“Andthereis your father,” he laughed. “They would both be proud of you. Oberon is proud of you. Titania too, even if she won’t admit it. Consider yourself fortunate to have such a family.” He put a hand on my shoulder and attempted a gentle smile, which looked more like a grimace on his mangled lips. But then something flashed in his single, dark eye and he brushed a rogue tear from my cheek. “Be good…little cousin.”
As he left the room and mounted the staircase, I couldn’t help but feel like he’d been seeing Lyric in my face, and it very nearly broke me. On my way down to fetch Ceres, however, the brutal unfairness of it all sank over me, and I sat down on the staircase. Clutching the bannister for support, I allowed myself a few minutes of furious sobs, stifled by my other hand. My body shook with barely contained rage and barely controlled grief, my shadows consuming the air around me until I could hardly breathe. I only came back to myself when the bannister cracked beneath my grip and I realized I’d been pouring my magyk into the wood.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, addressing the tree herself. I pulled myself back together, wiping my face on my sleeves, then used my magyk to knit the bannister back together too. With a deep, shuddering breath, I stood and put my tears away, knowing I would need more before this was all over.
The cold, empty pit in my stomach was temporarily filled with warmth as I watched Ceres tearfully reunite with Larch and his children. But as soon as Myrtle and Vale led her from the clearing, chattering happily, the warmth dissipated. Larch’s dark face was deadly serious, as was the look he exchanged with Devil, who put his fingers in his mouth and let out a long, low whistle. Jon came lumbering down the hill in his bear form, and beside him was Will. I let out a soft squeal and ran past the bear to throw my arms around him.
He held me tightly and whispered, “Hello, May.”
“What are you doing here? I mean…besides…” With a wicked grin, I flicked my eyes back toward Jon, and Will blushed a deep crimson.
“I-I wasn’t sure if…if you knew…”
“No one here can keep secrets with Devil around,” I laughed.
“And you don’t…hate me?” Will asked, his eyes wide with worry.
“Why on earth would I hate you?”
He shrugged, but his voice filled with apprehension and he mumbled, “It isn’t exactly…normal, is it?” Every emotion imaginable surged inside me and I pulled him forcefully back into our embrace.
“Theonlything abnormal about this is the…occasional difference in species,” I said. “And if anyone ever tells you otherwise, I will take care of them myself.” Will responded with a loud, barking laugh, but then he pulled away, his forehead crinkling.
“Youpromiseyou aren’t upset though? I mean, it has only been a few weeks since you and I…”
“Oh!” I had to fight the nervous giggle coming up in my throat. Clearly, he was unaware of how quickly I had also moved on from our relationship. “Of course, I’m not upset! Will, I only ever wanted you to be happy. Are you happy?”
His soft, hazel eyes drifted past me, to where Jon had turned back into a man and was pulling on a pair of trousers. The bear-man grinned at us and winked.
“Yes,” Will said at last. “I am happy.”
“Then that’s all that matters. Now, tell me what you’re doing in my forest!”
We walked arm-in-arm back to where everyone was standing outside Aliena’s cottage, muttering amongst themselves as the rain clouds began to drizzle. Devil waited until we were close, then clapped his hands and held them out, sending a blanket of faint, shimmering light over the cottage to form a low dome. Some sort of ward against eavesdroppers, I suspected, and my stomach twisted. This was clearly not a social visit.
“Inside,” he said, and we all followed Jon into the house. Aliena was already sitting at the table, while Larch perched on a windowsill. Devil leaned against the back wall so Jon and Will could take the seats across from Aliena. I sat beside her and we exchanged strained smiles.
“Everyone,” Devil said smoothly. “You already know Mister William Scarlett—”
Will cleared his throat. “It’s…it’s just Will…”
Devil stopped and glared at him. “Williamhere has brought some news, which is of interest to this little band. Particularly to you, May.” Will took Jon’s outstretched hand and squeezed it, then looked directly at me before speaking.
“Johar and my father have…decided that the Arden poses a threat to us, and the whole thing is my fault.”
“Yourfault?” I said incredulously.
“Hush,” Devil admonished. I threw him a look, but shut my mouth.
“When I came to the forest looking for you, May, I didn’t think Helena would be fool enough to follow me. I didn’t know about the…the love spell. We came back and her family assumed the worst. They decided that since I’dcompromisedher honor, our wedding needed to go ahead as they’d already planned, quickly. My parents were delighted, naturally, but Johar seemed wary. I thought giving Helena the antidote would…would set everything right, but it’s just gotten worse.”
He took a long, deep breath and covered his face with his hands.
“She woke up from the love spell, but she couldn’t remember anything from the morning of the tournament until the day I gave her the antidote, and she was terrified. She started having these awful nightmares, screaming in the dead of night. They turned into waking hallucinations, and she was lashing out at people, claiming they were faeries coming to kidnap her. Johar locked her up, drugged her, but she started destroying things, smashing furniture and windows. She attacked her lady’s maid, and I think…I think Johar hurt her. She had bruises on her face.” He paused again and I moved my chair so I could put a hand on his back.
“It isn’t your fault, Will,” I whispered. “He’s a monster.”
“But I came looking for you, and she followed,” he said. “I knew where you’d gone, but I just…couldn’t let you go. I wanted to prove that I could be brave for you, May. If I’d just stayed at home…”
