Take Me

“I have to go. I have to!” the other more desperate maiden snapped.

The guard, still present in our chamber, shot her a curious look. She lowered her head and stared down at the juice.

“You should drink that,” I murmured before holding out what was left of my food. “And eat.”

“That's not what I want,” she muttered through clenched teeth, rocking back and forth. “If they all leave for Sypani, what happens to us? What if they never come back? How will we survive down here?”

Yes, how would we survive? Would they bother bathing, feeding and caring for us once the Synians left on their invasion? There would be no reason to take care of us anymore.

That wasn't the most pressing problem on my mind. I grabbed the arm of the maiden next to me, noting how thin she was and also the bite marks peppering her pale skin. “Why are they invading? Did they know any of the specifics?”

“It has something to do with the king’s sister. They spoke of her. Jaide, her name is?”

The bacon in my stomach instantly turned into a block of ice. The chill spread through me, threatening to freeze my blood. “What about her? What's going to happen to her?”

“I don't know. But he doesn't like her being around. She threatens to stand in his way.”

“How?” I whispered, careful to avoid the guard’s notice.

“Once he takes the crown, he's going to sit on the throne. He'll be king of the Fae.”

My hand fell from her arm. I sat back, my head spinning. That wasn't what I'd heard. Theon had made it sound like they were going to destroy the Fae. Wipe them out completely. They’d said nothing about Jett planning to rule them.

And certainly not that he needed to kill Jaide to do it.

I had to go on that trip.

The sudden certainty got me on my feet. My entire body buzzed with an energy I hadn't felt since before we left Sypani. Determination coursed through me. I had to send word to Aldric. I couldn't let him leave without me. Not when Jaide was in danger and needed to be warned.

But I couldn't put it to him that way. He could never know my true intentions.

That wasn't my immediate problem, though. Right now, I needed to find a way to get word to Aldric. My options were limited to the guard who was now pushing the cart toward the door. I fell in step beside him, leaning in until we were barely touching.

“I wondered if you might do me a favor?” I started.

The lanky Synian smirked down at me. “Right. As if you're the first person who ever asked. You maidens are all the same.”

“Are we?” I stepped in front of the cart, blocking his way. He could easily roll over me, and I knew it—but he hadn't done it yet. He was dismissive but not exactly cruel. There had to be a way I could use that in my favor.

“Move.”

“I would like to make a deal with you,” I said.

“And I would like the blood of fifty fresh maidens. We'll see which of us gets what we want sooner.”

“I must get word to Aldric.”

His smile was cold, disbelieving. “Sure. Absolutely.”

“I mean it.”

“I'm sure you think you do,” he said. When I remained in place, he bared his teeth. “Anyone acquainted with the king would know better than to disturb him. If he isn't paying attention to you, that's a good thing. Count your blessings.”

“Let me assure you, I'm well acquainted with the king.” I opened my robe just enough to display the scar Aldric had gifted me. “This was thanks to his blade. I served him in Sypani, and it was he who brought me here. I must get word to him. Immediately.”

When he hesitated, I added, “And if he finds out his maiden needed to reach him and was refused, how do you think he'll react? Whatever happens won't be my fault.”

He narrowed his eyes, nostrils flaring. “What do you want to say?”

He pulled a small notebook and ink pen from his pocket and handed them to me. I could have wept with gratitude, but except he hadn't delivered the message yet. I could only hope he would.

On a small scrap of paper, I scrawled the most straightforward message I could think of: Whatever it is you plan to do, take me with you. I can help.

I signed my name before folding the paper and handing it to him. I watched with my heart in my throat as the guard left, closing and locking the door, and leaving the maidens to weep, beg, and wail even more because I had received special attention, and they hadn’t.

But it was easier to ignore them now. I had something else to focus my mind on.

I had to get to Jaide, even if it meant traveling with Aldric again.