Page 106 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“That is everything. Get some sleep, we will leave early,” Rian announced before he looked at my father with raised brows and one of his biting smiles. “And what about you? Are you finally ready to return to your mate now?”

My father had a look in his eyes, a sort of sad knowing that I recognized. He wore that expression when he knew I was not being fully honest with him or with myself but had not yet worked out how to get the truth from me.

“I will go with Sage,” he assured Rian who appeared both relieved and regretful to hear it. But my cousin merely nodded and then turned away toward his globe.

Ciaran and Darragh took their leave, but I put a hand on Summer’s thigh before she could stand and gave it a squeeze before I rose to walk in Rian’s direction. I knew he’d sense me moving toward him, but he did not look at me even when I stood right behind him.

“There is another matter we need to discuss,” I insisted once the other two riders had gone, and it was just us, Summer, and my father who had remained behind.

“I already told you that I didn’t want to talk about it,” Rian reminded me without turning.

“It’s not that, although wedostill need to talk about what happened,” I assured him. “Do you know anything about spilling familial blood among dryads?” I asked him.

Summer rose from the couch when she realized what I was going to ask him about, and Rian hesitated before he tapped his globe to make it spin again.

“An Díothú Mór,” he acknowledged before he finally faced me and Summer when she stepped up to my side. “There will be no challenge,” Rian insisted to her firmly. “I cannot afford for your people to start killing off all their strongest individuals in a barbaric bid for supremacy right before I require their assistance.”

Summer’s brows rose in obvious skepticism as she crossed her arms. “I’m not sure how you think you are going to prevent them from doing that,” she said.

“I will not. You will,” Rian assured her, and he gave her a smug smile when her cynicism turned to confusion. “Your people respect strength, and once you have been initiated fully into the Wild Hunt, then you will be unlike anything that they have ever seen before.”

“But I am—”

“There will be no competition. You will walk into their little game with a dragon and an army and the power of death at your disposal,” he explained significantly.

I realized what he was intending instantly and inhaled sharply with shock.

“Rian—” I attempted to object.

“I will only ever grant you access to my magic once,” Rian stressed, becoming serious. “You will use it to kill the people who hurt you and your brother and bring the rest of them under our control to stem the bloodshed.”

“I…” Summer trailed off, completely speechless as her eyes darted up to me, but after a moment, I could tell she was playing it out in her mind. I could see her realizing the enormity of what he was offering. Not just his full support and protection but retribution and freedom.

“If I understand the ritual correctly then the clans will have their hands full now with consolidating their strength to compete by the next double full moon in Sumarra. Which is two months from now,” Rian continued.

“My father’s rule has been unquestioned since before I was born, so I’ve never seen an annihilation. Only heard the stories,” Summer admitted, her brows furrowing with the memory of whatever horrors she had been told about.

“I made sure to read up on them,” Rian reassured her. “Considering how convinced your brother was that you were dead, it stands to reason that most of your people must believe the same.”

“My father may have spread misinformation to prevent anyone from coming after me again before he was ready to use me. He was…” Summer trailed off with a glance at me as her ears pressed tightly down. “He was working on a new harness that would allow him to take my magic without theanambond,” she explained finally.

I bristled, glancing at Rian who met my eyes in equal disgust, but he managed his emotions better.

“But anyone with access to the Tree of Danu would know you are still alive. All the Tiarnaí?” he guessed.

“Unless he has restricted access,” she said, her voice more subdued than I had ever heard it before.

“We go to Sumarra on our terms, and not before, so we must all be on guard for Summer spies,” Rian advised us. “I’ll ensure the others know.”

Summer had been reassured when I reminded her that a challenge issued to her was a challenge for me as well, and that the Wild Hunt would stand with her. But hearing this confirmation from Rian himself seemed to finally put her fully at ease. She even swayed to brush against my arm as if to share her relief with me.

“When will I be initiated?” she asked Rian.

“I suppose that is your decision. You made it clear that my cousin and his people are your priority, but are you ready to surrender yourself? Because once you are a part of us in this way, there is no way to undo it.”

Summer considered his words, her lips pursing while her ears perked up with her thoughtful intrigue.

“I’m not sure Ciaran—” she began.

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