Bree clenched her jaw and glanced over her shoulder, eyes narrowing against the rush of wind. Down below, the demon camp sprang to life. The horned creatures were awake and racing through the grass, pounding their fists at the sky.
“Can they not fly?” she shouted at Taveon.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Either way, they’re angry, and they won’t be far behind us.”
“We have to get back to the castle,” she said, heartbeat thrumming in her neck. “Before the demons reach their army and tell them to attack again.”
He nodded grimly. They would have to fly all the way back without stopping. If they slowed down, they’d risk getting surrounded by the enemy again. Bree could already feel his exhaustion, the difficulty he had of holding on to her with the chains locked around his wrists. And she could do nothing to help with her own hands trapped.
When they reached the castle, they’d have no time to rest. They had to warn the others and make for the Faerie Ring that led into Otherworld. Bree knew how to stop this now, but it wouldn’t be easy, and it would probably hurt.
And she was the only one who could do it.
31
BREE
Dark fae crowded the throne room, shouting at where Norah perched on the throne, worry creasing between her brows. Bree and Taveon strode inside, weary and wind-ragged from the long flight back to the castle. Several of the fae near the door fell silent and pointed. Soon, a hush spread through the crowd.
“It’s him! The demon king!” one of the fae shouted.
Bree winced at the dark look in Taveon’s eyes. His court had turned its back on him. Dagen had been one thing, but she knew this was far worse. He’d tried his damnedest to protect these fae.
“Thank god.” Norah’s voice rang out as she stood. “You made it back safely. Did you find the answers we need?”
Bree glanced around the packed room. “I’d like to speak with you privately.”
“Not a chance,” one of the fae said with a bitter laugh. “This queen has stolen the dark fae throne. She killed our acting king, and now she’s going to make some kind of pact with the demons!”
Alarm skittered down Bree’s spine. Norah had donewhat?
Her friend clasped her hands together, her lips a thin line. “Lord Dagenwas the one who planned to make a deal with the demons.Iam trying to stop them, with Bree’s help. And Taveon’s.”
Everyone turned toward Bree again. Heart hammering, she met Norah’s gaze across the room. It sounded like she’d killed Dagen. Hadn’t he been trapped in his cell? She had so many questions, but now was not the time to ask them.
“I think I know how to stop the demons,” Bree called out so that her voice could be heard throughout the throne room. “But if we want to beat them, we’re all going to have to trust each other and work together. Otherwise, this is never going to work.”
A few of the nearby fae scowled, but Bree just ignored them, continuing with her speech after checking with Taveon that he wanted her to speak this truth out loud. “The demons are allergic to sunlight.”
A rush of whispers rolled through the crowd, and several of the fae pointedly looked at Taveon. She gritted her teeth.
“We need to lure the demon army to the field just beside the Faerie Ring,” Bree said, sucking in a breath. “And then I’m going to bring the sunlight into Underworld. It will kill them all instantly, and this world will finally be safe.”
A hush fell over the throne room. Everyone stared at her, measuring her words to see if they were tipped in gold or ash. She had to hope they would be willing to see the truth for what it was. If they decided to focus on the throne and the rift between light and dark fae, then the demons would swarm in and take this castle before they had a chance to strike back.
Norah nodded at Bree from where she still stood beside the throne. “And you believe you can bring the light into Underworld?”
Bree pressed her lips together. “I think I know what I need to do, but I won’t lie. There’s a chance it won’t work. And if it doesn’t, everyone will need to flee to Otherworld. As long as it’s daylight there, you’ll be safe from the demons.”
“And what about when night falls there?” a fae called out.
“They’ll push through and find you wherever you hide. There are castles in Otherworld, but...”
“None of those will protect us any better than here,” Norah said. “Like Bree said, there is a risk to this. But staying here, fighting them from behind these walls, it’s no better. The only way we’re going to beat them is if we find the strength within ourselves to take a chance. It’s time we finally came together as one people. We don’t need to be at odds or at war. We need to be allies.”
“And what about the demon king here?” someone shouted. “He’s one of them!”
Bree frowned down at the floor, but she wouldn’t speak for Taveon. This was his fight, and his alone. She sent him comforting thoughts through the bond, and she felt him soak them up like a sponge.
