His words are meant to comfort, but they feel like blades slicing into my skin. “And yet, I still carry the burden.”
“But you shouldn’t.” Zephyr closes the space between us. His warmth feels like home, and, despite my mood, I gravitate toward him. “Every single one of those men and women knew death was a real possibility, but they stood with you anyway. These fae believe in our kingdom. Believe in us. Don’t let them see you waver.”
War is upon us, brewing closer and closer every day. These battles are just that. A distraction to weaken us. To make us look the other way while they plot for control. If Gadreel, the leader of the Nephilim, and his people are successful, every kingdom will either be enslaved or eradicated.
Zephyr isn’t wrong. If my people sense doubt—ifthey believe I’ve lost faith in our ability to win this war—then we’ve already lost. Hope will wither before the battle even begins.
I sigh, forcing a small smile. “Must you always be so annoyingly right?”
Zephyr’s lips twitch into a smile of his own, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s skilled at hiding his fears, but not perfect. A flicker of uncertainty lingers beneath his composed exterior, one I doubt anyone else would notice. But I do. I always notice.
I lean in to kiss him. Just a soft brush of our lips, full of unspoken words and promises. His hand tightens on my wrist for just a moment before he leans into the kiss. If I could stay like this forever, I would. But, unfortunately, we have Nephilim problems on our hands.
Reluctantly, I pull back, just in time to see a green glimmer zip through the trees and land atop Zephyr’s hair. Finnick pants, doubling over with his hands on his knees.
“The…woman…gone…” he squeaks out like his little lungs couldn’t handle how quickly he flew over to us. I know that’s not the case, though, because Finnick is the fastest sprite I know. He only gets tired if he’s exhausted a substantial amount of energy.
“Finnick, breathe. I don’t understand what you’re saying.” That’s when I realize he’s alone. “Where’s Mother?”
Finnick takes another moment before straightening up. The urgency on his face never wavers as he jumps off Zephyr’s head to hover between us. “There was awoman. A human woman! She said Ender brought her here?—”
“Ender is here?” I echoed, disbelief tightening my chest. We hadn’t set a date for our human wife’s arrival. Ender only said it would be soon, but I never expected her to be dropped into the chaos of battle. Dread coils in my gut. Did she see the Nephilim? Did they hurt her?
No. If she was with Ender, she should be safe. She had to be.
“No, he just left her.”
Excitement quickly turns to bile on my tongue. A quick look at Zephyr tells me he’s just as sick and angry as I am. “This is the girl with the pans?” he asks Finnick.
“Isn’t that the woman you’re taking me to?” I look between my brother and mate, clearly missing something.
They ignore me, but Finnick nods at Zephyr’s question. “Yes. She’s human, and she’s scared. I left her with Mother, but she ran deep into the forest. She’s a fast little thing.”
Zephyr curses, stealing the words from my lips. Not only did Ender fucking leave her to her own devices, alone in a strange world, she’s now missing in the forest where Nephilim have been spotted. One mortal woman cannot defend herself against a powerful foe in an unknown land. What the fuck was The Guardian thinking?
On top of everything else we’ve had to deal with today, finding my human wife Ender tossed into our land as if she were disposable was not on the list.
“Finnick, take us to where she was. Did you see where she ran off to?” I ask.
“I think we can track her,” he said before taking off.
Zephyr and I exchange a single glance, and silent understanding passes between us before we sprint after my brother. My queen is out there, alone in the forest. The woman destined to be my wife. The only person who can help us save my kingdom. Zephyr may not want to marry this woman, but even he knows just how important she is to the kingdom.
A sharp, searing rage burns in my chest at the thought of Ender, at what he has done. I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone more. But anger won’t help me now. I shove it down, locking it away, but never forgetting.
Right now, the only thing that matters is finding her.
Chapter 9
Evangeline
This is what I get for trying to dream big. I wanted to be a chef someplace out of my little town, so I could explore what the world has to offer. Well, if being dumped by The Guardian in the middle of terrifying creatures is what’s being offered, I want back. Right this second. Back to my little bed, in my little apartment, where I don’t have to look over my shoulder out of fear of being killed.
Stupid contract. Stupid ambitions.
I run without direction, driven by a frantic need to escape the truth chasing me. My feet pound the ground harder and faster, as if speed alone can silence the thoughts clawing at my mind. Each step pulls at muscles unaccustomed to the strain, burning with the effort. My breath comes in sharp, ragged gasps. I don’t know how far I go, only that I don’t stop until my legs finally give out beneath me. I collapse to my knees, and my chest heaves as my lungs scream.
A few paces in front of me is a small pond, not yetfrozen over from the chill in the air. On my hands and knees, I crawl to the bank, desperately dipping my hands into the freezing cold water. I splash water on my face, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. But there’s no waking up. This is my reality—one I have to deal with now.
