“Whether I help you or not, you’ll eventually find your people,” he said. “We’ll all die once we no longer have the fae’s magic.”
It dawned on me how stupid I was. If Nalari were here, my Guardian would’ve called me foolish. But in all this time I’d searched for them, I could never figure out why my people had gone missing.
“The military are using my fae for their magic?” The veins on my neck strained with the hot anger that flooded through me.
“Their magic keeps the compounds livable,” Sebastian said, eyes downcast. “The magic is the only thing keeping us alive, so the military is forcing the fae to use it the same way you and your people did before you were forced to leave.”
What we’d willingly done to keep the people of this realm alive and fed. To keep Teddy alive.
The anger that boiled inside me shot through my fingers in a ray of silver magic that wrapped around Sebastian’s throat. His eyes widened, the pulse on his neck quickening. The need to bite him, puncture his thin skin with my canines stirred inside me.
I stepped closer toward him.
“I could simply force you into helping us,” I said.
He clawed at his throat, unable to grasp the threads of my magic.
“Please.” His words came out as a plea. “My wife and kids.”
I heard the desperation and the love he held for his family.I understood that need to protect. It was only because of that that I withdrew my magic.
He heaved in a sharp breath.
“Did my people beg when you put them in iron chains?”
“No,” he answered, his voice lower and filled with what sounded like shame. “Before they were chained, they tried to fight back but they couldn’t fight against the iron net that was thrown over them. Even in chains, they threatened us and told us you’d find them and make us pay for what we were doing to them. But they never begged.” He paused. “If that’s what you want”—he dropped to his knees, where he sank into the deep snow—“I’ll beg. I’ll do whatever you want. Please take my family, and I’ll tell you where to find your people.”
Emotions warred inside me as I fought to determine what my father would do in this situation. I wondered if I even wanted to rule the way he had.
But leniency and kindness had made me a target in the region I was supposed to lead. It had almost killed one of my best friends and had destroyed all that I had built for the people of my region.
“Elias . . .”
I growled at the familiarity with which he spoke my name.
“My wife and kids aren’t responsible for what the military is doing to your people,” he said. “Please take them so that they may live. You can kill me after. It can be part of our bargain. I die so that they can live.”
It was too similar to the deal I’d made with Leanora. My parents’ death so that Teddy could live. So that the people in my realm and the human realm could live.
I was tired of the death. Tired of the sadness, doubt, and anger that had festered since my father’s death. Tired of the responsibilities, of the truths and betrayals I’d yet to tell mypeople.
Moreover, I was tired of not being home when I only wanted to show my mate all the treasures of Niev.
“Rise,” I told him.
Casting me a wary look, Sebastian pushed off his knees to stand. He worked quickly to brush the snow from his pants. When he finished, he put his hands back in his pockets, seeming to hold his breath while he stared into the snow.
“I cannot promise I can keep them safe.” The words came out resigned. I held up a hand when he opened his mouth to speak. “They can come to our realm”—I tipped my chin toward Alastor and his lirio—“and I will provide them with a place to live and enough food to get them settled. The rest is up to them. I cannot promise their safety any more than I can promise my own family’s safety.” The truth in those words gutted me.
Understanding brightened his eyes. “Thank you,” he said before he reached into the back pocket of his pants and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “This map will tell you where each compound is.”
I took the offered paper and stored it in the inner pocket of my magic, where I also pulled out a pair of gloves I’d knitted for Javier several months ago. I tossed them to Sebastian. He slipped them on his hands, and while they were a bit too small for him, they would do.
“While your map is helpful, you’ll join us as our guide,” I told him.
His head snapped up. “I can’t.”
I snarled in reply. “It isn’t up for debate.”
