Madame’s jewels and bangles drag along the counter as she counts the coins. The lines around her eyes deepen with her smile. “It’s enough to cover the knickers and the dress.”
“Then you may keep them.”
Nia’s curls sway when she shakes her head. “You’re not buying my dress.”
It is too late. I already have. “Consider it a thank you for all your help.” Help I do not need but which I would never willingly give up. These last few days have been some of the happiest in my life, all because they have been spent with Nia Quill.
I return to my wagon with my heart full of turmoil. The more time I spend in Nia’s company, the harder it will be to say goodbye. But I am too selfish to stop. I am a male drowning in lies, and she is my air. I do not wish to die of suffocation.
Everett waits in the garden, his elbows propped on his knees as he rests in the chair I fixed. Biscuits eyes him warily from the stoop behind my wagon, guarding his mangled boot with narrowed blue eyes. Part of me delights in knowing Biscuits is not enamored with my friend; he prefers my company. This is not usually the case.
“Your scowl is deeper than usual, O great and powerful king.” Ever was never one for many smiles, but this expression is one he has not worn since he thought his mate was lost to him.
Ever drops his hands and pushes to his feet. “I am in distress, Maddox.”
And he claims I am dramatic. “Fret not. Your mate will return soon.” Kerris Dawn is only visiting her brother in another Seelie town. He should be happy that he has someone to love him. Unlike me, who has only Biscuits.
My goat is a wonderful pet, but I do not wish to share my bed with him.
“Not about her absence. Although that does distress me greatly.”
Does this mean he is coming to me about a problem? This is most unusual. Normally, Gryffin is the one who helps solve our woes. I cannot mess this up, or he will never ask me for adviceagain. “What is it?” From the way his mouth flattens, it must be serious.
I can be serious.
Ever drags a hand through his black hair, which is shorter than mine. He did not always wear his hair that way. When we were younglings?—
No, Maddox. You must focus. Ever is in need and came to you.
Do not concern yourself with his hair.
“Will you accompany me to the bridge?” he says. “I think it would be best to show you.”
“Of course.” I would follow Ever anywhere. He is a good leader and an even better friend. I will not make the same mistake I have in the past and abandon him in his time of need.
We visit the stables to retrieve our mounts. Once outside the castle gates, our unicorns slowly trod the cobbled streets toward the canyon. The city ends abruptly, with the road giving up well before the world’s end. A path of dirt stretches toward where the old bridge once stood. All that is left are the charred remains still clinging to the canyon ledge. Beside the old bridge hangs the temporary one, made of large trees and cobbled together with bits of planks from our forests.
He does not stop at this bridge but continues to where the Seelie are building a new one. It is meant to be twice as wide as the original and promises to be quite the feat of engineering—if it is ever finished. They have been working on it since before Ever received his crown.
Stacks of wooden planks wait next to crates of nails and tools. Everything necessary to build a bridge except for one very important thing.
“Where are the laborers?” The last time I rode past, there were at least twenty Seelie hammering and sawing and calling out orders. The foreman is the most intimidating Seelie male Ihave ever met. He shouted at me for picking up one of the saws, even though I was only looking at it.
All our saws are rusted. This one was so shiny, I could see my reflection in its silver surface. Since there is no sign of the foreman now, I slide off Dusk’s back and head straight for the tools. There are so many.Look at this hammer; the handle is so smooth.My own hammer only has half a handle. Think of all the things I could build with this one. Not that I would abandon mine, but it might be nice to have two.
Ever dismounts as well, patting Nyx’s mane when the unicorn stamps his foot with a snort. “They have been sent home for the day.”
The sun is still high in the sky. Why would they go so early? Do Seelie always work such short hours? Is this the “holiday” that Ever mentioned the other day? No wonder it is taking them forever to finish the bridge.
He takes the hammer from my hand, returning it to the toolbox. “There has been an attack. We think.”
I twist away from the tools to find him scowling once more. “You think?”
He waves for me to follow him to the edge of the worksite. There, he kneels and points to a section of dirt next to a stack of planks where blood speckles the ground.
I crouch down next to him. “This is all the blood you have found?”
A nod.
