there was nothing I could do to stop Crux from planting his hand between my shoulder blades and shoving me forward with a soft, wicked laugh.

"I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this. I always knew I'd be the one to execute you, Montgomery, but to slice off your pretty little wife's head first while you're screaming for me to spare her…that, I think, will be the highlight of my week."

"I hate this fucking place,"Tavion growled when we hit the dungeon's main corridor.

I knew there was a dungeon beneath the Keep. The Shadow King needed a dungeon, somewhere for Crux and Lyrae to torture and kill and maim their victims. Somewhere for them to do his dirty work when they weren't lopping heads off during the daily audiences.

This place stank like the Tempeste prison, that same stench of blood and urine and desperation that mixed together to choke off your air and kill your hope.

"I went easy on you last time." Crux's grin grew wider with every step we took, but I shot Tavion a look. You were in here? And Crux, what…tortured you?

Yes, he seemed say, his blue eyes frosting over before he pasted that irreverent, easy smile on his face again. The sight made my chest ache unbearably.

Shite. I should have brought Raziel or Zorander.

Even Tristan.

Not Tavion, who probably had memories—no, worse than memories, nightmares of this fucking place. And now he was back, helpless because of these fucking shackles, and facing…I blew out a long breath.

If Tavion could pretend, then fuck it, so could I.

"I'll bet it's beautiful in the summer." I bumped Tavion with my shoulder. "Do you think they put flowerboxes on the cells to brighten things up?"

"I can see it now. Pinks and purples." Tavion's grin widened. "Crux probably picks the colors."

Crux turned around and looked at us like we were both mad.

"Put them in the second cell. I want guards outside at all times. No breaks in rotation or I'll eat your fucking hearts. I have to sort out a problem, but I'll be back."

He looked us both over like we were meat. "Then the three of us will play."

"Can't wait." Tavion slid down the wall until he landed on the disgusting floor. "See you soon."

Pounding boots rushed down the hall toward us. Crux hadn't even closed the door before a soldier hissed, "The old commander was spotted inside the Keep. He'd almost infiltrated the throne room when a sharp-eyed guard spotted him. They have him detained, but he's tearing through guards like they're butter."

"Your diversion didn't work," Crux sneered. "We've been waiting for something like this, and you walked right into my arms, little princess. You and your traitorous friends, and now…" His eyes flashed with something too terrifying to name. "Lyrae and I will paint the Shadow King's throne with your blood."

"Don't get too cocky." Tavion lazily opened one eye. "You still have to capture Zor and he's going to kick your fucking arse, Crux. I only wish I was there to see it."

By the time they dragged Zorander into the cell and tossed him on the floor beside Tavion, he was bleeding from so many places I couldn't even tell where the wounds were, only that he'd been painted in blood.

"Good plan, Anaria," Zor muttered, trying to right himself despite his hands shackled behind his back. "Worked out perfectly."

"Thank the gods they didn't catch…oh." My voice trailed off as Raziel was tossed in next, his body hitting the floor so hard the stone walls shuddered around us. I crashed onto my knees and frantically ran my hands over him, thanking all the gods my hands were bound in front of me.

"He's just unconscious." I laid my palm over Raz's chest, sucking in a quick gasp of relief at the sure, steady beat thundering against my skin.

"Today is the best day of my career." Crux looked drunk when he raked us with his dark gaze, that gloating smile a now-permanent fixture on his brutish face. "I'm getting a promotion for this, guaranteed. My name will go down in history for singlehandedly catching you traitors and foiling a plot against the king."

"And what makes you think there's a plot against the king?" I asked softly. "I'm here to report our success back to my fake father after I saved your armies from being totally decimated."

"Because I received word from Caladrius." Lyrae stepped into the room behind Crux, her silky black hair hanging in a perfectly smooth sheath, cold eyes skimming over us with cool loathing. "From my contact there."

I winced beneath that icy stare. Her contact. The Oracle.

"You came here to assassinate the Shadow King and claim his throne. You wish to usurp his power and make it yours like you did to his brother in Caladrius." Her cold smile grew frostier and a little superior.

"I know everything, little princess. But now your plotting is over."

She ran her hand up Crux's arm with a purr. "And soon enough, all of Solarys will see you for exactly what you are."