“Seventy stable anchor points within England alone,” Ninian replies. “There is a main lynchpin somewhere, and we need to find it. If we can take that out and destabilise the others simultaneously, the entire network will collapse.”
“Simultaneously,” I repeat. “That’s...”
“A coordinated strike across multiple targets,” Silas finishes. “Which is why we need every asset we can get. Your government connections could be useful for accessing certain locations.”
As the meeting continues, I find myself increasingly awed by what they’ve accomplished. This isn’t some hastily thrown-together Resistance movement. They have supply networks, communication channels, safe houses, detailed intelligence on fey military positions. They’ve built an entire shadow infrastructure.
And Dyfri has been at the centre of it all.
I watch him coordinate with these dangerous, powerful people like it’s second nature. He knows their strengths, their limitations, their personal histories. He speaks to Silas with the careful respect you’d show a loaded weapon, treats Ninian with gentle protectiveness, and matches Cai’s strategic thinking with insights that come from years inside fey power structures.
How long has he been planning this? How did he manage to build all this while maintaining his position as a loyal fey prince?
“The window is tight,” Ninian says, pulling out what looks like a complex astronomical chart. “The portal network is most vulnerable during the solstice alignment. We’ll have maybe thirty minutes to complete the severance before the magic stabilises again.”
“Thirty minutes,” Cai muses. “Cutting it close.”
“It’s enough,” Silas says with quiet certainty. “It has to be.”
When the meeting finally winds down and we’re preparing to leave, Dyfri pulls me aside.
“Questions?” he asks quietly.
“About a hundred,” I admit. “But the main one is... are you sure about this? Cutting the portals permanently? That means you can never go home either.”
Something shifts in his expression. “Some goals are worth any sacrifice.”
The simple honesty in his voice does strange things to my chest.
As we prepare to leave through a carefully crafted portal, I catch Silas watching me with what might be approval.
“Don’t get him killed,” he tells Dyfri, but his tone is almost gentle.
“I don’t intend to get anyone on my side killed,” Dyfri replies.
“Intentions don’t stop bullets. Or fey magic. Or portal collapses, for that matter.” Silas’s smile is sharp but not unkind. “Just be careful. Both of you.”
It’s a sobering reminder that what we’re planning isn’t just politically dangerous. We’re talking about severing magical connections, forcing an entire civilization to choose between abandoning Earth or being stranded here forever.
But as we step back through the portal into our flat, Dyfri’s hand warm in mine, I find that I’m not afraid.
We’re going to free our people. We’re going to force the seelie to choose between Earth and their homeland. And we’re going to do it together.
Whatever comes after, we’ll face that together too.
I refuse to let Dyfri down. And I refuse to let the fey occupation continue.
The summer solstice can’t come soon enough.
Chapter twenty-two
Jack
I’m heading back from the briefing room when I nearly collide with Dad in the corridor. He’s coming out of his private office, looking harried in the way that means he’s been dealing with particularly stubborn MPs all morning.
“Jack!” His face brightens when he sees me. “Perfect timing. Walk with me?”
I fall into step beside him, trying to ignore the guilt that immediately starts gnawing at my stomach. “Everything alright?”
