Now, I am learning that I would rather not have known.
“I’m sure that he had his reasons,” I say, stiffly.
Freya laughs, drawing away from me. Instantly, I miss her touch.
“Now you sound more like the real him. You’re learning.” Freya kicks a rock, and it skids across the floor. “Real you is a knotless coward who has a hell of a lot of explaining to do.”
I swallow.
“Freya,” I lick my dry lips, “actually, I am?—”
“I didn’t think that I’d be able to fall asleep the night before the Hunt. But here I am, in the place where we bonded. This is brilliant.” Daire is silhouetted against the streaming moonlight in the mouth of the cavern.
Freya grins. “Of course you’d be here too.”
When Daire swaggers into the cave, my shoulders slump in relief.
They both made it.
But whatHunt?
Also, what in the fuck is Daire wearing? Why would Lanlin dress a precious Blood Lover in a plain fawn colored tunic, whichis embroidered with antlers? A bronze stag brooch is pinned to the front, when the emblem for the House of Sin is a black bat.
“What are you wearing?” I demand.
“Rude.” Daire twirls across the cavern, spreading out his wings like a maple’s helicopter seed on the breeze. “I pull it off.”
He wraps his arm around Freya, dipping her as he kisses her deeply. “Hey, love. I missed you.”
Then to my shock, Daire twirls to me, looping his arms around my neck, as if he needs to feel out the touch of me, taking a breath of my scent. “Missed you too, arsehole.”
“Even if I’m a cold, emotionless fucker with a stick up my ass…?” I say, dryly.
Daire smirks. “Huh, this is a realistic dream.”
Freya crosses her arms. “This ismydream.”
“Sorry, sweet as you smell, I’m no one’s figment.”
I sigh.
This is when I shatter the most calm I have had for weeks, holding together the power struggles between the army, Guilds, Council, and enduring the too soft reeducation of my uncle to stop him from growing suspicious.
I have been playing the long game for years. I can’t stop now.
It takes more strength than anyone can understand to pretend to be weak.
“Actually,” I unloop Daire’s arms from my neck, “you’re both inmydream.”
Daire groans. “I knew that your ego was so large you’d say that.”
Freya, however, is now staring at me with large eyes. “TheDream Bond, right?”
“I created this dreamscape,” I explain. “It means we can meet. I am sorry that I couldn’t before but?—"
“You bloody bastard.” Daire’s joy instantly dies. He grabs me by the collar of my tunic and smashes me against the wall. Iallow myself to be pinned; I may be weakened but I have always been able to win in my fights with Daire. But the fae fucker never stops challenging me. Will he ever accept his place within the pack? “What kept you? Too many feasts? Royal duties with your uncle? Or other peace treaties to break?”
Daire’s wings stretch out behind him, vibrating with rage.
