Because Reavely might be in charge, but it hasn’t stopped the Faerie and their lottery beyond the veil. Until that ceases, the whole of the human world remains in danger, if not from abduction, then from another virus they would seek to release.
It remains in their hands the ability to kill us all.
For a moment, I consider. With Linton on my side, perhaps I’d get closer to breaking the walls down. But I don’t want to put him in danger, nor do I want him to decide he doesn’t like my side mission and put a stop to it.
“What Tam Lin wants, Tam Lin gets, unless he has to go through me.” Linton growls at the horizon before his blood red eyes turn to me. “That means he won’t get it,” he adds unnecessarily.
“I got that part.” I nod.
Linton flashes his fangs in a quick grimace which might be a smile.
“It’s time to go, my mate,” he says.
I squeeze his hand. “I’m not your mate,” I say as kindly as I can.
“Why not? You gave me blood, you gave me your nectar, and you have ridden in my arms. If that doesn’t make you a mate, I don’t know what does,” Linton says with infinite confidence,wrapping one of the aforesaid arms around me and launching us into the sky.
“It absolutely does not,” I say, but my words are lost to the air and the blue.
And I suspect Linton won’t be convinced of any alternative no matter how much I argue.
LINTON
Ido not want to go to the stronghold. My Kaitlyn is correct, however, that there is a chance Tam Lin will go to the mines to search for us. I would like to rule out him finding us, but then he has enough Faerie within him there’s a possibility he could.
My hatred grows for the creature. I never should have taken his commission save for my desire to spill blood rather than feed from it. I would have still met Kaitlyn. I could have still watched her, followed her,enjoyedher.
I could have still protected her, and I wouldn’t be a rogue assassin who hasn’t completed his mission. This places a target on my back and it means I have failed her.
And it means we have to go to the stronghold.
Kaitlyn clings to me, despite my assurance I will not ever let her go. Her face is buried in my chest, and I rather like it. Her scent is continually in my nostrils and her soft breath on my skin. My misbehaving spicket is already hard and shows no sign of abating.
Not even when the stronghold comes into view.
The battlements are solid, a force of stone which has stood for an eternity on this site. I circle for a moment before landing a distance away.
“Oh,” Kaitlyn says as I put her on her feet and she sees the place for the first time. “When you said stronghold, I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
“It is a place I prefer not to visit. A place of last resort for the monsters of the Yeavering.”
Kaitlyn gazes up at the severe stone blocks.
“I think it’s just a castle, Linton. And if it keeps Tam Lin out, then it has to be a good place.”
I sniff, partially because I don’t believe in anything being good and mostly because I want more of her scent. I’ve never felt calmer than with her by my side.
Kaitlyn is everything.
“It will keep Tam Lin out, but it will also keep us in.”
“It’s a prison?”
“No. The only prison in the Yeavering is the Shadow Keep, and that’s where the Brag lives,” I explain. “The stronghold requires you contribute for your stay, and until your debt is paid, you cannot leave.”
Kaitlyn shrugs. “I’m not afraid of hard work. And I’d definitely rather be doing that than be at the mercy of any Faerie or Faerie-like creature,” she says fiercely.
My heart burns in my chest. Her lack of concern bolsters me.
