I remember the wings I saw on the shelves in Mr. Meeks’ laboratory, the jars of hearts and blood.
“That’s the only place I can think to bring you,” she says. “To Malan’s parents. I don’t even know if they would agree to harbor you, but they’re the only spring fae I know outside of the palace.”
I can tell by her expression that’s the last place she wants to go. “You feel the same way about Spring that I feel about Autumn.”
She nods. “But I made Aspen a promise.”
“You promised him you’d watch over me while I was in Eisleigh.”
“Anduntil the situation with your mother was settled. To me, that means until her trial. I won’t leave your side.”
“I can’t ask you to take me to the home of your deceased mate.”
She plays with another blade of grass, and we fall into silence. After a while, she freezes, her stillness drawing my attention. “There’s somewhere else I can take you.”
“Where?”
She grimaces, and I already know this option doesn’t make her any happier. “The Lunar Court.”
14
“The Lunar Court?” I say with a gasp. “But they’re unseelie.”
Lorelei shrugs. “In this instance, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Like I said, there’s a chance any seelie court will turn you in to either King Ustrin or Eisleigh’s council. The radical seelie most certainly will, seeing you as a threat to the treaty. The radical unseelie will do...well, they will do far worse, if they think they can use you to purposefully break the treaty. Theneutralunseelie courts, however, are probably the safest for you right now.”
“I take it the Lunar Court is considered neutral unseelie?”
Lorelei nods. “They don’t care about saving the treaty, which means they will have no qualms harboring you. However, they aren’t determined to eradicate humans either.”
“Are there any other neutral unseelie courts?” I try to hide my trepidation with an air of nonchalance. The thought of seeking asylum with Queen Nyxia—a vampire fae—does not sound appealing. Then again, going to any unseelie court seems like a bad idea.
“Lunar and Wind are both neutral unseelie, while Winter and Sea are radical.”
“You think Lunar is the best option?”
She meets my eyes and lowers her voice. “I heard what your mother said about Queen Nessina harboring your grandmother.”
“You think Queen Nyxia has her mother’s sensibilities?”
Lorelei rises to her feet, brushing grass from what remains of her tattered skirt. “I’m not certain, but she’s our best chance right now. Besides, she owes me.” She extends her hand and pulls me to my feet. “Come. The Lunar axis is the next one west of here. If we start walking now, we’ll get there before morning.”
I take a step, surprised to find that my muscles have stopped screaming. “Why does Queen Nyxia owe you?”
She nibbles her bottom lip. “Let’s just say we have a history.”
My curiosity is burning, but I force myself not to pry. If she feels like clarifying, I’m sure she will sooner or later. In the meantime, I can only hope she’s right about her.
* * *
All reliefI found from rest is washed away after hours of walking. The only thing that keeps me going are my occasional bursts of anger. Each time I feel it rise, I allow it to grow, to burn away my exhaustion, to fuel my healing. That healing is all that keeps me on my feet, prevents me from succumbing to the torturous pain the earth causes my bare feet. I’m still not sure what to think of this newfound power with the element of fire and can’t help wondering what else I might be able to do.
Of course, such thoughts take me down a dark path as blood and smoke and flames fill my mind.
We keep the fog of the faewall within our periphery at all times to help us navigate within the confines of the axis line. It feels like we’ll never find anything but spring grass, sparkling dew, and delicate blossoms. Even in the dark of the night, it’s clear we are traveling through Spring.
