Page 23 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

7

TAVISH

My heart leaped into my throat. Finnian was many things, but when he wasn’t smiling or teasing, that meant something was wrong, and I already suspected what this was about. “Out with it,” I snapped, grimacing as I prepared to sit upright.

He blew out a breath, and his wings tightened behind him. “I went to the location on Earth you told me to go.” He placed a hand on his chest like he was bracing himself for the news he had to deliver.

I sat upright, waiting for agony to strike, but felt only a slight ache. Still, the news made my stomach churn. “Are they dead?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“How do you not know?” My body tensed, and my wings spread out.

Finnian scowled and inhaled. “Because they weren’t there.”

Either I’d injured my head, or he wasn’t being clear. I needed answers now. “Then why are you here?”

“Where’s Lira?” he asked, scanning the room.

My chest ached painfully. “You don’t know?”

His brows furrowed. “Know what? I came straight here. I knew you and Lira would want an update immediately.”

My head hung, the weight of the loss of my fated mate crushing me. “The Seelie…” I’d never struggled for words before, but this void I felt without her beside me made even breathing hard. “… took her.”

Finnian stumbled back and blinked. “How?”

“They set the end of the village on fire, diverting the guards away from us, and they glamoured themselves as two of our guards and offered to protect us.” I clenched my hands into fists. I couldn’t believe I’d been so careless and foolish. Ofcoursethey’d figured out that Lira was here. Her magic had returned, but I’d thought we’d have more time.

The door to my bedchamber opened, and Caelan and Nightbane hurried into my room. Caelan froze by the door as Nightbane rushed into the room, sniffing… no doubt searching for Lira.

“You woke him?” Caelan shook his head and entered. “I had hoped you’d come looking for me first. Where are the humans that Lira’s so fond of?”

“Wait.” Finnian rubbed his temples. “Lira’s gone? The Seelie have her? And you’re justsleeping?” His face blanched.

If I didn’t trust him with my life, I’d want to kill him for caring about Lira so much. However, I needed everyone to care enough to bring her back home. “Not anymore, I’m not. I need you to get back to Earth and find them. The last thing she needs is to learn that you didn’t bring them here and protect them. Why didn’t you wait for them to return?”

“Their dwelling was wrecked from some sort of fight. Chairs were overturned, and a rectangle-like apparatus was shattered on the floor.” He lifted both hands. “They had already been taken.”

Blighted abyss. Everywhere I turned, our situation became more dire. If I’d left Lira alone on Earth, this could have all been prevented, but that wouldn’t have kept her from coming back to Ardanos. Her parents would’ve eventually handed her to the dragon prince. We might never have met again, and if we had, she would’ve already been wed.

My usually frozen blood blazed with heat at the thought of her married to anyone but me. If I didn’t get her back, I had no doubt that the dragon prince would demand her hand despite her being fated to me. I feared it would make him covet her more and use her as a tool to weaken me and bend me to his will.

I couldn’t stay here any longer. I needed to get to her before the Seelie forced her to complete an oath they’d had no right to make on her behalf.

“Are you going to get out of bed anytime soon to find yourfated mate?” Finnian’s nose wrinkled. “Or are you leaving that matter to me as well?”

I wanted to punch him, but he was right. I couldn’t lay here and waste more time.

“Have you lost a wing?” Caelan’s face turned a new hue of gray.

I stood, and the world swayed ever so slightly but nowhere near as badly as before.

“Tavish, what are you doing?” Caelan asked just as Nightbane tilted his head back and howled.

The desperate howl resembled a sob, and for the first time in my existence, I actually understood what the beast was going through. He loved Lira, and he wanted her here with us.

With numb legs, I headed to the creature and copied what I’d seen Lira do to him, a motion that always left me puzzled. I patted his head. The beast’s cry cut off, and its glowing lime-green eyes narrowed as it stared at me. The encounter was awkward and off-putting, so I dropped my arm to my side.

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