That’s not a surprise. These men are prisoners; the Unseelie wouldn’t leave them with a way to defend themselves. Still, I hadto ask in case they managed to smuggle a blade or two between them.
Think, Nia.Think.
“Do any of you know why they’re keeping you in here?” If we knew that, perhaps we could figure out a way to negotiate for our release.
“Camden speaks some Unseelie,” Kaleb says. “He thinks...” The young lad’s face turns bright pink.
Camden must be the blue-haired one.
“What does Camden think?” I ask the man himself, since Kaleb seems to be having difficulty finding his words.
Blowing out a breath, Camden stretches his hands over his bent knees and says, “I think they’re searching for mates.”
38
Maddox
“The past may fade but can never be erased.”
— An Unseelie Proverb
All I want is to run after Nia, but Raven’s threat to carve her dagger across my Seelie’s throat keeps me rooted in place, watching like a useless fucking stone as Raven drags her away.
“Where are they taking her?” I demand, glaring at the female who claims to be their chieftain.
“Somewhere safe.”
I do not take her word for it. If this place were safe, they would not have taken Nia from me.
I will get her back.
I do not care how many fae I must fight to do it. I will not leave this place without my Seelie.
The Chieftain motions toward a tall ladder reaching high up the cliff and invites me into her home.
I do not want to join her anywhere. I want to stay right here and wait for an explanation that makes sense.
“Why did you take Nia?” I ask again.
“I have told you that we have much to discuss,” she says.
“Does thisdiscussionhave anything to do with your people attacking the Seelie fae?” I was a fool for trusting them. For staying in this place longer than necessary. We should have left the moment I was healed. I have failed to keep Nia safe, and now she has been stolen from me.
Annoyance flickers through the Chieftain’s dark eyes, and her crinkled lips press tightly together.
She is irritated? Good. So am I.
“The Seelie attacked us first,” she clips.
This cannot be true. Ever would not have allowed that to happen.
Could this be the work of the rebels he mentioned? The same ones who were against building a new bridge? “Explain yourself.”
The Chieftain stalks forward until we are toe-to-toe on the worn path. “My mate was hunting south of the village when Seelie fire rained down from the sky. He was killed along with three of our fiercest warriors.”
She must be mistaken. Ever does not even know there are fae living down here. As far as I know, no one does. Why would he order an attack?—
Wait.
