Page 24 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

Clearing my throat, I straightened. “Don’t worry, Nightbane. I’ll bring her back.”

“You’ve been stabbed in the neck, so forgive me if I have a hard time believing that,” Caelan growled, marching toward me. “You’re going to pass out before you even reach the village.”

“You werestabbed?” Finnian’s voice rose ten octaves higher. “Why didn’t you inform me of that? I’d—”

Caelan moved the neckline of my tunic to the side, and he gasped, “How is that possible?”

“What?” I reached up and touched the stitches. My fingertips ran across the lumpy scabs that had formed there. Thankfully, the pain had disappeared, and my life was out of danger.

“You’re almost healed.” Caelan blinked repeatedly. “You should be dead, not standing here with scabs. I don’t understand.”

Finnian stomped his foot. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you were injured?”

“Because you came straight to him without checking in with anyone else.” Caelan dropped his hands and glared. “A guard informed me that they saw you flying by like a dragon fleeing from water. We’d just found Ailsa and Kier unconscious in one of the homes that had been cleared.”

He flinched. “I never considered that the Seelie would be here.” He ran a hand through his hair. “No wonder you were sleeping. I shouldn’t have—”

I didn’t have time for theatrics. “I appreciate your concern, but I am more than well enough to retrieve my mate.” My attention landed on Caelan, and I asked, “Did you find the vial?”

Caelan hung his head. “I didn’t. I searched his room and study with Nightbane and didn’t find anything. He must have it on him.”

My heart sank. I’d hoped he would be too wary to keep it on him, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. However, that made memore determined to find a way to retrieve Lira. He could pass through the veil into Seelie, and I doubted he’d leave her alive if he caught up with her. He’d kill her to get to me and weaken the Seelie royals.

My connection to her was still warmer than normal, but not hot like when they’d been stitching me up or as I’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t the usual warmth of our bond, indicating she was still unconscious. There was no way I could alert her to the problem, and I had no comfort that she was all right.

I spread out my wings and hurried to the door. “There’s no time to waste. I need you two to find Eldrin and do as you see fit. And make sure our people stay calm in my absence. When that is resolved, we need to find Lira’s Earth family.” I knew they were a priority for her, so we needed to focus our attention on them as well.

“You’re goingalone?” Finnian’s mouth dropped. “Tavish, you’ve always been confident, but that’s rather foolish. What are you expecting to accomplish?”

I had to hope that the Seelie listened to Lira. That was all I had. I trusted that Lira would help me, and even if she couldn’t, I’d find a way for both of us to escape. I could use illusions and nightmares to get my way—something I couldn’t do as a young boy when the power of the royal line had yet to be transferred to me, leaving me weak. “The guards are needed here to chase down the threat, and everyone saw me get injured. No one will notice that I’m gone, so it’s best if I go alone.”

“You may be better, but you lost a lot of blood.” Caelan gestured to the bed.

There was a significant amount of blood on the mattress, but not nearly as much as Lira had left after she’d been stabbed in the side. “I’ll grab something to eat on the way.” I lifted my chin, staring down my two most trusted friends. I understood that they were worried, but I had a say over what happened here.

“I’m going with you.” Finnian spread out his wings. “At least to make sure you get there safely. How will it benefit Lira if you get dizzy and weak from blood loss and die on the way there? Then how are we expected to save her?”

I hated that he had a point. I’d improved, but my strength hadn’t completely returned. Yet, the longer I remained here, the more the risk of losing Lira forever increased. “Fine. But once I get there, you leave.”

Caelan rubbed a hand down his face and moaned. “If his strength weakens, make sure you take him somewhere safe.”

“I will.” Finnian placed a hand over his chest and nodded.

I gritted my teeth, not liking being coddled. However, none of that mattered as long as I reached Gleann Solas.

“Change into some clean clothes while I get you both something to eat.” Caelan huffed, making his disapproval clear. “I suggest something more peasantlike so the Seelie might not recognize you at first.”

He was right. If they caught me, I might not be beaten immediately if they didn’t realize who I was. I’d be more likely to die, but they’d take me to the holding cells first for the royals to attempt to question me.

I marched into the bathroom and headed to the closet. I had an outfit stashed in here in case I ever needed to escape and didn’t want anyone to notice me. I grabbed the frosty-blue casual tunic and plain leather pants, along with a towel.

Heading to the sink, I wetted the towel and removed the black blood caked on my neck. As I wiped away each spot, I noted there wasn’t even a scab. My skin had completely healed, and my magic had already strengthened once again. I could easily cover the land in darkness and frost, but I didn’t want to do too much too quickly.

I’d only napped for an hour and a half, so Lira and her captors should be arriving in the Seelie lands in the next hour or so. They’d be moving slower due to carrying Lira’s weight.

After quickly changing into the new clothes and placing my sheath around my waist to carry my sword, I headed back into my room and went to the table where the mending kit sat. I took the small blade and went back into the bathroom, where I removed the stitches. By the time I finished, Caelan had returned with the food and a jug of water.

I went to the windows and opened the one on the left, closest to the edge of the spiked mountain. Thankfully, my people weren’t used to sunlight, so their eyes should be more sensitive, and Finnian and I could fly to the west without being seen.

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