Page 75 of The Fae Lord

“This is my fault,” he mutters. “I should never have let her think she could fight him alone.”

Briony clasps Finn’s hand between hers and squeezes tight. “This isn’t your fault, Finn. It really isn’t.”

Finn shakes his head and pulls away. “Yes,” he says. “It is. And I need to put it right.”

Storming over, face like thunder clouds, Yarrow booms, “What now, Finn? You’ve lost her. Our one hope.”

“She might do it,” Briony says meekly. “You know how strong she is. You wanted her to do this.”

“Not without backup,” Finn says. “Not without a plan.”

“She is a foolish woman.” Yarrow folds his arms in front of his chest, and Finn instantly squares up to him.

“Say that again,” he barks.

Yarrow stares down at him, then softens a little. “Finn,” he says calmly. “You know I don’t like Alana. Now is not the time to fight about it. Are you going to fetch her back or not?”

I hover between them, studying Finn’s face. He doesn’t hesitate for even a full second, just ducks into his tent, grabs his cloak, and says, “Fuck, yes. I’m going to get her back.”

He is on the edge of the encampment when Briony catches him up. “If you’re going, I’m coming with you.” She puts her hands on her hips. She is short, and a little round, and her wings are small. She is no fighter. But she loves Alana.

Finn looks like he’s about to object, but instead he inclines his head, and steps through the shield, extending a hand to pull Briony with him. “Come,” he says. “Let’s go.”

I am about to go with them when a flicker of movement behind me in the bushes makes me turn around. Maura is staring straight at me.

She walks slowly forward, bare feet not making a single sound as they meet the damp forest floor. She stops in front of me, her eyes looking at me but through me at the same time.

“You can show yourself now,” she says. “I think it’s time we talked.”

My body starts to tremble. The magic inside me flickers with the desire to follow her command, the desire to be seen.

“Kayan.” This time, she says my name. “I know you’re there, boy. And I’d like to see you now so we can talk about how to save Alana.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. My blue light shimmers and glows. I watch my body materialise.

Maura takes a step back and blinks slowly at me. “Well,” she says. “It’s been a while since I saw a spirit. You look good.”

I frown at her.

“Don’t look so worried,” she says. “You won’t be in trouble.”

“How do you know –”

“I’ve been alive a long time. When my husband died, he returned to me for a while. Vague messages, there to guide me...” She sighs and bends down to pick a blade of long grass. She starts to chew it. “It wasn’t easy for him or me, and in the end, it proved no use.”

“What was he supposed to guide you in?” I ask, watching as her thin jaw crunches down on the grass.

“That’s another story for another time,” she says. “My point is, the spirits don’t always get it right. Sometimes their meddling is...” She shrugs. “Exactly that... meddling.”

“But Alana . . .”

“Alana does need your help, yes.” Maura turns and beckons for me to follow her. She sighs heavily as she walks. “I should have taken it all more seriously.” She shakes her head. “Foolish fae.”

“Taken what more seriously?”

When she stops, she’s a few paces away from the fire. She stays in the shadows, speaking in a low voice so the others don’t hear her talking to herself. “The message Eldrion’s mother left when she came to tell us what Alana really was.”

Something is building in my stomach. A sense of unease. The spirits aren’t happy. This is not information I was supposed to have.

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