Page 22 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

“This dagger has the Seelie seal.” Moor lifted the weapon, revealing a golden hilt with a rose surrounded by delicate vines. Vines like the ones in our fated-mate tattoo with thorns interspersed throughout. Thorns that had been part of the Unseelie seal we’d lost twelve years ago, along with everything else.

Two male guards ran through the open door to my chambers. They both paused when they saw I lay in the bed with my eyes open.

“Your Majesty.” The dark-green-haired one sighed with relief. “You’re alive.”

I didn’t like seeing their surprise. If they’d feared I was dead, so did everyone else. I needed my people to know their king was alive. “I am. Is that why you came in here?” Had riots already begun?

“We found Ailsa and Kier.” His shoulders straightened. “They were unconscious in the last house that was checked.”

“So it wasn’t just the weapons that were glamoured. It was the people themselves.” Adrenaline pumped through me, and I sat upright. “Are they all right?”

The Seelie had captured Lira, which meant the dragon prince might know she’d returned. Add that on top of Eldrin still not being found, and my entire world was imploding.

“Yes, sire,” the tanned man answered. “They’ve got some injuries, but nothing like…yours. What if the Seelie attack?”

“They did. They believe our king is dead.” Caelan frowned. “We should be safe now that they have Lira back.”

My heart clenched. I threw my legs over the side of the bed. I didn’t care if getting up killed me—I had to get to my mate… beforehedid.

When I stood, I wobbled, and Caelan flew over the bed, helping me stay upright. “What are you doing?” he hissed. “You lost a ton of blood and should be dead.”

I glared at him, wanting him to see how close to snapping I was, and growled, “Everyone but Caelan, out.”

The others glanced at each other and nodded, then rushed to the door. When the two of us were alone, I did snap.

“But I’m not, and I need to get Lira back.” I didn’t want the guards to know my plan or what Lira was to me… yet. “I can’t stay rational with my mate taken from me.”

Caelan tilted his head and huffed. “But she’s safe.”

Not for long. Not when thedragon princelearned she’d returned home. “You know why I need to get her.” I stared him in the eyes. If I could reach her before her people learned of herreturn, we might be able to handle the threat here before taking on the dragons.

He sighed. “But what good will you be if you pass out before you reach the Seelie? And you can’t get through the veil. What’s your solution for that?”

Eldrin had stolen some of Lira’s blood. There should be enough for me to get through and save her. “We need to find the vial.” Caelen knew what I was referring to. I’d told him what Eldrin had done to her. Eldrin wouldn’t risk carrying that around, and I’d taken him to prison. He’d have it hidden somewhere in his bedchamber or his study.

“You get some rest, and I’ll search for it.” Caelan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Otherwise, you’ll pass out trying to get there and get yourself killed.”

“You’ll wake me when you find it?” Though the last thing I wanted was to rest, he was right. To save Lira, I had to heal more. “I need to hurry to her.”

“I know.”

I stared into his eyes, but as usual, I sensed only truth. “Okay. I’ll rest for a bit, but then I must go. Vial or not.” If they saw me near the veil, the Seelie would take me prisoner, and then Lira could find a way to get me out. I had no doubt she would.

My legs gave out, and I lay down on the bed again, hating how feeble I was. Unfortunately, Caelan was right.

“I’ll go look. Rest,” he said, and the door closed a moment later.

And then sleep took hold of me fast.

My body shook, stirring me from a deep rest. I moaned, trying to fall back asleep, needing more rest.

“Tavish, wake up,” someone said urgently.

Finnian. He was back from Earth.

My eyes popped open to see his solemn face.

He bit his bottom lip. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

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