I wrinkled my forehead. “I didn’t thinkchoosinghad anything to do with it. Alwyn said that even with my varied powers, I would still only belong to one Court, and that it wasn’t something I could choose.”
He blinked and stepped back. “Of course. But because of your varied gifts, I can’t imagine we’ll know your Court for a long time to come.” He paused and gave a nod, as if agreeing with himself. “A long, long time to come.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but my thoughts were cut short when a hundred screams filled the night air. We both twisted in unison, gazing back at the festival grounds where fae were fleeing left and right, the flickering bonfire casting terrifying glows on the shadowy forms.
I took a step toward the chaos, heart rattling in my chest. I had the sudden urge to do something to help, though I didn’t know what.
Liam grabbed both my arms and dropped his forehead to mine. My skin burned from where we touched. “Listen to me. The ambush must have started early. I know you want to help, but you can’t. You’re powerful, Norah, but you’re still not ready. Deep down, you know I’m right.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. Maybe he was right, as much as I hated to admit it.
“Good. Now, it’s time to get you out of here.”
Chapter Two
Liam led me away from the festival, in the opposite direction of where my heart yearned to be. Hiding felt a hell of a lot like cowardice, despite the fact I knew I wasn’t ready for this kind of fight. I’d been lucky when I’d faced off against the Autumn fae. Redmond had underestimated me, something the other Autumn fae might not do, especially not Queen Viola. And well, it wasn’t as if I knew the true extent of my powers yet, or the lack thereof. I hadn’t truly been in control of them then. I’d hardly known what I was doing. There was no guarantee I’d be in control of them now.
Liam suddenly stopped and stiffened. “There are some Autumn fae up ahead. I’ve got to get you outside the perimeter so you can shift out of here, but they’re blocking the way. We need to hide.”
He pulled me down behind a tent. We’d made it to the section of the grounds where dozens upon dozens of small tents had been erected for those who wished to stay the night before making the long trek back to their seasonal Courts. But they were all empty now, the occupants amidst the screaming swarm.
Liam ducked through the burlap flap and pulled me in behind him. I glanced around at the small yet comfortable space, my heart hammering hard against my ribcage. This tent looked suspiciously autumn-like to me. Everything was drowning in muddy reds and browns, from the muted golden sleeping bags to the dark red moccasins just inside the tent’s entrance. Even the scent of autumn filled the quiet space. Crackling leaves, wet earth...and death.
My heartbeat picked up speed. I swallowed hard and turned to Liam. The expression on his face told me he’d come to the same conclusion I had.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be here,” I whispered.
He clenched his jaw and shook his head. “We picked a bad tent, but it’s still safer in here than out there. If the owner comes back, we’ll deal with it. I’d rather you face off against an angry Lesser Fae than half a dozen threatened Royals.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he shook his head. “We’ll stay here until we’re sure the Autumn fae have moved on. Then, we’ll get you past the perimeter so you can shift out of here. I hate that you can’t go on and shift now, but that has always been the laws of the Feast of the Fae. No shifting in and out of the grounds.”
Frowning, I plopped onto the dirt floor. There was no arguing with Liam, not after he got an idea into his head. He was determined that this was where I would stay. So, stay here I would. Liam was stubborn. Even more stubborn than I was. And that was saying something.
I could probably try to run out into the fight, but he was fast. He’d grab me and throw me over his shoulder before I got halfway across the field. Knowing Liam, he might even spank me.
Actually…that sounded kind of tempting.
“Will the Autumn fae get hurt?” I whispered. “The ones who aren’t Royals.”
I refused to call them Lesser Fae.
With a heavy sigh, Liam lifted the flap to peer outside. “Perhaps, but only if they get involved. Not every Autumn is the same. And not every one would agree with what their Court has done.”
A fact I knew very well, thanks to Rourke.
“That said,” Liam continued. “The Hunters will not spare them if they try to stop us from capturing the Queen. And many of them likely will. A lot of the Autumns are loyal to her.”
“Of course they are.” I scowled. “Though how someone could be loyal to a Queen who goes around trying to assassinate people is beyond me.”
Liam gave a nod. “You’re not wrong to feel that way, but people will be loyal for many reasons. Fear. Survival. Ignorance. The Autumn fae are born being told how truly wonderful their Royals are and how important it is to bind themselves to their Queen. They rarely mix with other fae, and they only venture out of the safety of their territory for events like this. Even then, not all of them attend. It’s easy to believe the rest of the world is wrong when you won’t open your eyes to anything but what’s right in front of you.”
“So, it’s refusing to open your mind to new possibilities. Like the idea that I could leave the Academy early with my mate.” The words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them, but his words about the Barmbrack Ring had been echoing in my mind, even as we’d been fleeing from the ambush.
His jaw rippled. “You need to get that Barmbrack Ring out of that pretty little head of yours.”
“Why?” I stood. “So that I can just ignore the fact I’m destined to be wed within a year? Because you’re trying to blow it off? Because you don’t want to admit how you feel? That you’re worried it might not be you?”
“Careful, Norah,” he said, his eyes sparking with a dangerous heat. “You’re playing with fire.”
