I reach out through the bond, and I’m overwhelmed by Everly's hurt and rejection. It only fuels the fiery rage that simmers in the pit of my stomach.
“Nolan. Everly is part of me, part of my soul. To plot to have her taken from me is treason,” I seethe.
The shock of the situation causes Nolan's face to go ashen, resembling the paleness of a ghost.
“Tristan, Kian, take him to the dungeons before I do something I may or may not regret.” My voice is barely more than a feral growl.
“Wait!” Everly links her fingers with mine. “Did you conspire with the seelie prince?”
Nolan jerks his head back, his brows lowering in confusion. “What?”
Everly sighs.‘He isn’t Alivar’s spy.’
‘We can’t be sure yet. He will need to be questioned.’
Looking down at Everly, I find myself leaning in and lightly kissing her forehead, savoring the smoothness of her skin against my lips and the scent of her hair. I breathe in the tranquility she brings, allowing it to soothe me. Gazing at us, Nolan stands tall, exuding an air of confidence. Confidence he has no right in feeling, even if it is an act. Even after all this time knowing Nolan, I never once thought he was capable of this, and yet here we are.
“Go!” I snap, fire burning in my eyes.
Nolan is escorted out of my chambers without argument. I grind my teeth together and watch the door close behind them. Giving Everly’s hand a gentle squeeze, we both turn to face Valric.
“Why are you here?” I try my best to sound calm, and not at all like I want to rip his head off his shoulders. Which is still a possibility.
Valric's gaze lingers on Everly’s hand still firmly clasped in mine, as if trying to make sense of something before he finally looks up. He immediately looks at Everly, and I despise how he watches her. I hate that it even bothers me.
“We are here to take you to our encampment.”
“Like fuck,” I growl, magic infusing my words.
“I’m not going with you.” Everly is remarkably calm as she responds. “My home is here.”
Everly’s words, though a soothing balm to the raging fire inside of me, have the opposite effect on Valric, who jerks to his feet.
“He is the enemy. You cannot stay here!” Valric yells, slashing his hand toward me.
Nymeria and Anika bare their fangs, growls rumbling from their bodies. Before I have a chance to lash out at Valric, Everlydrops my hand and marches toward him, her finger poking him in the chest several times.
“Enemy? He is my mate, and I will not leave. Peace once existed in this realm. Division was never meant to happen.”
“It’s the court’s fault there is division. They attacked us. They killed your parents. Don’t you remember!”
Everly flinches, and instinctively I extend my arm, encircling her chest, bringing her close to me. A wave of pain and sadness overwhelms our bond, and I send Valric a sharp look as I channel my love and comfort to Everly
Her hands reach up, gripping my arm tightly. “I am perfectly safe here. It’s your attempts to reach me that have put me in danger. That was you in the forest, wasn’t it? Would you have killed my friends to take me?”
Eve gasps, the lines on her face etched with weariness. “You ambushed them?”
“She belongs with us,” Valric snaps.
Everly shakes her head. “You’ve changed.”
“I lost everything the day your parents died. The day you disappeared.”
“You say it like it’s my fault,” Everly whispers.
And I know she is thinking of what my aunt told her.
‘What happened in Pinehelm wasn’t your fault. They attacked first.’
