Finn steps closer, his face inches from his brother’s. “And you forget that while you spent the last two years playing human boy and trying to steal Abriella’s heart, I was working to make sure my people knew I hadn’t forgotten them, to make sure they knew that no matter who took over this palace, no matter who pretended they belonged here, they would have their basic needs met, and if they weren’t, there would be an army to fight for them.”
“I don’t want to hurt them, Finn.” Sebastian swallows hard. “You claim I lied to Abriella, but I didn’t lie about what matters. I want what’s best for both kingdoms. I want to protect both kingdoms from rulers who would destroy everything for more power.”
“You mean your mother?” Finn asks.
“Yes!” Sebastian roars. “Of course I mean her.” He shakes his head. “Do you forget that I am Unseelie too? Like it or not, brother, Oberon’s blood pumps through my veins the same way it pumps through yours, or this crown would never be on my head. And I know I’ve failed them. In so many ways I failed them. But I want to help them. And I think you do too.” He holds Finn’s gaze. “Help me do right by them. Help me protect them. Help me organize our forces so we’re not torn apart from the inside before my mother even strikes.”
“Hmm.” Finn narrows his eyes, studying the top of Sebastian’s head as if some strange creature sits there and not an invisible crown. “I just don’t see what’s in it for me.”
Sebastian swallows. “Help me.”
“But why should I? If this kingdom falls apart while you pretend to rule it, doesn’t that make me look good? If Mordeus ruled without the throne, I can too.”
I clench my jaw from the shadows. This is why Finn didn’t want to ask Sebastian for an alliance.
He doesn’t want to reveal that he needs Sebastian as much as Sebastian needs him. He doesn’t want Sebastian to know that the shadow court is dying until Sebastian promises whatever it is that Finn is after.
“Finn,” Sebastian growls. “I can’t—” He shakes his head. “You know I need you. To resolve this peacefully, I need you.”
“Not necessarily,” Riaan says. “We have ambassadors in meeting with the Midnight Raiders now.
They’ll convince them—”
“It’s not working,” Sebastian growls, his eyes flaring bright. He turns to Finn. “Name your price.”
“Abriella.”
“What?”
Finn’s face is the picture of ambivalence. “My price is Abriella. If you want peace at your palace gates, if you want me to convince the Raiders to join your forces in the mountains, you have to give me your princess.”
“Excuse me?” I bark. I don’t care what I promised. I don’t care what kind of game Finn is playing trying to keep me in the shadows. I let them all fall away, and Sebastian’s eyes go wide as he takes me in.
“Brie.” Sebastian rushes toward me. He’s a step away when I hold up a hand, and he stops. “How long have you been here? And why don’t I—” He presses his fingertips to the rune tattooed on his wrist. “I’ve barely been able to feel you. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I turn and glare at Finn. “You’re out of line,” I hiss.
Chuckling, Finn shrugs. “That’s my price,” he says, holding my gaze. “If Sebastian wants me to help him with his little problem, then he’ll give me you.”
“I hate you,” I bite out.
Finn holds my gaze for a long, loaded moment and smiles slowly. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Princess.” He turns back to Sebastian. “It’s only fair. After all, our father made the same promise to both of us—or so your mother claims. This way, you get the crown. I get”—he waves toward me as if I’m am a stray weapon they’re fighting over after battle—“the other half.”
I want to scream, but I bite my tongue. I don’t know what Finn’s playing at here, and if I say too much, it could fall apart. As much as I don’t trust him, I believe we have the same goals.
“Simply dissolve the bond between you so she can bond with me. She’d certainly enjoy that more.”
“You’ve lost your gods-damned mind,” I mutter.
Finn winks at me. Winks.
Sebastian searches my face. “You want this? You—no, it doesn’t matter,” he says, his voice cold as he turns back to Finn. “Brie is mine. She bonded with me, not you. You can’t have her.”