If Max and Reid hadn’t explained how she saved him on our return trip, I’d be setting this entire palace on fire and walking away. Fuck the world, I only need my family.
I watch Aoife with a bored expression. No wonder Max doesn’t like her. She ignores Max entirely, even as I hold tight to my mate.She pokes my shoulder, glances to my legs. She studies my hands, then my eyes, looking for evidence of the curse.
“I see.”
“She’s done it,” I praise, kissing Max’s hands. “She’s broken the curse. Like Oslo thought.”
Like the prophecy said. Baris explained it well enough—I am the first test. Breaking my curse will unravel the Blackwoods Witch’s curse and therefore, the end battles will begin.
If we make it that far. Griffin still sacks the world. The world is still broken.
I can’t wait to rip his head from his neck and procure it for my gate.
At the entrance, the Hadeon sits, huffing, as if he can hear my thoughts. The protector has grown on me since keeping me contained in the forest. When I was injured, he found me blood for healing. When I caught Max’s scent, he sent me away. Without him, I would’ve been lost and Max might have been dead.
“I see,” she says again, crumpling the fabric at her hips. The dress is pale, like her hair and skin, and too revealing for a queen. It’s so sheer, the outline of her breasts are seen, and with every turn the faintest outline of her nipples appear.
I’d expect something of a courtesan, not the ruler. I keep my eyes firmly up and away.
“Is there something you wish to say?” Max asks, never once looking away from the queen. She did the same when surrounded by the men in the forest, or my lords in the court. She’s waiting for an attack.
I’d like to say she’s overreacting, but something is off with Aoife.
She’s never been warm, but this hostility, this nonchalance, and coldness is new. She’s on edge and it doesn’t bode well for us.
“Is it Griffin?” I try to read her eyes. “In theIn-Between? Only a Human would be stupid enough to attack an area not patrolled.”
Many beings live in the In-Between of Neevea but not in villages or communities. Fae who do not wish to belong to a kingdom, Witches who have no Coven, to Humans who only want to live forthemselves, in small spots, often moving. If Griffin is looking for supplies, he will fail. If he’s looking for bodies to steal, he may have to look extremely hard for them. If he’s hoping to hurt us, there is nothing to hurt.
It’s a pointless endeavor.
“Unfortunately,” she dismisses, “he’s terrorizing the area. I’d not worry about him, but we have Fae traveling this time of year. The Festival ofSolabegins soon, and all the lords are arriving.”
“Festival?” Max looks to me, back to my siblings.
It’s not the first time I’ve wish for the old Fairy to be here, to help explain things. He has a better grasp of all the customs. But he chose to remain at some stone cottage, claiming it was better for our safety.
He’s hiding something. I don’t appreciate being kept in the dark.
Mal clears his throat. “Every year, during the height of summer, we celebrate and honorSola. The lords come with their closest peerage. We host a large ball.”
“It’s quite the party,” Fenrir answers, striding into the throne room. “And Griffin is going to ruin it. We’ve received reports from scouts.” He hands a paper to his mother, ignoring Mal’s outstretched hand.
I should cut the Fae heir’s hand off. The bastard knows Mal is in charge of the army and should receive all correspondence first.
His time will come soon enough. I’ve not forgiven him for his hand in Sose’s death, nor in his ridiculous attempt to sway my mate from me. If his mother wasn’t here, I’d snap his neck with my shadows and hide the body in the gardens.
But she is, and this is her palace.I’ll kill him somewhere else.
“And?” I prod. “Don’t worry, Fenrir, if you cannot read all the words. Sound them out.”
Reid snickers behind me.
Fenrir’s green eyes flash with malice. Now that we’re in his home, he’s more aggressive. I’m happy to see it. Killing him would be boring if he was too passive.
“The lords are vulnerable.”
“Do they not have armies?” Max glances to me. “The Dark FaeLords have armies to protect them, in addition to our guards. Is that not the same here?”
