Page 108 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

Then I stepped determinedly forward to grip his biceps first before allowing my hands to slide up to his shoulders and squeezed them.

“You are my leader, the cousin I always admired, and a mentor I aspire to emulate, but you are also my brother. My friend. Your powers keep us all safe, they are the prod that keeps this army together and this court unified, so we need to find a way to share the burden. Summer is… Ornella’s magic seems even more versatile than Aodhan’s. Perhaps having access to it after her initiation will be a source of grounding for you even more so than he was.”

I certainly hoped so, especially if he really planned for her to wield it. Rian had never allowed anyone to wield the deadly element of his power because it was dangerous and had taken him centuries to control. I could only hope that with her healing magic, Summer might be able to soothe it enough to make it pliable and less chaotic.

Rian nodded reluctantly, fighting a brief furrowing of his brows that betrayed an emotional reaction which he had quickly stifled.

“I cannot say I… have not considered the same thing,” Rian admitted, and I could tell the words were difficult for him to speak aloud. “I simply cannot deny that I was never in better control than when I was with Aodhan.”

“I know none of this can be easy for you, it is not easy for her either, but I will champion for you both,” I swore.

“She must come first now as youranam—”

“And you are my brother. My blood,” I insisted firmly, leaving no room for an argument in my tone.

I meant to reassure him, but I was still surprised by the immense relief he seemed to feel as he nodded. He was intoxicated and more expressive than usual, but Summer predicted he may perceive her to be taking me from him, and it seemed she was right. After she had killed his lover, she had then claimed his next closest companion, and now he had to protect her. Not only because she was his rider and myanam, but because he may desperately need her to help control his magic. So I could not begin to imagine the sheer complexity of what he must feel about her.

“Will you tell your father that I am sorry for speaking to him so harshly earlier?” Rian asked me, and I nodded.

“Of course, but I know he would probably like to hear it directly from you as well,” I said.

“I know. I will tell him myself as well, but I am sure you will understand why it is complicated for me when he shares his concerns. Which I have no doubt he will do,” Rian admitted with a sigh and a shake of his head.

I narrowed my eyes at him as I considered what he might mean. “I will tell him for you,” I confirmed

“Thank you,” he said before glancing toward the wall of weapons across his tent. “And you may take Pyrope’s saddle for Ornella to use during tomorrow’s flight. It has already changed in the way Pyrope has undoubtedly done. It is no longer Aodhan’s,” he admitted, his jaw clenching, and my heart ached for him as I nodded in thanks.

“I will return for it in the morning.”

Outside, I found Summer and my father watching a group of dwarves drunkenly play their rowdy instruments at full volume. Thankfully, most fey could cast a silencing ward over their tents or no one would ever get any sleep in our rather lively camp. The exception being for the horn that would warn of an attack which could override all wards.

Summer had not yet seen me, and I stopped within the shadows around my cousin’s tent to watch her. There was no denying she was beautiful, I had known that from the beginning, but I was astonished to suddenly realize that her beauty had also been changing. There was no doubt she was still defensive and sharp when she felt the need, but the smile she shared with my laughing father was soft. Comfortable. Radiant. And it was beautiful in a way that I’d never known before to watch her literally blooming before my eyes. I could not look away from her laughter or the spark of joy that ignited her silvery-green eyes as she clapped and tapped her foot to the offbeat music.

Rian had described our bond as a binding of magic that would grow into whatever we fed it. I had consciously been feeding it patience, acceptance, and security, so what hadshebeen feedingmeto make me feel this… fixation? Like I could not look away from her for fear of missing a single moment of her.

I’d been reluctant to consider our evolving relationship too deeply because it was truly unlike anything I had ever known before. Love had always been a feeling, of course, but also an active choice to be committed to someone that I was learning and shaping while they did the same to me. Growing and changing together in a mutually beneficial partnership.

This was not like that. This wasin spite of everything.This was so instinctive and impulsive. Uncompromising. And although I had already chosen to embrace the urge to protect myanam… allowing her to possess my heart fully like this was very different.

Rian had warned me that she would soon recognize it, if she had not already, because I had never been any good at concealing or denying my heart, and it was all over me. This vicious, all-consuming impulse might as well have been carved into my skin.

But the thought of her figuring it out was especially gut-wrenching now after she had told me about her past. There was a chance my feelings would make me into the same sort of monster she had contended with all her life. Worse even, since she had actually laid down much of her armour with me. And the concern that she may feel some kind of pressure to cater to me or risk my abandonment made me want to be sick.

I could not do that to her. I needed to preserve myself as a place of safety for her as best as I could.

I was so focused on Summer that it took me a moment to notice the two orcs standing on the other side of the wily band of dwarves. Watching her in much the same way that I waswatching her except they were murmuring to one another, and I could see their eyes raking over her. They grinned as they watched her sway.

The violence of my ire was terrifying as it rose to the surface in a flush of heat that made my clothing suddenly begin to steam. I could feel the smoke already tickling my throat and wafting off my hands.

One of them elbowed the other and moved toward her in a determined march around the dwarves.

And I was moving before I had thought about it.

Summer saw me first, her ears perking up in the way that I loved which betrayed her excitement and eagerness. It made me want to smile, but there was too much brutal aggression and defensiveness churning within me.

I glanced up at the orc covertly so as not to draw her attention to him. He had seen her turn in my direction and was now assessing me, establishing his perception of my worthiness and deciding whether to challenge me for her. I almost welcomed it, almost beckoned him to try just so I could punish him for threatening to make her feel unsafe.

But then he recognized who I was and ducked his head before turning quickly away.

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