I allowed a short laugh to escape my throat. “Lia will hunt you down,” I stated with certainty.

  Diawen shrugged. “If she is chasing after me, then I know she’s not searching for a way to break the curse.” She started for the door.

  “What would happen if she did?” I called out, causing her to pause.

  Diawen slowly turned around to face me, her features filled with an arrogant assurance. “She won’t. And she isn’t the first one to try.”

  My mother came to mind and I tensed; Diawen noticed the change in me. She nodded, her face conveying her understanding.

  “Your mother was a formidable person. Anyone who can withstand the Tyvar’s seduction is a powerful individual. No wonder she gave birth to two remarkable children.”

  “What do you know of her?” I snarled.

  Diawen interlocked her fingers, her expression turning impatient. “Your mother was a bit too clever for her own good. Like your queen, she sought to break the curse because of her love for her sons. She didn’t want the Tyvar life for you. It turns out she was very close to an answer. But I couldn’t let that happen, so I informed your father of her doings.” As soon as she brought up my father, dread flooded through my gut.

  “You see,” Diawen continued, “there are a lot of men here who don’t want the curse broken. They enjoy being what they are. Your mother was a threat to that. And, of course, I couldn’t allow her to succeed.”

  “So you had her killed,” I said, feeling my fists clench and a wave of heat wash over me.

  Diawen shook her head. “I didn’t have to do anything. Your father did that on his own. He was the one who killed her.”

  My breath caught in my throat and my vision blurred as I processed this new information. The anger and hatred I’d felt so many times before poured into my veins and I could imagine myself lunging at him and tearing out his throat, only that was never going to happen. The bastard was already dead. Our mother would’ve been alive today if he hadn’t taken her away.

  A wrenching sense of regret filled my chest and I felt like my world was crumbling around me. I could’ve done something to protect her if I’d only known. Diawen released a deep, resigned sigh, then turned and disappeared through the door.

  Bastian groaned and lifted his head, his body quivering with fury. Blood bubbled up in his mouth and he spat it onto the floor. His eyes slowly opened, blazing with anger, and he hissed.

  “That son of a bitch. I’m going to enjoy killing him.”

  I nodded grimly in agreement. “You and I both,” I said. “Rogan is going to suffer greatly.”

  He winced as he leaned against the pole, looking over at me. “What did I miss?”

  I swallowed and took a deep breath. “Everything. Diawen is luring Lia here so she can watch us be killed. That way, she’ll give up searching for the cure.”

  Bastian’s eyes widened with fear for our queen. “What are we going to do? Lia can’t come here.”

  I nodded. “You’re right. We must find a way out.”

  I wrenched against the ropes, feeling them bite into my wrists, and a steady trickle of blood began to seep from the wounds. A surge of determination filled me, and I ignored the pain, pushing against the bindings harder. Bastian did the same, but we both stopped when the door opened and Rogan strode in, dragging a Summer fae behind him. Her tanned skin glistened and her golden blonde hair cascaded down her back. Her green eyes were glazed over, and she seemed to be under Rogan’s power. He pulled her to him, his hands roughly exploring her body, and she moaned with pleasure. He laughed, his evil leer spreading wider.

  “It’s torture, isn’t it?” he goaded, pushing her toward the bed in the corner. He looked at Bastian and me with a malicious smirk on his face. “I’m going to need my strength before I kill you both. I hope you enjoy the show.” He stalked over to the bed and then glanced back at us. “You’re going to want to watch this. It’s exactly what I’ll do to your queen when she arrives.”

  The rage boiling inside me was overwhelming, and I had to fight against the urge to lash out. I gave Bastian a warning look, silently urging him to stay calm—now was not the time for us to act. We had to bide our time, to be patient.

  Soon, there would be a chance to take our revenge.

  Chapter 20

  Lia

  As we approached the lake, I saw the thick fog crawling over the water, masking the Tyvar encampment. I motioned for Aidan to stay back while Lerissa and I stepped out from behind the cover of trees, my sword, dagger, and bow and arrows strapped to my back.

  I pulled out the two amber necklaces from my pocket and ran my fingers over the smooth stones. Lerissa pinched her eyes shut, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths.

  “Are you scared?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “Not scared. Just nervous. I can feel Diawen’s magic calling out to me. It’s like a magnet pulling me closer.”

  I squeezed her shoulder. “Once I free Bayleon and Bastian, we’ll go to Diawen. She’s the only one who knows how to break the curse.”

  Lerissa opened her eyes, staring back at me with skepticism. “What if she doesn’t tell you how to break it? Are you going to kill her?”

  With her conspiring with the Tyvar and taking Bayleon and Bastian, she deserved to pay for what she did. That sort of deed couldn’t go unpunished. The problem was that I had no clue how powerful she was. I didn’t know much about sirens or what kind of power they possessed besides seducing men. A part of me still felt as if Lerissa was hiding her true strength.

  I met Lerissa’s gaze and shook my head. “No, I’m not going to kill her. But one way or another, I have to get the information I need.”

  I looked down at the necklaces and reluctantly handed her one, knowing I was putting my trust in her. She peered into my eyes but made no move to put the necklace on.

  “How do you want to do this?”

  “Well,” I began, “I would say we should stick together, but once you put that necklace on and disappear from sight, all I can do is trust that you’ll stay by my side until we find my men.”

  Lerissa nodded and fastened the necklace around her neck, immediately vanishing before my eyes. I half expected her to run off, but I could still feel her presence beside me. Now it was my turn. I slipped on the necklace and watched as my own body disappeared.

  Shortly after, I felt Lerissa’s hand touch mine, her grip firm. “I’m ready.”

  We cautiously set foot across the wooden bridge, the fog billowing around us with every step. The air carried the scent of smoke and something musky. I felt Lerissa’s hand tighten in mine as we passed through the fog and the Tyvar encampment came into view. The last time I was here, there were only a few hundred in number, but the place had grown. Everywhere I looked, there were round huts and people. Small groups of men huddled around tall campfires, laughing and drinking from deep wooden mugs.

  Further away, I could hear the muffled moans and cries of pleasure from the women behind tightly shut doors, a sound that brought a lump to my throat.

  “Is that seriously all they do?” Lerissa whispered, her voice barely audible.

  I squeezed her hand in response. “Yes.”

  Despite the apparent joyousness of the evening, I knew it would be fleeting—many of those women would not make it through the night.

  A door opened to one of the houses on our left, and two Tyvar stepped out, their laughter obnoxious and grating. One had short brown hair and was muscular, his skin gleaming in the moonlight, while the one had curly blond hair and was tall with elvish features like Bayleon and Bastian. Both wore the identical brown and green thin fabric tunics that all the Tyvar wore, but there was something particularly cocky in how they stood.

  “Rogan beat the shit out of those bastards today,” the brown-haired one said, slapping the other one’s shoulder.

  “I thought those guys were the strongest of the Tyvar,” the blond one said, and the brown-haired one snorted.

  “They were until they stopped fucking. That’s what happens to us if we don’t. We get weak.”

  The blond one scoffed. “I heard it’s because they fell in love with a fae princess. Idiots. Who would give up what we have for that?”

  I could feel my blood boil as I watched them, my fists clenching and unclenching. We continued through the camp as soon as they were out of earshot.

  “Where do you think they are?” Lerissa asked.

  I squeezed Lerissa’s hand when I spotted exactly what I was looking for. “Straight ahead,” I said. At the far end of the camp, carved into a hillside, was what I assumed to be Bayleon’s home. Two men stood guard outside the entrance. “No other place here has men standing guard,” I murmured. “They have to be in there.”

  Lerissa pressed closer to my side. “How are we going to get inside?”

  I hated what I was about to do, but there was no other option. Releasing Lerissa’s hand, I quickly drew my bow and fired two arrows. They found their targets causing them to slump to the ground, and Lerissa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that,” I said, knowing she wasn’t used to this way of life. “But we have to hurry.” I went to grab one of the men and Lerissa followed, aiding me in dragging the body away from the door. When she returned, I noted her footprints in the dirt. “Thank you,” I whispered.

  I stepped forward, my hand reaching out to touch her arm, but instead, I brushed the back of her head. I glanced nervously around us, making sure nobody was there to witness the door miraculously open.

  Taking a deep breath, I grasped the handle and the hinges creaked ever so slightly as I pulled the door open and rushed inside. Lerissa followed right behind me, her gasp echoing off the walls. I took in the scene before me—Bayleon and Bastian maskless, tied to poles, their faces bruised and battered. As soon as they heard Lerissa’s gasp, they snapped their heads around to look in our direction, but they couldn’t see us. I ran over, knelt between them, and placed my hands on their faces.

  “It’s me,” I whispered. “I’m wearing the necklace.”

  I sent my healing magic flooding through their bodies and watched in awe as their wounds began to heal and their bruises faded. Bastian murmured my name and my heart swelled. I cupped his cheeks and kissed him before quickly pressing my lips to Bayleon’s. It wasn’t enough to give them the strength they needed, but it was something. I moved around behind Bayleon and touched the ropes, only for it to burn my hand, the sound of my skin sizzling. I couldn’t see the damage, but I knew there were blisters.

  “What the . . .?” I hissed low, jerking my hand away. I healed within seconds.

  “What’s wrong?” Lerissa asked, her voice next to me.

  I slid my dagger out and sawed at the thick ropes. “Iron. There must be traces of it in the fibers. It’s toxic to the fae.”

  “Who are you talking to?” Bayleon asked.

  I continued to saw on the ropes. “It’s a long story. But first, I have to get you and Bastian out of here.”

  “No,” Bayleon and Bastian both snapped at the same time.

  “Listen to me,” Bayleon demanded. “Stop cutting the ropes. I don’t know how much time we have.”

  Reluctantly, I stilled my knife and faced him and Bastian, only they couldn’t see me. I didn’t want to remove the necklace in case someone came in.

  “What is it?” I asked quickly.

  Bayleon nodded toward the door. “You have to get out of here. All of this was a trap to lure you in. They knew you would come for Bastian and me.”

  “They? As in the Tyvar?” I questioned.

  Bayleon huffed. “And Diawen. They’re working together.”

  My heart raced with impatience. I wanted to know the answers, but I wanted to free him. “But why?”

  “Lia, you have to leave,” Bastian growled.

  I grabbed Bayleon’s face and even though I was invisible, it was as if he could see me. “Tell me,” I demanded.

  His jaw clenched. “There are a couple of reasons why we’re here. Diawen knows you want to break the curse and Rogan wants Bastian and me dead so he can be the true leader of the Tyvar. It’s a win-win for them both. Diawen wanted you here so you could see us die. That way, you’ll give up on your quest. With us gone, you’ll have no need to break the curse.”

  I didn’t know what to focus on first. Should I go out and kill Rogan so he can’t fight Bayleon and Bastian, or should I go after Diawen? Judging by how much Bayleon and Bastian had been beaten, I had no clue if they’d win in a fight to the death. The only way to get them strong again would be a night full of pleasure, but that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Surely you have some friends here, don’t you?” I asked, desperation in my voice.

  Bayleon sighed. “Maybe. It’s been a long time since we’ve been back. Their allegiance has probably shifted.”

  Letting his face go, I moved around behind him again, using my blade to saw at the ropes. “Then it’s settled. I’m freeing you both now. I don’t give a damn what you say.”

  The ropes were so thick it took all my strength just to cut through half of the strand. Sweat poured down my face and my heart raced so fast I thought it would pop out of my chest.

  “Do you have another knife?” Lerissa asked. “I can help you.”

  “I wish I did,” I replied, still sawing away. “I’ll remember to carry two next time.”

  A bead of sweat ran down my temples, and the salty drops pooled in my eyes and stung like fire. My hands shook, and I had almost worked out one full strand of the thick rope that bound Bayleon. I was close, so close, to ripping it apart and releasing him from his restraints.

  Suddenly, the door flew open, and a gust of freezing air rushed into the room. A woman with long black hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a sleek black dress, stepped inside. Diawen. Her features were familiar, a near clone of Lerissa. The only difference between the two was their hair color. I could feel Lerissa’s arm against mine and hear her shallow breaths.

  A knowing smile spread across Diawen’s face as she glanced from Bayleon to Bastian. “I seem to have underestimated your queen. She got here a lot faster than I anticipated.”

  I crept forward, feeling my fingers close around the handle of the dagger, tight and cold in my grip. I wished I could’ve drawn my sword but the sound of it sliding out of its sheath was too much of a risk.

  Diawen inched closer, and I saw the wonder in her eyes as her fingers touched Bastian’s face.

  “I heard your queen could heal with a single touch. It’s utterly fascinating.”

  She was only steps away from me, and I had one chance to apprehend her. Time seemed to grind to a stop as I took a deep, steadying breath and readied to lunge. But before I could move, Lerissa appeared before me, the amber necklace dangling from her hands.

  “Stop!” she cried, her arms spread wide in Diawen’s defense.

  At that, Diawen looked over in awe at Lerissa and then flashed a smirk in my general direction, sure of her advantage. Tears shone in Lerissa’s eyes as she glanced back at Diawen.

  “Do you know who I am?” she asked, her voice quivering.

  Diawen nodded, her expression of awe deepening. “Yes. You’re my family.” She lifted her hands to Lerissa’s face. “I can feel our power coursing through your veins.”

  With Diawen knowing I was there, I tore off my necklace. My temper was wearing thin. “You wanted me here and here I am. There are just a few problems we need to clear up.”

  Diawen dropped her hands from Lerissa’s face and tilted her head. “What would that be?”

  I felt rage flowing through me, boosting my determination for a fight. “My men are not going to die. I’ll kill Rogan myself and anyone else who comes near me, even you.”

  Diawen’s smile grew larger. “Oh, Lia, I don’t doubt it. I already told your men I’m no fool. I have no intention of starting a war with the fae. Rogan wants to murder your lovers so he can be the leader of the Tyvar. That’s none of my concern. My only mission is to keep you from attempting to break the curse.”

  I stared her down. “But why?”

  Diawen’s startling blue eyes stayed fixed on me. “Because if you break it, we all lose.”

  My stomach twisted at her response. “What do you mean?”

  She stepped away from Lerissa and held out her arms like she was offering herself up for death. Lerissa’s eyes widened in shock, and she turned to me pleadingly for help, but I kept my gaze focused on Diawen.

  Diawen lifted her chin defiantly in the air. “The Tyvar began with my blood, Your Highness. If you want to break the curse, you have to kill me. But know this”—she glanced over at Bayleon and Bastian before fixing her gaze back on me—“If you kill me, they all die. That is how you free them, Lia. It’s your choice to make; I’m right here.”

  “I don’t believe a word out of her mouth,” Bastian snarled, his voice laced with anger. “Just kill her and be done with it.”

  “Please,” Lerissa pleaded. “Don’t do it.”

  Diawen stood there, her arms still outstretched in her surrender, her face determined and unwavering. I didn’t know what to believe. However, one thing was clear; it was a risk I couldn’t take.

  Footsteps thundered on the ground just outside and I knew my time was up. The door suddenly crashed open and a group of Tyvar marched in, led by a tall man with broad shoulders and a cruel glint in his eye. It had to be Rogan. He was the one Bayleon and Bastian used to talk about, only now he didn’t seem like a friend. His gaze slid down my body, and I could see the hunger in his eyes.

  “Good. You’re finally here. The festivities can now begin.”

  There were four more men behind him, and they all advanced toward me. Diawen pulled Lerissa out of the way so they could get to me. I wanted to fight, but there were even more Tyvar outside the door. There was nowhere to go.

  “What’s going to happen?” Lerissa called out, her voice trembling.