The others did the same, instantly surrounding Tessa and I in a defensive stance, the wolves crouched and growling. Redvyr had me pressed behind him, a claw at my waist. I didn’t have to wait long to discover what had alerted them.
Three shadow fae swooped almost silently out of the clouds, but the beast fae had heard them well enough, already prepared to fight. Redvyr straightened as they drew closer, loosening his grip on my waist.
They all wore silver, gold, and black armor, completely covering their bodies from neck to booted foot. Extending from their backs were the dragon-like wings of all shadow fae. That was where the similarities between the three males ended.
My gaze drew instantly to the one who set foot in the snow first, the others landing behind him. His black wings with a sheen of dark red arched higher than the others. His golden hair was braided in thin plaits along his temples. The effect, with his sun-blond hair falling past his shoulders, revealing the beautiful, sharp features of his face, was stunning. His eyes were an otherworldly—almost unsettling—orange, scanning all of us and the body on the ground in the snow.
The second shadow fae had a blade drawn, his scowl focused on our party since they hadn’t sheathed their swords. His brown hair was loosely tied in a knot on his head, his yellow eyes glaring at all of us.
The third was—I recognized him. Stepping around Redvyr to stand beside him, I stared at the shadow fae priest who’d come into Haldek’s tavern for a meal with a light fae female not too long ago.
“Murgha,” I murmured to myself, “that was her name.”
The priest snapped his attention to me. His face and black, silky hair were perfection, but his crimson eyes were unsettling as they examined me. Just like the first time I’d met him.
“Whatever happened to her?” I asked the priest.
“Bezaliel,” whispered Tessa behind me, “that’s my sister’s mate.”
“Murgha is your sister?” I asked Tessa over my shoulder.
“Yes. You’ve met her?”
“That can wait,” said Bezaliel sharply, moving to stand beside his lord.
For a moment, silence fell again as the two parties examined one another. I realized I had spoken out of turn. Redvyr should speak first. And if I wasn’t mistaken, the higher-ranking noble of the shadow fae party was the golden-haired male with wide gold bands at the base of his four horns. He was of royal blood.
“Prince Torvyn,” said Redvyr. “A little far south for you, isn’t it?”
“Greetings, Lord Redvyr. Unfortunately, it is. You know Vallon here, and this is Vaygar.”
Redvyr introduced his men then Tessa. Finally, with a hand at my lower back, he said, “This is Jessamine.”
He didn’t explain why I was there, and they didn’t ask. Then Redvyr began first.
“What brings you so far from Gadlizel?”
Prince Torvyn pointed at Redvyr’s closed hand that was fisted at his side. “That.”
Redvyr opened his hand, showing them what he held in his palm. “You know what creature this is?”
“We’ve been hunting them down from our mountains,” said Vallon, Murgha’s mate. “We didn’t think they’d come this far south.”
“Tell me what they are, Vallon.”
I recognized the command in Redvyr’s voice. His temper was brewing hotter. Vallon stepped forward and plucked the severed finger from his hand.
“Tylok’s family is gone,” Vallon commented as he examined the grotesque digit before tossing it back in the snow.
“Yes,” growled Redvyr. “Now tell me what you know before I have to beat it out of you.”
Vallon scoffed lightly, gazing at Tylok’s home in the giant oak tree. “I’m sorry for Tylok.” He turned back towards his fellow shadow fae. “I’m even sorrier for his female and two children.”
“Fine, fine,” snapped Leifkyn, the only one with a shorter temper than Redvyr. “Tell us what the fuck did this.”
“Grimlocks,” said the prince, his expression grave.
“Grimlocks are a myth,” I said, dragging the prince’s attention to me.
