“No, we’re going to deal with the Selkies. The last thing I need is those things flying around the Night Lands,” Warden grumbles.
“We’re right behind you,” Reavely says again, giving me a shove forward but still holding onto my arm.
Above us, there is a growl, and Linton swoops past.
“We need your mate to get us into the circle,” Warden calls up at my mothman, who is covered from head to foot in the liquid which Tam Lin has been shedding. “We are not technically touching her.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I swear under my breath. “Here goes nothing.” And I leap between the stones.
LINTON
Idislike Reavely touching my mate, but then I disliked Tam Lin touching her more. His hand around her delicate neck.
I know what he wanted to do, what all Faerie want to do to not just the Yeavering but the entire universe. Defile it.
It made my vision dim to nothing, my hands grip my daggers with more intent than ever. It filled my heart with hatred. And it made it easy to attack.
But the last thing I want is my Kaitlyn down below, within the circle, when there are Selkies in the air and an open pit straight to the underrealm.
It requires a sacrifice, and I do not want Kaitlyn to pay the tithe.
It should be me. She is too perfect, too precious to lose to the lands below. I, on the other hand, am drenched in blood, more than anyone will ever know. I deserve to be there, even if it means leaving my mate behind.
I swing around again. Tam Lin is slower now than he was, but he still poses a danger to my Kaitlyn who shouldn’t be re-entering the circle, but she is.
A remaining hand swipes me, sending me flying into one of the Selkies. The thing sinks its teeth into my skin, and I instantly return the compliment, my fangs biting deep as we spiral towards the ground. I see the huge creature filled with all the terrors of the underrealm which was once Tam Lin reaching for my mate.
He cannot have her.
He will not have her.
Kaitlyn belongs to me.
I spit out the Selkie, who dissipates into a cloud of dust, and beat hard to get to my mate.
I’ve changed my mind. I want to stay here, in the Yeavering, with Kaitlyn and breed with her.
The underrealm can stay empty of both me and her for now.
Kaitlyn is heading for the altar as I sweep down and pull her out of the way of Tam Lin’s now significantly slower movements. My daggers don’t have to go deep to inflict mortal wounds, even if I’m not entirely sure he is mortal anymore.
“Steady there, my Kaitlyn.” I wrap my arms around her and take her out of his reach. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I have to close the gate to the underrealm. I’m the one who opened it.”
“You did?”
“Not on purpose. Tam Lin brought me here. He knew I would open it.”
“There, you are wrong, little human,” Tam Lin booms from overhead as Reavely and Warden are surrounded by the Selkies, their smoke and shadow forms keeping my monstrous friends at bay. “I needed your soul, but I needed the Bluecap’s wings. His scales contain all the power necessary to keep the pit open.”
Kaitlyn looks at me. I suspect I am most probably covered in Tam Lin’s blood.
“You once said your scales had a property the Yeavering could use. Could this be true?”
“It would be, if I hadn’t stopped shedding the moment you took me for your mate,” I respond. “It is the reason why a Bluecap was more than his or her scales. Why the Yeavering came to us for so much more.”
“Then this shouldn’t be happening.” Kaitlyn gazes at the portal.
