Page 153 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

The Autumn Prince cupped his hands and formed a ball of fire the same way I had formed water.

Nuala reached for him, jerking the flames so close to her face that I worried she would singe her eyebrows off. But my concerns for my hard work faded immediately when her eyes both went suddenly milky white...

“Once their usefulness to me expires, I will bring a swift and brutal retribution down upon them,” Nuala said, her voice distorted and unnaturally deep.

I recognized the words immediately as the ones that Rian had spoken in Aes Rurrinn, and a shiver erupted down my spine. She really was a Seer. She had seen what was probably on his mind which was how he would deal with the Fuath threat.

Rian was staring down at her in a mixture of awe and triumph as a slow smile teased his mouth.

“How, Nuala?” he asked her softly.

She was unblinking, her face eerily still as her milky eyes darted back and forth as if she really were seeing something in the flames.

“A magic that is not yours shall become a part of you to give you what you need.”

Her brows furrowed suddenly, and then she blinked, her eyes returning to their natural colours with a look of confusion and disappointment.

“Are you alright?” I asked her.

“My Sight must still be a little strained. It is as if there is a blinding white light,” she explained and lifted a hand to her temple as if she had a headache. She looked up at Rian, hopeful at first and then proud when she saw how pleased he was with her nonetheless.

“Are you ready to meet the rest of the Wild Hunt?” Rian asked her. Nuala nodded eagerly with a bright smile that transformedher gaunt face into something that was almost beautiful as she turned back to me.

“Thank you—” she began to say before she hesitated. “Oh. You do not like being thanked. There has never been anyone foryouto thank,” she divined seamlessly.

“Alright, first things first, it would be betternotto go around just saying everyone’s private feelings out loud! That is a good way to piss people off quickly,” I advised her a little sharply before I caught myself. Then I drew in a breath and inclined my head in an acknowledgement of what she had said. “But you are not wrong.”

“You will both have a safe home with the Wild Hunt, and you will each have your vengeance,” declared Rian as he rose from the couch. I watched as he walked over to the table where he kept his wine. “It is a promise.”

I was starting to understand the loyalty Rian seemed to effortlessly command. Despite the fact he was evidently always on the verge of cataclysmic destruction, there was a confident authority about him that was very reassuring. But he was also clearly a gifted strategist and empathetic leader who genuinelycared. He took his responsibility to those he commanded very seriously.

Sage and Carrick returned, distracting me from my thoughts, and I assumed Rian must have sent for all the riders once Nuala agreed to meet them.

Both males stopped short at the sight of the witch on the couch next to me, and then Sage looked at me with a mixture of concern and anger. But he could tell I hadn’t exhausted my magic, and I knew he was confused how that was possible after I had clearly healed her so much.

“I used—” I began to explain, but then Ciaran came stalking into the tent, and I had the feeling it was probably better that he did not know what kind of magic I’d used. Ciaran disapproved ofme in general, and I knew this was the kind of thing he might use as ammo against me.

Once more, I wished I could speak into Sage’s mind.

Ciaran spared me a single disdainful glance before his eyes landed on Nuala sitting beside me. I could tell that he was taken aback by her gaunt appearance, and I could understand why Rian had waited to introduce her until after she was healed. I did not think Ciaran could have contained his reaction if he’d seen her before, and Nuala did not deserve to be gawked at like that.

He stopped beside Sage, crossing his arms as he eyed the witch. His face was carefully devoid of any emotion, so I knew he recalled our leader’s firm command not to direct any of his ire at Nuala.

Nuala was looking right back at him, her head tilted, and I knew she was reading him the way she read me.

“You are filled with fear of me and Ornella. You worry for the integrity of the Wild Hunt when you feel that we undermine your brotherhood,” she stated.

“What did Ijusttell you about not saying everyone’s private feelings out loud?” I whisper-hissed at her.

Ciaran’s jaw hung open, too shocked to even be angry right away before he looked at Rian with indignation as if he expected the Autumn Prince to do something.

“You will risk becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy if you continue to be guided by your fear,” continued Nuala, heedless of my warning. “It will tear wider the chasms you already feel opening between you and your brothers. But their love is unconditional and not a finite resource for which you must fight. It will change and expand to encompass new heights as your family grows in many unexpected ways. Fear and distrust is the true bane of the Wild Hunt,” Nuala finished sternly.

There was complete and utter silence, her merciless words shocking but also uplifting. And a mean part of me wanted to usethe opportunity to mock Ciaran, but the reality was that he was like me. Afraid to be alone and devalued in favour of someone or something else.

Sage was standing next to Ciaran and was the first to move, de-escalating the situation in his sweet and gentle way by clamping a hand on Ciaran’s shoulder.

“I did not know that was how you felt. I am sorry.”

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