The pants… take a minute. They arequitesnug. I do a quick squat test—no rips—then pull the wool coat on because I feel absolutely ridiculous. Just as I finish, Ellie returns. I don’t get a good look at what constitutes female fae fashion as she’s also wrapped up in a similar coat.
Taran takes stock of both of us. “Good. Now we just need to do a glamour…”
He lowers Ellie’s hood and brings his fingers to rest on her face. My jaw drops as her features sharpen before my eyes, her brown eyes brightening to amber, and points forming at the tips of her ears.
“Your turn.” Emlyn taps my chin up, then touches my face the same way. His skin against mine is the only thing I feel, but a few seconds later he pulls his hand away, his lips pursed as he tilts his head.
“You better not have made me look stupid.”
“No, I didn’t. I just prefer you the other way.”
I pull my hood up to hide the heat rising to my face.
Taran tucks his hair behind his ear. “Alright. Our goal now is to gather information and collect our allies before we head to the capital. It’s a lot to do, and the longer it takes, the more time the queen has to prepare. She already knows I’ve returned.”
He focuses on Emlyn, leaning against a nearby tree. “We’ll need to split up. You can take the western side of Anwen’s Tears, and I’ll go east. Have everyone meet in White Spring in five days. You know who to visit?”
Emlyn nods, but his brow furrows. “White Spring? It’ll still have quite the crowd. What happened to staying out of sight?”
Taran’s jaw tightens, then he exhales. “We can blend in among the pilgrims.”
Emlyn chews his lip, as if holding back from arguing. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s running through a list of doubts in his mind. It’s starting to seem like we’re trying to replace a war-mongering queen with a short-sighted king.
He gestures at Ellie and me. “What about them?”
“You decide.” Taran’s eyes dart away, then he runs his hand through his hair. “They can both come with me—I know you work best alone.”
I frown.If he doesn’t want to be stuck with just Ellie, why not say so?
Unless he’s afraid to admit he does.
Emlyn’s gaze meets mine. He doesn’t say anything, but it’s clear what he wants on his face.
Dammit. What do I do now?
I peek at Taran. He’s taken a few steps away, looking at the ground, biting his knuckle. Ellie’s watching him, too.
She turns to me. “Go with Emlyn. I’ll be alright.”
“Ellie…” I can’t just leave her with Taran. Caeo will kill me.
Her face hardens. “Go, Reid. It’s what you want. Put yourself first for once.”
I close my eyes. Exhale slowly.
You can’t destroy yourself to save them.
I go with Emlyn.
Chapter 29
Caeo
As promised, Mother’s arranged for some wrinkly old fae to teach me their—our—history. A pair of servants leads me to a cozy chamber, like a quiet corner of the Academy library, except without any books, desks, or chairs. So maybe not like that at all. A stone table, slightly off-center, sits atop a plush fur rug, while those same glowing orbs I saw drifting along the walkways outside hover near the ceiling. They bob between hanging vines, filling the room with a warm light that flickers in a steady pulse, as if alive.
They’re hypnotizing.
“What are those?” I ask.
