Page 8 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

Tavish froze. “Donotcome in here. Lira is in merely a towel.”

“Which is why I’m trying to hand her this gown,” Finnian responded without worry, opening the door enough to slide his arm through and hold out the dress.

I snagged the gown from his hand, and Nightbane ran into the bedchamber. The beast snarled, and I heard another man yell. He didn’t sound like Caelan or, unfortunately, Eldrin.

Not wanting anyone else to enter, I moved to shut the door even before Finnian had removed his arm.

“What the blast?” he groaned.

I grimaced and opened the door slightly. “Just remove your arm so I can get dressed.”

“Aw, why should Tavish get—”

“Finnian, be quiet,” Caelan called from the bedroom. “Or do you want to die?”

Tavish moved beside me with his teeth clenched and his sword sheathed. He was upset, and I couldn’t blame him.

Deep, menacing growls sounded from Nightbane, but I didn’t hear an attack. More like he was warning the others to stay away.

I’d freaked out over nothing. Figured.

“When Nightbane became anxious, I thought…” I bit my bottom lip. I hated the shiver that shot down my spine. I wanted to vanish.

Tavish’s expression smoothed, and he cupped my face in his hands, forcing me to look him in the eye.

“Hey, I’m not upset with you. If you were alarmed, you did the right thing.” His nostrils flared. “My issue is with Finnian and all the things he says.”

He was comforting me, and I wanted to return the favor. “He only says half the stuff he does to get under your skin. Maybe if you ignored him, he’d stop pulling your leg.”

Forehead wrinkling, Tavish stared at me as if I had two heads. “Sometimes, I have no idea what you’re trying to say to me. Earth is such a strange place.”

I laughed, the sound light and reminding me of my old self… and then the ache of missing my sister and parents squeezed my heart. I tried to push away the sadness and focus on the present. “What I mean is that Finnian likes to annoy you.”

“Yes, and if he’s not careful, I’ll wind up losing my temper and killing him for it.” His eyes narrowed and flashed with darkness before his face softened. “Is he the reason for your sudden sadness?”

I shook my head, not wanting to get into it. I tightened my grasp on the gown, my face warming as I remembered I was standing here in just a wet towel. I lifted the light-blue gown and smiled. “But if we don’t get out there, he’ll continue to make comments, and I’d rather he not die on my watch.”

Tavish’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darted downward. A warm knot formed in my stomach—a knot I’d experienced only around him, which had gotten me into this whole mess to begin with. My attraction to him had been instantaneous, and my goal had been simple—a New Year’s Eve kiss—the very thing that landed me here.

As if Finnian wanted to tempt Fate and his death, he knocked on the door and cooed, “What are you two doing in there? Several of us are still out in the chambers, waiting for you. If—”

“Step away from the door, Finnian, or I swear, I will end you without a morsel of remorse,” Tavish snarled.

Nightbane continued to snarl, and Caelan sighed and said, “No wonder the Seelie managed to banish us.”

My chest constricted. How could my biological parents have done that to these people? What had the Unseelie done that had doomed them to this future? As if living on the ruined dragon lands weren’t enough, my people had to eliminate Tavish’s parents and put me on Earth, where I’d forgotten about my life here. A whole slew of questions attacked my brain.

Yanking the door open, Tavish stalked out, and then I heard asmack.

“Blighted abyss!” Finnian exclaimed. “What was that for?”

I chuckled and tensed, waiting for the agony, but it never came. Then a chill in the bathroom caused me to shiver, and goose bumps sprouted all over my skin. I hated being in here alone.

Breath quickening, I slipped the gown on and scanned the room every few seconds, imagining Eldrin’s creepy-ass eyes staring at me from the corners.

I enjoyed the fact that the gown was looser than the other ones I’d worn, which had belonged to Tavish’s mother. I suspected they’d raided someone else’s clothes that fit me better.

Running my fingers through my hair, I entered the bedchamber, happy to be with Tavish and Finnian and not alone inthere—until my gaze landed on Struan.

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