Page 70 of Fae Trials

The watery hand surged up and snatched me out of the sky, creating a vortex that pulled me toward the waterfall, tearing seed after fluffy seed from my dandelion.

“Help!” I shouted, but my voice echoed back into my ears.

Cracking sounded around me, and the water froze. Strangely, the air remained warm.

Now devoid of seeds, the dandelion stalk fell onto the floor, along with all hope of ever completing this task.

“Who’s there?” I shouted into the sphere and cringed at the fear tinging my voice when it echoed back.

A patch appeared in the ice, making it bulge in the shape of a figure over six-feet tall. I stepped back, positioning my iron-covered knuckles. Prince Caulden stepped into the sphere and glared at me as though I was the one invading his space.

He smoothed down his blue hair and dusted imaginary specs of ice from the lapels of his blazer. I curled my lip, remembering how arrogant he had looked that day on the docks when he and Prince August had stolen those boxes.

“You tried to kill me,” I said.

“Nonsense.” He waved away my accusation. “You would have been perfectly safe in the water.”

I reared back. “What, the pond infested with giant frogs and knuckers?”

His face stilled. I guess he hadn’t considered the creatures living in the water that were happy to pull me under. A heartbeat later, he raised his square chin. “I want you to drop out of the trial.”

“Will you stop your brother from having me executed?” I spat. “He’s going to trump up some charges of dark magic.”

“I’ll explain everything to the king,” he said, smugness curving his lips.

My eyes narrowed. “That could mean anything.”

The smile faded, replaced by eyes as cold and as hard as steel. “If you don’t drop out, I’ll freeze you until there’s nothing left to thaw.”

“Why?” I swallowed hard.

“No one wants to mate with a halfling,” he said.

“Not even Prince Rory?”

His lips tightened. “You were just a convenient diversion and a means for avoiding his rightful mate. Nothing more.”

Despite never wanting any of the princes, his words stung. My gaze dropped down to his fingertips, which turned blue. I guessed he was readying himself to freeze me as he had threatened.

The beginnings of a plan swirled in the back of my mind. It was risky, downright dangerous, and could get me killed four times over, but if it worked, I would survive another day to find Sicily.

“Alright,” I said.

His face fell. “What?”

“I’ll drop out. Just as you ordered.”

His arrogant expression returned. “It’s good that you’re seeing reason.”

“On one condition.” I raised a finger.

Prince Caulden narrowed his eyes. “Name it.”

Flicking my gaze down to his crotch, I traced my tongue over my lips, letting my eyes linger over his fly.

“What is your demand?” he asked, his voice stiff.

“Mmm…” I met his gray eyes for a second and then lowered my gaze back down to his crotch. “Yum.”