Page 30 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

My mouth dried, and my wings moved faster than ever before as I soared down the hallway to reach him.

“Though I’m relieved you’re breathing for the fate of magic, our guard didn’t intend to stab you the way he had. He’d only meant to incapacitate you, but still,youstolemydaughter. There isnothinghere for you,” Father growled. “Move, everyone. This is personal, and I will handle it on my own.”

“Aw, Tavish. The Seelie king is going to get his hands dirty.” Finnian chuckled, but his voice seemed stilted, betraying his nerves.

Of course they were both here. Now I had to determine a way to get both of them out.

The sound of a sword being unsheathed had my blood boiling. I reached the door and took a sharp right just as Father raised his sword.

Tavish stood with his chin high and back straight until his stormy eyes focused on me.

Father’s gaze was locked on Tavish with hatred glistening in his eyes.

Mom, Dad, Mother, and the guards turned their heads my way. I reached Tavish just as my father jabbed the sword forward, aiming for Tavish’s arm.

No. I refused to let him injure my mate.

9

LIRA

“Lira, no!” Tavish exclaimed as I soared into Father.

Even if I’d wanted to listen to him—which I didn’t—his warning would’ve been too late. My chest and arms slammed into Father’s a few inches before the blade would have made impact, and Father fell to the side. With my right hand, I shoved the sword upward so that it missed Tavish’s leg as Father crashed to the stone floor, with me landing on top of him.

Though he’d been my cushion, the impact hurt. My knees hit the stone, causing a throbbing that I would feel later when the adrenaline wore off. But that was the least of my worries.

Finnian laughed. “I love how she makes an entrance wherever she goes.”

Chains clanged together as Tavish tried to get to me, and my heart leaped as my wings lifted me from my father and toward him.

I buried myself in his chest. His arms wrapped around me, but his head remained lifted. The jolt of our connection sprang to life, and tears that I didn’t want to release burned my eyes.

Silence descended, and a large hand grabbed my arm, yanking me from Tavish.

“Youfoolishgirl!” Father shouted, digging his fingers into my arm. “Get away from the wildling right this second.”

Tavish dropped his arms and hurt panged in my chest.

He connected,I don’t want you to get hurt, and he doesn’t see things rationally. Believe me, the last blasted thing I want to do is release you. Being apart from you has been pure agony.

Father spun me around, his face flushed with the gold of our blood.

Tavish’s rage flowed into me, mixing with mine, but our connection also clenched with his concern for my well-being.

“Have you forgotten everything you’ve ever known?” Father spat and dropped his hand like he couldn’t handle touching me any longer. “He’sUnseelie,and you’re betrothed. Do you know what the dragons would say if they learned of your blasphemous intentions?”

I straightened my back, standing between the two of them. Mother stepped behind Father, shaking her head at me, telling me to stop and stand down. Both of them conveniently acted like they were my parents again.

But that was the thing.

They didn’t get to give me up for twelve years and expect me to come back and fall into the same dynamics. I wasn’t ten anymore, and frankly, they’d lost that privilege when they forced me to live on Earth even though I’d begged them not to make me.

“There is nothing blasphemous going on here. He’s my fated mate, and I will protect him with my life if that’s what it takes.”

The four guards who remained in the room gasped as the warmth of Tavish’s love and the cold tendrils of his fear clashed inside our connection.

“Don’t listen to her ramblings.” Father glared over his shoulder at them. “She was taken, and there’s no telling what theUnseelie did to her. She’s not of sound mind and needs time to reacclimate.”

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