“You’re going to stand nice and still. Without a word.”

The murmur was pressed to Knox’s ear. A voice he did not recognize meant two things: danger, and dealing with it as quietly as he could as quickly as he could. 

His hand drifted, as slyly as he possibly could, reaching for the dagger strapped to his thigh, but the firm grasp on his shoulder turned hostile. Something sharp dug into the thin fabric of his clothes between his shoulders, making it painfully known that the directions given weren’t ones to disobey.

Knox could feel the cool kiss of steel through the hooded shawl over his shoulders. It was a necessary evil, to wear light layers in thin fabrics. In navies, dark greens and browns, to stay cloaked in whatever darkness available. Necessary and efficient, but in times like this Knox cursed them; they offered no protection.

Before him, Vander was winning over the Summer Court with one valiant claim after another. Then a promise, earnest and forward, though not without warning of consequences that could follow. Reminders of all the times they had lost because of a man too stubborn to see past his ego, that trees must learn to bend to survive heavy winds. To be too deeply rooted in one’s ways brings only an axe, but every word from the Prince’s mouth turned to a muddied noise Knox couldn’t make out over the sound of his heart pounding in his ears.

“Two steps to the right,” The fae whispered, “Try bolting and you’ll be the center of attention. Neither of us want that, now, do we?”

Two measured steps to his right and Knox’s view of the dias grew less obscured. Queen Keryth and Princess Navae’s still bodies were collapsed so near one another… it looked as if in their last moments they had tried to embrace. On the other side, only a pace from where Vander had stood, Princess Ameira was crumpled amongst frosted thorns. Blood had turned her yellow gown into a grotesque sunset. Perhaps she had tried to protect him, Knox thought, but the brief daydream of the sight was cut short.

“No words, only nod.” One more command whispered against Knox’s ear and he thought he might scream. Consequences be damned. “Do you see the little prince?”

Knox’s gaze was slow to move from Ameira in search. He had known blood would spill today, but not so much, and not so front and center.

Vander’s voice continued to raise murmurs and calls of agreement from his court. Now in the middle of the long room while the king was held so carefully in front of his throne. The smile on her face was no longer political, malicious or arrogant. 

It was hungry. 

Once again Merindah held Knox’s attention. Her smile stirred an uneasiness. Bad things happened when she was angry, worse when she was hungry. Control is what she had always been after, control, power, and everything in between. Now with Vander under her thumb it was clear she had so much more than she’d hoped for. 

The blade prodded further between Knox’s shoulders, “You aren’t looking. Your queen may be there, but she won’t help you. Now,” With a pause, the blade retracted a bit from its place of insistence. “Do you see him, or not?” 

Not knowing what exactly the youngest prince looked like was the first thought that came to Knox’s mind. He wanted to protest. Elaen was the only Summer royal he hadn’t heard gossip about, or read over shoulders about. The only interesting thing Knox had ever been told was that supposedly they shared a birthday. What was most odd was that a week of celebration never followed the prince’s like other royals, and no praise was ever sung if he’d accomplished anything.

For the longest time, Knox had wondered if the prince was even real, now with a golden opportunity for introduction, he wasn’t on the dias.

With a shake of his head, Knox made the decision to reduce himself to obedience. If only to save himself from being made any more a fool, or wind up like the fallen Ashwillows. His throat was tight, even if he’d tried to speak, Knox was sure nothing would come out.

“Why might that be, you think?” The hand on his shoulder pulled back, forcing steps toward the window Knox had intended to slip out of. “That the youngest Ashwillow isn’t there to see such a sweet proposal unravel?”

Knox hadn’t the faintest idea. His head was spinning with the threat to his own safety. Solving a puzzle of a missing prince wasn’t going to get him out alive, especially not the one he knew least about. The last thing Knox saw before being drug over the ledge was Vander. Stood triumphantly in the middle of the room. With a voice like liquid gold, he called out for his court’s loyalty as he turned to face King Lias once again. 

Fae after fae fell into a kneel in a mesmerizing wave. There was no murmur of question. No objection demanding truth, or clarity. 

Only loyalty.