My claws rake and swipe into the dirt, shredding rocks in my path. I come close, but they dart and twist before I can touch them. They’re prepared. They’re acting as part of a plan and I have a feeling Max was behind this.
Reaching the top of the mountain, the beast slams on my heels. In front of me are broken pearly columns, cracked and fallen over from age and weather. Further back sits a decrepit castle, made of the same stone. But I don’t care about that. The beast inhales, and finds Max under the column archway.
She stands strong, in the center, surrounded by sand and rose petals. Dressed only in leathers and a cape, she is more beautiful than the entire starry sky. She renews my hope and fills me with fierce need.
I need her touch, and her voice. For her lips and her moans. Justher.
The beast stalks close, growling the entire time. He’s angry. He sees something that I don’t—understands Max’s intentions.
He swings at her. Elation and despair mingle into a tarry mess. Iwant so badly to be free of this curse—something I’ve dreamt of for years. But not at the risk to Max’s life. I’m not in control—he will kill her for tempting him. Just to stand against him.
I rush his mind, try likeSeti’sHell to pull that door open I’ve been holding for all these days. The last bit of strength I have, I use it, and will my being to take back my body.
Wrestling him away, I’m able to come forward. He screams in my head like a wild storm and I toss him into the used cell. It won’t last—it never does. And every time he comes back, he’s stronger.
Gods above, please let this be the last time.
Blinking, I’m able to gaze down at my mate. Her features soften, and she exhales. She briefly touches my face, fingers drawing under my eyes and I droop.
This is what I’ve been waiting for. The touch of my mate, the feeling of comfort. Because she is my home in a world without shelter. I’ve missed her.
“Stay back,” Baris shouts, walking from the opposite side. Wings flutter at his back.
My mouth drops open, partly in shock and the other in embarrassment. How did I never see it before? A Human that does not age? Who somehow survived starvation in a dungeon? Of course, he’s Fairy.
“It’s him, Baris,” Max whispers, smiling up at me. I could die here and be happy, just seeing one more smile on her face.
“The beast may return,” he warns. “We need to finish before the moon get to the top.”
Max holds my claws, dirty and covered in kills from the past days in the forest and exhales.
“Are you sure we do this?” he asks, warily. “We don’t know what Aoife has done.”
She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. We can break the curse.” Max smiles as me and sighs. “But I’m going to need you to listen. Trust me.”
I trust her with my life—with those of my sister and brother. I’dtrust her with the soul of every person on this planet, because Max is good. She would never harm anyone.
Raising her hand, she shows me a pie of sparkling black dust. “Pollen,” she explains. Blowing it over me, I sneeze and wiped at my nose. It burns, whatever it was, and I start to fidget. “It will keep you still so we can do the rest.”
“Hopefully,” Baris mutters.
Taking a step forward, I wobble, but Baris, Reid, and Mal catch me. In the far distance, I hear the clicking of arrows—Dark Fae arrows. Even as my body starts to fall to the effects of the pollen, I can’t help but admire this woman. She came prepared.
I’m fucking proud.
“Gently,” she tells the males. They lead me to the circle and my body drops. I can’t stand, the pollen acting as makeshift chains, locking me down.
“That was much easier than I thought it’d be,” Reid remarks, rubbing his jaw.
Mal slaps his head. “Nothing is ever easy here, Reid.”
“Now what?” Max asks, looking to Baris. “The moon is high, he’s in the circle. Now what?”
Lazily, my eyes look skyward. The arch is covered in white stone with one singular hole in the center. The white moon covers only half the circle, rays bathing us in silver light.
Mal rubs his chin. “Mother never said.”
“Because she doesn’t want us to succeed,” Fee grunts.
