The Summer palace held no warmth. I walked through the entrance, hands bound before me, and observed what had only been hinted at in the distance as we approached. Stone walls once covered in ivy and flowers were bare, and the decayed bits of leaves and petals had been finely ground by the boots of dozens of soldiers to dust that settled in the cracks of the floors. Chilled winds howled mournfully through the open rooms, carrying the scent of rot and must.

"Take her to the Queen's chambers," Calix commanded my captor, brushing past me to mount the stairs. After his spiteful declaration in the forest, he had not spoken to me again. "See that she's fed. She's looking far too skinny."

"What happened to you?" I shouted, yanking my shoulder away from the tense grip of the soldier—the same one who had captured me in the woods. "Was everything a lie?"

Calix paused on a step but didn't turn so I could see his face. "I don't think that's the right question."

"Enlighten me, then."

I hissed as the soldier snatched me backward. His mask touched my neck, and I could feel his lips move through the material. "Stop it."

The hairs on my arm stood up, but I ignored the sensation. Who knew what powers this Fae had?

"Calix!" I screamed, defying the soldier.

Calix spun around then, thunder in his expression. "The question, Luna, is not whether everything was a lie, but whether you only saw what you wanted."

My mouth worked, but no sound came out. Did he really believe that? I wasn't immune to ignoring a few red flags like most women, but not only had I witnessed him risk his life for his people, I had felt the lust and longing between us. And it wasn't just the night we consummated those desires—though, he might argue, that was only done out of necessity. It was every look and lingering touch. If I had seen something that wasn't true, then it was only because he manufactured it to appear that way.

"Now, if we have that out of the way," he said, plucking his glove from his hand one finger at a time. He fixed his eyes on the male behind me. "Take her to her rooms."

"I don't want to stay in the Queen's chambers," I spat, digging my heels into the ground as the soldier pushed me forward. "Put me with Jones."

"Enough."

Arms went around my waist like iron bands and lifted me from the floor. I kicked out, arching my spine, and connecting the back of my head with his chin. He grunted but didn't drop me. The only satisfaction I had was that by the time he tossed me inside my rooms, he was breathing harder than normal. For a Fae, that might as well be a sign of exhaustion.

"Go ahead," I taunted, circling the grand room and noting every object.

Golden candlesticks and heavy stones. Drapery cords and large thorns on withered vines. Plenty of weapons or devices for self harm. If Calix wanted me whole and healthy, I would not make it easy on him.

"As soon as you close that door, I'm going to jump from that window," I told the soldier as I stomped over to the arched, glassless window. It wasn't as large as the one in my previous bedroom, but it led out to a balcony.

"That would be a very stupid thing to do. For several reasons," he replied, shutting the door behind him and circling me warily.

"I think my list of why it would be a good idea is longer than yours." I hated not being able to see his face. No matter how expressionless someone tried to be, their face always gave something away.

"Quantity doesn't matter. Quality does, and I think dying trumps anything on your list."

Shifting my feet, I settled into the stance Calix spent hours teaching me. The one that made it easy for me to lunge in either direction and evade capture. Perfect for moments when my opponent was bigger and stronger than me. If only I could forget who I learned it from.

"You think dying bothers me?" His entire body went rigid, and I could have sworn my heart beat had a pounding echo. I rubbed my chest. "I was going to die before I returned here, and we both know the king does not intend for me to live long. An extravagant prison doesn't change that. At least if I jump, I go out on my terms, and whatever advantage he has with me here will be gone."

The soldier tossed his head back and curled and uncurled his fingers, almost as if he was gathering his patience about him. I took advantage of the moment and darted toward the window. It wasn't enough.

"There," he said. He straddled my hips as he tied my wrists to the bedposts with drapery cords.

"How am I supposed to eat like this?" I demanded, wishing I wasn't acutely aware of his cock pressing against my stomach as he leaned forward to tighten the ropes.

"You should have thought of that before acting like a complete fool."

I smiled sweetly, then bared my teeth. "The king told you to make sure I was fed."

"The king—" he bit off his words with a growl.

Then he paused, and I had the distinct impression he was raking his eyes over my body. He'd removed my coat after wrestling me away from the window, but I still wore jeans and two sweaters. There was zero sex appeal in this outfit, especially since my illness had stolen most of my curves. I might have thought he was disgusted by what he saw if I couldn't feel effects of his perusal between us.

"I will bring you dinner and untie you while you eat," he explained, finally climbing off me. "Then, you will be tied back to the bed, and that is where you will stay until we find a solution to this window problem."

"Are you to be my guard the entire time?"

He shrugged. "I will do what my king tells me to do. Right now, he wants me to babysit."

"Awe." I pulled against my restraints to test their strength. They didn't budge. "I thought we were bonding."

"I would be happy to be rid of you, and my only interest in keeping you alive is that in doing so, I remain among the living. So, please. Keep that in mind the next time you consider killing yourself. Your life is not your own. Mine—" He cleared his throat. "My life and that of whoever else they assign to you during your stay here is bound to yours."

That sobered me a bit. As much as I might hate Calix, these soldiers probably had no choice but to obey whoever wore the crown. How tragic that they had to go from serving someone because they loved and respect him to serving a monster out of fear?

"Wait," I called out as the soldier walked to the door. "What happened to Lorcan? How did Calix become king?" Had he killed his brother like he killed his sister?

"The only thing you need to know about Lorcan is that he is gone," he answered, his voice barely above a whisper.

My eyes dampened even as hope fluttered in my veins. Gone was not dead.

I wiped my cheeks. Determined to avoid a complete breakdown in front of the male, I asked, "What do I call you?"

"You have no need of my name. It is why we wear the mask. We are all the same, with the same purpose. To serve the king."

And with that terrible explanation, he left, leaving me tied to the bed, and completely alone. Outside, lightning arced across the sky, and rumbling thunder quickly followed. So many storms were fitting for a king who commanded them. Niamh once said Calix had enough power to make he world tremble, so what chance did a weak human like me have to win against him?

But... I pulled on the bindings and grinned when I felt them stretch. I wasn't human, was I? I was a Changeling, and a plan began to form. One that was going to require a little assistance from a very surly soldier.