When the two females looked at him, he grinned. “Just trying to help.”

“You must be really good,” Annwyl said, “if you’ve got a Northland male singing your praises.”

“Northlanders don’t sing,” Vigholf felt the need to say.

“I can help you, Annwyl,” Rhona said, before Annwyl and Vigholf got into a heated discussion about what Northlanders do and don’t do. “Tel me what you need.”

“You can’t be serious,” Gaius argued.

“She’s the one being who could possibly get Aggie away from Vateria. A mad bitch against an evil one. This plan . . . it could work.”

“Or we could just be giving Vateria what she wants. Then she’d have Queen Annwyl and my sister.”

“Gaius—”

“No, we’re not doing this.”

“Why not?” Startled, they both looked up to find the queen standing at the cavern entrance, watching them.

“Because no matter what the world says about me,” Gaius explained, “I’m not that much of a monster to turn a female, any female, over to my cousin. She especial y likes females to . . . play with.”

“You may not be that much of a monster”—Annwyl grinned—“but I am.” She walked into the cavern. “First off . . . I’m sorry about what I said yesterday.” She shrugged. “My head hurt.”

Probably from all those voices screaming in there. But Gaius only said, “I understand.”

“You know . . . I have twins. Talan and Talwyn. Al they do is fight. Constantly.” Her smile was warm. “But don’t try to get between them. Or, even worse, don’t hurt one and think the other wil let you get away with it. Talwyn can be clear across the castle grounds or on a different floor, and she’l know when Talan’s in trouble. She feels it. I know she does.”

Annwyl stood in front of him, her hand reaching out, cal oused fingers cupping his cheek. “I understand how much you hurt, Gaius. And how scared you are for her. But you can’t let that fear stop you from taking this chance to get her out. We have to get her out.”

“Why? Why do you want to get her out so badly?”

“It’s complicated. But to do what I need to do, to get what I need, I have to help you first. Let me.”

“I send you in there, Annwyl, I’m sending you to your death. And that’s if you’re lucky.”

“I stopped fearing death a long time ago. You know . . . after I actual y died. It changes your perspective.” She frowned and added, “Vateria’s destroying your sister as we speak. So I help you. . . . Then you help me. An al iance, of sorts.”

“You control the entire Southlands, and yet you’re wil ing to risk your life doing this?”

“Because I’l do whatever it takes to protect my twins. And we both know that if Thracius wins, they won’t live long.” Gaius glanced at Varro, but his friend was leaving it al up to him. But before Gaius could agree—and they al knew he would because he’d run out of choices—he noted, “You seem different today, Annwyl.”

“Yeah. The wolf licked my head.”

The two friends looked at each other again, but this time there was definitely more panic involved.

“What?” Gaius asked.

“My head always feels better after he licks it. Although I’m hoping that won’t be necessary anymore once I get some real sleep.”

“And do wolves always . . . lick your head?”

“No. Just this one. I’m hungry,” she sighed and walked away. “Hope you don’t mind,” she tossed back at him. “We’re using your forge.”

“At this point,” Varro admitted, “I usual y tel you that it could be worse. But honestly, I can’t even . . . there’s just no . . . I’m at a loss!” So was Gaius, but as king, he couldn’t real y say that out loud.

Chapter 29

Edana saw them too late. Somehow they’d slipped past them al and made their way to the tunnels.

When she realized, she charged after them, Breena and Nesta fol owing without question. She was able to trip one with her tail, then bring down her broadsword, splitting his spine.

She fol owed after her sisters, who’d kept after the other three Elites. They were nearing the exit, and Edana didn’t want to lose them in the forests.

“Stop them!” she yel ed at her sisters. “Don’t let them out!”

Nesta tackled one of the Elites from behind. Once on the ground, she used a dagger to open his throat. Breena flew over the head of another and met him head-on with her knife.

But the last one . . .

Snarling, Edana went after him. He was nearing the exit and she didn’t think she’d reach him in time. But she saw her cousins near the exit. The problem was . . . it was Celyn and Éibhear. And they were gods-damn fighting again!

“Éibhear! Celyn!” she cal ed out. But her cousins were too busy shoving each other, poor Austel once again trying to separate them.

“Éibhear! ” she screeched, stil running, stil trying to catch up.

Her cousin turned, looked at her.

“Stop him!”

Confused, Éibhear blinked, but then he caught on. He and Celyn dove at the Elite, but the Iron slipped past them and shot out the entrance.

“No!”

“We’l get him!” Nesta and Breena yel ed, the pair charging after the Elite.