she stepped back, glancing at Warren. She needed to run.

"PRINCESS!"

Behind them, the door burst open with a furious roar, and two redcaps were hurled through the air, landing face-first into the wall. The pack spun around, their eyes going wide as Ironhorse barreled into them, swinging his huge fists and bellowing at the top of his lungs. Several redcaps went flying and the rest swarmed him with bloodthirsty cries, biting at his arms and legs. They fell back, shrieking in pain, teeth shattered, mouths blackened and raw. Ironhorse continued to hurl them away like hed gone berserk.

"Hey, Princess." Puck appeared beside her, grinning from ear to ear.

"Grimalkin said you were having redcap trouble. We're here to help, although I must say Rusty is doing fine on his own." He ducked as a redcap flew overhead, landing with a crunch against the wall. "I'll have to remember to keep him around. Hed be great fun at parties, dont you think?"

The redcap Ironhorse had thrown into the wall staggered to his feet, looking dazed. Seeing Lise, he bared a mouthful of broken teeth and tensed to lunge. Puck grinned and pulled out his dagger, but there was an explosion of light between them, and a ringing voice filled the hallway.

"Everyone freeze!"

Hes never been given a personal prophecy, but he knows Dealkeeper likes to have others to witness the prophecies, so hes heard pretty much all of the ones Mab has been given. As far as hes aware, she gives prophecies of wealth. Power. This is surely a good sign.

Exactly. That was the only reason he wasn't trying to kill her right now.

Lise froze, but then turned towards the source of the voice.

Well, that and shes immortal. And everybody respects her.

"Well," Leanansidhe said, striding over to her and Puck. "Turns out this game was a rousing success. Although, I must say, I was hoping to be surprised. It gets rather boring when youre right about everything."

"L-Leanansidhe," Razor Dan stammered, all the blood draining from his face as she regarded him with her fearsome smile. "H-how...? Youre supposed to be in Nashville."

"Dan, darling." Leanansidhe shook her head and tsked. "Did you really think I was blind to what was going on? In my own house? I know the rumors circulating the streets, pet. I know the Iron King has been offering rewards for the girl. I had the feeling there was a traitor in my house, a so-called agent of the Iron King. What better way to flush him out than to leave him alone with the princess and wait for him to make his move? Your kind is so very predictable, darling."

"We..." Dan glanced around at his crew, clearly looking for someone else to blame. "This wasnt our idea, Leanansidhe."

"Oh, I know, darling. Youre too dull to organize something like this. Which is why Im not going to punish you."

"Really?" Dan relaxed a bit.






Well, not everybody. Rowan didn't really respect anyone, just didn't flip out at them.

" Can you at least punish Warren? He held me at gun point and personally I don't really appreciate that. "

,, Hello, Rowan. I would like to speak with you and a few of your... ,, She examines the thornguards, ,, ..new friends.,,

"Of course. Why dont you stick around...Warren."

Warren was trying to sneak down the corridor without being seen. He froze, wincing at the sound of his name, and gave Leanansidhe a feeble smile. "Leanansidhe, I...I can explain."

"Oh, Im sure you can, darling. And you will. We're going to have a little chitchat, and youre going to tell me everything you know about the Iron King and the scepter. Youre going to sing, darling. Sing as youve never sung before, I promise."

"Come on," Puck told Lise, taking her elbow. "You dont want to hear this, Princess, trust me. Lea will give us the information when she has it."





"Of course. I don't really see why else you would come to my new kingdom."