“Where?” I counter, placing my hand on Linton’s arm. “I mean, I want us to go, but we need some breathing space. We need time to get in touch with Reavely, but we can’t take him away from Wynter and the baby. We need to let him know Tam Lin has tricked him.”
Warden gives me a brief bow. “Your tenderness towards the Barghest and his mate marks you,” he says. “I can see why Tam Lin wants your soul.”
Linton snarls, and the noise is worse than Warden’s hoof on stone.
“I mean your soul is pure. I agree you will need the assistance of the Barghest. And I know you will not come to the Night Lands…” Warden says as Linton snarls at him. “What about the coast?”
“And risk the Shellycoat? Not a chance,” Linton says firmly. “That creature has always worked for the Faerie, and he will not change, not until his dying day, which is a long way away.” He looks down his blade. “Or not, depending on whether I get to him first.”
“Let’s do assassinations later but get away from Tam Lin in the meantime,” I suggest, curling my hand around Linton’s and getting him to lower the blade.
Linton lifts the corner of his mouth. “As long as I can…later.”
“Later.”
Warden huffs out a horsey breath, shaking his head and tossing his horns.
“When you are quite ready?” He raises his eyebrows at us both. “I believe there is one place which you can go that will give you enough time to come up with a plan to deal with the Faerie once and for all.”
LINTON
Idon’t trust Warden. He might have released me from the Shadow Keep, but he also drew me into a mission to rescue the Lambton Wyrm’s mate, which nearly got me incinerated by the Wyrm before I was expelled from his fortress.
So far, Warden has not been much of a help, nor has he done me any favours. But with a mate to protect, I don’t have much choice. Save for killing Tam Lin and all of his Redcaps, which I’d like to do. A lot.
Except doing so, if there is an army as Warden says—the risk, in this enclosed space, is too great for my Kaitlyn. Even if she was prepared to run Warden through with a halberd. She might be little, but she is fierce, and it warms my soul.
Which means Tam Lin will never possess hers. Kaitlyn’s soul belongs to her and her alone. I have to hope she will want to share it with me.
“What is your suggestion?” I glare at him.
“The Priory.”
I flare my wings.
“The Faerie will not expect you to go there.”
“No one goes to the Priory,” I growl. “There’s a good reason for that.”
“What’s the Priory?” Kaitlyn asks.
“It’s an ancient place,” Warden says before I can stop him. “Some say the humans once tried to take it from the Yeavering, but they failed. It will take in those who need sanctuary.”
“Yeah, well, we tried that with the stronghold, and it didn’t work out,” Kaitlyn says. “So, it’s a no from me.”
“What about the Wall?” I suggest. “The Faerie will not follow us there.”
“The Wall is a ruin,” Warden huffs.
“Not all of it. I know some places along it which can be used. Deserted places.” I turn to Kaitlyn. “The Wall is our best chance to stay away from Tam Lin until we can get a message to the Barghest.”
“I trust you, Linton,” she says, taking my hand and stroking her thumb over my skin. It makes my wings shake harder.
“The Wall.” Warden shakes his head. “If we’re to get there before nightfall, we’ll need to start now.”
“I don’t want to get there before nightfall,” I respond. “The moon will be full tonight.”
“Your mate can ride on my back.” Warden holds his hand out to Kaitlyn. “We should go.”
