She cocked her head and considered it. Then she made a huff. Yep, even a puka could see it. The thought of having everything I wanted freaked me out. Why? Because then I could lose it all. There was a freedom in having nothing. Fulfilling your dreams is only the beginning. It's keeping them that's the hard part.
“Time to stop being such a pussy,” I snarled.
“Hey now, don't insult pussies,” Conri drawled. “They're magical and surprisingly durable.”
“I can't even...” I shook my head at him.
“Are you okay, Princess?” Conri asked in a more serious tone. “Is the snake-boy okay?”
“He shifted into a giant snake, and I wasn't sure he was going to shift back.”
“The idiot shifted alone?” Conri growled. “He should have had a mentor, another snake-djinn, to show him the proper way.”
“How would he have known that?” I rolled my eyes. “He didn't even know hecouldshift.”
“Oh,” Conri lost his bluster. “Well then, it's damn impressive that he managed to beat the beast, as it were.”
“Impressive, eh?” I teased.
“Even with mentorship, some fairies have been lost to their animal for months,” Conri nodded. “With a new race, like the nathair-sith, there's no precedent to follow. Killian could have been a snake forever.”
“I had a feeling that was a possibility,” I sighed. “Then he's lucky I was able to reach him.”
“You reached him?”
“I punched Killian in the nose and yelled at him,” I gave a little chuckle. “That's when he shifted back.”
“Coarse but effective,” Conri huffed. “A mentor would have used a similar trick. You have good instincts, Princess.”
“Thanks,” I started off again. “Now if you're done talking about pussies and snakes, I need to go get my boy-” I cleared my throat. “My Killi-,” I tried again, “Killiansome clothes.”
“Have you worked out who he is to you yet?” Conri smirked.
“I'm getting there,” I huffed and left.
Chapter Forty-Four
We got Killian clothed and apprised on the latest Moire madness. He nearly lost his human form again, when we told him about her offer to me. Scales swept over his body in rippling waves, and his fangs dropped. I had to shout that I wasn't going to marry Bress before he got himself under control.
“Good,” Killian said when he'd calmed. “Cause that's way too backwoods for me.”
“Yeah, that's the only reason,” Conri rolled his eyes.
“No, it's not,” Killian agreed. “But the rest of my reasons are none of your business.”
“Fair enough,” Conri smirked.
My father was sending troops to Unseelie to aid Raza, but he was staying behind in case Moire came to attack Twilight first. It was just the sort of underhanded tactic she would employ. As for the troops Keir was sending to Unseelie, it was too difficult for an army, with all its gear, to use the In-Between. So they would be traveling through the raths the normal way and hoofing it. I had made my promise to Raza though, so I was twilighting over with Killian, Cat, and my Star's Guard. My father didn't look pleased, and I didn't blame him. After being on the waiting end of a situation, I could appreciate how awful it must be for him to sit in his castle and hope I'll be okay. This time, however, he had Bress and Dylan to worry about too.
“I love you, Seren,” Keir said.
He kissed my cheek and backed away. Twilight had come, and we were preparing to touch the Between. Conri already had Cat in his arms, and the rest of my Guard was gathered around him.
“I love you too, Dad,” I hugged him tight. “It's going to be okay.”
“Kill her if you can,” the silver spokes over Keir's amethyst irises sparked. “And if you can't, make sure that dragon of yours does it.”
“And if he can't?” I teased.
