I choke out a laugh. “I’m not in love with him at all.”
She sniffs the air and grins, showing teeth that are slightly too sharp. “All lies.” She laughs. “You’re totally in love with him.”
“I- I’m developing feelings for him, at best… Or, Iwasdeveloping feelings for him. Love is pushing it,” I tell her.
“I think it’s a little more than that.” She shakes her head, still grinning. “You have it bad for him.”
I shake my head too.
“He’s a fool, if you ask me.” Terra pushes some hair behind her ear. “A handsome fool, I’ll grant you. But a fool, nonetheless. To push away someone like you over something like this.” She rolls her eyes.
“He has reasons to be cautious. It’s fine; we were never destined to be together.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not exactly queen material.”
“Why not? You are way too hard on yourself. You’re a strong female. You went after the queen, saving his sorry ass.”
I laugh unexpectedly. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
“What happens now?” I ask. “Are we expected to stay here? At the Shifter Court? Are we your prisoners?” I don’t feel like a prisoner, but that doesn’t mean I’m not one.
“Heavens, no.” Terra looks amused by the question. “You are free to go whenever you are ready. We will provide you with basic provisions. We can arrange transport into the deadlands as well. Take you close to a settlement or another court, though not too close.” She pauses. “You don’t have to leave immediately, of course. You are welcome to stay if you wish.”
“Stay?”
“The shifterfae would like nothing more.” Her eyes gleam. “In fact, we would very much prefer it if you did.” She reaches out and clutches my hand. “Stay with us.”
“And what about Sebastian? Once he’s spoken with the Drakar, will he be free to go too?”
Terra shrugs. “That depends very much on how the meeting goes, but I am sure he will be encouraged to leave our court so that he can go out and find the rest of the Lost Kings.”
“Why do you want me to stay? What use am I to the shifterfae?”
Terra’s expression shifts. Grows more serious.
“You are special, Isla. Probably just as special as the kings themselves.” She holds my gaze. “Your magic is strong. What you did against Snow out there on that battlefield, that wasn’t nothing. It was a miracle and just the kind of breakthrough we needed to fight her.”
“It wasn’t enough,” I say quietly. “She would have finished me soon enough.”
“It was more than anyone else has managed against her.” Terra’s voice is firm. “We need to find more like you. People with that kind of power. People who can stand against her. More half-breeds like you. If we ever hope to defeat Snow, we need every advantage we can get. I think there is a reason fae and human unions are against the law.”
I think on her words. About what they might mean.
“You think there are others like me?”
“I know there are. Scattered across the realm. Half-bloods like you with magic they are too afraid to use. We need to find them and train them. You can be a part of that. We’ll raise an army. We need the kings united to get the fae on our side…as many of them as possible.” Terra leans closer.
“You are making it sound like we might have a chance against her.”
“We do, Isla. I promise you…we do.”
She rises to her feet in one fluid motion.
“I’ll leave you to your thoughts.” She turns toward the entrance, then pauses. “I’m sure Sebastian will come around. And if he doesn’t, there are plenty of shifterfae males who would take you to their furs in a heartbeat.”
