“You don’t get to tell me what I am allowed to do. You’re my mate, but you do not own me. And what are you going to do? Keep me hidden and safe until this all blows over and everyone is dead? Youagreednot to sideline me. We have already established that you would let me help because of what I can bring to the table. You will not go back on that promise, Kieran. I wasn’t lying when I said I would take things into my own hands. If you even think about locking me away, I will work against you and get things done myself.”
Sybil glared at me, her face hard after her outburst. My jaw clenched, and I tapped my fingers against my thigh. There was a promise in her eyes that told me she wasn’t lying, that she wouldgo out and cause trouble, that she would put herself in harm's way if I tried to stop her. “Then what do you want me to do? I can’t just sit back and watch you throw your life away.”
“I’m not asking you to do that,” Sybil hissed, taking a step back. Staring at the floor, she calmed herself before continuing. “I’ll go back to Queen Cassia and see what else she will tell me.”
“Can Viv take you back to the Seelie Court?” Samian asked. “Maybe they will have some answers to our dilemma, as well as what this creature is.”
“Fine,” I bit out, cutting my gaze back to Sybil. “I’ll go to the Seelie Court, and Iwillfind a way to save you, even if you won’t fucking do it yourself.”
Sybil scowled, but before anyone could say anything, I left the room and returned to the camp.
As soon as I entered the gates, I found Viv with Bryony, discussing tonight’s meal. When she saw the tension in my face, she quickly left Bryony’s side, her eyes scanning me for any wounds.
“What ha?—”
“We need to go to the Seelie Court,” I snapped. “Now.”
“Okay, let’s take a moment?—”
“Now, Viv,” I barked, inwardly cursing myself when she went rigid. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I-I just need to talk to someone from the Seelie Court. It’s important.”
Viv looked back at Bryony, at the work they were focused on, to see if it was fine to leave. Sighing, Viv turned back to me, her brows knitting together. Taking my hand, Viv transferred us to the bridge on the edge of the Seelie Court. We crossed it, going straight to the courtroom where Zarina stood waiting. Her white horns gleamed, her golden chains chiming with every slight move she made.
“What is the meaning of this?” Zarina ground out, the slit of her pupil narrowing on us.
“I need an answer regarding my mate. She will die if I don’t get these answers, so please, Zarina, I’mbeggingfor your help.”
Viv’s face paled, her head snapping my way, her eyes wide. “Kieran…”
Zarina tilted her head, her otherworldly gaze eyeing me as if sizing up her prey. “Ask your questions.”
“Is there a way to break a bargain? My mate is bound to Ambrose and has been told by Cassia that she is destined to die. Is there a way to stop it?”
Zarina’s brows furrowed, and she twisted towards the direction of the court’s main library. “I’m not sure if there is a way to stop that from happening. If Cassia had seen it—” Zarina trailed off, unable to finish her thought. “I will talk to Edris and the court librarians to see if there’s any information on this. Is that your only question?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. Tension leaked out of me, my eyes burning with relief. After Zarina lost her mate during the war on Mide, I had hoped she would feel enough empathy for my plight, even after mine and Edris’s mishap in her treasure hoard. With her people researching their books, I’m sure they would find something. “There’s one more question I have. There’s a strange creature following her around. It seems to have some type of connection to her. She can see it in her dreams.”
“What does the creature look like?”
“There’s not much to it. It’s made of pure shadow. It can hide in any dark place and grow in size.”
Zarina sucked in a sharp breath, my only signal that she had moved, before she stood in front of me, grabbing me by the shirt, her face set in a snarl. Ripples of water surrounded us, circling around us in an orb. Viv tensed, taking a step closer to me, breathing harshly.
“Leave,” Zarina ground out. “I will send information if I find any. Now, get out.”
Before I could answer, Viv transferred us back to camp. Both of us stood stunned, letting out a shaky breath.
Chapter 22
Sybil
Kieran left so abruptly that I staggered back against the wall behind me. My legs trembled, feeling so weak that I wasn’t sure I could hold myself up. I knew they would be upset that I kept what Queen Cassia told me to myself. I would have been too, had they done the same. But how was I supposed to come to terms with everything with Kieran huffing around like a caveman?
“I guess I should go to Queen Cassia,” I said, clearing my throat, hoping the pressure beneath my eyes would disappear.
Samian nodded, his face hard. “I can take you there.” His voice sounded weak, and I hated it, hated how it made my heart splinter, knowing I kept pushing him away.
“No,” I breathed suddenly. The thought of being near anyone felt like too much. “I think I should go alone.”
