Page 140 of Their Rejected Queen

But now, I can speak about her existence aloud, because she’s real.

Arwan makes a sound of confirmation as if none of this is new information to him. “Yes, I’ve gathered all that by now. And, luckily, I know where she is.”

I go still. “What?” A hint of betrayal edges around my heart, but Arwan seems to have a time and place for everything. If he’s known about my mission to find my sister and chose only now to tell me, then I trust he has a reason.

He steadily watches me as if evaluating my reaction. “I suspected that’s who the king’s daughter was to you. But I can’t get her out. I can only get you in.”

“The king’s daughter?” I parrot, my eyes going wide.

He nods. “The king is an Undead beast; he can’t procreate on his own. So he adopted your sister. Or rather… purchased her. She never leaves his side, short of escaping the castle.”

Fucking great.

That explains why he didn’t bother to tell me. Why get my hopes up when he can’t actually help?

“Does that mean the king knows who I am?” I ask, launching to my feet. The blanket nearly falls and I cling to it, not really caring if I expose myself in the process.

My sister is on this isle, and for the first time, I have confirmation of her existence.

She’s really here.

A strange flutter stirs in my stomach. I’ve looked forward to this moment for so long that I don’t even know how to feel about it now.

“He hasn’t figured that out yet,” Arwan says with a shrug, referring to my question about the king.

“Why can’t you get her out?” I ask, turning on him.

“She’s a hostage,” Godric answers. “He must keep her a secret, because I’ve never heard of her. No one goes in or out of the castle without the king’s permission.”

And there it is.

The reason I have to win these stupid games.

“Then how will I get her out?” I ask as panic builds in the back of my throat.

Maybe I can get to the castle. Maybe I can somehow survive the trek across the stretch of land where the games take place and earn the king’s access.

But once I’m there… then what? There’s no way King Njord will let me walk out with the freaking Monster Isle Princess.

“We handle one problem at a time,” Arwan says as he steadies me by my elbow. I hadn’t realized I’d begun to sway.

Darkness unfurls from his hands as blue motes flicker in the air. The dizziness washes away, and the only evidence that his magic costs him is the bulge of his jaw before he releases me.

“Starting with your scent,” Godric says with a steady tone. He holds out a hand, and I instinctually slide my fingers into his. His fist closes over mine, engulfing it entirely. “There’s a bathing chamber down the hall. I’ll clean you up before we head into the woods in a few hours.”

Godric tugs me to his side, and I nearly drop the blanket I have wrapped around me. Arwan moves to follow us, but the pack master snarls at him.

“You’ve done enough, prince. You can meet us outside.”

Arwan doesn’t seem offended. Instead, he throws up his hands and grins. “As you wish, pack master. You’re in charge.” He winks at me, mouthing, For now, and then I’m whisked away into the hall by a possessive Alpha.

“You don’t have to be so mean to him,” I say as Godric pushes me into a dark room. My night vision doesn’t kick in, so I wait, but nothing happens. Perhaps I’ve been away from Godric too long.

Sighing, I feel for a mage light on the wall. When I find a divot, I slide my finger into it, and then a blue light illuminates the room.

“And you don’t have to be so nice,” Godric says as his gaze travels over me again. His lips curl back, showing sharp teeth, as I drop the blanket.

“Do wolves only ever take one mate?” I ask, gauging his reaction to my body. He’s seen me naked plenty of times, but I know it’s rubbing him the wrong way that Arwan marked me.