This owl settled onto Glencora’s shoulder, cooing in happiness. Glencora laughed, stroking the owl’s soft feathers, and he burrowed into her cheek.
“What’s going on?” Reyna whispered.
“Your sister has taken the power, and it seems a familiar has found her now.”
“Will it hurt her?” Reyna asked. “The power?”
She knew she could withstand it. She already had, once.
“There’s nothing harmful about Seelie’s magic,” the Queen whispered. “Just so long as she has nothing of Unseelie inside of her. Has she been cursed?”
“Thankfully not.”
“Then don’t let her out of your sight.” A slight smile curved the corners of the Queen’s lips. “The bond between a fae and her familiar is a beautiful thing.”
Reyna nodded, watching her sister. “What happens if the curse spreads to her while she has this magic?”
“It will rip her inside out,” the Queen said in a hush. “It will be too much for her mortal body to take.”
A deep sense of foreboding settled over her. The days ahead seemed destined for terrible things. She had to return to Murias without being stopped by the growing number of cursed fae running through the woods. She had to spill some of Lorcan’s blood, all without resorting to swordplay. And she had to keep Glencora safe.
And somehow, she needed to keep her own damn self alive, too. All before the month ran out. Or else her father would slaughter the whole realm.
31
Reyna
“It’s time for you to leave now, Reyna Darragh.” The Queen led her back through the village where her friends were waiting for her. Thane’s face had paled to a deathly white. He stared at Glencora as if he had never seen her before.
“Right then.” Nollaig pushed up from the log and brushed off her cloak. The Queen gave her a strange look, and then motioned for her to join her at the edge of the group. They bowed their heads together, whispering fervently. Reyna frowned. She appreciated Nollaig’s lust for privacy, but this went beyond that. These two clearly knew each other somehow, and of course neither of them were going to tell anyone else a damn thing.
Even when they were in the midst of trying to save the damn world.
“You alright there, Princess?” Rhain asked as he gathered his pack from the ground. He’d clearly hoped they’d camp out here for the night, but no such luck. The Queen was kicking them out. Back into the treacherous woods they’d go.
“Well.” Reyna tried to collect her thoughts. “The Queen of the Dryads seems to think the Cleaving of the World is coming soon. That’s the end of the world, by the way. Where Unseelie’s magic spreads across the world and basically makes everyone go mad until we’re all his loyal servants. Who drink blood and eat bone. She also seems to think the Namhaid is still alive, so that means it wasn’t Ulaid Molt. Um, and then there’s the whole weird thing where I had to drink some magical water in order for me to be strong enough to undo this curse that involves me stealing some of Lorcan’s blood, who is my lover, by the way. And the only male I’ve ever cared about in that way. Plus, my sister decided to sneak up behind me and drink some of this water, too. If we run into some cursed fae on the way back, and we probably will because they’re fucking everywhere now, then she could get cursed herself. And if she does, she’s going die. The Queen said it would basically tear her apart, and I don’t know exactly what that means, but it sounds pretty damn bad. So, that’s how I’m doing. How are you doing, Rhain?”
Rhain blinked at her. His bushy grey eyebrows shot together, transforming them into a caterpillar. “Well. I was going to say that my arse is sore from sitting on that damn log for two hours, but…that really doesn’t seem all that important anymore.”
She barked out a laugh. Rhain grunted, and then tipped back his head, his velvety laugh booming through the village. He reached out a hand. She took it. He yanked her toward him and thumped her on the back, the way she always saw warriors do back home. It was a sign of respect, a symbol of trust and brotherhood.
Heart lifting, she thumped him back. He clutched her hand tight and whispered into her ear. “We’ve got this. We’re Fomorians, and we’re fae. The best of both lands mashed together. I don’t know what half that shit you said means, but I will fight by your side until the very end.”
Tears sprang into her eyes. With a steadying breath, she pulled back and gave Rhain a solemn nod. “We’ve got this. You, me, Thane, Nollaig. I’d rather leave my sister here with the Dryads, where it’s safe, but it looks like we’ve got her, too. She has power now. Hell, it could help.”
“See?” He smiled, eyes crinkling in the corners. “It’s not so bad.”
Reyna cocked her head toward the river. “Want a drink? The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned. If we all have magic, then we’re far more likely to—”
“No, that will be enough now, Shieldmaiden.” Nollaig popped up beside her, causing Reyna to jump. “The cursed fae will be able to smell the magic on us. The more we have, the more potent it will be.”
“And the much more likely we’ll be able to fight them off easily.”
“It will slow us down,” she argued. “Time is running out. Your father wants to attack this realm. If we fight every cursed fae between here and Murias, we’ll never get there in time. We should go with as little magic as we possibly can.”
Reyna’s eyes narrowed. Nollaig had been acting so strangely ever since they’d stepped foot in Ionad. “I feel like Rhain should make that decision himself.” She gestured to the High King of the Air Court, who was in deep conversation with her sister. Neither looked particularly happy. “Thane, too.”
“Shieldmaiden,” Nollaig said. “I’m only trying to help.”
