Axel then did as he was told, gently forcing Dathal’s mouth open, and then Lady Sarhin tipped the contents of the vial inside.
Dathal swallowed.
His whole body jerked, then relaxed against me like he was made of jelly.
“That will keep him asleep and stable while we transport him through the gateway.”
Wait, what?
“You’re taking him back?” The words fell out before I could catch them, and she shot me a sharp glare.
“His job is finished. He needs to heal at home where we can give him what he needs.” Her words had a finality to them that cut straight to my heart.
“But—”
“The matter isn’t up for discussion, Mr Parker.”
I flinched at the use of my name.
“Dathal is fae. He doesn’t belong in your realm.” She stood abruptly. “Axel, arrange for Dathal’s transportation to the gateway immediately. Chief Inspector Thornton is preparing the lead hunter and the witches to travel with us, where they will be tried in front of the high court.”
Axel looked torn. “I was hoping to speak to the witches.”
She sighed, looking more human in that moment than fae. “You will have your time with them. Through the gateway.”
He nodded.
With that, she turned on her heel and headed back to the car.
Nathan Calder remained behind. He glanced from me to Dathal, and I wondered exactly what his senses were telling him. “The fae aren’t keen on outsiders,” he said with a wry smile. “And they are fiercely loyal to their own. But if this is what you both want, don’t give up. Fight for him.” With that pearl of wisdom, he turned and left.
“How the fuck am I supposed to do that when they’re taking him through that bastard gateway?” I muttered.
Rys’s dad stopped, and I groaned. Stupid shifter hearing.
“If he’s worth it,” he said, looking over his shoulder, “you’ll find a way.”
Of course he was worth it, I wanted to yell, but I didn’t have a death wish.
Axel put his hand on my arm in silent support, but it didn’t fucking help. This couldn’t be it? I couldn’t say goodbye to Dathal while he was unconscious.
I didn’t want to say goodbye at all, but definitely not like this.
My magic flared, reaching for Dathal’s on instinct because he wasmine. Axel’s sharp inhale stopped me long enough for him to grab my arm.
“Stop,” he hissed. “You’ll make things worse.”
“How can they get worse?” I asked, blinking back tears. “You’re taking him back to the Fae Realm and I won’t even get to say goodbye, to tell him…”
“To tell him what?”
That I didn’t want this to be it for us. That it was never casual for me, and I couldn’t fucking bear the thought of never again waking up with my arms wrapped around him.
“That I want to keep him.”
Axel shook his head. “I knew this would happen.”
“What do I do, Axel? There has to be something.”
