“It’s a bit of a journey, and I’d need to go myself. That means leaving you all here. And if I return to the castle to tell Taveon what I plan, he’ll probably try and stop me. With Taveon being the way he is right now…”
“We’ll be fine,” Norah said firmly, her eyes alight with a furious fire. “King Taveon and I have crossed paths before. I can handle him.”
* * *
Bree transformed into fur, fangs, and claws and raced across the night-drenched lands. Her heart pounded in time with the steady thump of her paws as the world wheeled by. She passed forests and ponds and rolling hills. Lord Dagen had once shown her a map of Underworld, so she knew which paths to take and which to avoid. The last thing she wanted to do was end up rushing straight into a village full of vicious Wilde Fae.
She didn’t want to imagine Taveon’s face when he found out where she’d gone. He was already angry with her, though. What was a little more? If he’d just listened to her, she wouldn’t have to turn to the outposters to provide the support they needed.
How could he be so stubborn? So blind to such a great threat? Yes, Fillan could be lying. But what if he wasn’t? They couldn’t just ignore the possibility.
Panting, she thundered to a stop at the edge of Underworld. She’d been running a full day and night. She didn’t have time to waste. The Otherworld fae might leave any day now. Norah and her mates would do their best to convince them to hold true, but she knew it was a great deal to ask.
But she was here. At the wooden dock looking out at the sea. In the distance, she spotted hundreds of small wooden huts suspended above the water. The outposts. She was here.
5
EURIG
“Your Highness, I have some concerning news.”
Eurig wiped his brow and lowered his sword, turning from where he’d been sparring with a grain sack suspended from the ceiling. A youthful fae bowed before him, his curly mop of black hair hiding his eyes from view. One of his messengers. Strange. He hadn’t expected any news.
“What is it?” he asked, frowning.
The messenger boy cleared his throat, clearly uneasy at speaking directly to the outposters’ new king. “A Redcap has been spotted ashore. Pacing back and forth for hours.”
Eurig’s heart lurched as he stood a little straighter. “A Redcap?”
“That’s right.” The boy’s face flushed. “She transformed into a fae for a while. She was, ah…not wearing anything.”
“What did she look like?” he demanded.
“Long dark hair. Not particularly tall. There was something very…different about her.”
Eurig swore beneath his breath. Surely it could not be. It had been less than two days since he’d arrived back at the outposts after leaving Taveon’s court behind. It had been the only way to convince them not to attack the dark fae, those the outposters saw as their enemies. He’d known Bree was upset. He had been, too. The last thing he’d wanted was to leave her there.
But he’d had no other choice. The outposters would have stormed Taveon’s court. So many dark fae would have died. Not Taveon, of course. He was immortal. But he would have spent centuries of life behind bars.
“Show me,” Eurig said, sliding his sword into the scabbard at his back. Whoever was here, it couldn’t be Bree. He’d seen the look on her face.
But when the messenger led Eurig to the creaking wooden dock at the edges of the outposts, Eurig let out a low whistle. His heart began to beat a little faster. The coast was far, but he’d recognize that Redcap anywhere.
* * *
The wolf crouched before him on her haunches, those gleaming yellow eyes piercing his soul. He dropped a set of fighting leathers just in front of her and turned his back. Despite what had passed between them, he didn’t want to force her to change in front of him.
A moment later, a finger tapped his shoulder.
He turned to gaze into her gorgeous eyes, and he felt all of his resolve scatter into the wind. How could he stay here and rule when his heart was somewhere else?
Because he had to. For his own people. For the rest of the realm. Even for Bree. If the outposters attacked the court, he knew which side she’d take. She would stand beside Taveon, no matter what.
“Bree,” he said roughly. “How are you here?”
Her face flushed as she gazed down at the sandy shore. The waves lapped at the dock behind them, spraying saltwater onto Eurig’s back. “We have a problem. A big one. I wouldn’t have come otherwise, but I have nowhere else to turn. Eurig, have you ever heard of the Realm of the Dead?”
Eurig stiffened. Of course he had. “So, Taveon finally told you the truth about where he came from.”
