At least that was the plan—until now.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know what you were up to?” Brandon’s eyes glittered at the sight of me. “I know your kind only too well. You and Prince Rafael are so predictable and noble. I was sure one of you would come for the children. Imagine my surprise when he surrendered and you walked straight into my grasp as well. With Silverthorne’s grandson in my custody, getting rid of you all was almost too easy.”
My hands balled into fists as I tried to call up my fae magic, but it wouldn’t respond. “Where is Rafe?”
Delacourt laughed. “Oh, our little prince is not down here. I decided to let him join the festivities.” His eyes narrowed. “Heavily guarded and in chains. You and your fae prince are not invited, of course.” He pouted. “Don’t feel bad—you can understand why I had to do this.”
“You already have Rafe in custody. Let the children go.”
Brandon raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think I am going to do that just yet. I quite enjoy having all the nobles loyal to me.”
“They are not loyal to you, Brandon,” I spat. “They are only doing what you tell them to because they’re afraid for their children’s lives.”
Brandon chuckled. “Isn’t that the same thing? Everyone needs some incentive to ensure loyalty.”
I tried to keep him talking. I needed to find out more about his plans. “Loyalty is not demanded—it is earned.”
Brandon’s blue eyes narrowed. “Like you and Rafe earned the loyalty of that raggedy group, the Silver Swords.” He burst out laughing. “Your dear prince is so trusting, he doesn’t even know you have a traitor in your midst.”
My eyes darted to Tristan and my mind scrambled to recall all the faces I had seen in the safe house. Any one of them could be the traitor. Delacourt had known we were coming.
“At least my way is foolproof,” Brandon continued. “The nobles will never go against me openly. The only thing that ensures complete and unwavering loyalty is fear.”
Tristan snarled and moved forward, but I shot him a warning glare. We had to keep Brandon talking if we were going to figure a way out of this mess. He seemed to be one step ahead of us, and I had to find out more information on what he and Morgana were up to. Taking Eldoren was clearly only a part of the bigger plan.
Penelope would soon realize something was wrong. She would find a way to get us out.
“Where are the Drakaar?” I crossed my arms in front of me, hoping to look defiant, but I was trying to keep myself from trembling at the thought. I had to find out what was going on with Morgana. What was she planning?
“Why? Did you miss them?” Brandon smirked. “The Drakaar are making sure your little princeling Rafael doesn’t get up to any of his tricks.”
My blood chilled at the thought of what the Drakaar could do to Rafe. Mage magic was no match for them.
I gave Brandon a pointed look. I wasn’t going to let him know he fazed me. “And you came down here with only ordinary soldiers for protection.” I raised an eyebrow. “I would think that Morgana would have her best minions here if she knew I was coming.”
“You think too much of yourself, Princess. Morgana knows I am more than capable of dealing with you myself.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Like you dealt with me in Brandor the last time we met?” I didn’t want to push him too far, but I still needed to goad him to reveal more of his plans.
Brandon frowned. “Morgana made me archmage for a reason,” he said tightly. “I gave her what no one else could.”
I smirked. “I highly doubt that.”
Delacourt lifted his chin. “I have given her an army of mages. I have taken Eldoren.”
“And you killed my granduncle and the Blackwaters to do it,” I spat, looking over at Calisto in the shadows. “I don’t know how Calisto even looks at you after you murdered her father and brother.”
Calisto stepped closer, her hair shining gold in the fiery light of the torches the soldiers behind them carried. But her eyes—
I took a step back. Her eyes were no longer her own. They were the color of obsidian, and darkness seeped out of them, covering the whole iris until no white could be seen.
“Lilith!”
The Dark Queen had taken over Calisto’s body. She gave me a cold, thin smile. “Calisto is gone. She did put up quite a fight, though.” Lilith flexed her fingers and dark shadows swirled from her fingertips toward me. There was nowhere to run, so I stood my ground as the shadows moved through the bars of the portcullis and encircled me like thin ropes, tightening around me until I couldn’t move. “Did you really think we wouldn’t know you were here? Did you really think it would be so easy to rescue the children?” She smiled, as cold and sinister as a snake.
“You should have stayed dead, Lilith,” Tristan snarled, stepping forward. The shadows around me recoiled instantly, recognizing the dark prince even without his magic. “But it does give me the opportunity to make sure you do this time.”
“Prince Tristan.” Lilith inspected her nails briefly as the shadows dissipated completely. “It has been a while.”
I stood beside Tristan, putting up a mage shield. Blackened iron only worked on fae magic and didn’t affect mages. My mage powers weren’t going to get us out of here, but it was something. “You two know each other?”
Tristan’s eyes darkened. “We’ve met.”
“Briefly.” Lilith laughed, but her voice was filled with contempt. “Who doesn’t know the infamous Prince of the Night Court? Put down your swords, Prince Tristan. The shadows may fear you, but your silver fire will not work in here.”
“We know about the mines in Brandor, and we will stop you,” I said, sounding more confident
