Page 204 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

I desperately wanted to be logical, to keep control of my power, but his accusation could boil my blood.

“You abandoned your people knowing your departure would doom the Spring Court. And when I am done with you, Balor, you willbegfor the chance to make the right choice and put your people first for once.”

His rage was palpable as he looked over at Riordan in expectation, but the Griffin King was looking right back at him and waiting for an explanation. He was not quite as big a fool as I initially suspected. He might not trust me, but I was sure he knew Balor was not trustworthy either.

The Spring King seethed, and instead of engaging in a conversation he must know would end with him being forced to relinquish his power to a younger successor…

He reached over with immense speed and jerked on Riordan’s arm. A seemingly innocuous action, except that it caused the griffin to slice his finger on that blade.

The king hissed as his blood dripped on the ground, and I felt a ripple pass through the air. I was sure it was a summoning but forwhat? It was a Sylvan blade, but they were forbiddenfrom walking in mortal planes. Although I supposed that did not mean they may not be able to send something else in their stead…

I could almost hear Nuala’s frantic voice in my head.Blinding white light….Something sinister waiting…

“Ornella!” called the witch, beckoning for her friend, but the dryad immediately pressed closer to Sage.

It was time to go before whatever Riordan’s blood had called arrived. I attempted to form a portal behind us so we could keep the enemy in sight and back through it.

Except that my power bumped against a crystalline magic that burned mine with a startling coldness.

No. No, no, no, no…

I looked at King Riordan, but he was not looking at us anymore, rather his head tilted up like he was listening. Balor grinned at me as he relished my realization that we were trapped while Amira, the fire witch, stared up at him before she met my eyes with a dawning horror.

“Run,” she told me unexpectedly, earning her a glance from several griffins. “Go before they come.Go now!”

If only wecouldget away, then I would have, but the trap had been sprung.

“Did you destroy the Spring Court just to lure me here, along with those I love most, to be slaughtered?” I snarled at Riordan, my voice wavering from the force of my rage. Because if this had all been deliberate then I did not care if Ornella never forgave me for it.

I would burn every griffin city to the ground.

I ignored the other riders all shuffling nervously at my words before I felt them also reaching for home only to be rebuffed by that cold magic. My attention was focused on the Griffin King who looked shocked at my accusation.

“I did not destroy the Spring Court.”

He did, but at least he was an unwitting accomplice of that particular crime.

“But youdidplan to bring me here, and you wanted to ensure that all my brothers were here to share my fate too. That is why you asked where the other rider was.”

Riordan did not answer as his attention shifted to the males behind me. Still worrying that he had missed one.

I could almost always find it in myself to forgive someone for a crime committed againstme.

But he came after mybrothers. He came for all that I had left in this world. All that I loved most.

My eyes shifted down to the little witch clenching his arm as my magic began to roil with vengeful resolution. Time was undoubtedly short now, but I knew just where to strike to hurt him as much as he was about to hurt me.

“Rian, no!” shouted Sage when he sensed my intention just before a bright light erupted and blinded me.

The same white light that blinded Nuala no doubt.

When I was able to lower my hand again, I saw there were three figures in veils and robes of shimmering white standing between me and the griffins. They were deathly still and such terrible coldness radiated from them that the grass wilted at their feet.

“Fuck,” uttered Ornella from behind. An unfamiliar curse but it felt right nonetheless.

“Scrios,” hissed the Sylvan Elf in the middle, their veil not even moving from their breath despite how harshly they had spoken.

“You should not be here,” I chastised them with a false bravado, suddenly wishing that I had listened to Nuala. “I’m thinkingsomeonewill be very displeased to feel you intervening in the affairs of the mortal plane.”

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