The sofa’s springs squeak as Nia and I both sink onto the cushions.
Nia doesn’t lean back against the ruffled pillows, her posture rigid as a plank. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, honey,” Aunt Cordelia assures her with a quick pat on the knee. “Your father and I were simply discussing what to do with all this wolf nonsense.”
What can any of us do? Start a hunting party? The thought is laughable. What weapons would we use? Butter knives?
My aunt’s gaze slices toward me. “Kerris, dear, we think it might be best if you returned home.”
Wait. What?
Nia catches my hand as if I’m about to race off to the mountains this very second. “You cannot send her away, Mother. She hasn’t found a husband yet.”
“She would be more than welcome to come back after it’s safe.”
Although I hear what she’s saying, what she’snotsaying is even louder.
I curl my toes in my slippers, careful to keep my expression passive despite the indignation burning through my chest. “That’s not true, is it? You don’t want me to ever come back.”
I don’t know why I feel so betrayed. Wasn’t I just contemplating leaving?
“Out of concern for your safety. Nothing more.”
Poppycock. She wants me gone and it has nothing to do with my bloomin’ safety. “Then I assume you’ll be sending Nia to Gravale with me? Or is your daughter’s safety not as important as my own?”
Nia crosses her arms, her chin lifting as she narrows her eyes at her mother. “Yes, Mother. Which is it?”
“Nia is more than welcome to visit you after she finds a husband.”
“Unbelievable,” Nia scoffs.
“Is it, really? You know as well as I do what everyone is saying about her. Do you want your cousin’s poor choices to hurt your prospects for a husband as well?”
I never even considered how my connection to Everett would impact Nia.AmI hurting her prospects? That’s the last thing I want to do, especially when she is so keen to marry Nolan.
Nia launches to her feet, her tight fists banging against her thighs. “Any man who doesn’t want to marry me simply because of who I’m related to isn’t worth my time. Unlikeyou, I don’t want a coward for a husband.”
“Nia Quill. You will hold your tongue.” Aunt Cordelia snaps her fingers, her cheeks a ruddy shade of red.
It’s my turn to stand and take Nia’s hand—after I pry her fist open. “It’s all right.” Her mother is only trying to protect her. I’m certain that my mother would have done the same for me. “Aunt Cordelia, I can assure you that my dealings with the Unseelie have ended. But if you still want me to leave, I will.”
Nia strangles my hand, her voice trembling. “Kerris, no.”
My aunt’s wariness lives in the lines on her face. “If you can assure me that you are no longer entertaining the notion of aligning yourself with the Unseelie, then you are welcome to stay.”
After all that has happened, I’m not sure Iwantto stay. But for my cousin, I make the promise, wishing it weren’t true.
39
“Break the rules, suffer the consequences.”
Surviving the Unseelie Lands
Nia groans from the sofa, her head thrown back on the cushion and hands folded over her stomach. “Do you want to go to town?”
I glance up from the book I’m pretending to read. No matter how long I stare at the words, none of them register. I might as well be staring at an ancient text written in a foreign language. “Town is closed on Wednesdays.”
It’s funny that she would forget a rule only a few weeks ago she’d been so adamant to keep.
