Blake Tehlin was taller than either Axel or Dathal, but still shorter than my six foot four. He had blue-black hair and startlingly bright blue eyes that widened when he saw all of us waiting for them.
Lady Sarhin didn’t seem surprised in the least, or if she was she didn’t show it. Turning to Blake she made introductions. “Blake Tehlin, I believe you know everyone except for Talis…” She looked at me expectantly and I realised she didn’t know my last name. Not everyone did as I usually only went by my first name.
“Talis Winter.” I smiled at him. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” He glanced at Axel, a small smile appearing. “I’ve heard a lot about you recently.”
Lady Sarhin tsked. “The high court are notorious gossips about anything that doesn’t affect our security, and unfortunately Axel being involved with Rys Calder’s beta is big news.”
She didn’t say whether they’d made a decision yet or not, and I didn’t want to tempt fate by asking, not before I’d had a chance to talk to Axel.
While we waited for Max and Lady Sarhin to conclude their business with the transfer of the fae witches, Axel came to stand beside me. “Why don’t you come with us?”
I glanced at him. “To take Blake home?”
“Yeah. I’ve got Rys’s car, so there’s room.” He smiled up at me, hopeful, and I wondered if the thought of us being apart affected him in the same way it did me.
“Will I be allowed?” I nodded at Lady Sarhin. She hadn’t invited me along, and I had no wish to get on her bad side.
“Of course.” Axel huffed out a laugh. “She’s not that bad.”
Maybe not if you were fae.
But I wanted to stay with Axel more than I wanted to stay in her good books. “Yeah, okay. I’ll come.”
When Max and Lady Sarhin were finished, Max drew her to one side. I assumed it was so neither Axel nor Blake would hear them, because he knew I would.
“Did the transfer of Melhak go as planned?” he asked, voice low.
Lady Sarhin gave the barest of nods. “He’s now inAnyathprison where he will remain for a long time.”
“Good.” Max glanced at Blake, who’d been used by Melhak in the worst way. “How is he?”
“Surprisingly good, all things considered. I’m going to suggest to the high court that it would be good to have Axel here to keep an eye on Blake after all he’s been through. His house isn’t far from Rys’s territory, so it makes sense. And Axel can relate more than most.” She sighed. “I’m hoping it might be the thing that sways them into letting him stay.”
They both looked my way, and I tried not to appear like I was listening, but failed.
“I hope it works,” Max said softly.
Lady Sarhin’s smile was fleeting. “So do I.”
AXEL
Blake Tehlin’scottage was about a fifteen-minute drive from my house.
Lady Sarhin sat in the front with me, while Blake and Talis were in the back.
“Has someone been looking after the cottage while you’ve been gone,” I asked, looking to Blake in my rear-view mirror.
He sat forward to answer. “Yes. Lady Sarhin arranged for a member of the Sherwood Pines Pack to keep an eye on it.”
“Falon offered through Detective Knowles,” Lady Sarhin added, “as I helped a member of his pack recover from Blue Alhuirn poisoning.”
“Ahh, Callum Walker,” Talis said.
“Yes, I believe that was his name. Someone has been going there once a week while Blake’s been in the Fae Realm. I understand they were there a few days ago, so everything should be in order.”
She wasn’t wrong.
