My brows lifted, and a small scoff slipped through my lips. “Like there’s a massive fae arrow burrowed in my shoulder.”
“Fair,” he said, the side of his mouth ticking up in amusement, its color a pale whisper of what it should be, deepening my concern for him. His amusement quickly ebbed as he shifted slightly, teeth grinding against the pain. “The core of the arrow’s shaft is laced with poison,” he explained, getting straight to the point. “Sometimes, it begins to leak from the impact, so if all you’re feeling is the impalement—then that’s a good sign.”
Cotton seemed to fill my mouth as I began to understand just how lucky we’d been. “No, it’s a localized pain. Sharp and throbbing, but nothing more sinister.”
He nodded, then looked around us, assessing. He breathed out a gruff grumble of disapproval, pulling attention along his sightline only to find Luca.
My stomach dropped in a sickening fear that forced questions to stay on my tongue.
A few heartbeats later, Endymion’s focus landed on me, and he must have seen the devastation waiting to break free. “Luca is fine,” he soothed, and a guttural sound of relief tore from my throat. “Korian must have locked him to prevent you from fleeing. Though, I’m not entirely thrilled that we’ll have to walk back.”
Relief was instantly swallowed by a sharp pang of confusion, making me side-step the need for clarity on exactly whatlockedmeant. “Korian…” I said, dragging out the word as I clocked the implication. “You… you knew him?”
Endymion dipped his chin once in acknowledgment. “Yes, all seven of them.”
“Seven!” I blurted.
“What do you think took me so long?” he asked, voice even.
“I don’t know, Endymion. I hadn’t exactly taken the time to think about it between you bolting into the woods and being impaled.”
That got a small chuckle out of him, both of us grimacing from the soft ripple of movement.
All humor lost, Endymion held my gaze, and I tensed somehow knowing he was preparing himself.
“I’m not going to like how we get out of this, am I?” I said.
He let out a long sigh before answering. “It’s not something I’m looking forward to either.”
“Well, seeing as how we’re on our own out here, I guess there’s no other option.” Truth was, I’d give anything to be able to valen, or better yet, have someone from the Spring Court come to our aid and heal our wounds.
“And whose fault is that?” he said, cocking a brow.
My brows pinched together, not understanding his meaning. “I’m sorry?”
“Whose fault is it that we’re out here alone?” he said.
I reared back, instantly regretting it as the bolt shifted, but my mounting anger ate up any pain. “You think this ismyfault?”
“We would’ve never been out here if it weren’t for your reckless behavior.”
“Reckless,” I scoffed, the sound as bitter as the word tasted in my mouth. “How fucken rich coming from you. You want to point fingers so badly, fine, let’s. And while we’re doing it, how about we remember when you promised that the Summer Court was safe? I know I’m new to this wholefaething, but where I come from, being impaled by a poisoned arrow does not damn well qualify assafe.”
His jaw worked for a long moment as if chewing on the warring emotions that flashed across his features faster than a shooting star, and I braced myself for hisrebuke, ready to fight.
Jaw stilled, he said, “Point taken.”
I blinked at him, both confused and surprised. “That’s it?” I said, still waiting for the rest.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then loosed a long breath before focusing on me again. “You’re right. You should be safe to roam as you see fit in the Summer Court, Nyleeria,” he said, words clipped as if they’d pained him to say—and not from his wounds. “I hadn’t foreseen the wards falling, and I could have explained to you the potential consequences once they had. For that, I am sorry.” He paused for a moment, letting the apology carry the weight it deserved.
“Thank you,” I said, taken aback.
“I’m not done,” he said. My body tensed, feeling the bite of his words even though they’d been delivered with perfect calm. “While I own my part in this, I need you to understand just how angry I am with you for being recklessly cavalier in a realm you know nothing about. It would be one thing if you’d grown up ignorant to the wiles of the woods—but you can’t claim ignorance here. I won’t pretend like I didn’t promise you safety here—because I did—but you don’t get to look me in the eyes and tell me your instincts didn’t warn you not to leave the palace grounds. Thatchoiceyou made, to continue anyway, to put yourself in danger, that’s what angers me most, Nyleeria.”
I stared at him, unable to form a response. We both knew he was right. Hells, even Luca had paused. And damn if the disappointed—no, helpless—plea in his gaze didn’t make my shame double in weight.
The intensity wafting off of him eventually lessened a fraction, his eye softening as if sensing his point was understood. It had.
