“When did this happen?”
“It has been thirteen weeks since my mate was buried.”
That would have been when the previous king burned the bridge.South of the village. . . That is where the bridge once stood. This must be what happened.
“I am sorry for your great losses, but the Seelie were not attacking you. They were trying to kill us.” The last Seelie queen despised our kind and did not want us to have access to theirwell, so she destroyed the only way to reach their side of the canyon.
Thankfully, we are not so easily deterred.
The Chieftain folds her arms over her colorful chest, her gown as fine as those in Madame Ella’s shop. “Yet you brought one to our village. Dared to mate with her in our beds.”
Who I mate with is none of their business. I do not know these fae. They are not my people and have no claim to me. No bearing on my actions.
Nia and I have chosen each other. This is all that matters.
“The Seelie who plotted the attack have been killed. An Unseelie sits on the throne of Willowhaven.”
The dull hum of curious murmurs lifts around us, females wondering if what I say is possible.
It is more than possible. It is truth.
“Lies,” the Chieftain hisses.
I may lie about many things, but not about this. “Go to Rosehill and see for yourself. The animosity between our peoples has faded.” This is a new age of peace—one that might end as quickly as it began if the Seelie learn that Unseelie have been behind the attacks on the bridge workers. We are only beginning to earn their trust. These ignorant fae must not be allowed to destroy what we have built.
The Chieftain holds out her hands, and the murmuring stops. Blowing out a breath, she straightens her shoulders, her expression as rigid as before. “Even if what you say is true, there is still much anger in our hearts. We have lost mates. Sons. Daughters. Our only hope of survival lies in expanding our line. To do this, we need strong, healthy males.”
“That does not make it right to kill the Seelie.” Two deaths do not make a life.
“We have not killed them, Mad-dox. We have captured them.”
I know better than to take her word for truth. If she wishes for me to believe her, she must give me proof. “Show me.”
To my shock, the Chieftain leads me through the village toward where they took Nia. I scan for signs of my Seelie but find none. If anything happens to her, I will burn this village to the ground.
Raven trades words with four other females outside a small hole in the cliff. That Raven is here is a good sign. Nia must be nearby. Although I do not see her.
The Chieftain orders Raven to bring out the prisoners. Our former escort disappears inside the small hole, and when she emerges, she is not alone.
A Seelie with hair the color of clover peeking from between bits of blood and mud staggers out, his hands bound in front of him. Groaning, he winces against the gray sky.
Could this be one of the missing architects?
A second male emerges, his arm slung over Raven’s shoulders. His black leather uniform bears the Willowhaven crest.
This is glorious news indeed. Ever will be?—
My Nia emerges from the hole, her skirts painted in muck. I take a step toward her, but then my body locks tight as a fist when another male emerges after her. Dread courses through my veins. Twists in my gut.
What is the Nolan doing here? Why is Nia putting her arm around him, helping him stand?
My teeth grind, but I force my face to remain neutral. Anger will not help this day. I must keep a clear head. Remain focused.
Nia’s worried eyes meet mine, spilling tears.
Why does she cry? Is she hurt? Is she relieved to be near me once more?
Or is she relieved to be nearhim? She said that he is engaged to the climbing vine, but what if their absence from one anotherhas rekindled the flames of love that once burned in their hearts?
