“You’re flirting and suggesting that she should move there with you.” Shea let out a sigh. “Obviously, I don’t care what the hell you do myself, but Alwyn was clear. You’re not to encourage her feelings toward you. Keep it up, and I’ll have to report it. And that means no more Academy for you.”
I twisted toward Shea, my thighs slipping on the smooth horse’s back, so quickly that I had to flail to keep myself from tumbling onto the ground. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Shea pursed her lips. “Oh. I didn’t realize you weren’t aware.”
“Aware of what?” I demanded before twisting toward Liam. His jaw was flickering like a hummingbird’s wings, and the grip on his reins was so tight that the veins in his hands began to bulge. “Liam? What does Shea mean, about you having to leave the Academy?”
“You weren’t supposed to know about this,” he said, his voice rough. “We thought it would only upset you.”
I narrowed my eyes and lowered my voice. “Liam. Tell me what’s going on.”
Liam cut a sharp look at Shea, who had slowed her horse enough to put some distance between hers and mine, almost as though she expected me to fly off the handle at any moment. She was right to worry.
“Alwyn forbade Rourke, Finn, Kael, and I from getting close to you. She does not want to upset the balance of the realm. After Sam was killed, it became clear that one of us would end up without a mate. There are three of you now and four of us. So, she gave us an ultimatum. We’re to stay away from you. If any of us go against her orders, she’ll send the offender home.”
Realization dawned like a sudden light in a sea of gray. This explained everything. All this time, I’d wondered at why my instructors had ceased their interest in me. I’d wondered if they still felt anything at all. I’d even questioned whether or not I’d imagined the bonds between us. It turned out, I needn’t have questioned it at all. Alwyn had been keeping them away from me.
I narrowed my eyes. She had beenkeepingthem from me.
“Why would she do that? I thought the whole point of the Academy was to join the changelings up with their mates. How are we supposed to do that if she won’t let us all near each other?”
Shea raised her voice from behind us. “This rule has always been in place, Norah. No physical relationships between instructors and changelings, and that includes something as innocent as a kiss. It seems that hasn’t stopped you though. First Liam. Then Kael.”
My cheeks flamed. “Okay, sure. Maybe there was a little of that, but it’s no reason to threaten to send anyone away from the Academy.”
“This realm thrives on balance.” Shea gave me a measured look, seemed to decide that I wasn’t about to pummel her, and trotted closer on her ebony horse. “Everything is about the ebb and flow. Four seasons, perfectly formed to represent all aspects of the realm, divided up equally. Cause confusion and chaos in that balance, and the entire realm suffers.”
“Okay, but—”
“Alwyn is very good at recognizing a changeling’s Court. She sees Winter in you, which means Kael is your mate. Messing about with Liam is only going to lead to heartache later. For one or all of you, not to mention Sophia and Lila who need their mates as well.” Her sparkling orange eyes bore deep into my soul. “I would advise you to focus your attention on what youcanhave instead of what you cannot, though I can see now that you are very stubborn and furiously independent. No wonder Liam’s confused.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she cut me off.
“Enough about that.” She waved me aside. “We’re here.”
Chapter Five
Hereturned out to be a little tavern on the outskirts of the free territory. It sat amidst a long row of towering cedar trees, their evergreen limbs churning in the chilly autumn wind. Only the front of the tavern could be seen. It was a small squat building with two floors, the stone work old and worn. The rest was hidden amongst the fading green canopy.
“We’ll stay here for the night, and then we’ll go on through at dawn,” Alastar said, leading his horse to a stable that was almost twice as large as the tavern.
I jumped off the horse and edged closer to Liam, despite Shea’s irritating warnings. “Why are we staying here for the night? It sounds like this whole thing is urgent.”
“It is urgent, but the Summer fae are taking extra precautions right now,” he said in a low whisper. “The border between the free territory and the Summer lands has been closed. This is the only way in and out, and only at dawn. The Summers no longer allow free access, too worried that the Autumn fae will sneak across and stab everyone in their sleep.”
I swallowed hard, mostly because he was probably right.
* * *
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned in the small, knotty bed, the faded sheets getting tangled in my limbs. I couldn’t stop thinking about that damn Barmbrack Ring. Alwyn had threatened Liam with banishment from the Academy if he so much as blinked in my direction. All this time I’d yearned for him, dreamt of him, wished for him. Had he been yearning for me, too?
With a frustrated sigh, I threw my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the chilly wooden floor in the thin cotton shirt I’d worn to sleep. I hadn’t thought to pack any pajamas for the journey. It was the middle of the night. None of the Hunters would be awake now, except for those keeping watch downstairs. Better yet, Shea would be nowhere in sight.
I pressed my ear against the door and listened for any signs of life in the hallway. When none came, I slowly twisted the doorknob and pushed. Low light spilled into my room from the flickering sconces that lined the walls. I’d seen Liam go into the room two doors down. The room with the door that was very much opening right this second.
My heart thundered hard when his brilliant red hair poked through the darkened doorway. His eyes latched onto mine. Even in the dim lighting, there was no mistaking the heat in them. His lips curled, and he crooked his finger, beckoning for me to go to him.
Suddenly, I felt very shy. It had been easy to be brave when he wasn’t standing right before me, looking all manly in his low-slung pants. They sat perfectly on his waist, showing just the slightest hint of a strong and muscular V. Not to mention his chest. His thin shirt clung to his biceps, highlighting the muscles that I knew were strong enough to throw me over his shoulder.
