“I refuse to let anything happen to you. I could not protect you and fight him at the same time. Alivar is dangerous, and he was there for you.”
My head jerks back, making his hand fall. “Me?”
Raiden comes to Maxon’s side, his face set in a stern frown. “The seelie crown prince has learned of your arrival. He thinks you are–”
“It’s not important,” Maxon growls, cutting Raiden off. “He can’t have you.”
My eyes narrow on Raiden. What was he going to say?
A throat clears, drawing our attention to Nolan. I haven’t seen the queen’s advisor in a few days, and he looks extremely irritated.
Maxon puts his hands on his hips, facing the fae. “Nolan, what can we do for you?”
“The queen wishes to meet with you about the seelie prince.”
Maxon's jaw clenches, and the energy in the air instantly becomes charged. “I will be there shortly,” he replies gruffly.
The weight of Nolan’s stare hangs in the air, everyone remaining silent. Letting out a sigh, he bows his head in resignation. “Very well, your highness. I will inform the queen you are on your way.”
Turning, he strolls away, back toward the castle. Kian moves swiftly and silently to my side. “I can take Everly back to the castle.”
Maxon’s hand gently grasps mine, pulling me closer to him. “No.”
“But Maxon–” Raiden steps forward, ready to argue, but Maxon holds up his palm. “No. I will walk her. Go ahead . . . ”
Kian and Raiden exchange looks, probably because I just gave us away with my outburst. But after a moment, they both turn and walk off toward the stables. Maxon doesn't budge until they are out of sight and the other soldiers have put a significant distance between themselves and us. Though some of them do cast curious looks at us as they go.
“I’m not sorry for sending you away from danger.” Maxon’s firm tone draws my attention.
“I could have helped.”
“No, you couldn’t have.”
With a huff, I tug my hand free and start walking, Maxon easily falling into step beside me. I’m aware that my worry is manifesting as anger toward him, but my concern for his well-being outweighs everything else. My steps falter, the weight of my emotions overwhelming, as I come to the realization that I've fallen for him in such a short span of time.
“Stóirín, I can feel your conflicting emotions. Talk to me.”
“It’s absolutely frustrating how you can tell what I’m feeling so easily,” I grumble.
Maxon’s hand shoots out, wrapping around my upper arm as he pulls me to a stop. Refusing to look up at him, my eyes instead find a nice spot on the ground to stare at. Maxon inches closer, and I hold my breath.
“Your protection will always come first,” he says softly.
My breath hisses out between my clenched teeth. “I don–”
The pounding of feet interrupts us as shouting breaks out. We turn as Rayna comes tearing around the corner of the garden.
“They’ve gone mad!” she shouts at us, her head whipping around behind her.
“What?” Maxon sounds every bit as confused as I am.
Hundreds of fluttering wings and squawks suddenly fill the air, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. I am terrified to find out what is responsible for that noise. Maxon extends his hand to me, pulling me back to stand behind him. My fingers grip the back of his tunic as a gray lizard-like bird whips past Rayna’s head. She instinctively covers her head with both arms, shrieking as she ducks low. My eyes widen as the creature continues toward us, its beady eyes glinting in the light.
“Uhh, what is that?” I follow the creature with my eyes, watching it veer to the left, taking a wide circle around us.
Maxon draws his sword, his gaze locked on the creature. “That is a Vurien.”
Before I can ask any more questions, my mouth drops open as a hundred of the tiny creatures fly around the corner from the garden, coming straight for us.
