“Well, you seem like the kind of person who’s a stickler for therules.”
“I am when theycount.”
In the distance came the sound of galloping hooves. Kael let out a low whistle and flicked his hand in a series of signals that he’d drilled into our heads before we’d left the Academy. We were supposed to spread out now, archers hiding behind the trees in the background while the swords in the front formed a line the Autumn fae would not be able tocross.
With a shaky breath, I nocked my arrow and did my best to hold it steady before me. At any minute, Autumn fae would charge into the clearing, and I’d loose my first shot. It was a battle that might very well be the first of many to come. We were starting something here. Something that could lead to war, but there was no escaping it. Not if we wanted tosurvive.
Three horses charged into the clearing and slowed. Redmond, who had escaped during the assassination attempt against Alwyn, sat in the middle with a mangy-haired fae hidden just behind him. The other two horses were manned by fae soldiers, their golden eyes blank andemotionless.
“Good afternoon, changeling warriors,” he called out. “I assume you’re wondering why I’ve ridden out to meet you instead of charging into battle against your pitifulweapons.”
Frowning, I glanced at Rourke. His eyebrows were furrowed as his focus intensified on Redmond. The Autumn fae was up to something, and I had a feeling we weren’t going to like whatever itwas.
“Just spit it out, Redmond,” Alwyn saidcoolly.
He turned her way and shook his head. “It truly is a shame that an Autumn fae such as yourself would be so bold as to attack your ownkind.”
“That’s pretty rich coming from you,” she countered. “If I’m remembering correctly—and I am—you were the one who attempted to assassinate me in my ownhome.”
“My apologies.” He gave a sarcastic half-bow. “Merely a means to anend.”
“What do you want,Redmond?”
He snapped his fingers at the fae soldier to his right. “I’m here to make a trade. A simple transaction. If you agree, then we will cease all attacks on yourAcademy.”
Rourke stiffened. He leaned forward and whispered something into his horse’s ear. And then his horse slowly began to edge in front ofme.
The movement caught Redmond’s eyes. His gaze flicked through the red-and-orange brush until it zeroed right in on me. “Ah. There sheis.”
Alwyn twisted her head to see who he was talking about. Alarm flittered across her golden features. “No, Redmond. I’m not giving you one of my changelings, no matter what you offer inreturn.”
“You won’t give me one of your changelings?” He arched an eyebrow and pointed a long and slender finger at me. “Or you won’t give methatone?”
What the hell is goingon?
Was he really that angry that he hadn’t gotten the chance to question me about Bree? That didn’t make any sense. He’d gotten her, after all. He no longer needed me to tell him where she was, so why was his focus onme?
“You’re not gettinganyof them,” Alwyn said. “And that includesNorah.”
“Just think,” he said as he slid to the ground. The mangy fae who had been hiding behind him still had her back turned our way, and one of the fae soldiers began to help her down from the horse. “If you hand Norah over to us, none of your other changelings will have to die. There are how many of them here? Roughly thirty? Think about it, Alwyn. You’re an intelligent fae. What is one life compared tothirty?”
“We need to get you out of here,” Rourke hissed into my ear. He leaned over to grab my reigns, but my eyes had locked onto the mangy fae. She’d half-turned as she dismounted, and her profile was achingly familiar. Pixie features, sharp tiny nose. Her dark hair was matted and dirty, but it washers.
“He has Bree,” I said, making no attempt to keep my voice low. I swatted away Rourke’s hands. “Redmond hasBree.”
A cruel smile spread across Redmond’s face. “That’s right, my dear. I have your precious Redcapfriend.”
Suddenly, Redmond had a dagger in his hands and his arm around Bree’s throat. He pulled her to his chest, and he slid the dagger against the pale skin of her neck. My heart flipped as I stared at her, my whole body clenching with anger and pain. Her eyes were so hollow, and a deep purple was etched into her face. She looked terrible, as if she’d spent the past year stuck inside a tiny prison with nothing to eat butdirt.
“Norah,” Rourke said inwarning.
“You have your chance to save your friend,” Redmond said. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Come with me, and I’ll give her over to your mate, though I honestly can’t tell which one that is anymore. On the other hand, if you refuse, I will slice her neck. A quick death, though I hear it’spainful.”
I didn’t even have to think about it. Without a moment’s hesitation, I swung my leg over the side of the horse and dropped onto the hard-packed dirt. Rourke let out a shout and tried to grab my arms to pull me back. I jumped out of the way, giving him a sadsmile.
“I’m sorry,Rourke.”
And then I shifted away from him, disappearing into darkness. When I reappeared, I stood only inches from where Redmond held Bree captive. The look of delight in his eyes when he saw what I’d done made me want to punch the living daylights out of him. But I needed to bide my time. I wasn’t planning to go down without a fight, but he still had his blade pressed against Bree’sneck.
