Staying with Dayton and Wrenley in our Summer slum had to be a unique brand of torture, devised just for me. Sometimes I wish he’d just do it—just accept his bond and mate with her already. At least then he’d break his curse. But as always with Dayton, no force in all the realms can compel him to do something he doesn’t want to do.
Or maybe he wants to be with her. Maybe I was just in the way.Stars, they could be mated already, for all I know. He might have decided it was time the minute I left.
I hadn’t wanted to leave, but we’d exhausted every option in Hadria and were no closer to finding Rosalina. Even Wrenley, who had secured her position once again as one of Kairyn’s acolytes, heard no useful information. I couldn’t take another moment in that little apartment, wondering when Dayton would finally say yes to Wrenley and accept his bond with her.
The two of us certainly hadn’t been intimate since Rosalina’s disappearance. Though there were many dark days I craved his comfort, when the loneliness and fear for my mate seemed too strong. I imagined going to Dayton and falling into his arms as I’ve done so many times before.
But how could I when his true mate was right there?
Faster, I need to run faster before my thoughts eat me alive. The hill gives way to a familiar forest. The Emberwood, the place where I broke my curse and made love to my mate for the first time.We’ll come back here again, you and me. I will take you in my arms and kiss you a hundred times, no, a thousand times, because I will never have my fill of you. Then we’ll fall among the leaves and make love like it’s the first time again. The first time of infinity.
Coppershire isn’t far now. That’s why I left Dayton. I told him there was nothing I could do here and, with no word from Keldarion or Ezryn, we had to seek help elsewhere. The people of Autumn will come to Summer’s aid.
Silence fills my mind as I run the rest of the way. Every patch of heather, every stone and tree, seems familiar now. My powerful legs send me bounding up the final hill that overlooks the city.
I stop. Down below, Coppershire glimmers bronze in the dying light. Outside the city walls, fighting on the same field that I fought upon nearly half a year ago, are Autumn soldiers barely holding their own against a goblin horde.
My heart thunders in my chest. What is this? I search thebattlefield, but I see no commander, no denizen of the Below shouting orders. These are goblins straight from the Briar.
My father leads the soldiers, cutting down three goblins with a single giant swing of his sword. His familiar voice booms over the chaos, shouting orders and motivating his troops. Anger swells in me. I lost my mother on this field. I won’t lose anyone else.
Fire licks at my paws as I sprint down the hill. The flames spread, engulfing my entire body until I’m more fire than wolf. Every day that passes since I broke my curse, I become more and more reacquainted with the full breadth of my power. But what good does it do me if I can’t get Rosalina back?
A soldier spots me, eyes wide with awe. He raises his spear and lets loose a triumphant cry.
A few goblins turn to stare at me, terrified looks flashing across their faces. But it’s too late for them to escape. I swing my flaming paw, knocking them aside. My maw is a torrent of heat, snapping necks and tearing heads from spines.
My father’s face lights up as he sees me making my way to him. “Hail the High Prince of Autumn!” he cries. “Hail!”
The rest of the soldiers take up the cheer, lauding me as I cut through the enemy ranks. One by one, the goblins fall to flame and teeth. A few try to retreat, stumbling back up the hill, but my father’s soldiers cut them down. Within the hour, what once was a great horde is now ash beneath my paws.
I walk through the smoking field, suddenly abashed at the look of adoration from the soldiers. There’s only one person I want to speak to right now.
“My boy!” His booming voice carries over the din. I peer through the smoke to see my father’s giant body hurtling toward me. He wraps his arms around my snout, and I nuzzle against him.
“You came in the nick of time, didn’t you?” He pulls back and puts a spark out on his bushy, red beard. I shift, body shimmering back into that of a fae. My father shrugs out of his hooded cape and hands it to me.
I hug the cape around my shoulders. “What was that, Father? I’ve never seen a force of goblins so brazen on their own.”
Father leads me toward the city gates. “That’s the third attack this month, boy.”
Third attack this month? How can that be? “I don’t understand. Who’s commanding them?”
“I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “Maybe no one. They’re pouring out of the Briar faster than ever. Don’t you worry, boy, we’ve kept our gates standing.” He stops before the wall surrounding the city and looks at me with a sad smile. “I’m just so happy to see you, son. Been a quarter since anyone’s heard word of you. I feared the worst.”
“My Queen’s token was stolen by the enemy. I’ve had no way to travel to Castletree.”
“Where’s Rosalina?”
“Gone,” I whisper. “The enemy has her. I’ve been in Summer trying to—”
“They say Hadria’s fallen and the Golden Rose has been kidnapped. Is it true, then?” my father interrupts. His eyes shine, and I realize he’s holding back tears. “What’s happened to our Nori?”
I take a deep breath. “There are still fae resisting Kairyn’s rule. Word is Delphia escaped on a ship. No doubt she’ll have taken Eleanor with her, too.”
Father squeezes his eyes shut. “Your mother’s essence is with her, watching over her. I know it.”
“I do, too,” I whisper.
